Poon Hill with Mardi Himal

Your adventure begins the moment you land at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. An Escape Himalaya representative will be waiting at arrivals with your name on a sign and will transfer you directly to your hotel in the heart of Thamel. After settling in, your trek leader will hold a pre-departure briefing covering the full itinerary, gear check, permit documentation, and any questions you may have. You will receive your complimentary Escape Himalaya duffel bag, trek map, branded cap, and T-shirt. Spend the evening exploring Thamel's vibrant streets or resting after your flight, tomorrow brings an early morning and your first views of the Annapurna Himalaya from the air.

A short morning flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara delivers some of the finest aerial views of the Himalayan range you will ever see, on a clear day, Manaslu, the Annapurnas, Dhaulagiri, and Machhapuchhre line the northern horizon in an unbroken wall of snow and rock. After landing at Pokhara airport, you transfer by vehicle to Nayapul, the classic starting point for treks into the Annapurna foothills.

The trail begins gently through terraced farmland and riverside paths before reaching Birethanti, a pretty stone village at the confluence of two rivers where your ACAP permit is checked. From here, the route climbs steadily through Hile and Tikhedhunga. The final stretch to Ulleri is the day's real challenge, a long flight of stone steps carved into the hillside that climbs nearly 500 metres in under two kilometres. It is steep, it demands respect, and when you reach Ulleri and turn around to look at the valley below, the reward is immediate. The village sits among terraced fields with the first proper Himalayan views opening up above the rooftops.

Today the trail enters one of the finest forest sections of any trek in Nepal. From Ulleri the path climbs through dense rhododendron and oak woodland, the canopy opening occasionally to give teasing glimpses of the peaks above. In spring this forest is extraordinary, every tree dripping with red and pink blossoms, birdsong filling the cool mountain air, and shafts of morning light cutting through the branches. This is why so many trekkers rate the Poon Hill approach as one of the most beautiful walks in the Himalayas.

The trail passes through the villages of Banthanti and Nangethanti before the final climb to Ghorepani. This busy, welcoming ridge-top village sits at 2,880 metres and is almost entirely devoted to trekkers, teahouses, bakeries, warm fires, and the shared excitement of tomorrow morning's pre-dawn walk to Poon Hill. Settle in early, eat well, set your alarm for 4:30 am, and get as much sleep as you can.

The 4:30 am alarm is the one you will not want to miss. The short trail from Ghorepani to Poon Hill (3,210 m) takes about 45 minutes by headlamp through quiet forest and stone steps. Trekkers from teahouses all along the ridge converge on this single viewpoint in the pre-dawn silence, and when the first light touches the Dhaulagiri group and then sweeps across Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Machhapuchhre, and Annapurna I, the collective silence of the crowd says everything. This is one of those rare moments that lives with you long after the trek is over.

After photographs, a warm breakfast back in Ghorepani, and a final look at the mountains, the trail heads east toward Tadapani through more beautiful rhododendron forest. The route dips into valleys and climbs again over forested ridges, with mountain views appearing at every clearing. Tadapani is a small, peaceful village with excellent viewpoints of its own, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre are right there across the valley as the afternoon light softens.

A shorter, more relaxed day that gives your legs a gentle recovery after the climbs of the previous two days. The trail descends from Tadapani through terraced fields and mixed forest, dropping into the Modi Khola valley before crossing to the east bank and climbing to Landruk. This traditional Gurung village is one of the most authentic on the entire route, stone-paved lanes, slate-roofed houses, women weaving on wooden looms outside their doorways, and children playing in the afternoon sunshine. The views of Machhapuchhre from Landruk are magnificent, the peak rises straight up from the valley in a way that makes it look impossible. Take the afternoon slowly. Tomorrow the real adventure of the Mardi Himal section begins.

Today marks the transition from the classic Poon Hill trail onto the Mardi Himal ridge, and the character of the trek changes noticeably. The path climbs steadily from Landruk into increasingly wild and quiet terrain, entering the Mardi Himal Protected Forest. Compared to the busy Poon Hill trail you walked earlier in the week, this route feels genuinely remote, fewer trekkers, narrower paths, and a sense of real wilderness as the forest thickens around you.

Forest Camp (also known locally as Rest Camp) sits in a clearing on the ridge at around 2,550 metres, surrounded by tall rhododendron trees that are spectacular in bloom. The teahouses here are simple and run by local families who have been hosting Mardi Himal trekkers since the trail was opened. The atmosphere is warm, unhurried, and completely different from the more commercial teahouse scene lower down. On clear evenings, the first close-up views of Machhapuchhre appear above the treeline, a preview of what is coming over the next two days.

This is the most demanding day on the Mardi Himal section and one of the most spectacular. The trail climbs steadily out of the forest and onto the open ridge, where the trees give way to alpine shrubs, scattered boulders, and sweeping open views. With every hundred metres of altitude gained, the panorama expands. Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, and the iconic spire of Machhapuchhre grow larger and closer with each step.

The trail passes through Middle Camp, a small teahouse cluster that serves as a convenient rest stop, before continuing up the increasingly exposed ridge to High Camp at 3,580 metres. The views from High Camp are extraordinary in every direction. Machhapuchhre appears almost close enough to touch its south face directly above, while the entire Annapurna Sanctuary opens up to the west. The air is noticeably thinner here; rest well tonight and eat a good dinner in preparation for tomorrow's early start to the viewpoint.

Another early start, ideally leaving High Camp by 5:00 am to reach the Mardi Himal Viewpoint at 4,500 metres before clouds build in the late morning. The trail from High Camp to the viewpoint follows the open ridge through a landscape of rock, thin alpine grass, and silence broken only by the wind. At this altitude the effort is real, but the experience waiting at the top makes every breath worthwhile.

The Mardi Himal Viewpoint delivers what many trekkers describe as the most intimate close-up view of Machhapuchhre available anywhere without a climbing permit. The sacred peak, forbidden to climbers since 1964 out of respect for its religious significance, fills the entire northern sky. Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, and Mardi Himal's own summit pyramid surround you on three sides. On clear mornings, the solitude and scale of this place are genuinely overwhelming.

After returning to High Camp for a late breakfast, the descent begins, dropping steeply back through Middle Camp and Forest Camp, continuing all the way down to Low Camp at 2,985 metres. It is a long afternoon descent but the changing landscape keeps it interesting, and the sense of satisfaction as the valley lights come on below is deeply satisfying.

The final day of walking descends from Low Camp through subtropical forest and terraced farmland to Sidhing, a quiet, traditional village that sees far fewer trekkers than the main Annapurna circuit trails. This is the Mardi Himal trail's best-kept secret: the lower section through Sidhing feels genuinely off-the-beaten-path, with local farmers tending their fields, children running to say hello, and almost no other trekkers in sight. It is a peaceful, unhurried way to end a week on the trail.

Your vehicle transfer from Sidhing to Pokhara takes approximately two hours on mountain roads. Arriving in Pokhara feels like emerging from another world, the warm air, the lakeside promenade, the restaurants and coffee shops, the soft light on Phewa Lake. Check into your hotel, take a long shower, and celebrate a genuinely great trek with a proper lakeside dinner.

The tourist bus departs Pokhara's lake bus park in the morning, following the Prithvi Highway east through the beautiful Trishuli and Marsyangdi river valleys. The journey passes through Damauli, Muglin, and Kurintar, where Nepal's famous Manakamana cable car climbs across the gorge, before the road enters the Kathmandu Valley. It is a long ride but a comfortable one with good road views throughout. Trekkers who prefer to fly can take the 25-minute Pokhara to Kathmandu flight for an additional USD 115 per person, subject to availability. Check into your Kathmandu hotel, explore Thamel one final time, and get a good night's sleep before tomorrow's departure.

Your Escape Himalaya representative will transfer you to Tribhuvan International Airport approximately three hours before your scheduled flight. You will leave with an official trek completion certificate, a camera full of mountain memories, and a very clear idea of which Escape Himalaya trek you want to do next. Safe travels, and thank you for exploring the Annapurna region with us.