Side by side
| Annapurna Base Camp Trek | Makalu Base Camp Trek | |
|---|---|---|
| Days | 10 | 18 |
| Highest point | 4,130 m | 4,870 m |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Strenuous |
| Total distance | 110 km | 145 km |
| Best months | March to April and October to December | March to May and October to November |
| Typical cost | $650 to $1,200 | $1,450 to $2,200 |
| Starts from | Nayapul or Jhinu Danda, near Pokhara | Num (via Tumlingtar flight and jeep) |
| 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 Makalu Base Camp Trek if
The Makalu Base Camp trek is an 18 day wilderness route in eastern Nepal leading into Makalu Barun National Park to the base of Mount Makalu at 4,870 m. Trekkers journey from subtropical cloud forests over rugged Shipton La pass into the dramatic sheer granite amphitheatre of Barun Valley.
Demanding high-altitude crossing of Shipton La at 4,210 m with steep climbs and descents. The upper Barun valley is remote with simple teahouses and unpredictable mountain weather.
