Ghorepani Poon Hill with Mardi Himal Trek - 10 Days

This is your rest day where you will stay in Kathmandu and prepare for the trek. The preparation includes gear shopping or exploring gear rental options for the trek and stocking up everything else that you might need.

At the same time, use this day to explore some of the major sightseeing options of Kathmandu Valley. Try to cover the UNESCO heritage sites first or else you will be overwhelmed with the options. Some of the best exploration sites include Pashupatinath, Boudhhanath, Patan Durbar Square, and Swayambhunath which are mostly spiritual and cultural sites which will set a stage for the cultural exploration part of your trek. Begin your tourist spree in the valley!  

This is the day that marks the official beginning of your trek as you will start with a drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara, yet another scenic valley and major tourist spot of Nepal, often regarded as the gateway to Annapurna region.

You will start early in the morning and drive through Prithvi Highway where you will enjoy scenic views of terraced fields, hills, riverside roads, traditional villages, and river gorges. After reaching Pokhara in around 7 hours, you will check in to your hotel. You can go out to explore the iconic Phewa Lake or the lakeside area of Pokhara. Enjoy stunning views of the Machhapuchhre from Pokhara which is an early glimpse of the Himalayan beauty that awaits you on the trek.  

Today, you will be entering the Annapurna region as a short drive from Pokhara to Banthanti where you will enter the trailhead of the trek. From here, you will begin your ascend towards Ghorepani. You will walk through dense rhododendron and oak forests, and after a while into the trek, you will come across the iconic stone stairs of the Annapurna region which is what makes it difficult.

However, you won’t have to cross much stone stairs to reach Ghorepani, so don’t worry. You will pass through traditional Gurung and Magar Villages before you finally reach Ghorepani at 2,860 meters after 4 to 5 hours of trekking. From Ghorepani, you will begin seeing views of the Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri ranges. This will be your resting spot for the day.  

Today, you will be heading towards Poon Hill. Poon Hill is known for its magical views of the sunrise. Thus, you need to start early in the morning so that you can make it on time to catch the sunrise. Wake up before dawn and start making your way towards Poon Hill, again passing through trail full of lush rhododendron forests. The ascent is steep, but you will be thoroughly rewarded.

At Poon Hill, you will witness one of the most beautiful sunrises in Nepal as the orange hues of sun paints the entire snow clad Annapurna range and surrounding Himalayan vista, illuminating a panoramic range including Dhaulagiri I, Annapurna I, and Manaslu in its own colors. Enjoy the view for a while. After that, return back to Ghorepani by trekking for 1.5 hours again, making the roundtrip a total of 3 hours. Stop for breakfast at Ghorepani.

After breakfast, you will descend through forest trails and ridgelines to Tadapani. This stretch is filled with waterfalls, blooming rhododendrons (in spring), and charming encounters with locals. Tadapani is your resting stop for the day.  

As the Ghorepani Poonhill section of the trek is over, you will now be moving towards the Mardi Hill section of the trek. You will descend from Tadapani into deeper bamboo and rhododendron forests along the Modi Khola valley. The trail soon opens takes you from high altitude mountainous landscapes into farmland and terraced hills. You’ll pass through the picturesque Gurung settlement of Ghandruk, often referred to as a ‘living museum’ of traditional culture.

Expect some crowd here as Ghandruk is also a popular getaway destination for people living in Kathmandu valley because it allows you to escape into a peaceful and remote way of living while you are surrounded by culture. After exploring Ghandruk, you will continue further down the valley to Landruk, a beautiful village located at a lower altitude. This allows your body to acclimatize before we move back towards higher altitude during the Mardi Himal Trek. Landruk will be your resting spot for the day.  

Now, you will enter into one of the more quieter sections of the Annapurna region. After crossing a small river from Landruk, you will begin your ascend towards forest camp. The ascend is a gentle yet steady hike through dense oak, hemlock, maple, and rhododendron forests with almost no villages in sight. But worry not as the trail is well-marked and peaceful.

You’ll arrive at Forest Camp after 4 to 5 hours, which is a rustic stop where trekkers often gather to enjoy the serenity of the surroundings. It is also referred to as low camp by some of the trekkers and locals. This will be your resting stop for the day.  

This is a slightly challenging yet equally rewarding day as you will be gaining significant elevation of almost 1,000 meters. The ascent features a steep climb through the forests. The trail then crosses the tree line and follows a narrow, distinct path before opening into open ridges which offer the first continuous, spectacular views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) and Annapurna South.

Don’t rush in the trail and go at a slow, steady pace to ensure proper altitude acclimatization at High Camp. Here, panoramic vistas stretch in all directions, and sunset views are truly magnificent. This will be your resting spot for the day. The sky here is almost crystal clear, which means you can spend your night stargazing here to spot Milky Way or starlit peaks. 

This is the day when you finally reach the destination of this Ghorepani Poonhill and Mardi Himal Trek. Wake up early so that you can avoid high winds on the trail as well as scorching sunlight. Hike along narrow ridges with sheer drops, where you can see clouds swirling below. The ascent is slightly demanding as you will be gaining elevation and going through rough terrain. After a few hours, you will reach Mardi Himal Viewpoint (4,200m).

From here, you will witness intimate views of the glacier, the imposing Annapurna I, Macchapuchhre, Hiunchuli, and the Mardi Himal peak, along with other surrounding mountains of the region. 
If you are more adventurous, you can continue further to Mardi Himal Base Camp (4,500m) which is not that far. However, the route involves rocky paths and gaining altitude quickly. In turn, you will be rewarded with unmatched proximity to towering peaks.

After enjoying the views from the pinnacle of the trek, you will undertake a rapid but careful descent all the way back to Low Camp (Forest Camp) for a safe, lower-altitude rest and recovery. This will be your resting spot again. 

Today, you will be going on a gentle descend as you leave the Annapurna region and bid a gentle farewell to the Himalayas. Starting from Low Camp, you will descend through forest and terraced farmland to reach Siding.

This is a peaceful village at lower elevation from where a vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Pokhara. For the rest of the day, you can explore Pokhara and go for sightseeing, boating, or shopping.  

After breakfast, we take the scenic 6-to-7-hour return drive back to Kathmandu. This is the final day of the trip and marks the end of your best short trek in Nepal. You can either rest for the night and go for last-minute souvenir shopping or transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward travel.