Compare · Nepal · 2026
Everest Base Camp vs Annapurna Base Camp
A comparison of the two Nepal base-camp treks in our catalog — Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp. Not a ranking of all Nepal treks. We do not compare against walks we do not hold on this page. Country: Nepal.
| Attribute | Everest Base Camp | Annapurna Base Camp |
|---|---|---|
| Type / length | out-and-back; OSM 53.72 km* OSM line (ODbL, rel 1189003) · verified 2026-09-21 · osm · provisional | out-and-back; OSM 23.88 km* OSM line (ODbL, rel 17548991) · verified 2026-09-21 · osm · provisional |
| Max altitude | 5,299 m (record high) Copernicus GLO-30 · verified 2026-09-21 · dem | 4,125 m (record high) Copernicus GLO-30 · verified 2026-09-21 · dem |
| Difficulty | OSM sac_scale: hiking · SAC T2 · YDS 1 | OSM sac_scale: alpine_hiking · SAC T4 · YDS 3 |
| Permits | Required: Sagarmatha NP entry + Khumbu Pasang Lhamu RM permit | Required: ACAP entry + TIMS card |
| Best season | Mar–May and Sep–Nov (NTB / NTNC walking season, checked 2026-09-21) | Mar–May and Sep–Nov (NTB / NTNC walking season, checked 2026-09-21) |
| Key hazard (public) |
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|
| Access | KTM → Ramechhap / Manthali (RHP) → Lukla (LUA) | KTM → Pokhara (PKR) → Pokhara → Nayapul |
Which suits you
A comparison of the two Nepal base-camp treks in this catalog — not a ranking, and not “the best” Himalayan trek.
Annapurna Base Camp is the lower, shorter record of the pair: stored high 4,125 m, typicalDays 11, length 23.88 km (provisional). Everest Base Camp is the higher, longer itinerary: stored high 5,299 m, typicalDays 12. Its length DataPoint is a curated schematic village line (53.72 km pin-to-pin) — not walking distance — so do not treat that figure as a measured walk. Altitude / AMS is the headline public hazard on both records; EBC’s stored high sits well above ABC’s.
Seasons on the records: EBC Mar–May and Sep–Nov (NTB / NTNC walking season, checked 2026-09-21). ABC Mar–May and Sep–Nov (NTB / NTNC walking season, checked 2026-09-21). Permits on both records are required at public level (issuer-name only on this page). Cost and booking stay on each trail page behind the login gate. See the Nepal permits guide for the public-level overview.
Also in this desk: Nepal trekking permits · Annapurna Circuit vs Manaslu Circuit · Nepal · Compare index.
Questions
Is EBC or ABC harder?
This desk does not rank them. Everest Base Camp is listed as OSM sac_scale: hiking · SAC T2 · YDS 1. Annapurna Base Camp is listed as OSM sac_scale: alpine_hiking · SAC T4 · YDS 3. EBC’s published headline hazard is altitude / AMS. ABC’s is also altitude / AMS, on a lower stored high (4,125 m vs 5,299 m on the EBC record). Different stored highs and itinerary lengths, not a single difficulty winner.
Which is better for a first Himalayan trek?
This desk does not pick a “better” trek. ABC’s stored high is 4,125 m with typicalDays 11. EBC’s stored high is 5,299 m with typicalDays 12, and its length DataPoint is a schematic village line — not walking distance. ABC is the lower, shorter record of the two we hold; EBC is the higher, longer itinerary. That is a data contrast, not a recommendation.
Do both need permits?
Everest Base Camp: a permit is required (Sagarmatha NP entry + Khumbu Pasang Lhamu RM permit). Cost and booking stay behind the login gate on each trail page. Annapurna Base Camp: a permit is required (ACAP entry + TIMS card). Cost and booking stay behind the login gate on each trail page. This page does not quote fees.