Side by side
| Annapurna Base Camp Trek | Nar Phu Valley Trek | |
|---|---|---|
| Days | 10 | 10 |
| Highest point | 4,130 m | 5,320 m |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Strenuous |
| Total distance | 110 km | 115 km |
| Best months | March to April and October to December | March to May and September to November |
| Typical cost | $650 to $1,200 | $1,100 to $1,850 |
| Starts from | Nayapul or Jhinu Danda, near Pokhara | Koto (near Chame) |
| 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 Nar Phu Valley Trek if
The Nar Phu Valley trek is a 10 day restricted route north of the Annapurna Circuit reaching 5,320 m at Kang La Pass. It leads into medieval stone hamlets, ancient monasteries, and dramatic trans-Himalayan gorges near the Tibetan border, requiring special permits and a registered guide.
Remote trails chiseled out of vertical canyon cliffs, sustained altitude in Phu village, and an early morning pass crossing over Kang La at 5,320 m.
