Mountaineering has been one of those sports which is a hobby for some, a passion for others and an obsession among a few. And among places that people love to go on climbing, Nepal has been a favorite destination especially since it has the world’s highest mountains in its home grounds. People for whom mountaineering is more than a passion, Nepal is their dream destination and climbing Mt. Everest their dream expedition. There are several other mountains too that one can go on an expedition in Nepal as it has several such beautiful peaks that are open for general public. Out of those several mountain peaks, the following ones are some of the most favored and the most popular among the climbers.
Mount Everest
- Tallest mountain in the world.
- Elevation: 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet).
- Part of the Himalayas.
Mt. Everest is every mountaineer’s dream destination. You can rest assured that there isn’t a single soul who wouldn’t want to conquer this mountain. It stands 8848 meters tall, dwarfing all the other mountains around the valley. The best way to deal with this mountain is by going through the trail that is to the South Col as this has a better success rate at completion of the expedition. To make it more convenient for the climbers, the routes have been fixed with ropes and ladders by the Sherpas who belong to the area. The route will take you through the base camp from where there are three camp levels to be reached crossing the Lhotse at level 3 camp and reaching South Col at the camp 4 level. Steep climbing from there will lead to south summit. From there the route towards Hillary Step is steep but the fact that it leads to the final ridge, which is easy is a motivating factor that leads to a successful completion of the expedition.
Mount Lhotse
- The fourth highest mountain in the world.
- Elevation: 8,516 meters (27,940 feet).
- Located near Mount Everest.
Standing at 8516meters, the Lhotse is considered to be the fourth highest mountain to be climbed. It is located to the south of the Mt Everest region. As a matter of fact, the two mountains are related and connected to one another due to the South Col. Anyone who has climbed or wants to climb the Everest will get an opportunity to spend time in Lhotse before reaching the Everest peak. Though the fourth highest peak, only a few people have managed to climb Lhotse successfully. Lhotse mainly has three summits to pass. Lhotse main, Lhotse Shar and the Lhotse Middle which are at 8516 meters, 8383meters and 8413 meters respectively.
Mount Dhaulagiri
- Seventh highest mountain globally.
- Elevation: 8,167 meters (26,795 feet).
- Part of the Dhaulagiri Mountain Range.
It is among the most preferred list of peaks and is considered easier compared to the other peaks that are around the valley. Dhaulagiri stands at 8167 meters and is the seventh highest mountain in the world. The best way to conquer this peak is from the north east side ridge and it is the most prominent route taken even by the most famous climbers though there are more than six different routes.
Mount Cho Oyu
- The sixth highest mountain on Earth.
- Elevation: 8,188 meters (26,864 feet).
- Located near the border with Tibet.
Preferred for the fact that the route to be taken is much easier, Cho Oyu also makes the list of the peaks that must be climbed by those who nurse a passion for mountaineering. The trek up the 8,188 meter peak is much easier due to the straight forward ascent that the mountain has. From the base camp, there are about three camp levels, which are at 5700meters, 6400 meters and 7100 meters and finally reaching the summit. The feeling of reaching the top is of immense happiness.
Mount Kanchenjunga
- Third highest mountain worldwide.
- Elevation: 8,586 meters (28,169 feet).
- Lies on the border between Nepal and India.
Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak, stands at 8586 meters at the border line of Nepal and Sikkim. There are four most popular ways to tackle this peak. The south and east provide the maximum opportunity for a successful expedition. However, the east side of the peak is considered as the most challenging.
Mount Annapurna
- Tenth highest mountain in the world.
- Elevation: 8,091 meters (26,545 feet).
- Part of the Annapurna Massif.
It is to the north central of the country. There are basically four main peaks that make up the entire range with the main range to the west of the sanctuary that Annapurna has. The mountain so far has been conquered from the south as well as the north side. However, it is considered as a very challenging one to complete. Among the four peaks, the Annapurna IV is less challenging and was first climbed from the north side. However, in present times the east side id most preferred. Like the other mountains, this one too has several phases during which it is completed.
Mount Manasalu
- Eighth highest mountain globally.
- Elevation: 8,163 meters (26,781 feet).
- Located in the Mansiri Himal range.
This particular peak is the tallest in the Gorkha region. This mountain is less challenging when compared to some of the other mountain peaks of Nepal. Unlike the others, this peak can be approached from all directions and climbed with much ease as any other side. Like many others, there are four camp levels for this peak also.
Mount Makalu
- Fifth highest mountain on Earth.
- Elevation: 8,481 meters (27,838 feet).
- Part of the Mahalangur range.
It is the fifth highest mountain in the world and stands at 8481 meters to the north-east side of Nepal. Though the fifth highest, the mountain is relatively difficult to climb making it still a new mountain to those who try to climb its peak. This peak was climbed only after the Everest was successfully climbed and so far, among the numerous attempts to conquer this massive peak, only five has been successful.
Mount Baruntse
- A subsidiary peak of Mount Makalu.
- Elevation: 7,162 meters (23,498 feet).
- Popular for mountaineering.
This features among the 7,162 meters peaks that are preferred to be trekked upon. The ascent begins to the base camp from the Mera peak trek and has mainly two camp levels. Camp I is just below the East Col whereas the camp II is at South-east side. They are at 5700 meters and 6420 meters respectively.
Though there are several smaller peaks ranging from 8000 meters to 6000 meters, the above mentioned peaks are the most popular ones among the climbers who go on expeditions. An experienced guide and the best quality trekking and climbing equipment are a must. The most suitable time for expeditions is optional; however, the required permission from the authorities is a must. There are enough and more government organizations that help travelers and trekkers to climb the various peaks with enough training and safety taken care of. Though difficult, mountain expedition is a must-try, at least once in a lifetime.
