Sristi AdhikariPlanning for the stunning trek in Nepal as a beginner and confused between Ghorepani Poon Hill vs Mardi Himal? Then, you clicked the right page.
These two treks offer the best views of the mountain, unique landscapes, Gurung culture and traditions, and a blend of Himalayan adventures in Nepal. The Ghorepani Poon Hill and Mardi Himal treks both start in Pokhara, but differ in difficulty, maximum altitude, and overall experience.
This guide will help you choose between Ghorepani Poon Hill vs Mardi Himal, so continue reading the blog for the essential information.
The Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is one of the most popular short treks in Nepal. It is perfect for beginners and first-time Himalayan adventure enthusiasts, where you will reach a maximum altitude of 2,874m.
Poon Hill Trek takes you through charming Gurung and Magar villages, lush rhododendron forests, and well-maintained trails in the Annapurna region. The main highlight is that it offers breathtaking views of sunrise from Poon Hill, and majestic mountain ranges like Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Machhapuchhre.
The Mardi Himal Trek is a quieter and more adventurous route in Nepal’s Annapurna region. The trek is ideal for trekkers seeking dramatic mountain scenery where trekkers return from a maximum altitude of 4,200 m.
The trail follows forest paths and narrow ridges, leading to stunning close-up views of Machhapuchhre and Annapurna South. With fewer crowds and higher altitude viewpoints, it offers a true Himalayan wilderness experience.
The Ghorepani Poon Hill vs Mardi Himal itinerary can be made as per the customer’s holidays and preferences. The Classic nine-day itinerary of the Ghorepani Poon Hill with us is described below:
The 11-day itinerary of the Mardi Himal trek with Awesome Holidays Nepal is:
There is a difference in the scenery and altitude of the Ghorepani Poon Hill vs Mardi Himal. The Ghorepani Poon Hill is a classic and gentle trek that takes you to an altitude of 3,210 meters, while you will reach a maximum altitude of 4,500 meters in Mardi Himal.
Poon Hill can be completed within a day if you start early in the morning and you descend the same day, but it takes more days.
Poon Hill offers lush Rhododendron forests, terraced fields, followed by the best sunrise views over Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, and Machhapuchhre. There is less risk of altitude sickness during the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek.
In contrast to this, Mardi Himal is a wild and dramatic trek that offers close-up views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), snow-covered landscapes near the viewpoint, where you will walk at first in the dense forests, which turn into alpine terrain. Here, the trek feels more like a high mountain trek for beginners.
The Ghorepani Poon Hill vs Mardi Himal trek duration can be varied as per your intention of holidays in Nepal. The former trek can be completed within a day from Pokhara, or it may take 9 days from Kathmandu, while the latter one is considered challenging and requires 10 to 11 days for completion from Kathmandu.
The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek is quite tough, but you can manage it even though you are a beginner, planning with families, or with kids. The trek has well-marked trails, plenty of rest stops, and short walking days.
Likewise, Mardi Himal is more challenging than Ghorepani. The trails are narrower with steep ascents, longer walking days, and the weather can change quickly. Also, there are a few teahouses at higher elevations. You have to be fit and take acclimatization seriously for this trek completion.
The cost comparison of the Ghorepani Poon Hill vs Mardi Himal trek favors the latter one. The Mardi Himal costs USD 490 per person, while Poon Hill costs USD 595 per person if you book with our itineraries. Both treks’ costs can fluctuate with the duration, and Poon Hill is cheaper than Mardi Himal.
If you are into photography, these two treks offers best photography spots with the views of the mountain in the background. From the viewpoint at 3,210 meters, you get a wide, open panorama of Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Annapurna I, South Nilgiri, and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) from the Poon Hill trek.
Similarly, the stone village of Ghandruk and the terraced rice fields, traditional Gurung houses, and Rhododendron forests in spring offer an ideal scene for photographers or for those travelers who enjoy storytelling photos, not just the Himalayas.
On the other hand, Mardi Himal offers jaw-dropping views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), and one can feel like the mountain is almost within their arm’s reach. Similarly, the views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, snow-covered ridgelines, and hanging glaciers are perfect for photography enthusiasts.
As a beginner, you have to be cautious with narrow trails and as cold drains battery quickly, make sure to add extra batteries so that you will get non-stop footage of dramatic mountain images.
There is more cultural immersion in Ghorepani Poon Hill’s traditional Gurung and Magar villages, where one can indulge in local homes and farm life more closely. You can also get to know about their history when visiting the cultural museums in Ghandruk.
Besides this, the Mardi Himal trek is more nature-focused, and you will have less cultural interaction as there is fewer villages on the trail. If you are a beginner trekker, and you want to explore culture as well as nature, then between Ghorepani Poon Hill vs Mardi Himal, you should select the former one.
The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek offers a variety of Nepalese dishes, soups, dal bhat, noodles, momo, tea, and coffee throughout the trek, but there are fewer menu options at the high camp.
The food is cooked with fresh ingredients in Poon Hill, while there are limited fresh ingredients in the Mardi Himal Trek. The cost of meals in Ghorepani Poon Hill is cheaper in comparison to the Mardi Himal trek.
The Ghorepani Poon Hill trekking has frequent and well-established teahouses and lodges, which can be found in every village. The teahouses and lodges offer comfortable beds, shared or private rooms with the facility of hot showers in the lower regions.
While there are limited teahouses after the low camp, the facilities are quite basic at the High camp of the Mardi Himal Trek. Also, the bedding is simple, and there is no hot shower facility at high camps. You have to compromise in the teahouses in Mardi Himal in comparison to Poon Hill.
Both the Ghorepani Poon Hill vs Mardi Himal demand permits for foreigners. You must have an ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) and a TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System), which can be obtained in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Beginners can trek solo in Poon Hill, but it is restricted to trek alone in Mardi Himal without a guide.
| Category | Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek | Mardi Himal Trek |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Beginners, families with Kids | Adventurous beginners, experienced trekkers |
| Max Altitude | 3,210 m (Poon Hill) | 4,500 m (Mardi Himal Base Camp) |
| Trek Duration | 4–5 days | 5–7 days |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to Moderate | Moderate |
| Altitude Sickness Risk | Low | Moderate |
| Scenery Type | Forests, villages, panoramic views | Alpine ridges, close-up mountains |
| Mountain Views | Annapurna South, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre | Machhapuchhre, Annapurna Range |
| Sunrise Viewpoint | Famous Poon Hill sunrise | High Camp or Base Camp views |
| Trail Condition | Well-marked stone trails | Narrow, steeper ridgelines |
| Crowd Level | Busy during peak seasons | Less crowded |
| Cultural Experience | Strong immersion in Gurung and Magar villages | Limited |
| Teahouse Comfort | Very good, frequent lodges | Basic at higher camps |
| Photography | Excellent sunrise and panoramas | Dramatic close-up shots |
| Permits Required | ACAP and TIMS | ACAP and TIMS |
| Cost | Budget-friendly | Slightly higher |
| Guide Requirement | Optional | Recommended |
| Best Season | Spring and Autumn | Spring and Autumn |
| Beginner-Friendly | Highly Rated | Average Rated |
Between Ghorepani Poon Hill vs Mardi Himal, Ghorepani Poon Hill will be a better option for beginners, as there is no risk of suffering from altitude sickness, and with minimal physical fitness, one can complete this trek in no matter of time.
Also, Poonhill offers vibrant villages with views of mountain scenery, and there are more facilities in the teahouses and food, which you will not regret choosing this package.
In contrary, if you are a nature enthusiast and want to enjoy the solitude, then Mardi Himal will be better for you. There is less facilities in teahouses and lodges, but your journey becomes more adventurous as you get to walk from dense forest to alpine terrain.
Mardi Himal demands physical fitness and mental preparation, and if you could include yourself in this category, then it will be best for you.
The choice is Yours, whatever you choose, both Ghorepani Poon Hill vs Mardi Himal are worth your time and money.
The absolute trek for beginners depend on their fitness and preference. It will be the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek rather than the Mardi Himal if you want to have a short time in Nepal. Mardi Himal will be better if you want to explore nature and want to enjoy solitude.
The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek is easier overall in terms of trail difficulty and effort.
The Mardi trek has steeper uphill sections than the Ulleri steps of Poon Hill.
Poon Hill trek has a lower maximum altitude than the Mardi Himal.
Altitude sickness is a concern for beginners on the Mardi Himal for than the Poon Hill trek.
The beginners typically need 3 to 4 days for Poon Hill while you will need 5 to 7 days for Mardi Himal from Pokhara.
Yes, you can do Poon Hill in 2 to 3 days, and it is still worth it.
Yes, the Mardi Himal trek is doable in 4–5 days for first-timers if planned and prepared properly.
You will need an ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) Permit and a TIMS Card for Poon Hill while Mardi Himal treks demands Mardi Himal Special Permit along with ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) Permit and TIMS Card.
Yes, you can get ACAP and TIMS in Pokhara. It will take you 30 minutes to 2 hours to obtain it.
You will need a guide for Mardi Himal in 2026.
Ghorepani Poon Hill is better for families with kids or older travelers.
The typical daily budget for food and rooms on Poon Hill is around $25 to $40+, while it extends to $30 to $50+ for the Mardi Himal Trek.
Poon Hill offers panoramic sunrise views, making it ideal for classic, wide-angle mountain photography, while the Mardi Himal trek provides closer, more dramatic, and intimate, close-up views of the Machhapuchhare peaks.
The Ghorepani Poonhill trek is best for rhododendron blooms and spring scenery.
Yes, Mardi Himal is colder than Poon Hill, and you need warmer gear.
The Ghorepani trek is better in the winter or monsoon season for beginners.
Yes, you can combine Poon Hill and Mardi Himal in one itinerary and make it beginner-friendly.
Ghorepani Poon Hill trek has better teahouse comfort and more lodge choices.
Ghorepani Poon Hill is significantly more crowded than Mardi Himal during peak seasons.
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