Side by side
| Everest Base Camp Trek | Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek | |
|---|---|---|
| Days | 14 | 22 |
| Highest point | 5,545 m | 5,143 m |
| Difficulty | Strenuous | Strenuous |
| Total distance | 130 km | 225 km |
| Best months | March to May and October to November | March to May and October to November |
| Typical cost | $1,250 to $2,400 | $2,500 to $4,500 |
| Starts from | Lukla (2,860 m) | Taplejung (1,820 m) — via flight from Kathmandu to Biratnagar then to Taplejung, or overland |
| Permits | 2 | 2 |
Choose the Everest Base Camp Trek if
The Everest Base Camp trek is a 14 day teahouse trek in Nepal's Khumbu region, reaching 5,364 m at Base Camp and 5,545 m at Kala Patthar. It starts with a flight to Lukla and needs no climbing skill, only solid fitness and patience with altitude. Spring and autumn are the reliable seasons.
The walking itself is rarely technical. What makes it hard is doing five to seven hours a day, back to back, in air that holds roughly half the oxygen you are used to at sea level.
Choose the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek if
The Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek is a 20 to 25 day challenging remote trek in far-eastern Nepal, approaching the third highest mountain in the world (8,586 m) from both north and south base camps. It requires a restricted area permit, a licensed guide, and significant logistical preparation. The reward is some of the most pristine wilderness and authentic cultural encounters in all of the Himalaya.
One of the most demanding teahouse treks in Nepal due to the remoteness, altitude, duration, and the physical demand of the full north-to-south traverse. Not recommended for first-time Himalayan trekkers.
