Mardi Himal Trek via Ghorepani Poon Hill - 11 days

You can fly into Kathmandu from any of the international flying hubs Nepal is connected with. If you are flying during the day, you will get to enjoy incredible views of the Himalayan Range during your flight. After landing at the airport, you can head to the immigration section and complete the arrival process. You can also make a currency exchange and get a local SIM card at the airport if you want.

Walk out to the airport's terminal, and you will find our guide waiting for you holding a signboard with your name on it, or Third Rock Adventures. After greeting you he will take you to your hotel. Enjoy a welcome drink while checking in. Later in the day, there will be a trip briefing by your trekking guide. If you wish to buy any gear or supplies (snacks) for your trek, you can do so in Thamel. Thamel is a large tourist hub filled with trekking agencies, hotels, shops, rental outlets of trekking and mountaineering gear, and supermarkets. Have an early night, as you have a busy day tomorrow.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

Wake up early in the morning and head to the airport after breakfast. You will be boarding one of the early flights bound for Pokhara. During the flight, you can enjoy breathtaking views of hilltop villages and snow-capped mountains. The Langtang Range, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, and the Annapurna Massif can be seen stretching majestically on the horizon.

Once you land at the Pokhara airport, you will board a vehicle and start your journey towards Banthanti, the trailhead of your trek. The road to the trailhead is filled with breathtaking views of Himalayan peaks, terraced fields, Himalayan rivers, and rural towns and villages. You will drive past Nayapul, the original trailhead of most of the treks in the Annapurna Region, and Hile, and bypass the notorious three thousand-plus steps from Hile to Ulleri. En route, you will be presented with picturesque sights of traditional villages perched on the mountainsides. After reaching theBanthanti Jeep Stand, you will get out of the vehicle and begin your trek.

The first couple of kilometers will be on a newly constructed dirt road. Later, follow a narrow path that goes deep into a jungle. The trail goes down and then up. You will cross small streams and walk on the side of the Baraudi River. You can spy monkeys and birds perched on the moss-covered trees. The pristine nature covering the trail will let you forget your exhaustion.

You will stop for a brief rest and refreshment at a small teahouse in Nayathanti. The trail climbs gently upwards to the village of Nangethati. Colorful prayer flags are strung at some places en route, which add beauty to the trail. From Lower Nangethati, the trail evens out, and it's an easy walk to Upper Nangethati. Walk on well-laid stone steps and exit the village. Later, you will follow a gentle up and even trail to Ghorepani. A Magar settlement in Maygadi district, Ghorepani, lies on the old Tibet Salt Trade Route. In the olden days, caravans carrying merchants from far-off countries as well as the King of Mustang used to travel by this route.

A large yellow and maroon gate welcomes you to the village. Climb a stone staircase to arrive at a lodge, where you will spend your night. Enjoy a relaxing hot shower and a warm dinner.

Overnight in Ghorepani.

You will wake up before dawn and get ready for your hike to Poon Hill. Put on your headlamp and follow your guide out of the village and to the base of Poon Hill. Climb on a steep stone staircase all the way to the top of the hill.

Covered by rhododendron trees, Poon Hill used to be a grazing hill for the cattle and sheep of the Magar villagers. A Magar villager who served as a major in the Indian army, Tek Bahadur Poon, realized that the panoramic views offered by the hill should be shared with tourists. He named the hill Poon Hill, and in due time, the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek became one of the most popular treks in the Annapurna Region.

As the day begins to dawn, you can see the white snow-covered outline of the Himalayan peaks. It takes about an hour to climb to the top of the hill. It's a long and exhausting climb, and one may start feeling the effects of low oxygen levels as the viewpoint which lies at an elevation of 3210 meters.

At the top, there's a view tower, some benches, and a small coffee and tea shop. Once you reach the top, you can climb the view tower or just sit on a bench and enjoy the view.

As the sun rises, you will witness a magical scene of the snow-capped Himalayan mountains swiftly changing color from red and pink to orange and honey-golden. It's a beautiful sight, one that you will cherish forever. You will get excellent views of Annapurna South, Annapurna I, Baraha Shikar, Machapuchhre, Tukuche, Dhaulagiri Himal, Manaslu, Nilgiri, and Gurja Himal. It's a mesmerizing sight to see these mountains stretching across an unbroken line. However, the mountains won't be visible if it's cloudy. So make sure to check the weather on the internet before you embark on your trip.

After spending time savoring the views and taking pictures, you will descend to Ghorepani and have a hearty breakfast. After packing your belongings, you will take the trail to Tadapani.

The hike to Tadapani will take you past a beautiful rhododendron forest and charming Magar and Gurung villages. Most of the hike today is downhill, with some steep uphill climbs to Deurali Pass and Tadapani. Start with a descent down the stone steps and follow an up-and-down path to get to the base of Deurali Pass. Climb a stone staircase to the top of the pass. At Deurali Pass, you will be at the same elevation as Poon Hill. As with the Poon Hill viewpoint, you will also get the same spectacular views of the mountains from Deurali Pass.

From the pass, the trail goes downhill to the village of Deurali. There's an Upper Deurali and LowerDeurali. The locals of this charming village set up stalls selling handicraft items and woolen clothes on the trail. The trail goes down through a dense rhododendron forest. Walk alongside a river and enjoy the shade of the trees. There are some picture-worthy waterfalls en route. You will stop forrest and lunch at Banthanti village. After crossing the village, you will make a steep ascent of about forty minutes and reach the Gurung village of Tadapani. Tadapani, a quaint village surrounded by one of the largest rhododendron forests in the world, is an idyllic place to spend the night.

Overnight in Tadapani.

Leaving Tadapani, you will make your way towards Landruk. On the way, you will stop at the Gurung Heritage Village of Ghandruk. Your journey begins with a big descent through the rhodendron forest and alongside a stream. The hike to Ghandruk is relatively easy and filled with heartwarming views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Fishtail Peak.

After reaching Ghandruk, you can stop for rest and refreshment. Ghandruk is the largest Gurung village along the Annapurna Base Camp Trek route. The village is dotted with old white houses with stone roofs as well as new, brightly painted concrete lodges. It is one of the best destinations to experience Gurung culture and savor the Himalayan views.

stone roofs as well as new, brightly painted concrete lodges. It is one of the best destinations to experience Gurung culture and savor the Himalayan views. Later, you will follow the dirt road and enter the Modi River valley. Many vehicles heading toGhandruk use this highway, and the noise of vehicles and dust can be a nuisance. However, the scenic views of the terraced fields and traditional farms are pleasing to the eyes. Leaving the dirt track, you will take the downhill trail to Modi Khola and walk to the riverside settlement of Kyumi. Cross the Modi Khola (river) via a metal bridge and climb up to Landruk. It's a 300-meter ascent up to the Gurung village of Landruk. You will make your way to a teahouse and rest for the night.

Overnight in Landruk.

After a hearty breakfast, it's time to leave Landruk and move ahead. The trail goes up the village and enters a forest. You will be climbing more stone staircases today. The landscape, filled with terraced paddy fields, emerald hills, and mountain villages, looks amazing. On the horizon, the snowy spires of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli rear up majestically. You will walk past rocky cliffs where bees make their hives. The cliffs of Landruk are a favorite haunt of honey hunters, who harvest honey from these cliffs using rope ladders. Known as Himalayan cliff honey, the honey harvested from these cliffs has medicinal properties that are used to cure many ailments. Because of its hallucinogenic properties, cliff honey is also known as 'Mad Honey'.

It's a steep and long climb to Forest Camp. You will be walking through a lush forest with a thick green canopy. The moss-covered trees and their gnarly roots spreading over the trail make this section of the trail enchanting. It seems as though you have stepped into an enchanted forest. After a long hike, you will finally arrive at Forest Camp.

The trail to Mardi Himal goes through a pristine forest. Unlike the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trail, there are no villages up to High Camp from Forest Camp. There are only teahouses that the locals have built to facilitate the trekkers walking along this route. Like theKhopra Ridge Trek, the Mardi Himal Trek is also fairly new. The past few years have seen the trail become more popular among trekkers interested in a short Himalayan trek.

Forest Camp lies in a large clearing in the midst of the jungle. There are a lot of newly constructed teahouses at the camp. You will stay at one of the comfortable teahouses.

Overnight in Forest Camp.

Continue walking up the hauntingly beautiful forest. The trail winds up a steep, forested hill. It's yet another day of an arduous climb. After walking for about 40 minutes, you will reach Rest Camp. The views open up, and you can see Machapuchhre with its forked tail in the distance. After a brisk hike of about an hour or two, you will reach Low Camp, where you will stop briefly for rest and food. From Low Camp, you will have to walk for around 1 or 2 hours to reach Badal Danda, your destination for today. The last leg of your walk will take you to a ridge with a beautiful Himalayan view. Walk on the ridge before finally arriving at Bandal Danda. Badal Danda in Nepali means 'Cloud Hill'. The place has been named 'Badal Danda’ as one can usually see a sea of clouds from the top.

Overnight in Badal Danda.

Walk along well-laid stone steps as you head out of Badal Danda. You will be following a gentle up and down path along a ridgeline. The narrow path weaves on the side of a hill with a sheer drop-off. Walk slowly and steadily, and keep your eyes on the trail. If the weather is clear, you will get awesome views of the villages along the Modi River Valley and the Annapurna Mountains.

Fishtail Peak appears closer as you make your way up to HighCamp. You can feel a sense of achievement after reaching High Camp. At 3600 meters this is the highest overnight stop of your trek. Watching the view from the camp, you will feel all those steep ascents and climbs on endless staircases have been worth it. The forked summit of Machapuchhre rears close to High Camp, and you can see other mountains too.

There are more than ten teahouses at High Camp, offering basic accommodation and food to trekkers. Your guide will choose one of the best teahouses for you to spend the night.

Overnight at High Camp.

Wake up early in the morning and head to the Mardi Himal Base Camp. If you want to catch the sunrise, you can wake up while it's still dark and head to the viewpoint, which lies right above the High Camp. Wear a headlamp to find your way up in the dark. If you don't wish to make that hike in the dark, then you can start your hike to the Mardi Himal Base Camp at around 7 or 7:30 AM. It's better to start early when the weather is clear. It gets cloudy and windy really fast as the day progresses. So if you want to catch the views of the mountains, you have to wake up early and start your hike.

The trail to the Mardi Himal Base Camp goes up to the ridge. Walk along the ridgeline and savor the gorgeous views of the mountains. Rearing close to the ridge will be the snow-covered giants of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Singu Chuli Tent Peak, Gangapurna, Machapucchre, and right next to it, Mardi Himal. There's a small teashop at the Lower Mardi Himal Base Camp where you can enjoy a hot cup of tea while drinking in the views. Most trekkers hike up to this point and return. However, if the weather is fine and you feel pumped up to head to the Upper Mardi Himal Base Camp, you can do so. Remember, the trail is a bit hazardous areas it involves a steep descent and ascent on a narrow and exposed ridgeline. From the Upper Mardi Himal Base Camp, you will get a really close view of the summit of Mardi Himal and Fishtail, or Machapuchhre.

After spending some time at the ridge taking pictures and just experiencing the greatness of the mountains, you will return to the teahouse and pack your belongings. After a hearty breakfast, bid goodbye to the teahouse owner and descend to Low Camp. Enjoy the view of the lowland villages and river valleys during your descent. Once you reach Low Camp, head to a teahouse and have a restful night.

Overnight in Low Camp.

From Low Camp, you make your way downhill to Sidhing, from where you can board a jeep and head to Pokhara. The trail to Sidhing follows a steep descent past a thick forest. The foot trail is not that well maintained, and there are slippery sections and loose rocks. Be careful while heading down, as there's always a risk of a fall or a nasty ankle twist. Once you reach Sidhing, you can have some refreshments at a local teahouse and later board a vehicle to Pokhara. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Nepalese countryside during the drive. Once you arrive in Pokhara, head to your hotel. Check-in and have a good rest. You can have a relaxing hot shower and a good dinner. If you are not too tired, you can take an evening stroll by the side of the Phewa Lake.

Overnight in Pokhara.

Leaving Pokhara, you will fly to Kathmandu. Savor the majestic views of the Annapurna mountains, Dhaulagiri Himal, Langtang Lirung, Hiunchuli, Dorje Lakpa, Ganesh Himal, etc. during the flight.

Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, you will get picked up from the airport and driven to your hotel. Check-in and enjoy a relaxing day at your hotel. If you wish, you can book a half-day sightseeing tour and visit the cultural landmarks of the city. You can also take a walk around the city on your own. A walk from Thamel to Ason Bazar and New Road will bring you to the oldest and busiest markets in Kathmandu. You can shop for souvenirs while observing and interacting with the locals.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

It's finally time to leave Nepal and head to your home country or your next destination. Bid goodbye to the new friends and acquaintances you have made during you’re your trip. Our driver will pick you up from your hotel and drop you off at the Tribhuvan International Airport on time to catch your flight. If you feel like extending your vacation in Nepal to explore more destinations, please let us know. We will be more than happy to aid you in planning yet another memorable adventure.