Annapurna Base Camp Trek vs Everest Base Camp Trek

Who wouldn’t enjoy visiting locations that are teeming with breathtaking scenery, deep fjords, lakeside communities, and ravines? But I wish it were so simple to think of a location that sticks out in every aspect unless it were for Nepal. Here, we’ll contrast the Everest Base Camp Trek and the Annapurna Base Camp Trek in terms of various criteria. So, here we will discuss about Annapurna trek vs Everest Trek.

Nepal is a diversified country despite being small in terms of its geographic dispersion. It offers a variety of landforms, some rising thousands of meters above sea level and others barely a hundred or so.

Although there are differences between these locations, they all have an excellent outlook and a charming local atmosphere. It boasts an abundance of scenic areas and natural beauty because the Himalayas call it home.

Annapurna Trek vs Everest Trek

If you travel to the highlands, you’ll see limitless, towering mountains that provide fantastic hiking trails. Innumerable hikes in the Himalayas provide traditional pathways to travel and discover the surrounding splendor.

Even so, nothing compares to the allure and magnificence of Everest and Annapurna Base Camp. They are the most popular and commanding walks of all, with breathtaking views, rolling terrain, and vibrant valleys.

Although they are both multi-day hikes, each has a unique charm and a well-established reputation worldwide. Everest Base Camp offers the breathtaking view of the glittering Mount Everest, while Annapurna Base Camp is graced by the impressive Annapurna massif.

It would be terrible to choose one over the other when there are two independent and fantastic mountain excursions available. They each exhibit great natural grandeur and are exceptional in their own way. There are roughly equal numbers of fans of the Everest Base Camp Trek and the Annapurna.

As a result, choosing between the Annapurna Base Camp Trek and the Everest Base Camp Trek is exceedingly difficult. Therefore, rather than forcing you to choose one, we’ll let you determine which is superior to the other. We have compared the details of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek and the Everest Base Camp Trek in order for you to make an informed decision.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek vs Everest Base Camp Trek

You cannot imagine trekking in Nepal without seeing Everest Base Camp, not even in your wildest dreams. With breathtaking landscapes, undulating hills, and snow-capped mountains, it is the most sought-after hike in the world.

Trekkers from all over the world yearn to experience the glory of Everest Base Camp. They are eager to explore the trail and the cute villages that are perched off to the side.

Naturally, the Everest Base Camp Trek involves more climbing up difficult hills than actual excursions. For the record, the distance from Lukla to the camp is 80 kilometers round way. As a result, to do the task, you’ll need some technical expertise and persistence.

With a maximum elevation of 4,130 meters, Annapurna Base Camp is actually a little more convenient and easy than Everest Base Camp. Even though there are plenty ups and downs, the trek is not very challenging.

Despite some challenging stone stairs and high hills, the trip is reasonably paced. You will have an unmatched view of the massive snow peaks and saddle as you walk the trek.

Trekkers can enter the woods to view the riot of fall colors or the rhododendrons in full bloom in spring and autumn.

The most incredible view can be found on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, which will keep you entertained the entire time. Visitors are rewarded with subalpine woodland, charming villages, and breathtakingly beautiful mountains blanketed with snow.

Although it is exhausting, climbing the cliff is worthwhile since you will be rewarded with an unmatched vista of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. While entering the sanctuary, visitors can see a wide variety of animals and birds.

Cost of the Everest Base Camp Trek vs the Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Every serious trekker considering a trip to Nepal compares the costs of the Everest Base Camp Trek and the Annapurna Base Camp Trek. They evaluate the expense and occasionally base judgments on it.

However, most of the time, hikers decide on their location before paying the fees that cover various costs. Compared to hiking Annapurna Base Camp, hiking Everest Base Camp is more expensive.

No matter the schedule or the luxurious lifestyle, the expense of the Everest Base Camp trip is pretty costly. Trekkers should be prepared to spend between US$1,000 and US$3,000 for a typical 7 to 21-day trek.

The price includes a one-way flight to and from Lukla, a Sagarmatha National Park that permits lodging, meals, and beverages. Instead, the cost of a typical 12- to 13-day trip to Annapurna Base Camp ranges from US$800 to US$1200.

The cost includes all essential costs, such as the ACAP entry permit fee, lodging, porters, and guides. Be prepared to pay extra money if you need to use any services that haven’t been paid for, such hot showers and battery chargers.

Comparing the accessibility of the Everest Base Camp and the Annapurna Base Camp

Everest Base Camp vs. the Annapurna Base Camp Trek Although off-piste, the trek route is not same. While both of their journeys have quite a few ups and downs, they take various paths that vary in difficulty.

The Everest Base Camp trek may be accessed from Lukla, where hikers are expected to fly to. Before Phakding, the hike begins with a gradual ascent up the slope and the Dudh Koshi river bank.

The trails from here are largely uphill and feature stone stairways and rocks. It travels through a number of settlements, notably Namche Bazaar and Tengboche, home to a stunning monastery. With a collection of ancient statues and gods, it is constructed in the Tibetan architectural style and exudes pride.

The scenery en route to Everest Base Camp is just as breathtaking as it seems from the plane. The spectacular rock formations, verdant meadows, intriguing hills, and mountains are more than enough to keep you occupied the entire walk.

It is safe to state that the ascent from Tengboche and even earlier to Everest Base Camp is longer and steeper. A lot of the hikes go through the deep rhododendron, oak, and birch-filled forest and over suspension bridges.

What’s More

Before reaching base camp, hikers must pass through Dingboche and negotiate the treacherous Gorak Shep trek. Everest Base Camp, which is perched at the base of the Khumbu Glacier, provides a breathtaking view of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam.

While visiting the camp, you can also get a sight of the Khumbu Icefall and the Ngozumpa glacier. Trekkers will take a short detour to the closest viewpoint, Kala Patthar, from where they can enjoy the beautiful scenery before rejoining the trail.

The Everest Base Camp trip takes at least two weeks to accomplish, although depending on the itinerary, travel time may be longer. The hike will last nearly a month if you follow the alternate path through Jiri, and it will take almost a week to get to Lukla.

The trek to Annapurna Base Camp might take as little as 7 days or as much as 2 weeks. Compared to walking Everest Base Camp, the hike is unquestionably simpler. However, the hikers must provide ample time for acclimatization and trail ascending.

On this Journey

An easy drive from Pokhara to Nayapul is usually the first leg of the multi-day climb to Annapurna Base Camp, which is then followed by a hike to Tikhedhunga. You will undoubtedly be fatigued as the trail twists uphill to Ghorepani, but the breathtaking scenery will make up for it.

Following that, it passes past Tadapani and also stops at Poon Hill. The hill station, which is 3,210 meters above sea level, provides peaceful views of the Pokhara lakes and a spectacular dawn.

To get to the campsite during the week-long hike, travelers pass through the picturesque towns of Sinuwa and Deurali. The meandering track is undoubtedly difficult to beat with its numerous highs and lows, but the view is still breathtaking and helps to keep the mind sharp.

There are various monasteries, prayer flags, and Chortens to see along the Annapurna Base Camp trip route. The panorama from the base camp, though, is what warms the heart. You may capture the Annapurna massif, Manaslu, Gangapurna, and Pisang Peak in one clear shot alone from the base camp’s elevation of 4,130 meters.

The path leading down to Pokhara crosses Sinuwa via the bathing area at Jhinu Danda Hot Spring. It’s extremely calming to travel back through the lush forest of fir and pine trees.

Getting Used to the Everest Base Camp Trek vs. the Annapurna Base Camp Trek

You’ll need to set aside a few days for acclimatization because the trail to Everest Base Camp is steep and constantly ascending uphill. It aids trekkers in adjusting to the shifting altitude and prevents altitude sickness.

Hikers take at least two days break during the Everest Base Camp trip in order to relax and adjust to the weather. After arriving in Namche Bazaar, where the trail is significantly more steep, the initial acclimatization occurs.

Anyone who walks it occasionally will get dizzy, therefore hikers stop at the sherpa town to rest. Dingboche is the next place to acclimate at during the Everest Base Camp walk because the trail rises 570 meters after the settlement.

Travelers are advised to rest for at least a day before beginning the Annapurna Base Camp trip. They will get the much-needed time to become accustomed to the temperature. That decreases with each elevation rise thanks to this.

Trekkers might halt in Deurali to acclimatize since the effects of altitude are typically felt after 2,500 meters above sea level. They can avoid altitude sickness and ascend the trail to base camp with ease if they do this.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek vs. Everest Base Camp Trek: Difficulties

The differences in difficulty between the treks to Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp may not be obvious. Starting off with the huge and obvious, unlike Annapurna, practically every hiker to Everest Base Camp has serious concerns about altitude sickness.

Trekkers on the EBC trail are more likely to experience acute mountain sickness than those on the Annapurna circuit. Since the trail ascends all the way to 17,598 feet. They first manifest as trivial symptoms like headaches and lightheadedness, which can develop into severe disorders like hypoxemia.

In contrast to the track leading to Annapurna Base Camp, the trail to Everest Base Camp is also steeper. Before reaching the camp, which is fairly taxing, it climbs peaks and troughs, going through hills in Namche and a plain meadow in Dingboche.

Accommodation and food issues could arise on the Everest Base Camp Trek. The houses are frequently occupied if you stop by the camp in high season. Just forget it if you were considering making a last-minute hotel reservation.

In terms of trek difficulty, the journey to Annapurna Base Camp is subtly moderate, with only a few tough terrains. Although it doesn’t need extremely high levels of physical fitness, hikers must be in decent form to handle the difficult trails.

Altitude sickness is still one of the most likely conditions that trekkers to Annapurna Base Camp would have to deal with. Although not being as severe as it is at Everest Base Camp. In the same way, it might be challenging for trekkers to scramble in the winter because to the severe snowfall on the route to Annapurna.

Comparing the weather at Everest Base Camp Trek and Annapurna Base Camp Trek

With each passing season, the climate at Everest Base Camp and Annapurna is essentially the same. The weather does vary between the two base camps, though, because of the different geography and elevation above sea level.

Compared to Annapurna, which climbs to a height of 4,130 meters, Everest Base Camp’s weather is typically colder at 5,134 meters. The summer on Everest is unlike the winter at Annapurna Base Camp since it is both warm and cold.

The weather in Annapurna, nevertheless, is typically pretty pleasant thanks to the brilliant sunny day. Although not as cold as on the Everest Base Camp Trek, the mornings and nights can still be chilly. The most exciting seasons of the year are, as one might anticipate, spring and autumn.

It helps to travel the trail when both base camps experience pleasant weather during the months. A burst of wind on the walk has brought the hypnotic scent of wildflowers and new snow.

Everest Base Camp experiences slightly harsher winter weather than Annapurna Base Camp. In contrast to Everest, where it is below -20 degrees Celsius. The latter can see winter lows of up to 5 degrees.

Conclusion 

Considering how the Everest Base Camp Trek and the Annapurna Base Camp Trek might differ from one another in terms of preparation. Well, just so you know, the preparation for Annapurna and Everest Base Camp is similar. However, the preparation for one is less extensive than the other.

The moderate difficulty of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek does not necessitate rigorous physical preparation before or even during the trek. Any novice with good physical condition and self-control can complete the Annapurna Base Camp Trek without difficulty.