Annapurna Circuit vs Ilam
Pick Annapurna Circuit for
adventure, a real challenge
Pick Ilam for
peace and quiet, tight budgets, road trips, fewer people, an easier walk, a smaller budget, fewer days
| Annapurna Circuit | Ilam | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Nepal, Lamjung–Manang–Mustang, Gandaki | Nepal, Ilam, Koshi |
| Highest point | 5,416 m | 2,400 m |
| Difficulty | Difficult | Easy |
| Trek distance | about 160 km | No trek needed |
| Days on the ground | 12–14 | 3–4 |
| Best months | Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov | Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb, Mar, Apr |
| Snow likely | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar | Rarely |
| Crowds in season | Busy | Quiet |
| Daily spend | about ₹3,500 | about ₹2,500 |
| Gateway | Pokhara / Kathmandu | Bhadrapur / Biratnagar |
| With kids | Not advised | Good |
| With seniors | Not advised | Good |
| Permits | ACAP + TIMS. Check current guide rules for your nationality. | None for Indian citizens. |
Annapurna Circuit: when to go
- ❄︎Jan
- ❄︎Feb
- ❄︎Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- ❄︎Dec
BestPossibleNot recommended❄︎Snow likely
Ilam: when to go
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
BestPossibleNot recommended❄︎Snow likely