Side by side
| Annapurna Base Camp Trek | Upper Mustang Trek | |
|---|---|---|
| Days | 10 | 12 |
| Highest point | 4,130 m | 4,010 m |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate |
| Total distance | 110 km | 155 km |
| Best months | March to April and October to December | March to October |
| Typical cost | $650 to $1,200 | $2,500 to $4,500 |
| Starts from | Nayapul or Jhinu Danda, near Pokhara | Jomsom (2,720 m) via flight from Pokhara or drive from Pokhara |
| 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 Upper Mustang Trek if
The Upper Mustang trek is a 10 to 14 day restricted-area trek through the former Kingdom of Lo, a culturally Tibetan enclave north of the Annapurna range. The arid, wind-sculpted landscape of red and white cliffs contains ancient cave monasteries and the walled city of Lo Manthang. Because it lies in the rain shadow north of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, it is one of the few Nepal treks accessible during the monsoon season.
The altitude is not extreme by Himalayan standards. The terrain is mostly good trail with some exposed rocky sections. The challenge is the remoteness, wind, and the bureaucratic requirements.
