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What are the criteria used for grading a trek? One article that I came across provided the following set criteria for grading:

• Duration.
• Terrain (includes altitude).
• Exit routes.
• Weather/Climate.

EDIT: I have removed the reference to Annapurna trek aiming to keep the discussion generic to trekking and not specific to treks from the himalayan range.

Second Edit: Removed the part where I referred to a trek being classified as easy/difficult. Now the question is more focused on the criteria of grading a trek and nothing more.

What are the criteria used for grading a trek? One article that I came across provided the following set criteria for grading:

• Duration.
• Terrain (includes altitude).
• Exit routes.
• Weather/Climate.

Is there is an official way of grading, or an agreed set of attributes within the trekking community regarding the same?

EDIT: I have removed the reference to Annapurna trek aiming to keep the discussion generic to trekking and not specific to treks from the himalayan range.

Second Edit: Removed the part where I referred to a trek being classified as easy/difficult. Now the question is more focused on the criteria of grading a trek and nothing more.

I trek often and have always wondered if there is an official way to grade a trek? (or at least a well agreed upon set of attributes to go by?)

One article that I came across provided the following set criteria for grading:

• Duration.
• Terrain (includes altitude).
• Exit routes.
• Weather/Climate.

Also, is it not true that the toughness of a trek is very much subjective? Is there any objective way at all?

PS: Getting this information would help me to convince my less "trek-loving" friends to trek along with me on the easy/moderate graded treks :D

EDIT: I have removed the reference to Annapurna trek aiming to keep the discussion generic to trekking and not specific to treks from the himalayan range.

What are the criteria used for grading a trek? One article that I came across provided the following set criteria for grading:

• Duration.
• Terrain (includes altitude).
• Exit routes.
• Weather/Climate.

EDIT: I have removed the reference to Annapurna trek aiming to keep the discussion generic to trekking and not specific to treks from the himalayan range.

Second Edit: Removed the part where I referred to a trek being classified as easy/difficult. Now the question is more focused on the criteria of grading a trek and nothing more.

So I recently came across this article which stated Annapurna circuit trek as one of the toughest around the world. So my question is, is there an official way to grade a trek? (or at least a well agreed upon set of attributes to go by?)

One article that I came across provided the following set criteria for grading:

• Duration.
• Terrain (includes altitude).
• Exit routes.
• Weather/Climate.

Also, is it not true that the toughness of a trek is very much subjective? Is there any objective way at all?

PS: Getting this information would help me to convince my less "trek-loving" friends to trek along with me on the easy/moderate graded treks :D

I trek often and have always wondered if there is an official way to grade a trek? (or at least a well agreed upon set of attributes to go by?)

One article that I came across provided the following set criteria for grading:

• Duration.
• Terrain (includes altitude).
• Exit routes.
• Weather/Climate.

Also, is it not true that the toughness of a trek is very much subjective? Is there any objective way at all?

PS: Getting this information would help me to convince my less "trek-loving" friends to trek along with me on the easy/moderate graded treks :D

EDIT: I have removed the reference to Annapurna trek aiming to keep the discussion generic to trekking and not specific to treks from the himalayan range.