Side by side
| Nar Phu Valley Trek | Everest Base Camp Trek | |
|---|---|---|
| Days | 10 | 14 |
| Highest point | 5,320 m | 5,545 m |
| Difficulty | Strenuous | Strenuous |
| Total distance | 115 km | 130 km |
| Best months | March to May and September to November | March to May and October to November |
| Typical cost | $1,100 to $1,850 | $1,250 to $2,400 |
| Starts from | Koto (near Chame) | Lukla (2,860 m) |
| Permits | 2 | 2 |
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.
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.
