Poon Hill and Mardi Himal both take four to six days from Pokhara. Poon Hill is lower, at 3,210 m, with comfortable lodges, villages and a broad sunrise view. Mardi Himal is higher, at about 4,200 m, quieter and steeper, with Machapuchare very close. Choose Poon Hill for an easy first trek; choose Mardi Himal if you want more height and fewer people.
Poon Hill and Mardi Himal at a glance
- Days from Pokhara. Poon Hill: 4 to 5. Mardi Himal: 5 to 6.
- Highest point. Poon Hill: 3,210 m. Mardi Himal: about 4,200 m.
- Highest sleeping point. Poon Hill: Ghorepani, 2,860 m. Mardi Himal: High Camp, 3,550 m.
- Trail. Poon Hill: stone steps through villages. Mardi Himal: forest path and open ridge.
- Lodges. Poon Hill: comfortable, many. Mardi Himal: simple, fewer.
- Crowds. Poon Hill: busy. Mardi Himal: moderate.
Poon Hill
The Poon Hill loop is a village trek. You climb through Magar settlements such as Ulleri, sleep in Ghorepani, and return by Tadapani and the big Gurung village of Ghandruk. Sunrise from the hill takes in Dhaulagiri, Tukuche, Nilgiri, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machapuchare. See the Poon Hill guides.
Mardi Himal
Mardi is a ridge trek with almost no villages after the first morning. The trail climbs through quiet forest to a line of small lodges on the crest, then to a viewpoint where Machapuchare feels close enough to touch. See the Mardi Himal guides.
Altitude and difficulty
Mardi sleeps about 700 m higher and tops out 1,000 m higher, so altitude is a real factor and summit morning is a hard, cold climb. Poon Hill rarely gives altitude trouble. Its difficulty is the staircase: several thousand stone steps on the first full day.
Views compared
Poon Hill gives breadth, including an 8,000 m peak, Dhaulagiri, that Mardi does not show well. Mardi gives closeness. Many trekkers who have done both say Poon Hill is the prettier trek and Mardi the more exciting morning.
Season
Both work from October to May. Poon Hill is the better winter choice and is glorious in April with rhododendron in bloom. Mardi's upper ridge can be snowy from December to February.
Permits and guide
Both need the Annapurna Conservation Area permit and a licensed guide arranged through a registered agency.
Lodges and food
Poon Hill's lodges are among the best on any short trek: attached bathrooms in places, hot showers, wide menus and warm dining rooms. Mardi's are simple wooden lodges with shared toilets and limited water at the higher camps. Both serve the usual trekking food.
Getting there and back
Poon Hill starts from Nayapul or, with a jeep, from Ulleri, and ends at Ghandruk or Kimche. Mardi starts at Kande or Dhampus and ends at Siding. All are one to two hours from Pokhara, so neither trek loses a day to travel.
For families and older trekkers
Poon Hill is the natural choice for families and for trekkers in their sixties and seventies, with short stages possible and help never far away. Mardi suits teenagers and fit adults; younger children may find the height and the early summit start too much.
Cost
The two cost about the same per day. Poon Hill can be trimmed to four days and Mardi is better over five or six, so Mardi usually comes out a little more.
Choose Poon Hill if
- It is your first trek.
- You like villages and comfortable lodges.
- You are with family or mixed abilities.
- You are trekking in winter.
Choose Mardi Himal if
- You want to go above 4,000 m.
- You prefer quiet forest and ridge to villages.
- You are fit and like a steep climb.
- You have already done Poon Hill.
Can you do both?
They can be linked in eight to nine days: Poon Hill first, then across by Ghandruk and Landruk to Forest Camp and up the Mardi ridge.
Plan it
See Mardi Himal vs Poon Hill vs Annapurna Base Camp, or ask us for either plan.
Common questions
Which is easier, Poon Hill or Mardi Himal?
Poon Hill.
Which has the better sunrise?
Poon Hill for a wide panorama; Mardi for a close view of Machapuchare.
Which is less crowded?
Mardi Himal.
Can beginners do Mardi Himal?
Yes, fit beginners can, ideally on a five or six day plan.
Heights, days, fees and rules are approximate and can change, so confirm the current details with us before you book.
