Explore The Majestic Everest And Amazing Annapurna Base Camp

By Author: Rajesh Thapaliya
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The Everest base camp and Annapurna base camp treks are the most popular trekking trails in Nepal. Both of them have many trekkers every year but there are some different things to see and feel. Find out which one is better in detail below.

Everest base camp trek is in eastern Nepal and the Annapurna base camp is in the west of Kathmandu. Both trekking base camps have a lot of trekkers every year during high trekking seasons. As people believe base camp trek is the Everest base camp but the base of every mountain is called base camp from where the climbers may start to climb those mountains.

Everest Base Camp Trek

The Everest base camp trek starts from Kathmandu with a short scenic mountain flight to Lukla, drive to Jiri or Salleri and walk all the way to the base camp. Flying to Lukla and starting the trek is shorter than driving options. This is a popular way to make an Everest base camp journey. There are thousands of visitors every trekking season.

Best Time to Everest Base Camp

Autun (September-December) and Spring (March-May) ...
... are the best times to do this trek. Normally, these seasons are dry, not freezing cold, and clear sky for a great view. There should not be a problem with taking a flight to Luka. Spring is a climbing season so there are hundreds of climbers at the Everest base and this is a warm season compared to autumn. Warmer clothes are recommended from October to December with a negative 20-degree Celsius sleeping bag for the night. Winter and Sumer (June-August) are not good timings for the trek because of very cold during the winter and wet floor in monsoon with no good view.

Trek Highlights

A scenic mountain flight to Lukla from Kathmandu is an adventure experience landing on a small airport with a short runway. Crossing some beautiful traditional Sherpa villages with their traditional buildings, Everest massif, Buddhist Monasteries/monuments, rivers, valleys, waterfalls, landscape, green forest, wildlife, vegetation, glaciers, Sherpa culture, festivals, and much more attractions may attract tourists.

Lodges and Food

This area has plenty of lodges at every stop so there is no problem to find accommodations. But some places have limited lodges it may not enough for all the people. Booking in advance is one of the best options for those places. They make different food according to the food menu so it is not compulsory to have the local food all the time. The food in the lodges is cooked by the cooks who are basic trained most of the places but there are well chefs also in some lodges. There are some nice coffee shops and bakeries on the way to the base camp. Being a vegetarian is the smartest idea on the way up and may have meat while descending to the Namche and Lukla.

Altitude Sickness

Altitude can kill so some people may have a chance to have a problem with altitude sickness. Kathmandu is 1350m above sea level and Lukla is 2856m where trekkers will land with a plane. There are 2 altitude practice days on the way up but still, some people will suffer from the altitude problem. Walking slow, taking it easy, drinking plenty of water, and keeping warm are the matters not to have the problem of AMS. In case people suffer from AMS sickness, one and the only medicine is descending. Having medicine and still going to higher elevation may bring any accident so I advise descending.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek

The Annapurna base camp trek is a shorter trek than the Everest trek. Annapurna is less adventure than Everest. Everest is good to see more mountains and Annapurna is for greenery and other nature. People in Annapurna are Magar and Gurung who are known as the brave Gurkhas. Their cultural programs like singing and dancing are one of the best cultural programs in Nepal.

Annapurna sanctuary trek starts from a beautiful lake city Pokhara with drives to Nayapul. First, the trail follows through the Ghorepani Poon hill trekking trail until Tadapani then split to Chhomrong and keep continues to ABC passing Sinuwa, Bamboo, Himalaya, Deurali, MBC and Annapurna base camp reached. The view of the massive Annapurna and its glacier from the camp is very close and amazing. After an incredible view with a sunrise from here, the trail leads back to Jhinu Danda where people can enjoy a natural hot spring. After having a hot bath and spending a night in Jhinu, the trek ends at the starting point (Nayapul) with about 6-7 hours of walking.

Trek Highlights

The view from Poon Hill, Tadapani, Chhomrong and Annapurna base camp is amazing. Gurung and Mugar cultural, traditional villages, rice fields, rivers, waterfalls, green forest, wildlife, vegetation, natural hot spring, glacier and much more attractions are here in this Annapurna trek.

Lodges and Food

This is also a well-managed trekking trail as the Everest base camp area. But the numbers of lodges are very less after crossing Chhorong so there should be a problem finding accommodation in these places. The trekker must share a room with the other especially if they are individual. Food around here is nicely cooked by basic trained cooks. This is a plastic baned area so people can't buy mineral water. Either buy boiled filtered water or fill a bottle with the normal tap water and use purification tablets.

Altitude Sickness

There should not be the problem of altitude sickness because the trekkers start from a lower elevation and gradually ascend up to the base camp. The area is with lots of green vegetation so people can get enough oxygen but still need to have plenty of liquid because they lose sweat.

Conclusion

Everest and Annapurna base camp treks are the busiest trekking trails in the Nepalese Himalayas. The Annapurna base camp trek is easier than the Everest base camp trek. Everest trail offers hundreds of high mountains, but the Annapurna has fewer mountains and more green nature and different culture from Everest.

Hello Everyone! I am Rajesh Thapaliya working in the Nepalese tourism industry for more than a decade and a half as a tour leader and trekking/ tour operator. I have been to most of the Nepalese Himalayan base camps and historical heritage sites. I write my Nepal travel experience and love photography.Trekking and Tour Company in Neppal