# Annapurna Circuit or Everest Base Camp? How to Choose Nepal's Two Great Treks

_Published 17 July 2025_

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 CampAnnapurna CircuitTypical lengthAbout 14 daysAbout 14 days (12–18)Highest pointKala Patthar, about 5,545 mThorong La, 5,416 mHighest nightGorak Shep, about 5,164 mThorong Phedi or High Camp, about 4,450–4,880 mRoute shapeOut and back (or loop via passes)One-way loop around the massifAccessFlight to Lukla (or Ramechhap in peak season)Road to Besisahar or beyondSignature viewEverest from Kala PattharAnnapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, Thorong LaCultureSherpa villages and monasteriesGurung, Manangi, Thakali and Tibetan-influenced villagesLandscapeGlaciers and high peaksRice terraces to forest to high desertRoadsNone above LuklaRoads along much of the routePermitsSagarmatha National Park and Khumbu feeACAPOur gradeStrenuousStrenuous## 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](/blog/everest-base-camp-trek-difficulty) and the [Annapurna Circuit](/blog/annapurna-circuit-trek-guide).

## 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](/everest-base-camp-trek-via-jiri). 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](/everest-base-camp-trek) and the [Annapurna Circuit](/annapurna-circuit-trek), and our [cost guide](/blog/cost-of-trekking-in-nepal).

## 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](/gokyo-cho-la-everest-base-camp-trek).
- **"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](/blog/annapurna-base-camp-vs-everest-base-camp) and [Manaslu vs Annapurna Circuit](/blog/manaslu-vs-annapurna-circuit) guides. [Contact us](/contact-us) for advice.

## Frequently asked questions
### Which is harder, EBC or the Annapurna Circuit?
Both are **strenuous**. EBC has higher nights; the Annapurna Circuit has a long, hard pass day.

### Which is higher?
Kala Patthar on the EBC trek (about 5,545 m) is higher than Thorong La (5,416 m).

### Do I need to fly for the Annapurna Circuit?
No, it starts by road; you can fly out from Jomsom.

### Which has more varied scenery?
The **Annapurna Circuit**.

### Which is more expensive?
Usually **Everest Base Camp**, because of the Lukla flights.

### How long are they?
Both take about **14 days** from Kathmandu.

### Which is busier?
Both are busy in peak season; Everest's single valley can feel more crowded.

### Which is better for a first trek?
Either is possible for fit first-timers; many start with a shorter trek first.

### When is the best time?
**October–November** and **March–May** for both.

### Can I avoid the Lukla flight?
Yes, by walking in on the classic route from Jiri.


Web page: https://himalayanhiking.com/blog/annapurna-circuit-vs-everest-base-camp