Side by side
| Poon Hill & Ghorepani Trek | Mardi Himal Trek | |
|---|---|---|
| Days | 5 | 6 |
| Highest point | 3,210 m | 4,500 m |
| Difficulty | Easy | Moderate |
| Total distance | 52 km | 55 km |
| Best months | January to April and October to December | March to April and October to December |
| Typical cost | $350 to $650 | $400 to $700 |
| Starts from | Nayapul (1,070 m), 1.5 hours from Pokhara by bus | Kande (1,750 m) or Forest Camp via taxi from Pokhara |
| Permits | 2 | 2 |
Choose the Poon Hill & Ghorepani Trek if
The Poon Hill trek is a 4 to 5 day easy-to-moderate loop from Pokhara that gives beginners an authentic Himalayan trekking experience without extreme altitude or long duration. The centerpiece is the pre-dawn hike to Poon Hill at 3,210 m for the most celebrated mountain sunrise in Nepal, with views across Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchhre.
The altitude is low enough that acclimatisation is rarely an issue, but the stone staircase sections above Tikhedhunga require good knee strength. This is a genuinely accessible first Himalayan trek.
Choose the Mardi Himal Trek if
The Mardi Himal trek is a 5 to 7 day moderate trek in the Annapurna Conservation Area that follows a ridge high above the Modi Khola valley to a high camp at 4,500 m with extraordinary close-range views of Machhapuchhre (the Fishtail) and Mardi Himal. Opened to trekkers in 2012, it remains significantly less crowded than the nearby Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill routes.
The High Camp altitude of 4,500 m requires good acclimatisation and cold-weather preparation. The trails are well-marked but steeper than Poon Hill.
