Nepal is home to 8 of the planet’s 14 peaks over 8,000 m, including Everest, the highest point in the world at 8,849 m. The other six are in Pakistan and China. You can see each of the eight Nepali giants on a trek, without any mountaineering gear, as long as you choose the right route.
Nepal’s eight peaks over 8,000 m
The Himalayas were born from the collision between India and Asia, about 50 million years ago, and are still rising by a few millimetres a year. Here are the eight Nepali peaks over 8,000 m, from highest to lowest.
| Peak | Altitude | World ranking | First ascent | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everest (Sagarmatha) | 8,849 m | 1 | 29 May 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay | Khumbu, border with Tibet |
| Kangchenjunga | 8,586 m | 3 | 25 May 1955, British expedition (Joe Brown, George Band) | Far east, border with Sikkim |
| Lhotse | 8,516 m | 4 | 18 May 1956, Swiss expedition (Ernst Reiss, Fritz Luchsinger) | Khumbu, joined to Everest |
| Makalu | 8,485 m | 5 | 15 May 1955, French expedition (Jean Couzy, Lionel Terray) | East of the Khumbu, Arun valley |
| Cho Oyu | 8,188 m | 6 | 19 October 1954, Austrian expedition (Herbert Tichy, Joseph Jöchler, Pasang Dawa Lama) | Khumbu, above Gokyo |
| Dhaulagiri I | 8,167 m | 7 | 13 May 1960, Swiss-Austrian expedition (Kurt Diemberger and five companions) | West-central, facing the Annapurnas |
| Manaslu | 8,163 m | 8 | 9 May 1956, Japanese expedition (Toshio Imanishi, Gyalzen Norbu) | Gorkha, centre of the country |
| Annapurna I | 8,091 m | 10 | 3 June 1950, Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal | Centre, north of Pokhara |
Two details stand out. Annapurna was the first 8,000 m peak to be climbed, by a French team, three years before Everest. And all eight summits fell in barely ten years, between 1950 and 1960. Annapurna remains the most dangerous of the eight, with a death rate that was long close to 30% of ascents.
Which trek to see which peak
You do not need an ice axe to get close to these mountains. Each 8,000 m peak has its trek, in lodges or in tents, leading to a viewpoint facing the summit. Here are the best views, peak by peak.
Everest, Lhotse and Cho Oyu: the Khumbu
The Everest Base Camp trek takes you to 5,364 m, at the foot of the icefall. But the real view of Everest is earned from Kala Patthar, at 5,545 m, a hill facing the summit pyramid. Lhotse is just to the right. For Cho Oyu, you need to go to Gokyo: from Gokyo Ri, at 5,357 m, you see four 8,000 m peaks at once, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu, above the turquoise lakes. The Gokyo trek goes straight there. The Everest trek via Gokyo and the Cho La pass combines both viewpoints in about 18 days.
Makalu: from afar or up close
Makalu, a four-sided pyramid 20 km east of Everest, can be seen very well from Gokyo Ri and Kala Patthar. The trek to its base camp, in the Arun valley, is long, wild and partly in tents. For a first time, admire it from the Khumbu.
Kangchenjunga: the trek in the far east
The world’s third-highest peak is also the most remote in Nepal. The Kangchenjunga trek reaches its two base camps, north (Pangpema, 5,143 m) and south, in about three weeks. It requires a special permit and a minimum of two trekkers. In return, you will meet few people and many Limbu and Sherpa villages.
Dhaulagiri and Annapurna I: the Annapurna range
These two giants face each other, separated by the Kali Gandaki valley, the deepest gorge in the world: 5,500 m between the valley floor and the summits. From Poon Hill (3,210 m), on the Annapurna Balcony, you can see both at sunrise, along with Annapurna South and Machapuchare. It is the most accessible viewpoint in Nepal, in 4 to 6 days of walking. Khopra Danda, at 3,660 m, is even closer to Dhaulagiri, with fewer people.
To see Annapurna I up close, go to the Annapurna Sanctuary: base camp, at 4,130 m, sits in an amphitheatre surrounded by peaks on all sides. The Annapurna Circuit shows both ranges from every angle, in 12 to 18 days, with the Thorong La pass at 5,416 m. Mustang, further north, shows their north face from the high-altitude desert.
Manaslu: around the mountain of the spirit
“Manaslu” comes from the Sanskrit “manasa”, the soul. The Manaslu Circuit goes all the way round it in 14 to 16 days, over the Larkya La pass (5,106 m). The best view is from Samagaon and Samdo, two Tibetan villages at 3,500 and 3,800 m, where the north-east face of the peak towers over the rooftops. The trek requires a restricted area permit and a minimum of two trekkers.
The summary table
| Peak | Best trekking viewpoint | Viewpoint altitude | Trek duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everest, Lhotse | Kala Patthar | 5,545 m | 12 to 16 days |
| Cho Oyu, Makalu (and Everest) | Gokyo Ri | 5,357 m | 12 to 14 days |
| Kangchenjunga | Pangpema | 5,143 m | 18 to 24 days |
| Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I | Poon Hill or Khopra Danda | 3,210 m or 3,660 m | 4 to 9 days |
| Annapurna I (up close) | Annapurna Base Camp | 4,130 m | 8 to 12 days |
| Manaslu | Samagaon, Larkya La | 3,500 m, 5,106 m | 14 to 16 days |
Trekking peaks: the bridge to mountaineering
Between trekking and expeditions, Nepal has created a separate category: “trekking peaks”, summits of 5,500 to 6,500 m managed by the Nepal Mountaineering Association. They require a simple permit, a climbing guide, crampons, an ice axe and a harness, but not years of experience. Three of them are in the Khumbu, next to the Everest trek:
- Island Peak (Imja Tse), 6,189 m: the most popular. A final ridge on a fixed rope, 10 to 12 hours of climbing from base camp. Combines with Everest Base Camp.
- Mera Peak, 6,476 m: the highest of the trekking peaks. Technically simple, but long and cold. From the summit, you can see five 8,000 m peaks: Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Makalu and Kangchenjunga.
- Lobuche East, 6,119 m: more technical, with a steep snow slope. Direct view of Everest and Nuptse.
These climbs require good acclimatisation. Read our guide to altitude sickness before you set off. Mohan organises these summits with a qualified climbing guide, adding the rest days needed.
Machapuchare, the forbidden mountain
Not all of Nepal’s mountains can be climbed. Machapuchare, the “Fishtail”, rises to 6,993 m above Pokhara. Its twin summit is sacred to Hindus, who see it as a home of Shiva. In 1957, a British expedition stopped 50 m below the summit, out of respect for a promise made to the king. Since then, the government has banned climbing it and the summit has never officially been reached. The Mardi Himal trek follows its western flank up to 4,500 m, as close as you can get.
To choose your mountain and your trek, browse our treks in Nepal page or read the guide when to go to Nepal: the views depend as much on the season as on the route.
Frequently asked questions
How high is Everest?
8,848.86 m, rounded to 8,849 m. This is the official measurement announced in December 2020 by Nepal and China, after a joint survey. The old figure, 8,848 m, dated from 1955.
Where is Mount Everest?
On the border between Nepal and China (Tibet), in the Mahalangur range, 160 km east of Kathmandu. The south side, with base camp at 5,364 m, is in Nepal, in Sagarmatha National Park.
How many peaks over 8,000 m are there in Nepal?
Eight of the planet’s fourteen: Everest, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and Annapurna I. Five of them are on a border (China or India); the other three, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and Annapurna, are entirely in Nepal.
What is the most dangerous peak in the Himalayas?
Annapurna I, because of its avalanches and its very steep south face. Its death rate per ascent remained the highest of the 8,000 m peaks for decades. On a trek, you can admire it safely from Poon Hill or its base camp.
