Side by side
| Annapurna Base Camp Trek | Annapurna Circuit Trek | |
|---|---|---|
| Days | 10 | 16 |
| Highest point | 4,130 m | 5,416 m |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Challenging |
| Total distance | 110 km | 210 km |
| Best months | March to April and October to December | March to April and October to November |
| Typical cost | $650 to $1,200 | $900 to $2,200 |
| Starts from | Nayapul or Jhinu Danda, near Pokhara | Besisahar or Chame (for road-shortened version) |
| Permits | 1 | 2 |
Choose the Annapurna Base Camp Trek if
The Annapurna Base Camp trek is a 10 day route in central Nepal that climbs through terraced villages and bamboo forest into the Annapurna Sanctuary at 4,130 m. It starts near Pokhara, needs no flight, and is the best first Himalayan trek for most people.
Long staircase days rather than thin air. The altitude stays low enough that acclimatisation is rarely the limiting factor, but the stone steps above Chhomrong punish unprepared knees.
Choose the Annapurna Circuit Trek if
The Annapurna Circuit is Nepal's most diverse trek, taking 14 to 21 days to circumnavigate the entire Annapurna massif. It climbs from subtropical river valleys through pine forests and across the highest trekking pass in Nepal, the Thorong La at 5,416 m, before descending into the arid Mustang rain shadow. The circuit is partly motorable, so most trekkers now begin at Chame or Dharapani to preserve the best sections.
The altitude and duration are the main challenges. The walking itself is rarely technical, but Thorong La at 5,416 m is the highest trekking pass in the world that is regularly crossed and demands thorough acclimatisation at Manang.
