Annapurna Poon Hill and Mardi Trek

The Annapurna Base Camp is one of Nepal’s great classics, but that’s exactly why the route to the Sanctuary can get quite crowded during peak season weeks.

Poon Hill + Mardi Himal, on the other hand, offers two very different experiences. Poon Hill is a famous and popular viewpoint, but after this first stretch we gradually leave the busier trails behind and climb toward Mardi Himal, where international groups are far fewer and the atmosphere becomes noticeably quieter.

In terms of scenery, the Annapurna Base Camp lets you step into the great amphitheater of the Sanctuary, while Mardi Himal offers a long panoramic ridge with Machapuchare growing ever closer and open views over Annapurna South and Hiunchuli.

We recommend the Annapurna Base Camp to those who mainly dream of entering the Sanctuary, while Poon Hill + Mardi Himal is a particularly appealing choice for those seeking great views of the Annapurna range but preferring to spend a large part of the trek on a quieter route.

Because they offer two completely different perspectives on the Annapurna region.

From Poon Hill, at 3,210 meters, you can watch a very wide sunrise panorama that includes Dhaulagiri and much of the Annapurna range. On Mardi Himal, instead, you climb along a ridge that brings you progressively closer to Machapuchare, Annapurna South and Hiunchuli.

So we chose to combine them rather than offer two separate short treks: first the classic sweeping panorama of Poon Hill, then the closer, high-altitude experience of Mardi Himal.

Poon Hill is famous above all for its sweeping panoramic view. From the summit you can see Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Machapuchare, and numerous other Annapurna peaks all at once.

On Mardi Himal, the perspective changes completely: walking along the ridge, the mountains are no longer distant on the horizon. Machapuchare rises directly ahead of you, while the walls of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli draw progressively closer.

It’s precisely these two contrasting perspectives on the same mountains that make the combination so compelling.

Poon Hill is one of the best-known routes in Nepal, and during peak season it can get busy, especially at sunrise.

As we continue toward Mardi Himal, things change: we gradually leave the classic trails behind, and the upper part of the Mardi is generally much quieter.

So we don’t present this itinerary as a trek that’s completely off the beaten path: its real strength is combining a great Annapurna classic with a second half that has a very different character.

Yes. They’re two of the most spectacular days of the trip.

From Ghorepani, we set off before dawn to reach Poon Hill and watch the sunrise gradually light up Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna range.

Even the highest day on the Mardi section starts very early: from High Camp we climb toward the Upper View Point while it’s still dark, so we can reach the ridge in the early morning hours and have the best chance of clear skies before clouds and wind pick up.

It’s suitable for hikers in good health who are already used to walking in the mountains, but it doesn’t require mountaineering skills or previous Himalaya experience.

Most of the trek takes place at moderate altitudes. The most demanding day is the Mardi Upper View Point day, when we climb above 4,000 meters after a very early start from High Camp.

It can be a great first Himalayan experience for those who want something more complete and demanding than Poon Hill alone, without tackling the 5,000-meter passes of the major circuits.

We consider this a moderate-difficulty trek.

The Poon Hill section alternates villages, forests and numerous steps, while climbing up the Mardi side the terrain gradually opens up as the altitude increases.

The most demanding day is the climb from High Camp to the Upper View Point, both for the elevation gain and the altitude. Ropes, crampons or mountaineering techniques aren’t required under normal trekking conditions, though.

Poon Hill reaches 3,210 meters, while on Mardi Himal we climb up to the Upper View Point, at about 4,450 meters.

We don’t sleep at this altitude: the overnight stay takes place lower down at High Camp, and we reach the Upper View Point during the morning hike before starting the descent.

This lets you experience a genuine high-altitude day without spending the night above 4,000 meters.

No. As always at high altitude, the goal is assessed based on the participant’s physical condition, the weather, and trail conditions.

Anyone who doesn’t feel up to completing the full climb can stop earlier: even along the ridge, the views of Machapuchare and Annapurna are spectacular.

Most days involve around 5–7 hours of walking.

The morning climb to the Mardi Upper View Point and a few stages with lots of ups and downs can be more demanding, while other days are shorter.

As is often the case in Nepal, elevation gain matters more than distance: even relatively short stages can take several hours due to constant ascents and descents.

We recommend arriving at the start already used to 5–7 hour hikes and routes with 700–1,000 meters of elevation gain.

Routes with long climbs, descents, and steps are especially useful. To tackle the Mardi Upper View Point day more comfortably, good cardiovascular endurance also helps.

The risk is lower than on treks like Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, or Manaslu, since we spend much less time at high altitude and don’t sleep above 4,000 meters.

However, the Mardi Upper View Point reaches about 4,450 meters, so some participants may experience headaches, fatigue, or other altitude-related symptoms.

The climb is taken slowly, and as always, there’s no need to reach the highest point if physical conditions don’t allow it.

We especially recommend spring, between March and May, and autumn, between late October and November.

In spring, the rhododendron forests crossed in the first part of the trip are especially beautiful, while autumn generally offers excellent mountain views.

Trekking in winter is possible, but snow and ice can make the Mardi ridge more challenging. During the monsoon, rain, clouds and wet trails greatly reduce the quality of the experience.

Yes. Mardi Himal is one of the routes for which current Nepalese regulations require accompaniment by a licensed guide and a TIMS Card.

A permit for the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP) is also required.

Himalaya Exped arranges the guide and permits directly before the trek begins, and all the documentation required by the itinerary is included in the trip.

English is always guaranteed: all our Nepalese guides who accompany international clients speak English.

When available, we can also assign guides with a good knowledge of Italian or German. However, these languages are not guaranteed on every departure: if they matter to you, let us know before booking and we’ll check the availability of the most suitable guide.

Yes. We ask participants to take out travel insurance that covers high-altitude trekking, any medical expenses, and emergency evacuation.

Since the climb to the Mardi Upper View Point reaches around 4,450 meters, we recommend a policy that covers trekking up to at least 5,000 meters.

In Kathmandu we’ll give you a duffel bag to hand over to the porters. We normally plan for one porter for every two participants, with a maximum of 13 kg of personal luggage per person.

The duffel bag is carried to the next stage and will be available again once you reach the lodge.

It’s a concern we understand, but the issue isn’t using porters — it’s how they’re treated. Working as a porter or guide is one of the main tourism-related income opportunities for many families in the mountain regions, and refusing their work on principle doesn’t necessarily help them.

At Himalaya Exped, porters are part of the team. We work with local people, and we guarantee decent working conditions, insurance during the trek, and strict limits on the weight they carry. We normally plan for one porter for every two participants and a maximum of 13 kg of personal luggage per traveler.

To us, responsible tourism doesn’t mean taking work away from local communities — it means making sure that work is done with dignity, safely, and with fair pay.

During the trek you’ll only carry a light backpack, roughly 20–25 liters, with water, a waterproof jacket, a warm layer, sunscreen, sunglasses, documents, camera and anything you might need during the day.

The rest of your gear travels in the duffel bag entrusted to the porters.

Anything you don’t need during the trek can be safely left at the hotel in Kathmandu and picked up on your return.

Along the way, all you need is the duffel bag carried by the porters and your small daypack.

During the trek we stay in tea houses and lodges along the route, generally in simple double rooms.

In the Poon Hill area and in larger villages, it’s easier to find lodges with a private bathroom. Climbing up Mardi Himal through Forest Camp, Badal Danda and High Camp, the lodges become progressively smaller and more basic, and shared bathrooms are more common.

Our guides always look for the best accommodation available, but a private bathroom can’t be guaranteed at every stage. Rooms are usually unheated; lodges often heat the communal dining room instead.

In Kathmandu and Pokhara, we stay in 3-star hotels in double rooms with a private bathroom and breakfast included.

Yes. At Badal Danda, and especially at High Camp, nighttime temperatures can drop sharply and lodge rooms are unheated.

We recommend a sleeping bag suited to low temperatures, with a comfort rating of around -20 °C. If you don’t have one suited to Himalayan conditions, you can rent one in Kathmandu.

Himalaya Exped provides 2 liters of drinking water per person every morning, to be carried in your own water bottle or thermos.

Boiled or bottled water is usually available for purchase at the lodges. Water straight from taps, fountains or streams should never be drunk without first boiling, filtering or treating it with a purification product.

The lodges serve simple but fairly varied food: Dal Bhat, noodles, soups, rice, potatoes, pasta, eggs, momo and several vegetarian dishes.

Around Poon Hill the choice is generally quite wide, while further up towards Forest Camp and High Camp the lodges get smaller and the menu becomes progressively simpler.

Our guides tend to recommend simple, often vegetarian dishes at the more remote lodges, especially when there’s no guarantee that meat has been stored properly.

They’re not essential, but it can be handy to bring a few energy bars, dried fruit or supplements you’re already used to using on hikes.

We especially recommend bringing products you know you tolerate well, and avoiding trying new supplements during the trek.

During the first part of the trip, around Pokhara, Poon Hill and the lower villages, daytime temperatures can be mild or even warm.

Climbing toward Badal Danda and High Camp, the weather changes quickly. Overnight and in the early morning hours, temperatures can drop below zero, and the climb to the Upper View Point starts while it’s still dark, with possible wind and noticeably colder temperatures.

During the day, with the sun out, it can actually get relatively warm even at altitude. That’s why it’s important to dress in layers.

Yes. Most main lodges generally allow you to charge phones and cameras.

Higher up on Mardi Himal, this service may come at a cost and power availability becomes more limited, especially at High Camp.

We recommend bringing a high-capacity power bank and keeping batteries and devices warm overnight.

In the Poon Hill area and in the lower villages, mobile coverage is generally good, and many lodges also offer Wi-Fi.

On Mardi Himal, the signal becomes increasingly unreliable as you climb toward Forest Camp, Badal Danda, and High Camp. It may be available in some areas and completely absent in others.

We recommend buying an NTC (Nepal Telecom) SIM card at the airport or near your hotel, and not relying on continuous network availability during the higher part of the trek.

Before departure, we therefore recommend downloading maps, documents, and anything else that could be useful offline.