Mount Everest needs no introduction, but the stories behind it are richer than most people realise. Here are the essential facts about the world's highest mountain, from its height and names to its first ascents, records and the easiest ways to see it with your own eyes.
Quick answer: Everest is 8,848.86 m high, a figure announced jointly by Nepal and China in 2020. It stands on the border between Nepal and Tibet. In Nepali it is Sagarmatha; in Tibetan, Chomolungma. It was first climbed on 29 May 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Trekkers can see it from Kala Patthar, Gokyo Ri, the Everest View Hotel, on a mountain flight or a helicopter tour.
Everest at a glance
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | 8,848.86 m (29,031.7 ft), announced by Nepal and China in 2020 |
| Location | Mahalangur Himal, on the Nepal–China (Tibet) border |
| Names | Sagarmatha (Nepali), Chomolungma (Tibetan), Everest (English) |
| First ascent | 29 May 1953: Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay |
| Main routes | South-east ridge (Nepal), north-east ridge (Tibet) |
| Nepal side base camp | About 5,364 m |
| Main climbing season | Late April to late May |
| National park | Sagarmatha National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site |
How high is Everest?
The height of Everest has been measured many times since the 19th century. The current official figure, 8,848.86 m, was announced jointly by Nepal and China in December 2020, after survey teams from both countries measured the summit, including the snow cap. It replaced the long-used figure of 8,848 m.
Names
- Sagarmatha, the Nepali name, is often translated as "forehead of the sky".
- Chomolungma, the Tibetan name, is usually translated as "goddess mother of the world".
- Everest: the English name honours Sir George Everest, a former Surveyor General of India. The mountain was originally catalogued as Peak XV.
Famous firsts
| Year | First |
|---|---|
| 1953 | First ascent: Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, on a British expedition led by John Hunt |
| 1960 | First ascent from the north (Tibet), by a Chinese team |
| 1975 | First woman: Junko Tabei of Japan |
| 1978 | First ascent without supplemental oxygen: Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler |
| 1980 | First solo ascent without oxygen: Reinhold Messner, on a new north-side route |
Records
- Most summits: Kami Rita Sherpa, with his 32nd summit in May 2026.
- Busiest season: spring 2026, with about 1,008 summits and a record 274 on a single day (20 May). See our news story.
- Permits: Nepal issued a record 495 Everest permits in spring 2026.
The cost and danger of climbing
Since 1 September 2025, the spring royalty for foreign climbers on Nepal's normal route is US$15,000 (see our news report), and full guided expeditions cost many times more. Climbing Everest is dangerous: more than 330 people had died on the mountain by the end of 2024, from avalanches, falls, altitude illness and exhaustion, and several more have died in each season since.
How trekkers can see Everest
| Way | Effort |
|---|---|
| Everest mountain flight from Kathmandu | About an hour; no walking |
| Helicopter tour | A morning; no walking |
| Everest View trek | About a week |
| Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar | About two weeks |
| Gokyo Ri and Renjo La | About two weeks |
Interestingly, you can't see Everest's summit well from base camp itself; Kala Patthar or Gokyo Ri give much better views. See our best viewpoints guide.
Plan your Everest trip
Whether you want to fly past it, trek to its foot or stand on Kala Patthar at sunrise, we can help. Contact us.