Poon Hill and Mardi Himal Combined: A 9-Day Trek Day by Day, and Who It Suits

Last updated 9 October 2026.

Short answer: the 9-day Poon Hill and Mardi Himal trek joins two of the best short treks near Pokhara into one booking, with one guide and a rest night in Pokhara in the middle. You see sunrise from Poon Hill at 3,210 m, then walk the Mardi Himal ridge to base camp at 4,500 m. It suits fit walkers who want both and have nine days. If you have less time or are new to walking at altitude, pick one of the two.

Our Poon Hill and Mardi Himal Trek, 9 Days from Pokhara is the 4-day Poon Hill route followed by the 5-day Mardi Himal route. Here is what each day is like, how hard it is, and who I would send on it.

What does the 9-day route look like?

Why join the two treks?

They are different walks. Poon Hill is a village trek: stone steps, Magar and Gurung villages, rhododendron forest and one early climb in the dark to a famous sunrise over the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges. Mardi Himal is a ridge walk: you leave the villages behind, climb through forest to open ground, and sleep with Machhapuchhre almost overhead. If you only have one trip to Nepal, doing both gives you the village side and the high ridge side of the Annapurna region.

The price is a little lower than booking the two separately. Our 4-day Poon Hill trek and 5-day Mardi Himal trek add up to US$910, US$1,465 and US$2,660 on Budget, Standard and Luxury for two to four trekkers, and the 9-day is US$855, US$1,410 and US$2,610. So you save US$55 on Budget and Standard and US$50 on Luxury, and you also get one booking, one guide who knows your pace, and no second set of arrangements. If you want only one of them, read our comparison of Poon Hill and Mardi Himal.

How hard is it?

No technical skill is needed, but you must be able to walk for several hours a day on steps and uneven ground. Three days are hard work. Day 1 is a steep stone staircase up to Ulleri. Day 6 climbs to High Camp at 3,580 m. Day 8 is a long descent of six to seven hours that is hard on the knees, and I recommend trekking poles for it.

Day 7 is the highest and the one to respect. You start before dawn, follow the ridge north to Mardi Himal Base Camp at 4,500 m, and walk back to High Camp for lunch. On a clear morning you stand between Machhapuchhre and Annapurna South. Your guide sets the pace, and the walk is slow because of the altitude.

What about altitude?

You sleep at 2,860 m in Ghorepani and at 3,580 m at High Camp, and you walk to 4,500 m on day 7. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water and tell your guide at once if you get a headache or feel unwell. Your guide checks everyone's oxygen level with a pulse oximeter in the evening at High Camp. Our guide to the Mardi Himal trek goes into the ridge in more detail.

The Poon Hill half helps. You spend four days between 1,960 m and 3,210 m before you start the Mardi ridge, and the rest night in Pokhara drops you to 820 m. So you do not arrive at the Mardi climb cold, but you do arrive on day 5 with tired legs, and I would not skip the rest.

What is the rest night in Pokhara?

Day 4 ends in a hotel in Pokhara with a proper bed and a hot shower. It is a chance to wash clothes and to leave anything you do not need on the second trek. The night is not included in the price, so you can choose your own hotel. We can also reserve a 3-star at US$100 per room per night or a 5-star at US$150 as a booking add-on. If you have no strong preference, the 3-star is fine. Our Poon Hill itinerary guide covers the first half in more detail, and our notes on Mardi Himal lodges cover the second.

What is included and what does it cost?

Every tier includes a licensed guide, the Annapurna Conservation Area permits and TIMS cards for both routes, private vehicles at both ends of each route, and a first aid kit with a pulse oximeter. A solo Standard trekker has no porter, and the guide carries up to 10 kg of your bag. An extra porter is US$25 a day plus 13 per cent VAT and a 3.5 per cent bank charge. Hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara are not included on any tier. Buy insurance at home, covering trekking to 5,000 m including helicopter rescue.

Group size is 2 to 20, and you can also travel solo. The deposit is 10 per cent and it is non-refundable, with no refund if you cancel. You can reschedule free of charge with at least 72 hours notice, to any date within one year. The balance is paid on arrival in Kathmandu in US dollars or euros, cash or card. Card carries 3.5 per cent and cash in Kathmandu none. We do not take Nepali rupees from foreign clients.

Who should pick the 9-day, and who should pick one trek?

Pick the 9-day if you have nine days in the Pokhara area, you walk regularly, and you want both the sunrise and the ridge. Pick the 4-day Poon Hill if you have less time or want the gentlest start. Pick the 5-day Mardi Himal if you want the high ridge and a quieter trail and are happy to sleep at 3,580 m. If this is your first multi-day trek, I would start with one of the two and come back for the other.

Questions people ask

Do I need to be very fit? You need good everyday fitness and the habit of walking for hours. Training on hills or stairs for a few weeks before helps.

Is it cheaper than booking two treks? Slightly. At the two-to-four rate you save US$55 on Budget and Standard and US$50 on Luxury. The gain is also one booking and one guide.

Is the view guaranteed? No. Cloud can hide the mountains on any day, so treat the views as a bonus and the walk as the point.

Where does it start and end? In Pokhara, so you need a way to get there from Kathmandu. We can book the hotels for you.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.