For more than a century, Nepal has fascinated trekkers from all around the world. Millions of trekkers have trekked in Nepal to date, and almost all trekking destination in Nepal have satisfied their expectations. One cannot stop after a single visit to Nepal, the mountains and people here will indeed make a soft corner in your heart, and if you are a mountain person, Nepal Annapurna is your perfect destination.
Once one has made the decision of trek in Nepal, the next step requires you to choose an ideal trekking package that incorporates all your expectations. Even though there are many famous trekking packages in Nepal ranging from one day to 2 months of trekking, helicopter tours to cable car rides, and easy to challenging ones, Nepal has it all.
Even if one is a beginner in trekking or an expert, Nepal has a destination for you to trek. The Langtang region trek and Annapurna trek are both very famous treks in Nepal. However, here are all the main differences between these two treks that one should know in order to find their significant one.
Duration of the treks
The Langtang trek and the Annapurna trek have quite different trekking duration. Langtang trek is shorter than the Annapurna trek. A hike to the Langtang region requires an average of 10 to 12 days; even though the tour can be customizable according to your preference, the Langtang trek will take you a minimum of 7 to 8 days for comfort trek.
On the other hand, an excursion to the Annapurna region requires an average of 15 to 17 days. The Langtang trek is about 80 km long when calculated from the start to the end, whereas Annapurna is about 160 to 200 kilometers. This indicates the significant difference between the duration of walking required per day; however, one can extend the trek according to their need.
The Langtang trek will take to a height of about 3600m on average, whereas the Annapurna trek has a maximum elevation of 5400 meters. Indeed the elevation will make a massive difference in both the terms of efforts requirement and the view. A greater height will give you a better and closer view of the mountains and surroundings.
Starting and Ending point of the trek
The starting and ending destination of Langtang and Annapurna differ from one another. The Langtang trek starts at Sabru Besi, which is approximately a seven-hour drive from the capital. However, the ending destination of the Langtang trek is Kathmandu itself. There are two options available for the Annapurna circuit trek that is starting at Kathmandu and ending at Pokhara or starting at Pokhara and ending the trek at Kathmandu.
The fact that the initial ascending and the later descending paths are different during the Annapurna trek gives an advantage of visiting more locations on the way. However, one has to visit Pokhara for the Annapurna Circuit trek. Thus, if you plan to visit Pokhara, this trek is perfect for you. However, if you have a few days in Nepal and you are directly returning to your home after the trek, the Langtang trek, which ends at the capital Kathmandu itself, is a better choice.
Scenery and Landscapes
Both Langtang valley and the path to the Annapurna circuit are magnificent and worth visiting. The Langtang trek consists of a National Park, which brings an opportunity to see several types of regional flora and fauna. There are more than 10000 species of plants and flowers on the way to the trek.
One can also get to see bears, pandas, monkeys, snow panthers, ghoral, and so many more animals if lucky. One can also spectate different styles of farming and vegetation. Langtang gives scenery of beautiful houses settled to form a beautiful town. The green forests on the way are worth walking through.
The Annapurna circuit trek, on the other hand, has a considerable elevation. The view from the top destination is very magical. On the way to the trek, you will pass through the very famous Thorung La Pass. One can expect fields sowed with rice and oak; these fields look very beautiful during the harvest season. The rhododendron forest is undoubtedly the highlight of the trip. The trip ends in Pokhara, which is a tourist city very well built, and the nightlife here has a vibe of its own. The Phewa Lake is the main reason people visit Pokhara.
Culture and Highlights
People who follow the Tibetan lifestyle and practices mostly occupy the Langtang region. Mountains surround Langtang, and it feels like the area rests in the lap of the mountains. It is a small and cozy city with friendly people. The hospitality here is famous throughout Nepal. Langtang is a perfect valley to spectate the culture and daily life of people in the Mountains.
Langtang is small and famous yet not very crowded. There are many religious sites here, such as the Gosainkunda lakes for the Hindus, monasteries for Buddhists, and many temples of the Tamangs.
The Annapurna circuit trek is a little more crowded than that of the Langtang. Here, there are bazaars and local markets for tourists.
Equipment for trekking is also available. The sunrise and sunset view during each day gets better and better with the accent. People here belong to different cultures and religions, which makes the food here very versatile.
Inference
Overall, both these treks are exceptionally different yet equally beautiful. Different people have different objectives of trekking; some do it for physical fitness and others for an escape from everyday life. Before making a decision on the trek, you want to opt for, it is vital to look in details of the trip so as to find your ideal one.
The Langtang trip, in short, is a deep dive into the culture of Nepal and more of a stroll to the woods and landscape whereas, the Annapurna circuit trek is more of a challenge to yourself and a hike along with other strangers who have a different objective than you.
