Nepal, covered with hills and mountains, is the perfect destination for trekking. There are many trekking routes available in Nepal. The trek that takes to the base camps of different mountains is much popular.
The Annapurna Base Camp Trek and Everest Base Camp Trek are two most extensive trekking in Nepal.
Sharing the base of the highest peak in the world, the Everest Base Camp trek is the most popular one. But, Annapurna Base Camp is popular for its beauty and well enough to trek year round.
It is hard to choose the best trek among Annapurna and Everest Base Camp Trek.
Both of these treks are fabulous and remarkable and are the most desired trekking route.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a moderate trek with the beautiful scenery of villages, hills, forests and mountains, waterfalls etc all over the trekking trail. It is the perfect destination for novice trekkers.
While Everest Base Camp Trek is an adventurous and tough trekking route among all the trekking route in Nepal. It is the ideal trekking trail for the experienced trekkers.
Both the trekking routes take you to the high altitude, of about 5000 m from the sea level. You get to explore the diverse terrains in both the Annapurna region as well as the Everest trekking trails. The area of Annapurna Trekking trail is rich in its biodiversity.
As mentioned above, Annapurna Base Camp Trek is perfect for novice trekker. Everest Base Camp Trek is challenging trek so it is a bit harder for the first-time trekkers.
How to get there?
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
To get to Annapurna Base Camp you need to take a bus ride or flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara. The bus ride is approximately 6 hours along the river Trishuli.
You will reach directly to Tikhedhunga if you choose the bus ride. If you choose a flight from Kathmandu you will land at Pokhara Airport. And you have to travel by bus or taxi to Tikhedhunga from Pokhara. Tikhedhunga is the place where your Trekking Journey begins.
Everest Base Camp Trek
The first Mount Everest summiteer Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay summited the Mount Everest on foot from Kathmandu in the 1950s. No proper roads or proper transportation facility was available then.
The trekking route from Jiri is the trail from where Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay commenced their journey to Mount Everest.
To get to Everest Base Camp, the often-used starting point of actual trekking journey is Lukla. You take a 45 minutes flight from Kathmandu to Lukla.
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Tell us about your trip and we will help you design comfortable itinerary to meet your needs.The Locals and the Ethnic Community
Annapurna Base camp trek
You will come across a lot of local ethnic communities on the trekking trail of Annapurna Base Camp Trek.
This trekking region includes diverse ethnic tribes such as Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Thakalis, Brahmins, and Chhetris.
A large village of Gurung is present in the Annapurna region. With the diversity in communities, there is diversity in the religion too.
You can observe Hinduism, Animism, and Buddhism in this region. A unique gesture of welcoming and respecting the visitors is the good part of the people in this region.
Everest Base Camp Trek
There isn’t such a variation in the ethnic community here. You will find the similar type of tradition and culture among the locals in the Everest region.
The whole region is the habitat of the Sherpas. Their culture and tradition are dependent on Tibetan culture.
People of this region totally depend on tourism. These days, tourism has contributed a lot to uplift the economic standard of the locals. Most people in this region are Buddhists. You will come across various Chortens, Mani walls, prayer wheels and flags, and Buddhist monasteries across the route.
Mountain Views and the Scenery
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
The Annapurna region is the most beautiful place with a picturesque scenario. You get to view wonderful landscapes of hills and mountains. And blooming forest of rhododendron in spring.
You will find magnificent waterfalls and the rivers on the way to Annapurna Base Camp.
You will get the panoramic view of Annapurna II (7937m), Annapurna III (7555m), Annapurna IV (7525m), Annapurna South (7219m), Tent Peak (5663m), Hiunchuli (6441m), and Gangapurna (7455) from the base camp.
On the day fifth of your trek, you will be hiking to Poon Hill-a photographer’s paradise. The view of sunrise from behind mountain ranges such as Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Fishtail Mountain is spectacular. And, the panoramic views of changing hues of peaks from Poon hill is breathtaking.
Everest Base Camp Trek
Everest Base Camp Trek is an adventurous trek that takes you to the footstep of Mount Everest.
It is a tough trekking route but the picturesque views from the entire trekking trail make it worth traveling. You will get to view the mountain scenery and small settlements somewhere between the huge rocky hills.
The alpine forest view in the lower region of trekking route is alluring.
Snow-capped mountains: Mt. Everest (8848 m), Mt. Lhotse (8,516 m), Mt. Nuptse (7,855 m), Mt. Changtse (7,550m), Mt. Pumori (7,161m), Mt. Amadablam (6,856 m), Mt. Lingtren (6,679 m), Mt. Thamserku (6,723 m), Mt. Kantega (6,685 m), Mt.Kusum Kanguru (6,367 m), Mt. Twitch peak (6,367 m), Mt. Cholatse (6,335 m), Island peak (6,179 m), Lobuche peak (6,145 m), Honku south peak (6,119 m), Mt.Kongde (6,011 m), Mt. Khumbila (5,761 m), and Pokalde peak (5,806 m) are visible from the different places of the trekking trail.
Buddhist monasteries, plenty of prayer flags and wheels, Mani walls on the trail add up the beauty to the Himalayan landscape.
Food
Annapurna Base Camp trek
The lower region of Annapurna Base Camp Trek is nearer to the city, that’s why you will get to enjoy the variety of cuisines.
Most of the teahouses will provide you with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The local cuisine: Dal (lentils), Bhat (rice) and Tarkari (vegetables) is the most common in every tea house. If you wish to eat other items you can order it and you will get to eat if that is on their menu.
Everest Base Camp Trek
As Everest Base Camp Trek is the most popular trekking routes, you will get any kind of food there. Ranging from the local cuisine and other western cuisines.
Since it is the rural area, porters and mules carry the food to the higher elevation from the lower villages.
Although you can get varieties of food here, you cannot get fresh veggies and fruits here in the altitude.
Costs
Cost is somewhat the same in terms of quality and service in both these treks.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
The cost of Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a lot more affordable in comparison to the Everest Base Camp Trek. The reasonable food and accommodation cost makes this trek more reasonable.
The cost is a lot different in the higher altitude than at the lower altitude.
Everest Base Camp Trek
Everest Base Camp Trekking is pretty expensive. The reason behind the expensive cost is, it’s remote geography. As the altitude rises the cost of food and accommodation also rises.
Plus, the trekking permits and other costs in the Everest region is quite expensive than Annapurna region.
Accommodation
With the growing tourism industry, a lot has changed since the early years. A lot of tea houses are available at both the trekking routes.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Annapurna Base Camp trekking route celebrates a bit standard facilities.
You will find a simple attached bathroom and a bedroom. Most of the tea houses offer the combined bathroom and separate bedrooms.
Everest Base Camp
Everest Base Camp trek facilitates trekkers with standard facilities. Because of the number of trekkers trekking to this region, the services are much better.
The trekking route is a lot more developed in comparison to other trekking routes in Nepal.
But, the stops at higher altitudes will only provide you with the basics.
In general, you get a single room with attached bathroom in lower altitudes. And at higher altitudes, the lodges and hotels provide you with the indoor but a shared bathroom.
Best seasons to trek
Annapurna Circuit Trek
Autumn season in Nepal is the best time to trek in Annapurna Base Camp Trek. Especially, the October trek is an appropriate one.
But you can trek in the Annapurna Base Camp in any season with some preparation. After autumn, spring is another great season to trek. The trekking route is beautiful with the blooming of rhododendron and magnolia.
The weather in the autumn season and spring season are quite similar and favorable. The days are warmer while the nights and morning are cold.
Everest Base Camp
Alike Annapurna Base Camp Trek, the best season to trek in the Everest Base Camp Trek is during the autumn season.
It is best to trek Everest region in October and November. The weather will be moderate with the crystal clear skies and no traces of clouds.
Difficulty Level
Annapurna Circuit Trek
Compared to Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek is not much challenging and is a lot less tough.
There is minimal chance of getting altitude sickness. This eases the trek in a long run.
This trek starts from the altitude of 1480 m (Ghandruk). And you may not need to acclimatize up to the elevation of 4130 m (Annapurna Base Camp). There is very less chance of altitude sickness.
But precautions are absolutely essential.
Everest Base Camp
Everest Base Camp Trek is a lot more exciting and challenging. It is tougher than Annapurna Circuit Trek.
Altitude is the main reason in making this trek a lot challenging and adventurous. But Proper gear and equipment make it a lot easier.
The trek starts from 2860 m (Lukla) and takes you to the altitude of 5380m (Everest Base Camp). You need to acclimatize twice at several trek points. This is important and precautionary to avoid altitude sickness.
Conclusion
The Annapurna Base Camp Trek and Everest Base Camp Trek are two different trekking destinations that share some similarities as well as differences.
Both the treks direct you to the base camp of well-known Himalayas.
Annapurna Base Camp trek is less strenuous yet adventurous trekking. Whereas the Everest Base Camp Trek is tough and strenuous but the most adventurous trekking.
For the experienced trekkers, Everest Base Camp trek will be a perfect destination. Whereas, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is great for the novice trekkers.
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