Every location has its own specialties. In an ideal world, you wouldn’t have to choose between trekking to Everest Base Camp and climbing Kilimanjaro, but circumstances may force you to make that decision. Which one would you choose? Selecting one of them is harder than it might seem because they are all unique and have their own abilities.
Trekking to the Everest Base Camp (EBC) places you in the foothills of the world’s highest mountain, as opposed to Tanzania’s tallest mountain, which reaches the top of Africa. Kilimanjaro rises over the vast plains and savannas, while Everest leads you to the foot of the Himalayas. If you’re a travel enthusiast who enjoys taking trip photos, summiting Mount Everest is just as stunning as climbing Kilimanjaro.
There is no obvious winner between these two trekking routes in terms of ease of use. Both of them elevate you to amazing heights. Amidst boundless Himalayan vistas, there is a hint of cultural excess. On the other hand, the other has multiple routes that pass across different biological zones.
Numerous aspects need to be taken into account when deciding between these two potential locations. We have made every effort to be as succinct as possible in this essay. In this manner, you can decide for yourself while considering the relevant elements. If you’re still undecided, here are some similarities between the two to help you make up your mind about which journey to take on next.
Difficulty Level
Tanzania’s tallest peak’s base camp is lifted to a height of 5,895 meters, while EBC is situated at 5,380 meters. Given that there is little difference in their elevation, they both require adequate time to acclimate. The journey to the Everest Base Camp takes 11–12 days. Undoubtedly not the easiest, climbing Tanzania’s tallest free-standing peak would take more than five days.
The hiking routes up to these two mountains are especially difficult. The route to Everest Base Camp consists of steep, difficult paths. The expansive vistas of the Himalayas in Nepal, however, more than make up for the trip. Some of the world’s biggest peaks, including Everest, are visible. The motivation is completely different with Kilimanjaro because you’re trekking in a tropical region.
During the EBC journey, you spend a few days at high altitude zones that are higher than 4000 meters. It’s really difficult to stay in high-altitude areas. But you don’t have to spend many days sleeping in high-altitude areas to complete the Kilimanjaro trip. Keeping in mind that observation, the trek to Everest Base Camp could be somewhat more challenging.
Route
The Everest Base Camp journey follows a path with a never-ending mountain backdrop the entire way. Your cultural experience with the Sherpa people enriches the strenuous trek across the mountains. You start by taking a picturesque trip to the riskiest airport in the world, Lukla. Then, you follow the traditional Tenzing-Hillary route through a sequence of ascents and descents through high-altitude towns. These challenges are coupled with the side conquests, with Gokyo Ri and the high passes in the Khumbu region. There are lots of chances for cultural indulgence on the way to and during the trip to EBC.
Beautiful tea houses offering moderate to luxurious lodgings can be found along the trail leading to the Everest base camp. You travel through Sagarmatha National Park, which is recognized by UNESCO. The exciting trail is embellished with spiritual Buddhist chortens and pathways that lead to centuries-old monasteries. When the Himalayas are calling your name, the journey is serene.
You stay one night at Namche Bazaar to obtain some rest and acclimatization. On your way to the base camp, you pass through the settlements of Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorakshep.
Early the following day, you visit Kala Patthar viewpoint. It’s really beautiful to watch the sunrise over Mount Everest and the neighboring mountain peaks! going back to Gorakshep to have dinner catered. You will then travel to Namche Bazaar and, at last, Pheriche. When the trek comes to an end in Lukla, you’ll take a flight to Kathmandu.
In contrast, there are six different ways to ascend Kilimanjaro. The Machame route is the one most climbers opt to take, and the only one of them with hut accommodations is the Marangu route. These two paths begin on the southern side, together with the Umbwe trail. While the Rongai Route begins in the north, the Lemosho Route and the Northern Circuit begin the journey from the west.
With the exception of the first day, which is the first half of the Shira route, which is similar to the Lemosho route. There are many different routes up Kilimanjaro, but the ascent takes one through a variety of landscapes, from bushland to tropical rainforest, and ends in the arctic, with its ever-present ice and snow at the summit. Kilimanjaro is a trek that is more alone.
Jumps in the Elevation
Summit night on Kilimanjaro is when real bravery is put to the test. After barely a few hours of sleep (or anxious repose), you climb out of your comfortable sleeping bag and prepare for a nighttime ascent. Then, at about midnight, you head out into the cold night to try to reach the summit, which is also called Uhuru Peak.
The level of physical and mental stamina required to complete the approximately eight-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak in the absence of oxygen cannot be overstated. After reaching the summit, ideally, you’ll need to hike for an additional six to eight hours to complete the initial portion of the descent.
The fight on summit night, which inevitably spills over into summit day, is nothing like it is in Everest Base Camp. On the Everest Base Camp trek, you are only allowed to hike during the day.
Moreover, the last steep climb to Everest Base Camp is avoided in favor of a relatively level entry. As it happens, you only really ascend 400 meters on the base camp day. But summit night on Kilimanjaro requires an elevation climb of around 1,200 m (4,000 ft)! It is very difficult to complete Kilimanjaro’s last summit push.
Scenery
You can look out onto the Khumbu Region’s Himalayas, which are encircled by a range of topographical features. Ascending Kilimanjaro allows you to cross the cloud line and experience views of tropical vegetation and clouds. Trekking in Nepal allows you to cross swift-moving rivers on suspension bridges that are beautifully adorned with prayer flags, known as chortens.
Walking alongside Himalayan yaks that have bells around their necks and are transporting provisions for the inhabitants living in the Himalayas is what you will be doing. The stunning Himalayas will astound you as well since they loom so large over you. The trekking trail’s constant ascents and descents will test your resolve and enthusiasm for reaching the Everest foothills.
A climb up Mount Kilimanjaro will take you through a number of natural zones. The journey from the equator to the arctic zone will only take a few days. You go through high-altitude polar zones after passing through the bushlands, coffee, and banana plantations of the equator. Eventually, you’ll reach a large, tropical forest complete with waterfalls.
After climbing through the heather zone, moorland zone, highland desert zone, and so forth, the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro is more polar. The Kilimanjaro Trek exposes you to a variety of ecosystems as we ascend in turn.
We hope that the prior question you were given will help you as you make your decision. If you wish to witness wildlife, we suggest that you choose Kilimanjaro. If you want more scenery, think about the other EBC hikes. You may personalize it as much or as little as you wish because it’s your trip.
Fitness Level
It is challenging to determine which journey is more challenging because Mount Kilimanjaro and Everest base camp provide quite different experiences. Different travelers will perceive different hardships. In both cases, you have to suffer lengthy travels.
The EBC treks have milder gradients despite being longer than other treks. For every expedition, hiking on the designated paths is just required. It doesn’t involve any actual climbing. This makes each of these hikes suitable for hikers between the ages of 10 and 70. For both trips, the hikers should be in good physical shape and start their preparations several months in advance.
If you want to do something daring and globally recognized, Everest Base Camp is a great choice for you. Everyone is aware of it! The trek from 2,800 meters to 5,300 meters won’t be easy. It won’t be simple, but it also won’t be unachievable.
Put a lot of effort into getting ready for these two hikes. The mental component will be much easier if you are physically fit, even if you are not an Olympic athlete or possess any unique climbing skills.
Other Exploring Opportunities
Trekking can be a part of your trip to Tanzania or Nepal, for example. Even if you may just be soaring high for a week or so, the wonderful cultures and civilizations seem like something you simply must see. You don’t go to Nepal very frequently, do you? Not Tanzania, either!
Kilimanjaro climbers will find that going on a safari is one of the most enticing options for passing the time when traveling overseas. Once you’ve climbed Africa’s highest peak, you can see pythons, buffalo, zebras, and elephants at Tarangire National Park. Another alternative is Arusha National Park, where you may experience a scene out of The Lion King thanks to the presence of buffalo and warthogs.
Unlike on an African safari, there are no such direct prospects at Everest Base Camp. Nonetheless, Nepal offers a plethora of experiences and locations to explore. Discovering the valley, which is home to several magnificent UNESCO World Heritage sites, will delight culture vultures. The capital is a great place to learn about old Nepali history. There are tons more thrilling trips in Nepal that are just waiting for you to go on!
There are lots of amazing cultural activities in Kathmandu. From exploring the amazing marketplaces in Thamel to taking in the many Buddhist and Hindu temples dotted across the city, Kathmandu has a lot to offer. Traveling to the extreme south’s Chitwan National Park, home to Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinos, and wild Asian elephants, is
Duration of the Trek
The EBC adventure is about two weeks long, double the length of a normal Mount Kilimanjaro trek. Finding two weeks off work to spend with family may prove to be challenging for many. Thus, for those with limited time, climbing Kilimanjaro is a popular trek.
The EBC trek takes longer, not because it’s farther distant. Rather, acclimatization is the cause. However, Kilimanjaro’s profile of ascent and descent is incredibly rapid. This suggests that you are equally likely to suffer from altitude sickness on a fast ascent as you would on the EBC expedition, but it is much easier to descend swiftly on Kilimanjaro. Helicopter rescues therefore happen frequently on the EBC hike but almost never on Kilimanjaro.
For your EBC vacation, you have a range of options as well. The voyage can be finished in seven, twelve, thirteen, or even fourteen days, depending on how much time you have available.
Acclimatization Standpoint
One of the shorter Kilimanjaro routes gets you to high altitudes much faster than the Everest Base Camp route. This puts you at a much higher risk of getting altitude sickness and not making it to the peak.
For example, during a five-day Kilimanjaro climb, you rise about 4,000 m in just four days! On the Everest Base Camp ascent, one day is set aside for rest and acclimatization while the elevation is ascended over seven days.
Height at the End Destination
By comparison, Kilimanjaro is taller than Everest Base Camp when it comes to height. Africa’s highest peak is Uhuru Peak, at 5,895 m (19,341 ft). In contrast, Everest Base Camp rises to a height of 5,364 meters (17,598 feet). Kilimanjaro requires you to climb half a kilometer higher in the air.
But most trekkers who go to Everest Base Camp also climb Kala Patthar the day after they get there since it’s 5,643 meters (2,106 feet) above sea level and offers a breathtaking, unhindered vista of Everest. Still, compared to Uhuru Peak’s 5,895 m, the height you have to climb on each hike isn’t that much higher.
Best for Budget By comparison, Kilimanjaro is taller than Everest Base Camp when it comes to height. Africa’s highest peak is Uhuru Peak, at 5,895 m (19,341 ft). In contrast, Everest Base Camp rises to a height of 5,364 meters (17,598 feet). Kilimanjaro requires you to climb half a kilometer higher in the air.
But most trekkers who go to Everest Base Camp also climb Kala Patthar the day after they get there since it’s 5,643 meters (2,106 feet) above sea level and offers a breathtaking, unhindered vista of Everest. Still, compared to Uhuru Peak’s 5,895 m, the height you have to climb on each hike isn’t that much higher.
Every rest area at Everest Base Camp is located in a tea house managed by a native who will tend to your needs while you’re there. On the other hand, unless you choose the Marangu route, your porters will transport the food and camping equipment to every destination along the Mount Kilimanjaro trip.
Ultimately, in Everest Base Camp, about 90% of attempts succeed. Kilimanjaro’s average is only roughly 45%! But you are the one who must be truly determined—these are just the statistics!
We hope this blog may answer some of your questions. Which trek you choose to take is ultimately up to you. Enjoy your trekking!
