15 Aug 2022 Prakash Devkota
Nepal is the tiny Himalayan nation perched between the two giants, India and China. While this incredible country has diverse natural terrains, it is most known for its snow-clad Himalayas. The spectacular towering peaks above 8000m are the country’s crown jewels.
Among the 14 eight-thousanders, 8 of them are in Nepal. This makes Nepal an ideal destination for mountain climbers and expeditioners. Moreover, you can also find around 70 mountains rising above 7000m. Hence, the Himalayas are popular among climbers worldwide for these expedition purposes.
Besides that, the trekkers also arrive to trek the foothills of these mountain peaks. The stunning trekking journeys to the base camps of Mt Everest, Annapurna, and others highlight the region. Moreover, the diverse geographical landscapes of the country make it ideal for various adventure activities.
The highest peak in Nepal and the world is Mt. Everest (8,848.86 m). This towering mountain peak is the most popular for climbing expeditions. Thousands of climbers arrive at Lukla every year to start their journey to the top of the world. However, other mountain peaks like Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, etc., are perfect for adventure activities.
The trans-Himalayan region is home to some of the most beautiful landmarks. The scenic trails that lead you to the mountains pass through the icy glaciers, glacial lakes, green pastures, white water rivers, and others. The region’s diverse wildlife is also home to rare and endangered species.
Want to know more about the highest peaks in Nepal? Read on to know Nepal’s top 10 highest peaks, along with their short descriptions.
Top 10 Highest Peaks in Nepal
Mount Everest (8,848.86 m/29,029 ft)
Mount Everest is a stunning peak in the Mahalangur Himalayan range of Nepal. This incredible mountain known worldwide is famous as the highest mountain in the world. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay put their foot on the mountain on May 29, 1953.
This towering peak has an elevation of 8848.86m, with 86 centimeters added in the recent remeasurement process. Known as “Sagarmatha” in Nepali and “Qomolangma” in Tibetan, this peak is quite the region’s highlight. Mt Everest has put Nepal on the world map, and hundreds of tourists come to the country to climb the summit of Mt Everest.
There are numerous routes to climb the mountain, but the most famous one is from the south side of Nepal. Mount Everest massif includes other mountains, including Lhotse, Changtse, and Nuptse Himal. The expedition to Mt Everest is not a walk in the park.
It requires proper training and preparation many months ahead to complete the journey. Various challenges along the route include extreme temperatures, rugged terrains, hurricane-force winds, altitude sickness, etc.
A beautiful scenic trek precedes the expedition of the mountain. The trek route passes through the cultural settlements of Lukla, Namche, Tengboche, Dingboche, Gorakshep, etc. Numerous viewpoints are along the way, including Syangboche, Kalapathar, and others.
You can hire a professional guide to complete the trek. However, a Sherpa guide is essential to help you climb the mountain. Mount Everest is Nepal’s most recognized mountain peak due to its record height.
Kanchenjunga (8,586 m /28,169 ft)
Kanchenjunga is a spectacular mountain peak in the North Eastern part of the country. Located in the Kanchenjunga Himalayan mountain range, this mountain peak is the second highest in Nepal and the third in the world.
This incredible mountain was first ascended by the team of George Band and Joe Brown on May 25, 1995.
The Kanchenjunga mountain is only 125 kilometers from Everest. Small groups of mountains in the Kanchenjunga region are popularly known as five repositories of snow. The Limbu community that remains predominant in the region considers the mountains quite sacred. They consider the mountain as the land of omnipotent Goddess Yuma Samman.
Various myths are there in the local region about the mountain. However, the most famous one is about the Kangchenjunga demon. Locals also believe that the deity of Dzönga resides in the Kanchenjunga mountain. People believe there remain hidden treasures in the mountain that will only get revealed if there is great peril in the world. These include salt, gold, sacred scriptures, turquoise, invincible armor, and medicine.
Before Mount Everest, Mt Kanchenjunga was widely considered to be the highest peak in Nepal and the world. There are four climbing routes in Kanchenjunga. The entire area remains covered in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. This conservation area works in the protection of the wildlife and the vegetation in the region. There are off-the-beaten trails that are ideal for the trekking journey as well.
Lhotse (8,516 m /27,940 ft)
Lhotse is a spectacular mountain located in the Mahalangur Himalayan range. This peak in Everest massif was first ascended on May 18, 1956, by the team of Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger. The beautiful mountain peak is the third highest peak in Nepal.
There are three peaks, including the Lhotse main (8,516 m), Lhotse Shar (8,383 m), and the Lhotse East (8,414 m). The Swiss mountaineering and Expedition team first ascended these mountain peaks in 1956. It is quite a popular mountain peak for expeditions among mountain climbers.
There is a glacier formed by Lhotse Shar that joins the Imja Glacier. The route to Lhotse also takes you through the South Col route known for the Everest expedition. The course then takes you from the South col to the Yellow Band. You will divert from the Everest route from the yellow band as you take over the Geneva Spur.
The route becomes challenging as you climb across the Lhotse face. Climbers will pass through the “Reiss couloir,” which is quite a difficult section to pass. You will finally cross the challenging route to reach the top of the Lhotse summit. The beautiful scenic vista of the region looks incredibly beautiful from the top.
Makalu (8,481 m /27,838 ft)
Makalu is a part of the Makalu Mahalangur Himalayan mountain range. The mountain ascended on May 15, 1955, for the first time and is quite a popular expedition destination. Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy were the first to put a foot on the mountain’s summit.
Mount Makalu is the fourth highest peak in the world and is also located in the Everest region. On the world rankings, it is the fifth highest. The four-sided pyramid shape of the mountain is quite famous. Mount Makalu is quite popular for sightseeing and other purposes in the region.
The mountain known as Makalu comes from the Sanskrit word “Maha Kala,” which denotes Hindu God Shiva. Its literal meaning is the “great black.” The mountain peak stretches around 14 miles or 22 kilometers known as ‘Kumba Karna.’ It denotes the mythological sleeping giant from Ramayana.
There are various subsidiaries of the mountain, including Kangchungtse and the Chomo Lonzo. These mountain peaks are a few kilometers away from the Makalu summit and lie in Tibet. Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy first ascended the mountain peak on May 15, 1955, and were part of the French expedition.
Makalu is a technical mountain requiring proper training as the challenges are high. There are steep, challenging terrains with open-ended ridges in the Makalu-Barun Valley. The trails of the trek also pass through the Makalu Barun National Park.
There are diverse natural terrains in the region with various rare and endangered wildlife in the area. These animals include lynxes, snow leopards, wolves, and others. Mount Makalu has less number of climbers as the mountain peak is quite challenging.
The beautiful trail that leads you to the base camp of Mount Makalu passes through the cultural settlements. This includes the Sherpa, Tamang, Gurung, and other communities. Check: Makalu Expedition
Cho Oyu (8188 m /26864 ft)
Cho Oyu is another mountain in the Mahalangur Himalayan Mountain Range. This beautiful mountain was first climbed on October 19, 1954. This included the expedition team of Pasang Dawa Lama, Joseph Jöchler, and Herbert Tichy.
This mountain is near Mount Everest, just 20 kilometers away. ‘Cho Oyu’ means ‘Turquoise Goddess’ in the local language. According to local beliefs, the Cho Oyu god turned his back when Everest refused his marriage proposal.
Mount Cho Oyu is generally considered an accessible peak. The traders also used the glacial paths to trade goods in the region. The mountain peak gets flocked by hundreds of climbers as also a practice ground for Everest. Hence, it is also the second highest climbed mountain in the region. However, climbing the peak from the Tibetan side is a more popular route.
Dhaulagiri I (8169 m /26795 ft)
Dhaulagiri Himalayan mountain range has an outstanding mountain summit. It was first ascended on May 13, 1960, by the team of Kurt Diemberger, E. Forrer, A. Schelbert, Nyima Dorje, and Nawang Dorje.
Dhaulagiri I has a beautiful massif and is the sixth highest peak in Nepal. The name of the hill comes from two Sanskrit words, “Dhawala” meaning “beautiful” and “Giri,” meaning “mountain.”
Near the mountain, there is Annapurna I, creating the Kali Gandaki Gorge. The Dhaulagiri massif also includes Gurja Himal, Churen Himal (main), Churen Himal (east), Churen Himal (west), Junction Peak, the Peak Hawley, the Hiunchuli Patan, and others.
The Kali Gandaki River is the highlight of the region, and it is also a rainshadow area. Therefore, trekking the beautiful trails of the region is possible even in the off-season. The first ascenders of the mountain were the Swiss-Austrian expedition team on May 13, 1960.
Manaslu (8,156 m /26,781 ft)
The Manaslu mountain remains located in the Mansiri Himalayan mountain range. The mountain was first ascended on May 9, 1956, by the team of Artur Hajzer, Gyalzen Norbu, and Toshio Imanishi.
Mount Manaslu is the seventh top mountain in the tiny Himalayan nation of Nepal. This incredible mountain is also known as “Kutang,” which translates to “the Mountain of Spirits.” in the Tibetan language.
In the Sanskrit language, “Manasa” means “soul.” Hence, the mountain also denotes the soul of the Himalayas. The mountain is also popular among the Japanese as the Japanese team first ascended it. Thus, it has remained immensely popular among the Japanese.
The route of Mount Manaslu includes many ridges and glaciers, which adds to the challenge and excitement of the journey. Many long ridges and valley glaciers make the mountain peak quite beautiful. There are steep ridges with high slopes as well.
The Manaslu Area was only recently opened for trekkers and climbers and was a restricted area. However, this route was predominantly used by salt traders from Nepal and Tibet for a long time. The route passes alongside the serene Budhi Gandaki River.
The pristine Larkya La glacial pond (5,106 meters) remains located north of Manaslu. There are large snow-clad mountains in the region, including Ngadi Chuli, Himalchuli, and others in the area. Check: Manaslu Expedition
Annapurna I (8,091 m /26,545 ft)
The Annapurna I mountain, located at the Annapurna mountain massif, is the eighth highest mountain peak in the world. The first ascent to the top of the mountain was by the team of Maurice Herzog, Lionel Terray, and Louis Lachenal on June 3, 1950.
Annapurna I is the last of the 8000m peaks in Nepal, making it special. Annapurna translates to “abundance of food” and is also referred to as the “Goddess of fortune and wealth.” Ueli Steck was the first mountaineer to climb the summit of this incredible mountain on a solo ascent on the 8th and 9th of October 2013.
This incredible climb by Steck took around 28 hours and gets considered one of the most incredible Himalayan climbs. The mountain remains covered in the Annapurna Conservation Area. The trail remains covered in various natural landmarks. This makes the expedition and trekking in the region quite an adventure. Check: Annapurna Expedition
Gyachung Kang (7,957 m /26,089 ft)
Gyanchung Kang is another mountain in the Mahalangur Himalayan range with an elevation of 7957m. The first ascent of the mountain peak was on April 10, 1964, by the team of Pasang Phutar Sherpa, Kiyoto Sakaizawa, and Yukihiko Kato.
Gyachung Kang remains between Cho Oyu and Mount Everest, the ninth-highest mountain in Nepal. In the world rankings, it is the fifteenth-highest peak in the world. The Japanese expedition team ascended the mountain on April 10, 1964.
Gyachung Kang narrowly separates itself from Everest and is not easily accessible for climbers. Since it is not among the 8000m. The mountain is not popular among climbers.
Annapurna II (7,937 m /26,04 ft)
The Annapurna II is another spectacular mountain in the Annapurna Mountain massif. The beautiful mountain was first ascended on May 17, 1960, by the team of J.O.M. Roberts, Chris Ang Nyima, Bonington, and Richard Grant.
The mountain is among the top 10 peaks in Nepal by a small margin. Annapurna II lies independent from Annapurna I. Annapurna II is another incredible mountain that narrowly makes the list of the top highest peaks in Nepal.
Final Say
Nepal is an incredible country with an astonishing landscape. This wonderful country is home to over a hundred big and small Himalayas. The 8000m snow-clad mountains of the region are the highlight of the country. Besides that, you can also find around 70 mountains above the 7000m range.
The trek trails pass through the region’s cultural settlements, making the trek even more appealing. The expeditions of these mountains require an amount of rigorous training. There are holy sacred mountains in the region as well. The beautiful mountains are of great religious significance. Hence, some of the peaks are not allowed for climbing.
Moreover, the best time for peak climbing adventures is Spring and Autumn. During this season, you will have an excellent time trekking, climbing, and performing other adventures in the Himalayan nation. Contact us for more adventure activities in the region. Happy traveling!
Prakash Devkota
Managing Director and Team Leader
Mr. Prakash Chandra Devkota is an established name in the Tourism Sector in Nepal. He is a focused individual gifted with a brilliant mind. He is also hugely dedicated to social work. Born in the Gorkha district, a beautiful hilly region of Nepal, he first entered the tourism industry as a guide in 1997. He has gained extensive experience in almost all the trekking and climbing routes like Mera, Island, Lobuche and, Ama Dablam, etc.
He registered Nepal Guides Treks & Expedition in 2009 AD. Due to his passion for adventure and efforts to provide quality personalized service to his clients, he has established himself as a successful tourism entrepreneur. He has dedicated most of his time working diligently to elevate the tourism industry and collected more than 15 years of experience in organizing trekking and expeditions in Nepal, Bhutan, and India. He believes in the power of the tourism industry and the employment opportunities that can be created through it. He constantly looks for innovative ways to run the company.
Mr. Devkota has always been an avid practitioner of eco-friendly tourism and has always promoted environmental conservation throughout his career. He motivates his staff to embrace eco-friendly tourism through responsible tourism practices. He believes promoting eco-tourism will preserve natural resources and positively impact the environment.
