Mardi Himal Ridge via Poon Hill

Our team meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport upon your arrival and transfers you to your hotel in Kathmandu. The remainder of the day is yours to rest or check gear in the city.

We board a morning tourist bus for the drive west along the Prithvi Highway toward Pokhara. Terraced rice fields and river valleys line the road before we arrive by the shores of Phewa Lake.

A morning vehicle transfer takes us to Birethanti, where we register our permits and begin walking along the Modi Khola river valley. We ascend stone staircases through bamboo groves and cross suspension bridges before climbing the steep stone steps up to the Magar village of Ulleri at 1960 m.

Our trail continues uphill through rhododendron forests and past small streams through Nangethanti. We reach Ghorepani at 2880 m by afternoon, where peaks like Dhaulagiri and Hiunchuli rise directly above the settlement.

We start before dawn for the steep climb to Poon Hill at 3210 m to catch the morning light on the high peaks. After returning to Ghorepani for breakfast, we descend through dense forest and cross a ridge before climbing toward Tadapani at 2630 m.

We drop steeply out of Tadapani through mossy oak and maple woodlands, crossing the Modi Khola river below. A steady afternoon pull brings us into the Gurung village of Landruk at 1565 m.

Leaving the main valley trails behind, our route climbs steadily through pine and juniper forests toward Kokar, commonly known as Forest Camp, situated at 2600 m.

We continue our ascent through increasingly damp, moss-draped timberlands, stopping at Low Camp for lunch with views of Machhapuchhre. The trail then opens up onto the alpine ridge leading directly to High Camp at 3550 m.

We depart before dawn for a challenging climb along narrow, rocky ridge lines to reach the upper viewpoint at 4200 m for sunrise. After returning to High Camp for breakfast, we pack our gear and descend along the ridge to Badal Danda.

We descend steeply through farming terraces and traditional settlements away from the main ridge, dropping down into the quiet village of Siding.

A short morning walk brings us to a roadhead where our vehicle meets us for the return drive to Pokhara. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax by Phewa Lake.

We board our return transport for the drive back along the Prithvi Highway to Kathmandu, where our trek concludes upon arrival in the capital.