Annapurna base camp and Everest base camp trekking trails are Nepal's two most popular treks. These are the best and have many trekkers compared to other base camp treks in Nepal. Both trekking routes offer alarming and exclusive beauties.
Annapurna and Everest's base camp offers stunning mountain views and natural and cultural attractions with beautiful scenery. There are thousands of trekkers from all over the globe on both trekking routes each year.
Annapurna I (8,091m)
Everest base camp and Annapurna base camp treks are naturally rich areas. But there are lots of differences between these two trekking trails. So, you can find the different things between the Annapurna base camp and the Everest base camp here.
This blog post might help you to plan your desired base camp trekking destination if you have some confusion about choosing from any of these trek packages.
You can see some information and the appearance of both beautiful trekking routes here. So, let's get into the regions to know the differences between the Annapurna base camp and the Everest base camp.
Everest Himalaya
Annapurna base camp and Everest base camp are in two different trekking regions. Annapurna base camp is west of Kathmandu and closer to the beautiful lake city of Pokhara. Similarly, the Everest base camp is in the east of Kathmandu.
The Annapurna base camp is one of the most famous moderate-leveled treks in the Annapurna region. These beautiful trekking trails go through diverse lower lands to high elevated lands and glaciers. Annapurna base camp offers phenomenal mountain views and many more attractions.
The trekking trails to this trek are pretty much safe. You can walk 4-6 hours each day without needing altitude practice rest days. So, you don't need to worry about altitude sickness while trekking to the Annapurna base camp.
The highest elevation you will visit on this trek is the Annapurna base camp (4,130m). You will be in the middle of many high mountains and closer to the Annapurna glacier.
Everest base camp is a globally well-known trek named Mt. Everet. It offers thrilling views of the world's famous mountain belt and legendary trails followed by famous Everest summiteers. You will follow different river valleys and gorges ascending through high mountain ridges.
Passing through a beautiful town Namche Bazaar, Everest base camp trails lead further ahead. Namche Bazar is a village that is the gateway to the Khumbu region. Ancient historic Buddhist monasteries, prayer flags, and other monuments are good to see and provide positive vibes on the Everest trek.
You will get to the Everest base camp, finally crossing some beautiful traditional Sherpa towns like Phakding, Monjo, Tengboche, Pangboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorakshep. You can also reach the base camp via Kongma La, and Cho La passes trekking trails.
It is always good to keep updated with some info on the trekking destination where you plan to trek. The information about the trek, highlights, how to visit, and a few others are needy subjects of the desired destination so you can see some information about these trekking trails here.
Annapurna base camp (4,130m)
Annapurna base camp trekking is an incredible mountain journey through traditional villages, forests, and diverse landscapes. You can see farming terraces in lower areas starting from the sub-tropical region and leading up to bushy fields passing the Himalayan alpine forest.
Starting to trek from Nayapul after a short drive from Pokhara, it leads closer to the Annapurna massif. Annapurna base camp trek offers two high mountains above eight thousand meters. Annapurna I (8,091m) and Dhaulagiri (8,167m) are those high mountains you can see on this trek. Not only these high mountains, but you can also see other snow-capped peaks, including the most beautiful mountain in the Annapurna region (Fishtail).
Annapurna base camp is an easy to moderate level base camp trek in Nepal. It is fit for all types of trekking lovers.
Everest base camp (5,364m)
Everest base camp trekking is a fabulous journey through the mighty Everest region. This popular and world-famous trek Everest base camp applies genuine views of some high mountains of the world. The Everest region is the home of the Sherpa people, who are prominent mountain climbers.
Everest base camp trip leads the trail used by legendary Everest summiteers. After landing at Lukla airport, you will hike through attractive landscapes passing traditional Sherpa towns, Buddhist monuments, and other natural beauties.
From September to November, autumn is the best time to trek to the Annapurna base camp. The second popular trekking season is spring, from March to May.
Although, the beginning of September and late May might have some rainy days. These timings should not offer clear visibility all the time.
Winter is doable and offers clear weather, but the temperature will be freezing. December is the best month and offers magnificent weather for the whole day.
There are some trekkers during summer, but it is not a good time to trek to the Annapurna base camp. The trail will be slippery by lots of rain, crossing some wooden bridges could be dangerous, and there are many leeches with a few more difficulties.
Annapurna base camp trek goes through the valley; it can be dangerous when lots of snow falls. There can be avalanches between Deurali and MBC, so you must be careful around this area.
Like the Annapurna base camp, the Everest base camp trip follows the same trekking seasons. But, the Everest base camp tour starts with a fight, which it mostly can't do during summer. The Everest base camp trekking trail is not risky except flight to Lukla.
Lukla airport
There are several trekking routes to reach the Annapurna base camp or the Everest base camp. It means there are different starting and ending places according to the trekking itineraries.
The regular and popular trekking route of the Annapurna base camp trek starts from Nayapul and treks to the base camp following Ghorepani Poon hill trekking trails.
You can either escape the Ghorepani part or follow the route through Ghandruk village to make a few days' shorter trek.
Starting from Nayapul and finishing at the same place, the Annapurna base camp itinerary can do from 6 days to a week.
If you have more days for the Annapurna base camp journey, add more beautiful villages like Landruk, Pothana, Dhampus, or Australian camp to your itinerary.
A big and beautiful village Chhomrong and a natural hot spring in Jhinu Danda are covered with every Annapurna trek itinerary and route.
There are three trekking routes to the Everest base camp. A classic Everest base camp trekking route is driving on a bus to Jiri and starting the trek. It is a long Everest trekking route and was very popular when there was no airport in Lukla.
Another long trekking route to the Everest base camp is from Salleri. You can drive on a jeep to this place and hike to the base camp. The trekking route from Salleri is a few days shorter than the Jiri route.
You can choose the most popular regular trekking route to the Everest base camp if you don't have more than two weeks in Nepal. Lukla to Everest base camp route is a famous trekking route.
The trekking route of Annapurna base camp is a bit easier than the Everest base camp route. There is less chance of altitude sickness in the Annapurna base camp than in the Everest base camp trekking route.
Annapurna base camp leads through lower lands with fertile farming fields. Rice, millet, corn, millet, buckwheat, and different vegetables grow in this starter area of the Annapurna base camp. The cherry blossoms in the lower and rhododendron in the higher region make it unforgettable during different seasons on this trail. Cherry blossom blooms in November, and Rhododendron blooms in spring on this trekking trail.
Annapurna base camp trail is more greenery than the Everest trail. So, you will be walking through dense forests most of the time. You will have the most impressive views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna massifs.
You will surround by 360-degree snow-capped high mountains, very close to the Annapurna I (8,091m) and the Annapurna glacier.
Everest base camp inspires many visitors with phenomenal scenery on the trekking trail. You will get unreal views of the great Himalayas from vantage viewpoints, glaciers, valleys, vegetation, fauna, religious shrines, lifestyle, and daily activities of mountain legendary Sherpa people.
The base camp is on the Khumbu glacier at 5,364m above sea level. You will step here and see numerous big mountains very close to you. If you are here in spring, you will see hundreds of colorful tents of the Everest climbers. This place will decorate as a small mountain city at that time.
Everest base camp brings you to the bottom of the world's highest mountain. Panoramic mountain views are unreal, including Everest from Everest view hotel, Tengboche, and Kala Patthar. These vintage viewpoints offer the best views of the Everest Himalaya ever.
Gurung village Ghandruk
Annapurna base camp trails go through different traditionally settled villages. Mainly, the local inhabitant in this region is Magar and Gurung. But, you will encounter other Brahmin, Chhetri, Newar, and other ethnic people in the lower farming area.
The majority of Magar and Gurung society is from starting to higher areas. These people are famous as brave Gurkha. They are in the British and Indian Regiments.
People practice Hinduism and Buddhism in this region. So, you can see several Hindu and Buddhist shrines along the trekking trail.
'Rodhi’-singing and dancing program is their cultural program. In the past, the villagers would gather in a program hall or courtyard to sing and dance after working hard the whole day farming. But you can often see this program nowadays. They do this on special occasions, festivals, and on-demand for travelers.
The Everest territory is the land of the Sherpa people. They are very famous as high Himalayan altitude people. Sherpas are popular worldwide as mountain legends people.
These people follow Buddhism and are similarly dressed, look, and speak to Tibetans. They celebrate the Lhosar festival, according to the Tibetan calendar new year. The Manirimdu festival in Tengboche is good to see in October/November. You will have a great time to know more about these mountain legend people at the Everest base camp and seeing their daily activities.
The accommodation is mostly the same on both treks, but some differences exist—plenty of tea houses on the Everest base camp trail but limited lodges on Annapurna.
Luxury lodges along the Everest base camp trekking trail are not on the Annapurna trail. You don't have to share accommodation with unknown trekkers in the Everest region, but you might have it for a few nights on the Annapurna base camp trek during busy trekking seasons.
Hot showers are primarily free on Annapurna except for a few nights in higher areas, but, You have to pay in every place on Everest.
You will have a warm dining hall on the Everest trail until the last camp for free, but the Annapurna base camp trail is not like that. You must pay for kerosene heat under your food table for a few nights after Sinuwa on the Annapurna base camp trekking trail.
You will only have western sitting toilets in both treks' lower areas. Also, you will have attached bathrooms in some places in both regions.
The food in both regions is similar qualities and items. But there are some different special items in each of them. The guesthouses serve food that is choosable from a food menu. Annapurna base camp trail has special pizza, and the Everest base camp trek has others. Coffee shops and bakeries are excellent in the Everest base camp trekking region.
The taste of the food could be different even for the same food items in the guesthouses. The cooks are not well-trained, and a family runs even some lodges. You don't need to always stay with the local food, but if you try some local items, you can on both trekking trails.
The people from the lower area in the Annapurna base camp trail sell bottled water and refill mineral water. It is a plastic-banned area in most places. So, you can't buy mineral water and have to buy boiled and filtered water.
You can drink tap water filling your bottle, but you must use purification tablets or sterilizers. The tap water should have specks of dust in higher areas of the Everest base camp trek. So buying a water bottle for a few days in those areas is suggested.
Annapurna base camp is less physically challenging compared to the Everest base camp. Everest base camp starts from a higher elevation and reaches 5,364m. But, the Annapurna base camp trek begins from below 1000m and only goes to 4,130m. Cause of altitude variation, the Everest base camp is more challenging than the Annapurna base camp.
Annapurna base camp has different itineraries and routes, but the Everest base camp is mostly the same.
You don't need extreme climbing training for both trekking trails but you must be physically fit. You can do both treks with hiking practices and basic physical workouts like jogging, running, or any other gym or club starch.
Food transport and other access at the Annapurna base camp are much more accessible than at the Everest base camp. Cause of this, everything is expensive on the Everest trail compared to the Annapurna trail.
Annapurna base camp joins with the ground transport, but it needs to fly to Lukla to start the Everest base camp. The flight cost to Lukla is expensive, and it makes a high-budget trek than the Annapurna base camp.
It takes about 2-weeks for the Everest base camp, but the Annapurna base camp can finish even in a week. Because of fewer days, mountain stay also reduces the cost of the Annapurna base camp. So, it shows that the Annapurna base camp could be the best option if you are a budget trekker.
Trekkers on the Everest trail
It isn't straightforward to compare the visitors between these trekking trails. Both trekkings will have thousands of trekkers every year. But, you can feel that the Everest trail has bigger crowds because going to the base camp and returning is the same.
Annapurna base camp trail seems quiet because of different entries and ending places. But, there are flooded people after Chhomrong until the base camp. Ascending towards the base camp and descending back is the same path for a few days.
There are not very busy trails every day on the Everest trail if the Lukla flight can cancel due to the bad weather, even during the high trekking season. But, Annapurna base camp has crowded trekkers every day during the high trekking season in Nepal.
Conclusion
Probably, you found some differences between these two treks. Annapurna base camp and Everest base camp are the most popular trekking destinations in two different trekking regions.
These hiking trails offer many opportunities to explore the wonderful Himalayan regions and escape incredible nature as a lifetime experience.
After reading the information above about the Annapurna and Everest base camp, I hope you are fully ready to choose one of these packages. You must plan everything well and decide which suits you according to your time, budget, interest, and physical fitness.
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