The Everest Base Camp trek and the Annapurna Circuit are the two most famous treks in Nepal, and two of the most famous in the world. Both take about two weeks, both reach well above 5,000 m, and both are unforgettable. But they are very different journeys. One is a there-and-back walk to the foot of the highest mountain on Earth; the other is a great loop through changing landscapes and cultures, over a high pass. Here's how to decide.
Quick answer: choose Everest Base Camp if standing beneath Everest is your dream, you love Sherpa culture and big glaciers, and you don't mind a flight to Lukla. Choose the Annapurna Circuit if you want variety, a true journey from green valleys to high desert, a pass crossing at Thorong La (5,416 m), and road access without mountain flights. Both are graded strenuous and are best in October–November and March–May.
Side by side
| Everest Base Camp | Annapurna Circuit | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical length | About 14 days | About 14 days (12–18) |
| Highest point | Kala Patthar, about 5,545 m | Thorong La, 5,416 m |
| Highest night | Gorak Shep, about 5,164 m | Thorong Phedi or High Camp, about 4,450–4,880 m |
| Route shape | Out and back (or loop via passes) | One-way loop around the massif |
| Access | Flight to Lukla (or Ramechhap in peak season) | Road to Besisahar or beyond |
| Signature view | Everest from Kala Patthar | Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, Thorong La |
| Culture | Sherpa villages and monasteries | Gurung, Manangi, Thakali and Tibetan-influenced villages |
| Landscape | Glaciers and high peaks | Rice terraces to forest to high desert |
| Roads | None above Lukla | Roads along much of the route |
| Permits | Sagarmatha National Park and Khumbu fee | ACAP |
| Our grade | Strenuous | Strenuous |
Scenery
The Everest trek builds steadily towards one of the greatest mountain landscapes on Earth: Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse and finally Everest itself, with the vast Khumbu Glacier at your feet. The scenery becomes starker and more dramatic the higher you go.
The Annapurna Circuit is about change. You start among rice terraces and waterfalls, climb through forests of pine and rhododendron, reach the dry, Tibetan-style villages of Manang, cross Thorong La, and descend into the windswept Kali Gandaki valley, between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. Few treks in the world offer such variety.
Difficulty and altitude
Both are strenuous, mainly because of altitude. On the Everest trek you spend several nights above 4,400 m and one at about 5,164 m. On the Annapurna Circuit, the highest nights are lower, but the pass day is long and hard: a pre-dawn start from about 4,450–4,880 m, a climb to 5,416 m, and a steep descent of more than 1,600 m to Muktinath. Read our guides to EBC difficulty and the Annapurna Circuit.
Access and flights
Everest depends on the Lukla flight, which is often delayed by weather; you need spare days. You can avoid it by walking in on the classic Jiri route. The Annapurna Circuit starts by road, and you can finish by road or by flight from Jomsom to Pokhara. Roads now reach much of the Annapurna route, which makes it flexible but means some sections share the valley with jeeps; good guides use alternative trails.
Crowds and lodges
Both are busy in October, November and April. Everest lodges are excellent in Namche and good higher up; Annapurna lodges are comfortable throughout, with bakeries in Manang. Everest's trail is a single valley, so it can feel crowded at peak times; the Annapurna Circuit spreads people over a longer route.
Cost
Everest usually costs a little more because of the Lukla flights. See our packages for Everest Base Camp and the Annapurna Circuit, and our cost guide.
Which should you choose?
- "I want to see Everest": Everest Base Camp.
- "I want variety and a real journey": Annapurna Circuit.
- "I'm nervous about small planes": Annapurna Circuit, or EBC via Jiri.
- "I want a pass crossing": Annapurna Circuit, or Everest via Cho La.
- "I love glaciers and big peaks": Everest Base Camp.
- "I want both": do one this year and the other next!
Compare also our ABC vs EBC and Manaslu vs Annapurna Circuit guides. Contact us for advice.