Side by side
| Gokyo Ri Trek | Annapurna Circuit Trek | |
|---|---|---|
| Days | 12 | 16 |
| Highest point | 5,357 m | 5,416 m |
| Difficulty | Challenging | |
| Total distance | 100 km | 210 km |
| Best months | March to May and October to December | March to April and October to November |
| Typical cost | $1,000 to $2,000 | $900 to $2,200 |
| Starts from | Lukla | Besisahar or Chame (for road-shortened version) |
| Permits | 2 | 2 |
Choose the Gokyo Ri Trek if
The Gokyo Ri Trek is a spectacular alternative to Everest Base Camp, leading you up the tranquil Dudh Kosi valley to a series of turquoise glacial lakes. The ascent of Gokyo Ri offers breathtaking panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu, making it a visual masterpiece.
Requires a good level of physical fitness.
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.
