Overview – ABC (Annapurna Base Camp) vs EBC (Everest Base Camp)
Are you a trekking enthusiast? If you want to grab some trekking experience then Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) and Everest Base Camp (EBC) are the most suitable, to begin with. However, choosing between two treks is not a cup of tea.
Numerous factors are needs to be weighed to compare between EBC and ABC. Some of the common factors that needed to be weighed are difficulty level of the trek, total time to complete the trek, weather, and other considerations.
Among many trekking routes in Nepal Annapurna and Everest Base Camp Trek are the most famous trekking routes of Nepal, which have their own idiosyncrasy. So let us weigh the details of the treks.
Accessibility To Everest Base Camp Trek
The trekking kicks off from the capital city of Nepal—Kathmandu. It takes almost 35 minutes to fly from Kathmandu to Lukla to begin the Everest Base Camp. The flight will give you a glorious view of the pristine eastern Himalayan range.
The alternative journey to Base Camp will start from Kathmandu to Shivalaya that goes to Jiri and is used by the trekkers earlier when there was no road connectivity; it takes 7-days to complete the trip.
Accessibility To Annapurna Base Camp Trek
On the other hand, the enthralling Annapurna Base Camp Trek gives you an opportunity to grab the opportunity to capture the picturesque view of the western Himalayan range, if you skip the road trip and catch the 25-minute flight to Pokhara. The road trip takes almost 6 hours, which is 200 km west of Kathmandu.
It is usually recommended to anticipate the flight delay due to poor weather condition in the Himalayan range.
Weather Condition And Seasons for ABC and EBC Trekking
It is a well-known fact that both Annapurna Base Camp and Everest Base Camp are cold because they lie in the Himalayan region of Nepal. The highest altitude of Everest Base Camp is 5,380m and that of Annapurna Base Camp is 4,130 meters. We can extrapolate that Everest Base Camp is colder than that of Annapurna Base camp.
Likewise, we are all known about the seasons: Summer is the hottest season while the winter is the coldest season in the Base Camp. The temperature is mild in the spring and autumn season.
Some of the unique facts about the weather are: Everest Base Camp receives lower rainfall in comparison to that of Annapurna base camp. The summer season coincides with the monsoon season of Nepal, which makes the trails sloppy and slippery than other trails. The years of record has shown that Everest Base Camp receives lower rainfall than that of Annapurna Base Camp, as it is well-known fact the higher altitude receives lower rainfall than that of lower altitudes. If you are planning to go for monsoon trek, EBC is the best place to go.
In the winter season, the Everest Base Camp has a lower temperature than that of Annapurna Base Camp. The mean minimum winter temperature of Annapurna Base Camp is -8 degree Celsius, whereas during the peak winter season the temperature of Everest Base Camp goes as low as -20 degree Celsius. For those trekkers, who want to go to avoid the places that have a lower temperature, ABC is the best destination to opt for.
The peak season for trekking is spring and autumn. Due to the lower altitude of ABC, comparatively the temperature of the places is lower than that of EBC.
Annapurna And Everest Base Camp Trek Sightseeing
The mountains along the way of the Himalayan region are the hotspot in both ABC and EBC trek. The trekking route is filled with exquisite mountains that make it difficult to separate which trek is the best for scenic views.
Some of the mountains that are vividly visible when we trek Annapurna Base Camp are Annapurna I (8091 m), Annapurna II (7937 m), Annapurna II (7555 m), Annapurna IV (7525 m), Gangapurna (7455 m), Annapurna South (7219 m), Khangsar Kang (7485 m), Tarke Kang (7202 m), Machhapuchhre (6993 m), Hiunchuli (6441 m) and others.
Some of the tallest mountains that are seen from the Everest Base Camp are Mt. Everest (8848 m), Mt. Cho Oyu (8188), Mt. Lhotse (8516 m), Mt. Nuptse (7861 m), Mt. Pumori (7161 m), Mt. Abu Dablam (6812 m), Mt. Imja Tse (6160 m), and Mt. Thamserku (6623 m).
Due to the higher height of EBC, skies clearer than that of ABC. There are less possibility of rainfall and cloud covering in EBC. The glorious view of Mount Everest from Kala Pathar region is astonishing.
If we weigh ABC and EBC in terms of astonishing views of mountains, EBC is a little bit better than that of ABC.
Trekking Cost of Annapurna and Everest Trek
Numerous factors determine the cost incurred for trekking. The cost incurred for gear is almost similar because both places are cold. Some other important factors include cost for accommodation. In comparison to luxury hotels, teahouses are cheap in Nepal. Likewise, in tea house food served is also cheaper than that of luxury hotels.
The number of days you spent on EBC trekking is more than in comparison to that of ABC. Therefore, it is easy to predict that the cost incurred on EBC trekking is higher than that of ABC.
The cost incurred to hire the guides and porter increases in EBC trek as the trekking days are more than that of ABC.
ABC and EBC Trek Difficulty Level
In terms of difficulty, both the treks are moderately difficult. With proper guidance and training, anyone who is interested can complete the trek.
Since the Everest Base Camp takes longer days, it requires more training and strength in comparison to Annapurna Base Camp. Some trekkers face altitude sickness problem at an altitude of 3,000 meter. Since most of the places are above 3000 meters above sea level it requires proper training to develop the strength.
Likewise, it is not uncanny for Annapurna Base Camp as well, some of the point-like Machhapuchhre Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp are above 3000 meters one need to go proper training to develop more strength.