Mardi Himal Trek via Poon Hill

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From witnessing Picturesque Sunrise to walking through the Majestic Himalayas: Poon Hill via Mardi Himal Trek is just for you. Leave your footprints at the base of Mardi Himal and make memories with the Nepal Hiking Team.

At a Glance
  • DestinationNepal
  • Duration12 days
  • Trip DifficultyEasy to Moderate
  • ActivitiesTrekking
  • AccommodationHotel/Guesthouse
  • MealsB.L.D
  • Group SizeMin. 1 Pax
  • BEST TIMEMarch-May and Sept-Dec.

Regarding Driving to/from Kathmamdu

Lately, there has been extensive road construction (KATHMANDU TO POKHARA )on Prithvi Highway, causing traffic congestion and air pollution. The journey that used to take around 6-7 hours now takes roughly 8-9 hours. We appreciate your patience.

Trip Overview

The 12-day trek to Mardi Himal Trek via Poon Hill lies in the middle of the Himalayan, in the Annapurna Conservation Area. The trek offers a flexible trail for beginners without being too risky or time-consuming. It is famous not only among international visitors but also for the local Nepalese people.

Starting the Mardi Himal trek in Ghandruk after finishing the Poonhill Trek (3200m) offers a majestic view of Annapurna Mountain and a splendid sunrise and sunset. The best part of the journey is that even though it is one of the famous treks, it also takes you to remote areas. It gives you a taste of traditional cultures, biodiversity, and ethnic groups. The Upper viewpoint is breathtaking as you see Mount Machhapuchhre right before you.

Don't miss out! Book your Mardi Himal Trek through Poon Hill with us for an unforgettable adventure. Our skilled guides will ensure you enjoy exploring beautiful hills and snowy mountains.

Before we start, let's check out the trip overview.

Best Features

  • This trail is one of the popular ones. It allows you to enjoy the hike at your own pace and is suitable for beginners.
  • Experience the scenic drive to Pokhara, known as the “city of lakes,” and marvel at Nepal's countryside.
  • Discover Pokhara's crowding streets and take in the beauty of Phewa Lake.
  • Walk through a dense forest of oaks and rhododendrons and connect yourself to nature.
  • Witness the beauty of the Annapurna Conservation Area, the largest Conservation Area home to diverse flora and fauna.
  • Enjoy Charming sunrise and sunset views over the Mountains from Poon Hill (one of the vantage points of Nepal).
  • Interact with local groups, learning about their lifestyle, culture, and traditions.
  • Witness a captivating sunrise amidst the Himalayas from the upper viewpoint (4200m).
  • Relish the breathtaking vistas of Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, and Mardi Himal.
  • Taste delicious Nepali Cuisines (Dal Bhat, Momo, Thukpa, and others) while on the trek.

Routes Of The Mardi Himal Trek

Your excitement cracked in the air after you landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport. A representative of NHT will greet you and drive you to a hotel in Kathmandu, where you will have a brief meeting about your trip ahead.

The following day, you will drive smoothly to Pokhara by Tourist bus. You can enjoy the roaring mountains and hills and eat at local places. Arriving at Pokhara excites you as you see the mountains of the Annapurna Range in the distance. 

From Pokhara, you will take a drive to Birethanti through Nayapul, marking the official start of your Mardi Himal via Poon Hill trek. The crisp mountain air will refresh you when you start your journey to Ulleri.

Next comes the trek to Ghorepani. Ghore means “Horses,” and “Pani” means Water in Nepali. The hike to Poon Hill the following day will be one of the best highlights of this trip. Observing the view of sunrise/ sunset over the Mountains will leave you completely spellbound and out of words.

You will descend to Tadapani after the sunrise view and ascend to Landruk with a change of pace along with a charming village for another night. As you slowly ascent through dense forest to Forest Camp (Kokar), the views of Mountain peaks will become increasingly prominent. As you continue on the Mardi Himal ridge, you can see the beautiful rhododendron bushes and Danphe (Nepal's national bird, also called Monal).

We’ll continue on the Mardi Himal ridge and see the beautiful rhododendron bushes. We might also see the colorful Danphe along the trail.

Further, hiking up to the viewpoint, a sense of accomplishment will wash you over. After that, you’ll descend to Badal Danda. Trekking through the siding villages, you’ll finally drive to Pokhara. You’ll end your trip with a drive back to Kathmandu.

When Are the Best Times For The Trek?

Since spring and autumn mark the ideal time for trekking, you can book the Mardi Himal Trek anytime between March-May (spring) and September-October (fall). The weather during these months is perfect for hiking. With the clear skies, you’ll get glimpses of the snowcapped mountains as you walk further and further. The beautiful bloom of the rhododendron forest in spring and the cool breezy air in fall will add bliss to your hike.

You can still embark on this journey in winter (December-February) and monsoon (June-August). However, be aware of the slippery trails and unpredictable weather.

There may be a chance of mountains hiding behind the heavy clouds making the hike unworthy.

How Difficult is The Mardi Himal Trek?

This question may come to your mind after getting this far into the trip overview. Well, let’s talk about it in this section.

The Mardi Himal Trek via Poon Hill is graded as an easy to moderate trekking journey depending on your physical fitness. The plus point of this journey is that you do not need prior experience to do the adventure. The package is also carefully prepared with plenty of acclimatization time. Hence, you’ll get enough time to adjust your body to the changing altitudes. Further, although the trails are well maintained, you still need to be physically fit and healthy to embark on this journey.

Alternative Adventures

What are the alternative adventures compared with the Mardi Himal Trek? Read the following paragraphs to find out.

The Mardi Himal Trek is the first package you can look into. The 9-day trek skips the journey to Poon Hill and takes you to the base camp of the Mardi Himal. This trek takes you through charming villages, lush forests, and alpine landscapes, all while offering stunning views of the Himalayan mountains.

If you are short on time but still want to experience the beauty of the Mardi Himal region, the 8-Day Mardi Himal Trekking is a great alternative. The itinerary skips the visit to Poon Hill and stay at Pokhara. The journey takes you directly to the base Camp of the Mardi Himal.

No matter which trekking package you opt for, we guarantee an unforgettable holiday experience. Join us and embark on a journey to discover the breathtaking beauty of the Himalayas.

Detail Itinerary

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    You can arrive at the Tribhuwan International Airport at any time. When you arrive, you will be welcomed by one of NHT’s airport representatives. He will help you get transferred to the Hotel. There are no planned activities today.

      Drive to Pokhara gives you the chance to enjoy Nepal’s countryside life. Vast mustard and rice farms line the way. Pokhara is a great place to relax and enjoy the lake-side ambiance.

      Views of the Annapurna massif from the city are also quite spectacular.

      You can also enjoy an evening boat ride on Phewa Lake.

      Overnight Stay at Hotel, Breakfast included.

        After breakfast, you will have a drive to Birethanti, passing the village of Lumle and Nayapul. From here, the trekking path begins towards the Ulleri. As the village is left behind, the path converges through beautiful bamboo groves. The path then reaches Ranghia village, and from here, a gradual upward ascent leads to Tikhe Dhunga.

        From Tikhe Dhunga, the path continues into a suspension bridge over the river. From there, it is time to climb the 3300 stone steps to the renowned Magar village of Ulleri. Although the climbing might seem daunting, it is quite pleasant, and all the while, caravans and mule carsts keep passing up and down the stairs.

          From Ulleri, you will continue to Nangethanti and to Ghorepani. The views of mountain peaks from Ghorepani, like Hiunchuli, Tukuche Peak, Dhaulagiri, and the Annapurna peaks, are magnificent.

          Overnight say at the guesthouse at Ghorepani, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

            From Ghorepani, you will wake up early to trek to Poon Hill (3210m/10530ft), the most famous vantage point in the country. The sunrise view from the viewpoint amidst the mountain peaks is fantastic after taking in the gorgeous view of the peaks, like Mt. Dhaulagiri, Tukuche Peak, Nilgiri, Varaha Shikhar, Mt. Annapurnas, Machhapuchhare, and Lamjung Himal.

            After the wonderful experience, you will return to Ghorepani. After breakfast, we continue towards Tadapani, passing along terrace farms and streams. The route starts quite steeply until you cross the Deurali.

              From Tadapani, the trekking trail zig-zags its way through thick rhododendron woodlands, oak, and maple trees and crosses Modi Khola. Here, the regular trekking trail is discarded; a less-trodden rail is taken up.

              The vegetation becomes very verdant, and the environment becomes peaceful and isolated. All the while, the Annapurna Mountains loom down against the skyline.

              Eventually, you will reach Ghandruk. From here, another small village, Phedi, is passed, and after crossing the Modi River, the small village of Landruk is finally reached. You can enjoy spectacular views of Mt. Annapurna, Hinchuli, Machhapuchre, and the lifestyle of the Gurung people.

                From Landruk, it is a steady ascent through hamlets of pine and juniper to Forest Camp. The views of the mountain peaks become more prominent along the journey.

                Forest camp has sparse basic lodges and is very peaceful and isolated.

                Overnight stay at the lodge at Forest Camp, breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

                  The trail continues from Forest Camp to High Camp through the dense forests. Ascending through the trails, we see rhododendrons and trees covered in moss and lichen.

                  We’ll have lunch at Low Camp and enjoy the view of Mt. Machhapuchhre. Ascending from the Low Camp, the trail takes us west towards the amazing views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli Himal.

                  We gradually arrive at High camp, where we’ll see lodges bigger than Low camp.

                    On this day, we’ll wake up early to indulge and appreciate the sunrise over the Himalayas. The moment itself is legendary.

                    Then we’ll have breakfast and climb the Mardi Himal View Point at 4200m/13780ft. This is one of the challenging days as we walk on the narrow and rocky trails. However, the view at the end of the trek makes all the hard work worth it.

                    Mardi Himal is a sacred Himalaya of Nepal. No one has ever climbed the summit because of its sacred value. To date, it remains unclimbed.

                    The major highlight of this day is watching Nepal’s national bird Lophophorus.

                      A steep descent from low camp following the same trail we went up. We then leave the trail and trek into the forest, heading to the Mardi Khola River.

                      We descend further to Siding and then drive back to Pokhara.

                        Now that your trek is complete, you’ll return from Pokhara to Kathmandu by tourist bus.

                        If you are tired of a long bus journey, you can fly to Kathmandu at an extra cost.

                        Pokhara to Kathmandu costs USD 90.00 per person for one way flight. The choice is yours. Nevertheless, it would incur an additional fee.

                          Approximately 3 hours before the scheduled flight, a representative from Nepal Hiking Team will take you to the airport from where you will depart.

                          Cost Includes

                          • Airport pick up and drop off by private vehicle
                          • Two nights accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star category hotel in Kathmandu, normally at Woodapple Hotel and Spa or Similar.
                          • Two nights accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star category hotel in Pokhara
                          • Surface transfer to and from Pokhara by tourist bus then by private car to and from Nayapul.
                          • Full board meals with tea/coffee (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) during the trek
                          • Best available twin sharing lodge to lodge accommodation during the trek
                          • An experienced English-speaking (trekking guide), porter to carry luggage (2 trekkers: 1 porter) including their salary, insurance, equipment, meals etc.
                          • Down jacket, four seasonal sleeping bag, duffel bag, t-shirt, and trekking map (down jacket and sleeping bag are to be returned after trip completion).
                          • A comprehensive medical kit
                          • All necessary paperwork and permits (ACAP and TIMS, please bring 3 passport size photographs)
                          • All government and local taxes

                          Cost Excludes

                          • Meals not specified in the 'Meal Inclusions' in the itinerary'
                          • Travel insurance
                          • International airfare
                          • Nepal entry visa Fees: You can obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. (A multiple-entry tourist visa good for 30 days can be obtained by paying the US $ 40 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, multiple-entry tourist visas for 90 days can be obtained by paying the US $ 100. Please bring 2 copies of passport-size photos.)
                          • All kind of cold drinks including water, coke, Fanta, juice etc.
                          • WI-Fi internet during the trek
                          • Personal trekking equipment
                          • Tips for airport representative, tour guide, trekking staff, driver etc.

                          Cost and Date

                          Start Dates refer to your arrival date in Nepal. End Dates correspond to your return date from Nepal.

                          The Mardi Himal Trek via Poon Hill set departure dates are tailored for the group joining option. If the 12 days Mardi Himal Trek via Poon Hill departure dates don’t fit your schedule, we can include alternative dates that better suit your needs.

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