Everest is no ordinary bucket-list tick. It’s a slow-burn odyssey that starts with flying over the valleys swarming with herds of yaks, to reach either Lhasa(China) or Kathmandu(Nepalese). Then, cross through these valleys to arrive at the foothills, where every breath feels restricted.
How long does it take to climb Mount Everest? In a hurry? Reaching Earth’s roof takes most teams 60 ± 5 days step-to-step, costs US $45k–$160k depending on route and support, and success odds vary sharply between the crowded South Col and the wind-scoured north face of Mount Everest.
Below is the full breakdown—timeline, money, risk, and infamous landmarks (“Mount Everest Rainbow Valley”, “Mount Everest Sleeping Beauty”). So you can decide whether hiking Mount Everest is really worth it.
Where Is Mount Everest?
Mount Everest pierces the sky on the jagged frontier between Province 1 of Nepal and Tibet’s Tingri County, fixed at 27° 59′ 17″ N, 86° 55′ 31″ E. Those numbers plot the peak in the Mahalangur Himal, a sub-range of the Greater Himalaya that also hosts Lhotse and Nuptse, forming a colossal horseshoe of ice-hung ridges that funnel katabatic winds straight toward Base Camp.
Nepalese side: First should arrive Lukla’s, The easiest way is to fly from Kathmandu to Lukla. You can also hike there, yet the walk adds days and drains energy. Then trek north through the Khumbu Valley to reach Everest Base Camp (EBC) at 5,364 metres which takes about seven days.(South Base Camp Info)
Tibet(China) Side: Starting in Tibet is far simpler, rugged jeep haul along the Friendship Highway to Chinese Base Camp at 5,150 metres, followed by a two-day hike to Advanced Base Camp at 6,400 metres—the highest vehicle-supported camp on earth. even so you still need a Tibet Entry Letter and a Foreign Travel Permit.(North Base Camp in Tibet)
Location risk Note: Nepal’s southern approach is warmer but avalanche-prone, whereas Tibet’s plateau is colder, drier, and scoured by unrelenting winds that often keep summit hopefuls tent-bound for days.
Expedition Timeline
Most commercial itineraries run 45–48 days in Nepal and 52–55 on Tibet’s side, plus international travel:
That puts the answer to how long does it take to climb Mount Everest at roughly two months for most climbers.
Note: Summit windows hinge on 3–5 calm days each May and a shorter slot in late September.
Differences between North and South
South’s Khumbu Icefall kills more Sherpa staff; the North’s “Second Step” and severe winds explain its higher fatality ratio. The north face of Mount Everest remains an experts-only playground, with avalanches funneling down the Hornbein Couloir.
Cost Breakdown (2025)
So how much does it cost to climb Mount Everest? Anywhere between the price of a new sedan and a downtown condo.(More Detail About Cost)
Death Zone
Mount Everest Rainbow Valley sits just below the Northeast Ridge at 8,400 m, littered with brightly colored down suits—the resting place of fallen climbers whose bodies slide off the summit ridge.
In 1998, Francys Arsentiev—nicknamed “Sleeping Beauty Mount Everest”—succumbed to exposure near 8,600 m after summiting without oxygen; her frozen figure became a grim waypoint until it was respectfully moved in 2007.
Mount Everest Climbers by the Numbers
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Total summits (through 2024): 12,884 by 7,269 individuals. (List of Mount Everest summiters)
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Recorded deaths: 335, about 2.6 % of unique Mount Everest climbers. (List of Mount Everest death statistics)
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2024 season: ~600 summits, 5 confirmed fatalities.
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Record holder: Kami Rita Sherpa—31 summits as of 2024.
FAQs
Fastest ascent?
Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa sprinted from Base Camp to summit in 10 h 56 m (2003); Phunjo Lama set the women’s record at 14 h 31 m in 2024.
Trekking vs climbing
Trekking to Base Camp tops out at 5,364 m—no technical climbing—but the summit push enters the 8,000 m death zone and demands fixed-line skills, oxygen use, and high-risk tolerance.
New permit rules (draft 2025)
Nepal plans to require applicants to have climbed at least one 7,000 m Himalayan peak and to limit expedition leaders to Nepali citizens, aiming to cut accidents and crowding.
Why two extra weeks on your calendar? Jet-stream delays, health setbacks, or political closures on the Tibet side can stall progress—hence the common 60-day insurance window.
Is altitude training at home useful? Pre-acclimatization tents can shave three days off the trek-in, yet cannot replace on-mountain rotations.
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