Limited time for trek - Annapurna Region or Everest Region?

Hi,

My friend and I are travelling to Nepal this November to do some trekking in the Himalayas. Unfortunately, we have very limited time for the trek - only 8 days (11 days total in Nepal, including one day before the trek and two days after the trek in Kathmandu). Neither of us has been to Nepal before, and we are having a tough time deciding between the Annapurna Region and the Everest Region for our trek. With only 8 days, we%26#39;ve seen the following options:

Annapurna - Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, trek to Birethanti, trek to Ghandruk (rest day here), trek back to Birethanti, trek to Dhampus, trek back to Pokhara, flight back to Kathmandu.

Everest - Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding, trek to Namche (rest day here), trek to Tengboche (rest day here), trek to Jorsale, trek to Lukla, flight back to Kathmandu.

For those of you who have been to both regions, which region do you think would be better for first-time visitors to Nepal, given our time constraints? Which itinerary would provide better scenery, especially views of snow-capped peaks? Which itinerary has more interesting villages and sights (e.g., monasteries) along the way?

We are leaning towards the Everest itinerary right now, simply because it seems to be more feasible for a short trek, and because it%26#39;s Everest ;), but we%26#39;d love to get recommendations from people who have been to both regions. We are comfortable with the higher altitudes in the Everest itinerary (we have both trekked at altitudes of 4200 meters before), so that is not factor in our decision.

Thanks!

Limited time for trek - Annapurna Region or Everest Region?

Re Annapurna itinerary - seems slightly bizarre to do Birethanti to Ghandruk and then back before climbing to Dhampus. Biretanti - GHandruk - Chhomrong - Lundrung - Dhampus might be better ? You%26#39;ll get great views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli, and the magical Macchepuchare. Culturally diverse and interesting, but not overtly Buddhist, consequently few Mani walls, stupas, monasteries. Pokhara is worth a day (or rather more, but I appreciate your time constraints) - a lot more chilled out than KTM.

Khumbu, again scenically incredible, particularly above Namche, with Ama Dablam dominating the view above Tengpoche, and distant views of the Everest massif (though you%26#39;ll see only the tip of Everest as it hides behind Nuptse). More Buddhist, prayer flags galore, mani walls and stones, and monasteries at Chumoa, Namche, and Tengpoche. Khumjung is worth a visit - after the rampant commercialism of Namche it comes over as a more traditional sherpa village.

I realise that this reply is a fence-sitting exercise ! I like both areas immensely, but can understand that for a single short visit the lure of seeing %26#39;Big E%26#39; is considerable. Probably the one that I%26#39;d opt for, but are you sure you can%26#39;t find time to do both ? Still there%26#39;s always next time !

Alan

Limited time for trek - Annapurna Region or Everest Region?

Thanks for the replies, this information is very helpful!

Alanyeti - A couple of further questions, if you don%26#39;t mind:

(1) I contacted Spirit of the Himalayas (I saw that you recommeded them in another message) to see if they would be able to organize a trek into the Everest Region with our limited time. They proposed the itinerary I outlined in my initial message. They also suggested optional hikes to either Kunde or Khumjung during our rest day in Namche - do you have any idea how long of a hike it is to Khumjung from Namche and back to Namche?

I have heard good things about Khumjung and would like to go there, but I wasn%26#39;t sure if it was too ambitious to go there and back on our acclimitisation/rest day. Another option might be to ask Spirit of the Himalayas if we could modify the return part of the trip in order to visit Khumjung (I%26#39;ve seen other itineraries that go from Tengboche to Khumjung en route back to Lukla).

(2) Considering that the farthest we will go on this itinerary is Tengboche or Dingboche, do you think we will get to really experience the amazing scenery of the Himalayas? Obviously I wish we had more time so that we could go all the way to Kala Pattar, but it%26#39;s just not possible at this time (that is, if I want to still have a job when I get home!). Someday in the future I hope to have more time for a longer trip to the area, but I don%26#39;t know when (or if) that will be, so I hate to put off a trip to this area for too long. At the same time, it is very expensive to go to Nepal, so if a shorter trek really won%26#39;t be anything close to what a trek to Kala Pattar would be, maybe my friend and I should go somewhere else this November and wait to do Nepal when we can do it right.

What do you think? I know this is a decision my friend and I ultimately have to make, but, given your many trips to the area, I would greatly appreciate your candid appraisal as to how much our experience will be limited by going only as far as Tengboche.

Thanks!

See private message !

Alan