The majestic Mountains of Nepal makes it an attractive travel destination for adventure seekers.
Nepal has numerous high elevation mountains – the primary source of many rivers and glaciers that play a vital role in its economy. The Mountain region occupies 9% of Nepal’s total land, including more than 80 peaks above 7,000 meters.
Each year thousands of adventure enthusiasts come visit Nepal to witness the majestic mountains. Whether trekking or mountaineering – majority of the travelers want to witness the Himalayas with their own eyes.
Listed below are the ten of the highest mountains that lie in Nepal:
1. Mt. Everest (8,848 m)
Elevation: 8,848 m (29,029 ft)
Location: Khumbu Region (Part of the Khumbu Mahalangur Himalayan Range)
Best months to climb: April, May
Expedition Cost: Anywhere between from $30,000 – $160,000. It takes around two months to climb Everest.Mount Everest is the world’s highest mountain at the height of 8,848 meters (29,029 ft) from the sea level.
Commonly known as the roof of the world, Sagarmatha (Godess of the Sky) in Nepal lies along the borders of Nepal and Tibet.
Everest is located in Sagarmatha district, Province No. 1. and named after Sir Gorge Everest. It was first climbed by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa in 1953. There are two main climbing routes, one from southeast of Nepal (the standard route) and the other from the north in Tibet.Climbing Everest possesses lots of risks such as altitude sickness. Moreover there is higher risks with exposure to dangerous weather, and high winds. Avalanches and the Khumbu Icefall’s crevasse are a constant threat to life as well.As of 2019, over 300 people have died on Everest (as of 2019).The bodies of many climbers who have died on Everest have never been found.
2. Kanchenjunga (8,586 m)
Elevation: 8,586 m (28,169 ft)
Location: Taplejung District (Part of the Northern Kanchenjunga Himalayan range)
Best months to climb: April, May
Expedition Cost: Around $24,000 for 50 days for an adult foreigner inclusive of all the accommodations.
The second highest mountain of Nepal and the world’s third-highest ‘Kanchenjunga’ lies in the Taplejung District, Province No. 1. It has a height of 8,586 meters (28,169 ft) and is also known as ‘the five treasures of snow’ as it consists of five prominent peaks. Joe Brown and George Band first summited it in 1955.
Kanchenjunga was believed to be the highest peak, but later, in 1856, it was officially announced as the world’s third highest. It consists of four climbing routes, three of which are in Nepal, and one is from Sikkim in India. The route to Kanchenjunga from Sikkim has remained closed from 2000.
Kanchenjunga has limited information and exploration done because of the remote location of the mountain.
3. Lhotse (8,516 m)
Elevation: 8,516 m (27,940 ft)
Location: Khumbu Region (Part of the Mahalangur Himalayan range and the Everest massif)
Best months to climb: April, May, September, October
Expedition Cost: Around $15,000, inclusive of all the accommodation and the entire expedition lasts for 56-58 days.
Lhotse is the third highest mountain of Nepal and the world’s fourth highest, which lies in the border between Tibet and Khumbu region, Province No. 1 of Nepal. It comprises three peaks, among which the main peak has an elevation of 8,516 meters (27,940 ft). Lhotse Middle, remained for a long time, the highest unclimbed mountain/point on Earth until May 2001. Ernest Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger became the first person to climb the main summit of the Lhotse in 1956.
Lhotse is a popular alternative to Mount Everest and shares much of the same path to Everest. It consists of two routes, either from Everest Base Camp or Chhukung.
4. Mount Makalu (8,481 m)
Elevation: 8,481 m (27,824.8 ft)
Location: Khumbu Region (Part of the Makalu Mahalangur Himalayan range
Best months to climb: April, May
Expedition Cost: Around $17,500 inclusive of all the accommodation, and the entire expedition lasts for 50-52 days.
A fifth of the world and the fourth highest mountain of Nepal is an isolated peak (shape of a four-sided pyramid with snow and ice) that lies on the border between China and Nepal in Province No. 1. It is one of the hardest mountains to climb because of its steep gradients and knife-edged ridges. ‘Makalu Barun-Valley – A glacier valley starting from the foot of the Makalu’, which lies entirely inside the Makalu Barun National Park, is the main center of attraction. Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy – both part of the French expedition in 1955 — were the first climbers of Mount Makalu.
One of the most striking and enigmatic features of the visit to Mount Makalu is the beautiful Makalu-Barun Valley. Moreover, the glaciers and white rivers around Makalu Barun adds more value to the destination. It is located at the base of Mount Makalu in the Sankhuwasabha district of Nepal.
5. Cho Oyu (8,188 m)
Elevation: 8,188 m (26,864 ft)
Location: Khumbu Region (Part of the Mahalangur Himalayan Range)
Best months to climb: August, September, October
Expedition Cost: Starts from $14,000 for 42 days to climb the mountain, inclusive of all the accommodations per person.
The fifth highest mountain of Nepal and the sixth highest in the world separates China and Nepal’s border and lies 20 kilometers west of Mount Everest. Cho Oyu is the easiest mountain to climb out of the fourteen 8,000m peaks.
The name ‘Cho Oyu’ is a Tibetan word which means ‘Turquoise Goddess.’ Its peak is measured at 8,188 meters (26,864 ft) from the sea level. The mountain is used for trading by the Tibetan and Nepali traders using yaks and mules.
Joseph Jochler, Herbert Tichy, and Sherpa Pasang Dawa Lama were the first to place their foot on its top in 1954. It is rarely climbed from Nepal, and most of the time, it is climbed from Tibet’s western face. It is the second most climbed mountain after Mount Everest because of its easy routes.
6. Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m)
Elevation: 8,167 m (26,795 ft)
Location: Annapurna Region (Part of the Dhaulagiri Himalayan range)
Best months to climb: April, May
Expedition Cost: Starts around $16,900 for a 45 days trek, inclusive of all the accommodations per person.
Dhaulagiri is the highest mountain within the border of a single country (Nepal). It is the world’s seventh highest and the sixth highest mountain in Nepal with an elevation of 8,167 meters (26,795 ft).
Bheri River’s tributaries bound it on the North and South West and by Myagdi Khola on the South East. The ones who want alternate and less crowded areas for trekking journeys prefer this Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek. It was first climbed in 1960 by Kurt Diemberger, A. Schelbert, E. Forrer, Nawang Dorje, and Nyima Dorje.
It is also the highest point of the Gandaki river basin. Mount Dhaulagiri lies entirely inside Nepal without sharing the land with neighboring countries on the borders. The sight of Dhaulagiri from the brown terrains of Mustang is exceptional.
7. Mount Manaslu (8,156 m)
Elevation: 8,156 meters (26,781 ft)
Location: Gorkha, Part of the Mansiri Himalayan range
Best months to climb: April, May
Expedition Cost: $12,500 for a 50 days trek inclusive of all the accommodations per person.
The seventh highest of Nepal and the world’s eighth highest Mount Manaslu is located at Gorkha, Manang-Gandaki Zone, Nepal. Manaslu has an elevation of 8,163 meters (26,781 ft).
It lies about 64 km east of Annapurna and is a part of the Manaslu Conservation Area; it is also regarded as “a wall of snow and ice hanging in the sky.” Not many trekkers travel here as it is relatively new as trekking in this mountain region has been only permitted after 1991. Artur Hajzer, Gyalzen Norbu, and Toshio Imanishi were the first ones to place their foot on the top of Mount Manaslu in 1956. Ngadi Chuli, Himalchuli, and Baudha are the significant peaks adjoining this mountain. Larkya La – A glacial pool, lying at the elevation of 5,106 meters, also lies north of Manaslu.
8. Annapurna I (8,091 m)
Elevation: 8,091 m (26,545 ft)
Location: Annapurna Region (Part of the Annapurna massif)
Best months to climb: April, May
Expedition Cost: The starting cost of climbing Annapurna I is $15,555 for a 54 days trek inclusive of all the accommodations per person.
Annapurna I, the mountain named after ‘Annapurna’ (the Hindu goddess of food and nourishment), lies in the Gandaki Zone of Nepal. It ranks at the eighth highest peak in Nepal and the tenth highest in the world, standing at 8,091 meters (26,545 ft) above sea level.
Annapurna is surrounded by Kali Gandaki Gorge on the West, Pokhara Valley on the South, and the Marshyangdi River on the North and East. The Annapurna Conservation Area is one of the most popular areas for several-world class treks, including the Annapurna Circuit.
The Annapurna Base Camp attracts domestic as well as foreign tourists with its beauty. Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal were the first ones to reach its peak in 1950, making it the first eight-thousand-meter mountain ever conquered. It is considered to be one of the most dangerous mountain because of the climbing difficult. Moreover, it has the highest fatality rate amongst all the peaks in the world.
9. Gyachung Kang (7,952 m)
Elevation: 7,952 m (26,089 ft)
Location: Khumbu Region (Part of the Mahalangur Himalayan Range)
Best months to climb: April, May
Expedition Cost: $15,000 for a 45 – 50 days trek inclusive of all the accommodations per person.
Gyachung Kang is the 15th highest peak in the world and not a member of the eight-thousanders. However, it is the tallest amongst outside the eight-thousanders.
Gyachung Kang lies between Nepal and China. Interestingly, it is also the highest peak between Cho Oyu and Everest in the Mahalangur Himal Range. It was first climbed by Y. Kato, K. Sakaizawa and Pasang Phutar in 1964.
10. Annapurna II (7,937 m)
Elevation: 7,937 m (26,040 ft)
Location: Annapurna Region (Part of the Annapurna massif)
Best months to climb: April, May, September
Expedition Cost: The starting cost of climbing Annapurna II is $12,000 for a 30 – 35 days trek inclusive of all the accommodations per person.
Annapurna II is the second highest mountain of the Annapurna Massif with an elevation of 7,937 m (26,040 ft).The first recorded summit of Annapurna II took place in 1960 with a British, Indian and Nepali team. Since then, there have only been a handful of successful summit to the top.
It is one of the most difficult mountains to climb because of its difficult terrain and steep inclination. Combined with unfavorable weather conditions such as high winds and blizzard, the chances of summit is low.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Nepal provides the best mountain viewing options in the world, whether you have just one day or several weeks. Thousands of travelers from worldwide come here to discover some of the fascinating stories behind the most amazing mountains in the world.
The Mountains of Nepal are equally intriguing as well as intimidating. From small and yet perfectly formed peaks to grand monoliths. There are innumerable treks and destinations that travelers can take advantage of to witness these mountains and we will be sharing them in our other posts.
