If you have about a week and you are starting from Pokhara, the two treks most people consider are Poon Hill and Mardi Himal. Both are short, both have superb mountain views, and both can be done in five to seven days. But they feel quite different on the ground. Here's how to choose.
Quick answer: choose Poon Hill for an easier trek with a classic sunrise panorama, rhododendron forests, comfortable lodges and Gurung and Magar villages. Choose Mardi Himal for a higher, wilder ridge walk with close-up views of Machhapuchhre, fewer villages and a steeper final climb to about 4,500 m. Fit first-timers can do either; families and beginners usually prefer Poon Hill.
Side by side
| Poon Hill | Mardi Himal | |
|---|---|---|
| Days from Pokhara | 4–5 | 5–6 |
| Highest point | Poon Hill, 3,210 m | Viewpoints around 4,500 m |
| Highest night | Ghorepani, 2,860 m | High Camp, about 3,580 m |
| Grade | Easy to moderate | Moderate |
| Signature view | Sunrise over Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas | Machhapuchhre and Annapurna South up close |
| Landscape | Villages, terraces, rhododendron forest | Cloud forest, then an open ridge |
| Culture | Gurung and Magar villages | Few villages above the forest |
| Lodges | Many, comfortable | Fewer, simpler higher up |
| Crowds | Busy in peak season | Quieter, but growing |
The views
Poon Hill is famous for its wide sunrise panorama: from Dhaulagiri on the left across the Kali Gandaki to Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre. You climb about an hour before dawn from Ghorepani and watch the light move along the range.
Mardi Himal is more intimate and dramatic. The trail climbs along a narrow grassy ridge straight towards the fishtail summit of Machhapuchhre, with Annapurna South and Hiunchuli beside it. From the upper viewpoints, the mountains feel close enough to touch.
Difficulty
Poon Hill has a lot of stone steps, especially the climb to Ulleri, but the altitude stays modest and days are 4–6 hours. Mardi Himal is steeper and higher: the climb from High Camp to the viewpoints is long and can be icy in winter, and altitude starts to matter above 3,500 m. Both are well within reach of fit beginners; Poon Hill is gentler. See our trek grades guide.
Lodges and atmosphere
Poon Hill passes through busy trekking villages with comfortable lodges, bakeries and hot showers. Mardi Himal has simpler lodges, especially at High Camp, and a more remote feel. In peak season, Ghorepani gets crowded; Mardi is quieter, although it has become much more popular.
Best time
Both are best in October–November and March–April. Poon Hill's rhododendrons peak in spring; Mardi Himal's ridge can be snowy in winter, sometimes stopping trekkers short of the upper viewpoint. In the monsoon both are wet and leechy.
Can I do both?
Yes. With 9–10 days, you can combine them via Ghandruk and Landruk, or do one trek, rest in Pokhara and then do the other. Ask us for a combined itinerary.
Which should you choose?
- First trek, families or older trekkers: Poon Hill.
- Want to get close to the mountains: Mardi Himal.
- Rhododendrons in spring: Poon Hill.
- Fewer people: Mardi Himal.
- Village culture: Poon Hill, especially with Ghandruk.
See our Poon Hill guide, Mardi Himal guide and best treks near Pokhara. Contact us to plan either trek.