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Ghorepani Poon Hill offers a better panorama, and Mardi Himal offers better proximity. From Poon Hill (3,210 m), you get one wide sunrise sweep from Dhaulagiri to Annapurna I. On the Mardi Himal Trek, you walk a ridge that keeps Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) and Annapurna South in front of you for days, ending at a base camp near 4,500 m. Poon Hill is easier and busier. Mardi Himal is harder and quieter. Neither trek shows Everest.
Both treks start from Pokhara, sit inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, and fit into about nine days from Kathmandu. That makes them natural rivals for travelers with a week or so to spare. This guide compares them on the thing most people actually care about: the views, and then on difficulty, cost, crowds, seasons, and permits. Prices, itineraries, and inclusions come from Alliance Treks’ trip pages, checked in October 2026. Here in this blog, Mardi Himal vs Ghorepani Poon Hill is discussed in detail.
| Factor | Ghorepani Poon Hill | Mardi Himal |
|---|---|---|
| Package length | 9 days, Kathmandu to Kathmandu | 9 days, Kathmandu to Kathmandu |
| Trekking days | 4 | 5 (5 to 7 on other itineraries) |
| Highest point | 3,210 m (Poon Hill) | About 4,500 m (Mardi Himal Base Camp, a day trip from High Camp) |
| Highest sleeping point | Ghorepani, about 2,874 m | High Camp, about 3,580 m |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate | Moderate |
| Signature view | Sunrise panorama, Dhaulagiri to Annapurna I | Close-up Machhapuchhre and Annapurna South from a ridge |
| Crowds | High in peak season | Lower |
| Lodges | More choice, more comfortable | Simpler, fewer facilities higher up |
| Group price per person | $425 (11+) to $776 (solo) | $479 (11+) to $673 (solo) |
| Best seasons | March to May, September to November | March to May, September to November |
Altitudes are approximate. Alliance Treks’ pages list slightly different figures for some camps.
It depends on what kind of view you want. Poon Hill gives you breadth. Mardi Himal gives you proximity.
The Poon Hill view comes from a short, steady climb of 45 minutes to an hour from Ghorepani in the dark. At the top, first light reaches a long line of peaks: Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m), Annapurna I (8,091 m), Annapurna South (7,219 m), Machhapuchhre (6,993 m), Nilgiri (7,061 m), Hiunchuli and Tukuche Peak. It’s one of the few short treks where two separate 8,000 m massifs, Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, sit in the same frame.
The trade-offs are practical. The standard itinerary gives you one sunrise slot, so a cloudy morning can mean a missed payoff. The viewpoint is also busy in peak season, so arrive early if you want a good spot.
Mardi Himal leaves the main Annapurna trail at Pothana, where you get your first unblocked views of Machhapuchhre and Annapurna South. The middle section runs through dense forest, so views are limited. From High Camp onward you are on an open grassy ridge, with the Annapurna range on one side and the Seti River valley on the other. Sunset from High Camp and sunrise from the Upper Viewpoint or Base Camp are the highlights. Instead of looking across at the peaks from a distance, you look up at them.
The price is effort. The sunrise push starts at about 4:00 AM, climbs to roughly 4,500 m, and ends in a descent of about 8 to 9 hours in total.
| Viewpoint | Trek | Altitude (approx.) | Best time | What you see |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poon Hill summit | Poon Hill | 3,210 m | Sunrise | Dhaulagiri I, Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, Nilgiri, Hiunchuli |
| Tadapani and Ghandruk | Poon Hill | 2,630 m (Tadapani) | Daytime | Annapurna range above slate-roofed Gurung villages |
| Pothana | Mardi Himal | 1,890 m | Day 3 | First clear views of Machhapuchhre and Annapurna South |
| Forest Camp | Mardi Himal | About 2,550 m | n/a | Mostly forest, limited mountain views |
| High Camp | Mardi Himal | About 3,580 m | Sunset | Open ridge, Annapurna range and Seti valley |
| Upper Viewpoint and Base Camp | Mardi Himal | Up to about 4,500 m | Sunrise | Sunrise on Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre at close range |
These are judgments, not measurements.
| What you want | Better pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Widest panorama | Poon Hill | Spans Dhaulagiri to Annapurna in one frame |
| Closest look at Machhapuchhre | Mardi Himal | You walk beside the peak instead of seeing it from afar |
| Most iconic sunrise | Poon Hill | Famous viewpoint, short climb |
| Quietest viewpoint | Mardi Himal | Fewer trekkers on the ridge |
| More chances at a clear view | Mardi Himal | Several viewpoints over three days, versus one sunrise slot |
| Least effort for the best view | Poon Hill | A 45 to 60 minute climb versus a 4:00 AM start and long descent |
| Dramatic, close, ridge-line photos | Mardi Himal | Peaks fill the frame at close range |
Everest isn’t visible from either trek.
Both use Alliance Treks’ 9-day format. Walking hours are approximate.
| Day | Ghorepani Poon Hill | Mardi Himal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Kathmandu | Arrive in Kathmandu |
| 2 | Kathmandu sightseeing and trek preparation | Drive to Pokhara (6 to 7 hours) |
| 3 | Drive to Pokhara | Drive to Phedi, trek to Pothana (4 to 5 hours) |
| 4 | Nayapul to Ulleri (3 to 4 hours) | Pothana to Forest Camp (4 to 5 hours) |
| 5 | Ulleri to Ghorepani (5 to 8 hours) | Forest Camp to High Camp (5 to 6 hours) |
| 6 | Poon Hill sunrise, then trek to Tadapani (7 to 9 hours) | High Camp to Base Camp, then down to Siding (8 to 9 hours) |
| 7 | Tadapani to Ghandruk and Kimche, drive to Pokhara | Siding to Lumre (3 hours), drive to Pokhara |
| 8 | Drive to Kathmandu | Drive to Kathmandu |
| 9 | Departure | Departure |
Poon Hill includes a Kathmandu sightseeing day. Mardi Himal adds one more trekking day. If four days of walking is your limit, Alliance Treks also runs a shorter Poon Hill trek from Pokhara.
Mardi Himal is harder. It reaches a higher altitude, sleeps higher, and has a more demanding summit day. Poon Hill is gentler, with a long stone staircase above Ulleri as its main physical test.
| Aspect | Ghorepani Poon Hill | Mardi Himal |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum altitude | 3,210 m | About 4,500 m |
| Highest sleeping altitude | About 2,874 m | About 3,580 m |
| Hardest day | Day 6: pre-dawn climb plus a long walk to Tadapani | Day 6: 4:00 AM start, base camp, 8 to 9 hours total |
| Terrain | Stone steps and village paths | Forested ridge, then open grassy ridge |
| Altitude sickness | Uncommon, according to Alliance | Lower than the altitude suggests, since you spend only a few hours at 4,500 m |
| Best for | First-timers, families | Fit beginners who want a bigger challenge |
For more on symptoms and prevention, see our guide to altitude sickness.
| Group size | Ghorepani Poon Hill | Mardi Himal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $776 | $673 |
| 2 to 5 people | $506 | $565 |
| 6 to 10 people | $485 | $529 |
| 11 or more | $425 | $479 |
Per-person prices from Alliance Treks’ trip pages. The two packages aren’t identical, which matters when comparing them.
| Included or excluded | Ghorepani Poon Hill | Mardi Himal |
|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu hotel nights | 3 | 2 |
| Pokhara hotel nights | 2 | 2 |
| Kathmandu sightseeing | Included | Not on the itinerary |
| Guide and porter | Licensed guide, 1 porter per 2 trekkers | Licensed guide, 1 porter per 2 trekkers |
| ACAP and TIMS permits | Included | Included |
| Down sleeping bag, down jacket, poles | Included (returnable) | Listed as personal equipment |
| Lunch and dinner | Not included | Not included (budget about $25 to $35 per day on trek) |
Because the Poon Hill price includes trekking gear and an extra Kathmandu night, it can offer better value than the headline numbers suggest. Confirm gear rental for Mardi Himal when you book.
| Season | Months | Poon Hill | Mardi Himal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | March to May | Rhododendron forests in bloom, good morning views | Rhododendron below Forest Camp, good ridge views |
| Autumn | September to November | Clearest skies, peak season | Clearest skies, peak season |
| Winter | December to February | Cold but workable, quiet | Cold, snow can affect upper sections |
| Monsoon | June to August | Clouds hide views, leeches | Slippery ridge and leeches, not recommended |
In every season, mornings are usually the clearest. Plan your sunrise climb for the first light and be flexible if the weather changes.
Poon Hill is one of Nepal’s most popular short treks, so expect more people on the trail and at the viewpoint, along with more comfortable lodges and more services. Mardi Himal is quieter. The trade-off is simpler lodging, and facilities become more limited and more expensive the higher you go. There are no ATMs on the Mardi Himal trail, so withdraw cash in Pokhara first.
Both treks are inside the Annapurna Conservation Area and need an ACAP permit and a TIMS card. Alliance Treks’ Mardi Himal page lists ACAP at $20 and e-TIMS at $30 for 2026, and arranges both for guided trekkers through its trekking permit service. The same page says solo foreign trekking in the conservation area is prohibited in 2026. Since Poon Hill is in the same area, plan on a licensed guide for both treks, and read our guide to mandatory guides in Nepal for the latest rules.
Yes, but not as one standard package. They use different trailheads (Nayapul for Poon Hill, Phedi or Kande for Mardi Himal), so most people do one trek and come back for the other, or ask their agency to build two back-to-back itineraries with a rest day in Pokhara. If you only have time for one trek and want something longer, look at the Annapurna Foothills Trek or the Khopra Ridge Trek.
| Choose Ghorepani Poon Hill if… | Choose Mardi Himal if… |
|---|---|
| This is your first Himalayan trek | You’ve done a multi-day trek before, or you’re fit and want more challenge |
| You want the famous sunrise panorama | You want closer, quieter views of Machhapuchhre |
| You’re traveling with family or children | You prefer solitude over comfort |
| You want the most comfortable lodges | You don’t mind simpler lodging higher up |
| You want to stay below 3,500 m | You’re comfortable going up to about 4,500 m |
| You want a shorter trek (4 trekking days) | You have 5 trekking days and enjoy ridge walking |
If you’re still deciding between longer options, see Annapurna Base Camp vs Annapurna Circuit, or look at the full Annapurna Base Camp Trek. Packing for either trek is similar, and our Annapurna Base Camp packing list is a good starting point.
Poon Hill has the wider sunrise panorama, spanning Dhaulagiri to Annapurna I. Mardi Himal has closer, more intimate views of Machhapuchhre and Annapurna South.
Mardi Himal. It goes up to about 4,500 m and sleeps at about 3,580 m, while Poon Hill tops out at 3,210 m.
Poon Hill is the easier first trek. Mardi Himal suits fit beginners who want more challenge.
It depends on group size. On Alliance Treks’ pages, Poon Hill is cheaper for groups of 2 or more ($425 to $506 per person), while Mardi Himal is cheaper for a solo trekker ($673 versus $776). The packages differ in hotel nights and gear.
No. Neither trek shows Everest. Both look at the Annapurna and, from Poon Hill, Dhaulagiri ranges.
Alliance Treks’ packages are 9 days from Kathmandu to Kathmandu. Trekking time is about 4 days for Poon Hill and 5 days for Mardi Himal.
Mardi Himal. Poon Hill is one of Nepal’s most popular short treks.
Plan on a licensed guide for both. Alliance Treks states that solo foreign trekking in the Annapurna Conservation Area is prohibited in 2026.
Poon Hill is workable but cold. On Mardi Himal, snow can affect the upper sections and the route to base camp.
October and November usually give the clearest skies. March to May brings rhododendron blooms and good morning views.
There’s no single winner. Poon Hill is the safer choice if you want the classic sunrise panorama, an easier walk, and comfortable lodges. Mardi Himal is the better choice if you want closer, quieter views of Machhapuchhre and don’t mind a harder day or two. Pick the view that matches how much effort you’re willing to give for it, then book the right season.
Alliance Treks & Expedition Pvt. Ltd. runs both the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek and the Mardi Himal trek with licensed guides, ACAP and TIMS permits handled for you, a shared porter for every two trekkers, and Kathmandu to Pokhara transport. The Poon Hill package also includes a returnable down sleeping bag, down jacket, and trekking poles. Guaranteed departures are listed through December 2026.
Alliance Treks & Expedition Pvt. Ltd. Once is not enough for naturally and culturally Himalayas
