These are the two names most people start with, and they are very different treks. One is a long loop through changing landscapes that includes a high pass. The other is a steady climb up a valley to a famous place. Here is how our 16-day Annapurna Circuit and 14-day Everest Base Camp Trek compare.
In this article
The shape of the trek
Everest Base Camp is an up-and-back route. You fly to Lukla, climb the Khumbu valley to base camp and Kala Patthar, and walk down the same way. The Annapurna Circuit is a loop around the Annapurna massif. You start by road, climb the Marsyangdi valley, cross Thorong La at 5,416 m, drop into the Kali Gandaki gorge and finish through Tatopani and Poon Hill to Pokhara, so you see farmland, forest and high desert in one trip.
Altitude and difficulty
We grade both treks strenuous. The circuit’s hardest day is the Thorong La crossing, eight to nine hours starting around 4 am. Everest Base Camp has no pass crossing, but it spends several days high, and its base camp day is eight to nine hours of walking at altitude. Both build in acclimatisation days: two on Everest, one in Manang on the circuit. Read our altitude sickness guide and our explainer on trekking difficulty levels before you choose either.
Getting there
Everest needs a flight into Lukla, which depends on the weather, so keep a spare day in Kathmandu before your flight home. The circuit starts with a long road day of ten to twelve hours from Kathmandu to Dharapani, and ends with a tourist bus from Pokhara, so it costs you road time instead of flight risk.
Culture and scenery
Everest is Sherpa country, with Namche Bazaar, Tengboche monastery beneath Ama Dablam and the big peaks around you for days. The circuit passes Tibetan-influenced villages around Manang, then the Muktinath temple complex, which is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. Later you walk through Magar villages to Tatopani’s hot springs and Poon Hill for sunrise.
Cost
For two or three travellers, the circuit is 1,150 USD each and Everest Base Camp is 1,210 USD each, with permits, guide, porter and meals on the trail included in both. See the breakdowns for the Everest Base Camp price and the Annapurna Circuit price.
Which should you pick?
Choose Everest Base Camp if the destination matters most and you want the shorter trip. Choose the Annapurna Circuit if you would rather walk through many different landscapes and do not mind a longer trek and one very big day. If you want a longer Everest route, our Everest Base Camp and Cho La Pass Trek and Gokyo Valley Trek are worth a look. If you are still unsure, tell us your dates and fitness and we will say which fits you.