Side by side
| Upper Mustang Trek | Annapurna Circuit Trek | |
|---|---|---|
| Days | 12 | 16 |
| Highest point | 4,010 m | 5,416 m |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Challenging |
| Total distance | 155 km | 210 km |
| Best months | March to October | March to April and October to November |
| Typical cost | $2,500 to $4,500 | $900 to $2,200 |
| Starts from | Jomsom (2,720 m) via flight from Pokhara or drive from Pokhara | Besisahar or Chame (for road-shortened version) |
| Permits | 2 | 2 |
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.
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.
