Side by side
| Mardi Himal Trek | Everest Base Camp Trek | |
|---|---|---|
| Days | 6 | 14 |
| Highest point | 4,500 m | 5,545 m |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Strenuous |
| Total distance | 55 km | 130 km |
| Best months | March to April and October to December | March to May and October to November |
| Typical cost | $400 to $700 | $1,250 to $2,400 |
| Starts from | Kande (1,750 m) or Forest Camp via taxi from Pokhara | Lukla (2,860 m) |
| Permits | 2 | 2 |
Choose the Mardi Himal Trek if
The Mardi Himal trek is a 5 to 7 day moderate trek in the Annapurna Conservation Area that follows a ridge high above the Modi Khola valley to a high camp at 4,500 m with extraordinary close-range views of Machhapuchhre (the Fishtail) and Mardi Himal. Opened to trekkers in 2012, it remains significantly less crowded than the nearby Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill routes.
The High Camp altitude of 4,500 m requires good acclimatisation and cold-weather preparation. The trails are well-marked but steeper than Poon Hill.
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.
