Two of our Nepal treks fit in a week or less: Poon Hill (5 days, 3,210 metres, from USD 390) and Mardi Himal (7 days, about 4,500 metres, from USD 690). Both start from Pokhara in the Annapurna region. Choose Poon Hill for an easier walk with a famous sunrise, and Mardi Himal for a harder ridge and closer mountains. Both day counts start in Pokhara, so add your travel from Kathmandu.
Which short trek fits your time and fitness?
These day counts include arrival and departure days in Pokhara, so your actual walking time is shorter than the headline figure.
| Fact | Poon Hill | Mardi Himal |
|---|---|---|
| Total days | 5 | 7 |
| Walking days | 3 | 5 |
| Highest point | 3,210 m | About 4,500 m |
| Highest sleep | About 2,860 m | 3,580 m |
| Our rating | Easy | Moderate |
| Price from | USD 390 | USD 690 |
Poon Hill: the easiest good choice
Poon Hill is a 3,210-metre viewpoint above Ghorepani, about a 45-minute uphill walk from the village, with Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna range ahead at sunrise. Our Poon Hill Trek walks from Nayapul through Ulleri and Ghorepani, then returns by Tadapani and Ghandruk, a Gurung village. The long stone climb to Ulleri on the first day is the hardest part, gaining 1,000 metres from Nayapul.
It is not a quiet trail. In 2019 a local hotelier told the Kathmandu Post that about 2,500 people a day came in peak season. The Annapurna Conservation Area as a whole recorded 32,963 foreign visitors from mid-September to mid-October 2026. Read our Poon Hill guide for the details.
Mardi Himal: more reward, more altitude
Mardi Himal is a narrow ridge trail with close views of Machhapuchhre (6,993 metres). Our Mardi Himal Trek goes from Kande to Pothana, Forest Camp and High Camp, then makes a long day to base camp and back. Fewer foreigners used it in 2018, according to one Kathmandu Post writer, who counted about 20, though numbers may have changed since. Our Mardi Himal guide has the full route.
Altitude is the catch. Short does not mean safe here. Your sleeping height jumps 990 metres from Forest Camp to High Camp, while the CDC advises no more than 500 metres a day above 3,000 metres. Then base camp day climbs another 920 metres, and ACAP recorded one altitude death on this route in 2025/26.
Turn back early if you feel unwell. The upper viewpoint at 4,200 metres is a good place to stop, so reaching base camp is not essential. Confusion, or breathlessness at rest, means you must go down at once, as the NHS also advises. Our guides carry pulse oximeters.
Why are there no one-week Everest or Langtang treks on our list?
The time and the altitude do not allow a safe one-week trip on our routes. The shortest Everest trip we list is the 12-day Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return, and Lukla flights often need spare days. Langtang now takes 11 days from Dhunche because of the August 2026 flood damage.
If you can stretch to 8 days, the Khopra Ridge Trek from USD 790 opens up. For a wider view of gentle routes, see easy treks in Nepal.
What will a short trek cost beyond the trip price?
Both treks are in the Annapurna Conservation Area, so you need two documents.
- ACAP: NPR 3,000 for foreigners, NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals. The fee doubles at a checkpost, so buy it first.
- TIMS: NPR 2,000, or NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, issued by an agency as an eCard.
A licensed guide has been required since 2023 in conservation areas. Ask whether your quote includes these.
When should you go, and what can go wrong?
March, April, October and November are our best months for both treks, and May is good. June to August is a poor choice because of rain and cloud, and we rate September as shoulder season. Winter works for Poon Hill, which we rate as shoulder from December to February. Mardi is harder then, and we rate January as a month to avoid. Check our winter treks guide first.
The tight timing is the real risk. On a one-week holiday, one closed road or cancelled flight can cost you the trek. Book your flight home with a spare day in Pokhara or Kathmandu, and check our guide to getting from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Neither route was in the 2026 flood zone, according to our flood update, but landslides can still close mountain roads after heavy rain.
Tell us how many days you have, and our team in Kathmandu will suggest what fits.
Frequently asked questions
What is the shortest trek in Nepal with mountain views?
On our list, it is Poon Hill at 5 days, with three days of walking. Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna range are in view from the top at sunrise.
Can a beginner do Mardi Himal?
Yes, if you are fit and go slowly. It is harder than Poon Hill, with a large altitude gain. Skip base camp if you feel unwell.
Can you see Everest on a one-week trek?
Not on our list. The shortest Everest trip we run takes 12 days with a helicopter return, partly because the altitude needs time.
Do you need a guide for a short trek?
Yes. Both treks are in the Annapurna Conservation Area, where a licensed guide has been required since 2023. Our guide rule article explains what this means.
Founder & Lead Guide, Annapurna Trekking
AJ founded Annapurna Trekking in 2016 and has personally guided treks across Nepal ever since. More about our team →
