# Who First Climbed Everest? The Great Firsts on the World's Highest Mountain

_Published 20 July 2026_

The story of Everest is a story of firsts. Here are the climbers who made history on the world's highest mountain.

**Quick answer:** **Edmund Hillary** of New Zealand and **Tenzing Norgay** Sherpa made the first confirmed ascent of Everest on **29 May 1953**, with a British expedition led by John Hunt, via the South Col route from Nepal.

## The first ascent, 1953

After decades of attempts, Hillary and Tenzing reached the summit at about 11:30 am on 29 May 1953. News reached Britain on the morning of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. Earlier British expeditions in the 1920s and 1930s had attempted the mountain from Tibet; in 1924, George Mallory and Andrew Irvine disappeared high on the north side, and whether they reached the top remains a mystery.

## Other great firsts

DateFirst16 May 1975**Junko Tabei** (Japan), the first woman, with Sherpa Ang Tsering8 May 1978**Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler**, the first ascent without supplemental oxygen22 April 1993**Pasang Lhamu Sherpa**, the first Nepali woman; she died on the descent and is honoured as a national hero18 May 2000**Lhakpa Sherpa**, the first Nepali woman to summit and return safely19 May 2023**Hari Budha Magar**, the first double above-knee amputee## Records today

Kami Rita Sherpa has climbed Everest 32 times and Lhakpa Sherpa 11 times, both records as of May 2026. See our news on [Lhakpa Sherpa's 11th summit](/news/lhakpa-sherpa-11th-everest-summit-2026).

## Follow in their footsteps

Trek to [Everest Base Camp](/blog/everest-base-camp-trek-guide), or join our [Everest expedition](/everest-expedition). Read more [Everest facts](/blog/mount-everest-facts).

## Frequently asked questions
### Who first climbed Everest?
**Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay**, on 29 May 1953.

### Who was the first woman to climb Everest?
**Junko Tabei**, on 16 May 1975.

### Who first climbed Everest without oxygen?
**Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler**, on 8 May 1978.

### Who was the first Nepali woman on Everest?
**Pasang Lhamu Sherpa**, on 22 April 1993.

### Did Mallory reach the summit in 1924?
No one knows; he disappeared high on the mountain.


Web page: https://himalayanhiking.com/blog/who-first-climbed-everest