Side by side
| Upper Mustang Trek | Everest Base Camp Trek | |
|---|---|---|
| Days | 12 | 14 |
| Highest point | 4,010 m | 5,545 m |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Strenuous |
| Total distance | 155 km | 130 km |
| Best months | March to October | March to May and October to November |
| Typical cost | $2,500 to $4,500 | $1,250 to $2,400 |
| Starts from | Jomsom (2,720 m) via flight from Pokhara or drive from Pokhara | Lukla (2,860 m) |
| Permits | 2 | 2 |
Choose the Upper Mustang Trek if
The Upper Mustang trek is a 10 to 14 day restricted-area trek through the former Kingdom of Lo, a culturally Tibetan enclave north of the Annapurna range. The arid, wind-sculpted landscape of red and white cliffs contains ancient cave monasteries and the walled city of Lo Manthang. Because it lies in the rain shadow north of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, it is one of the few Nepal treks accessible during the monsoon season.
The altitude is not extreme by Himalayan standards. The terrain is mostly good trail with some exposed rocky sections. The challenge is the remoteness, wind, and the bureaucratic requirements.
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.
