From Pokhara or from Kathmandu, four, five or ten days – and when Poon Hill or Annapurna Base Camp fit better

Four days from Pokhara: the frame most people book

Nine packages, seven of them under USD 400 for two. The pattern is the same everywhere: morning pickup in Lakeside, an hour to Kande, five to seven hours to Forest Camp; on day two six to seven hours via Low Camp and Badal Danda to High Camp; on day three off at four to the viewpoint or base camp, back for breakfast and down to Low Camp or Badal Danda; on day four to Siding and back by jeep. Four days are for anyone who knows their altitude tolerance and has little time – you are at 4,500 m 60 hours after Pokhara, faster than the rule of thumb of 300 to 500 m of sleeping altitude per day above 3,000 allows. If you take it, turn back at the viewpoint when in doubt. CAN Travels (290 for two, 37 reviews) is the reference product; Himalaya Trip (399, with full board and private car, from two) the most complete of the four-day treks; Crystal (245) the cheapest.

Five days from Pokhara: one more night that makes the difference

Ten packages. The extra night comes either on the ascent – Deurali or Pothana on day one, then Low Camp, then High Camp (Nepal Wilderness, Sisne Rover, Peace Himalaya, Himalayan Recreation) – or as a second night at High Camp after the summit morning (Nepal_first, Himalayan Recreation) or at Badal Danda on the way back (Nepal Wilderness). In every case the first day is shorter, the ascent slower and the summit morning better rested. The price for it is small: CAN charges 230 instead of 290 for five days to Lumre, Himalayan Recreation 499 for two, Nepal Wilderness 500 with everything. For anyone going above 4,000 m for the first time, this is the right number.

From Kathmandu: what bus, flight and hotel nights cost

15 packages start in Kathmandu, mostly with airport pickup. The way to Pokhara is part of the package: tourist bus with Magic Himalaya, Ace, Himalayan Adventure, Trek Around, Blissful, Amazing Nepal, Wander Walkers; private car with Heaven Himalaya and Nepal Treks; flight with Mission Himalaya, Alliance and Alpine Club (both ways) and Himalayas On Foot (outbound). Add hotel nights – one (Trek Around, Himalayas On Foot in Pokhara), two (Blissful), four (Himalayan Adventure, Mission Himalaya, Heaven Himalaya, Ace) or five (Classic Escapades, Alpine Club) – and with the all-round packages city tours and farewell dinners.

Converted, the surcharge over 'from Pokhara' runs from USD 30 (Trek Around 533 against Nepal Wilderness 500, with hotel night and transfers) to USD 1,000 (Ace 1,500). The middle is Magic Himalaya: USD 750 for nine days with porter, full board, bus and hotels per itinerary – about 250 more than the comparable package from Pokhara, for two bus rides, four hotel nights and airport pickup, which cost about USD 150 to 180 individually. Those who want the comfort of landing in Kathmandu and organising nothing further pay USD 70 to 100 of margin for it. Anyone who wants the flight to Pokhara is better served by Mission Himalaya (1,058 for two, 42 reviews) than by Alliance (1,315, non-refundable) or Alpine Club (1,299, different route).

Mardi Himal or Poon Hill?

Both start on the same road, both are teahouse treks without a pass, both show Annapurna South, Machapuchare and Dhaulagiri. The Poon Hill trek climbs in three to four days via Ulleri and Ghorepani to 3,210 m, with 3,300 stone steps on the first day and a viewpoint hill where 200 people stand in the morning; Mardi climbs in four to five days to 4,200 to 4,500 m, with forest instead of steps, a ridge instead of a hill and far fewer people. Poon Hill is easier, lower, for children and for anyone without altitude experience; Mardi is the trek where you are closer to the mountains and have the sunrise to yourself. In price they are level: Poon Hill 285 to 730 euros in the basket, Mardi USD 230 to 550 from Pokhara. Anyone wanting both will find eight-day combinations on Viator (CAN Travels, Alliance) that we have not included here.

Mardi Himal or Annapurna Base Camp – or Langtang?

Annapurna Base Camp lies in the Modi valley west of the Mardi ridge, at 4,130 m, and needs seven to twelve days: into the sanctuary and back out the same way, through Chhomrong, Bamboo, Deurali, with avalanche risk in spring and more lodges, more people, more ascent. Mardi is the shorter, higher and emptier neighbour; with ten days you can combine both – from Low Camp via Landruk to Chhomrong. The Langtang trek is the alternative for anyone who wants to skip Pokhara: seven days from Kathmandu, bus instead of flight, a valley instead of a ridge, summit day at 4,800 or 5,000 m, from USD 290. The choice is simple: four days and Pokhara – Mardi; a week and Kathmandu – Langtang; ten days and the great amphitheatre – Annapurna Base Camp.

Four treks compared

Questions about the variants

Sources and check status