List of Peaks in Nepal: All Eight 8,000 m Peaks and the 27 Official Trekking Peaks (2027)

Nepal holds eight of the world’s fourteen highest mountains, 27 officially listed trekking peaks and hundreds of other climbable summits. Ask for a “list of peaks in Nepal” and you get a mix of all three, with heights that disagree from page to page. This guide sets out one clean list: the eight peaks above 8,000 m, a selection of high expedition peaks, and the complete list of 27 trekking peaks managed by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), with heights, ranges and districts. It also explains how Nepal sorts peaks, so you know which ones you can climb with a guide and which need a full expedition.

Last checked: 22 October 2026. Heights come from NTB and NMA pages. Other sources round some of them differently, so use the figures here as the official ones.

Find your peak by goal

Start here if you want an answer rather than a list.

In this guide: Find your peak | Highest mountains | How Nepal classifies peaks | Height ladder | The eight 8,000 m peaks | Other high expedition peaks | The 27 trekking peaks | Peaks by region | Which peaks you see on treks | Permits | Which peak to climb | FAQ

Highest mountains in Nepal, ranked

Answer: Everest (8,848 m) is the highest mountain in Nepal, followed by Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Makalu (8,463 m), Cho Oyu (8,201 m), Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m), Manaslu (8,163 m) and Annapurna I (8,091 m).

Everest and Kanchenjunga are on the borders with Tibet and Sikkim, and Cho Oyu is on the border with China, so the ranking counts mountains Nepal shares. Below 8,000 m, the next highest peaks in the government publication used here are Nuptse (7,855 m) and Putha Hiunchuli (7,246 m).

How Nepal classifies its peaks

Answer: Nepal sorts peaks into four classes by height and permit authority: 8,000 m peaks, expedition peaks above 6,500 m, 27 NMA trekking peaks from 5,800 to 6,584 m, and lower peaks that need no climbing permit.

The bands overlap slightly: NTB’s 6,500 m and 5,800 to 6,584 m lines cross between 6,500 m and 6,584 m. Two of the 27 NMA peaks, Chulu East and Singu Chuli, stand above 6,500 m for that reason. For what “technical” and “non-technical” mean on the mountain, read the technical vs non-technical peaks guide.

The height ladder

Purple bars are 8,000 m peaks, green bars are NMA trekking peaks and amber bars mark the two official lines. Even the highest trekking peak is about 2,260 m below Everest.

The eight 8,000 m peaks of Nepal

Answer: Nepal has eight peaks above 8,000 m: Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri I, Manaslu and Annapurna I. Heights and first ascents below are from NTB.

• Shared borders: Kanchenjunga sits on the border with the Indian state of Sikkim, and Cho Oyu on the border between China and Nepal. The other six are described by NTB as lying within Nepal’s mountain regions.
• Dhaulagiri is, per NTB, the highest mountain within the borders of a single country, and after Captain William Webb, the first European to see it, calibrated its height in 1809, it was thought for years to be the highest in the world.
• Kanchenjunga’s other summits: NTB lists Yalungkang (8,505 m), Kanchenjunga West (8,420 m) and the Twin Peaks (8,476 m) as part of the massif. Lhotse also has Lhotse Middle (8,414 m) and Lhotse Shar (8,383 m).
• Firsts: the 1950 ascent of Annapurna I was the first of any 8,000 m peak. Manaslu was the first 8,000 m peak climbed by an Asian expedition, according to NTB.

Heights differ by source. NTB’s own pages give 8,463 m for Makalu, 8,201 m for Cho Oyu and 8,167 m for Dhaulagiri, and other publications use slightly different values. This list uses NTB’s figures throughout.

The order of first ascents

All eight were first climbed within ten years, between 1950 and 1960. The first Nepali summits followed from 1960 (Dhaulagiri) to 1987 (Cho Oyu), according to NTB.

Other high expedition peaks

Answer: 326 peaks are open to expeditions and 103 have never been climbed, according to NTB. Nuptse (7,855 m) is the highest after the eight in the government list used here.

NTB says 326 peaks are open for mountaineering, and 103 of them have never been climbed. The government publication Mountaineering in Nepal: Facts and Figures (2013, data to December 2012) lists many of them with heights, and the table below uses those printed heights. They are older figures, so treat them as a guide and confirm the current height and rules before planning.

All of these are above 6,500 m, so they sit under the Ministry of Tourism, need a Liaison Officer and pay a refundable garbage deposit. Anyone aiming for them should build up through the trekking peaks below first. The peaks guide explains how.

The 27 official trekking peaks (NMA list)

Answer: NMA lists 27 trekking peaks, from Khongma Tse (5,849 m) to Chulu East (6,584 m). Every peak is below, from the highest down.

The heights are NMA’s official figures. Package pages and operators sometimes give slightly different numbers, for example 6,189 m for Island Peak against NMA’s 6,160 m and 6,476 m for Mera Peak against 6,470 m. NMA’s list names the peaks by their local spellings, so Lobuche East appears as “Lobuje East”.

Quick facts from the list

• Highest: Chulu East at 6,584 m. Lowest: Khongma Tse (Mehra) at 5,849 m.
• Above 6,500 m: Chulu East and Singu Chuli (Fluted Peak), both on the borderline between trekking and expedition peaks.
• Solukhumbu district holds 14 of the 27, more than any other district, which is why the Everest region dominates the list.
• Best known: Mera Peak (6,470 m), Island Peak (6,160 m) and Lobuche East (6,090 m). Read the guides to Mera Peak, Island Peak and Lobuche East.

The 27 peaks by height band

Same peak, different names

NMA’s list uses local names, and operators use others. This table matches them up.

The 27 trekking peaks by region

Answer: 12 of the 27 peaks are in the Khumbu and Mahalangur ranges of the Everest region, 5 are in Annapurna and Manang, 4 in Rolwaling and Gaurishankar, and 3 in Langtang and Jugal.

• Everest region: the largest group, including Mera Peak, Island Peak, Lobuche East and West, Kusum Kanguru and the peaks reached via Gokyo (Abi, Nirekha, Ombigaichen and Kyazo Ri).
• Annapurna and Manang: Chulu East, Chulu West, Pisang Peak, Hiun Chuli and Singu Chuli, with Chulu and Pisang reached via Besisahar and Hiun Chuli and Singu Chuli via Pokhara, according to NMA’s caravan routes.
• Langtang and Ganesh Himal: Ghanja-la Chuli (Naya Kanga), Yubra Himal, Langsisa Ri and Paldor Peak, in Rasuwa, Sindhupalchok and Dhading districts.
• Rolwaling and Gaurishankar: Pharchamo, Ramdong Go, Kwangde and Chekigo, reached from Dolakha and Solukhumbu.
• Manaslu and Kanchenjunga: Larkya Peak on the Manaslu circuit, and Bokta in the far east.

Which peaks you see on the popular treks

Answer: The Everest, Annapurna and Manaslu treks show you the 8,000 m peaks from the trail, with no climbing needed.

The treks are the best way to see the 8,000 m peaks up close without an expedition. See the complete Everest Base Camp guide and the Everest Base Camp vs Annapurna Base Camp comparison.

Permits and fees by peak class

Answer: Trekking peaks need an NMA permit (US$350 in spring, US$175 in other seasons for the standard group). Peaks above 6,500 m need a Ministry of Tourism permit and a Liaison Officer. Peaks below 5,800 m need no climbing permit.

NMA’s service charges page gives no effective date, and its rules page dates from 1981. The NMA rules set a one-month permit period counted from time above base camp, a maximum group of 12 and a guide registered with NMA. A reputable operator includes the climbing permit in the package.

Which peak should you climb?

Answer: Trek above 4,000 m, then climb Mera Peak or Island Peak, then Lobuche East, and consider an expedition peak only after that.

1. Trek above 4,000 m first. Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Base Camp shows how you handle altitude.
2. Climb a first trekking peak. Mera Peak tests altitude without rope work. Island Peak adds fixed ropes.
3. Move to a steeper trekking peak, such as Lobuche East, once you are comfortable with ropes and long summit days.
4. Consider an expedition peak only after that, with an expedition specialist.

The step-by-step comparison is in the technical vs non-technical peaks guide.

Climb a peak in Nepal with Base Camp Hikes

Base Camp Hikes runs guided climbs of Mera Peak, Island Peak and Lobuche East, with licensed guides, climbing gear and permits arranged. See the itineraries and current prices for Mera Peak, Island Peak and Lobuche East. Send your dates, fitness and experience and the team will recommend a peak: call or WhatsApp +91 932 595 1234 (9 am to 7 pm IST), email info@basecamphikes.com or use the enquiry form.

FAQ

What is Imja Tse? Imja Tse is the official name of Island Peak, at 6,160 m on the NMA list. It is one of 14 NMA peaks in Solukhumbu district.

How many trekking peaks are in the Everest region? NMA’s list has 14 peaks in Solukhumbu district, including Mera Peak, Island Peak and Lobuche East and West. The rest are spread across the Annapurna, Langtang, Rolwaling, Manaslu, Ganesh and Kanchenjunga areas.

In what order were the 8,000 m peaks first climbed? Annapurna I (1950), Everest (1953), Cho Oyu (1954), Makalu and Kanchenjunga (1955), Lhotse and Manaslu (1956), then Dhaulagiri I (1960).

How many 8,000 m peaks are in Nepal? Eight, according to NTB: Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and Annapurna I. Kanchenjunga and Cho Oyu are shared with India and China.

What is the highest peak in Nepal? Everest (Sagarmatha), at 8,848 m. Kanchenjunga (8,586 m) is the next highest, followed by Lhotse (8,516 m).

What is the second highest mountain in Nepal? Kanchenjunga at 8,586 m, which NTB calls the third highest in the world. It lies on the border with Sikkim.

How many trekking peaks are there in Nepal? The NMA list names 27 trekking peaks, with heights from 5,849 m to 6,584 m.

What is the highest trekking peak in Nepal? Chulu East, at 6,584 m on the NMA list. Singu Chuli (6,501 m) and Mera Peak (6,470 m) follow.

What is the lowest trekking peak in Nepal? Khongma Tse (Mehra), at 5,849 m on the NMA list.

What is the easiest peak to climb in Nepal? NMA gives no ranking. Among the best known, Mera Peak needs the fewest climbing skills, but it is the highest of the three popular peaks and has a long summit day, so it is not easy.

How many peaks are open for climbing in Nepal? NTB says 326 peaks are open for expeditions, and 103 of them have never been climbed.

Which peaks need a Liaison Officer? Expeditions to peaks above 6,500 m, according to NTB.

Do peaks below 5,800 m need a permit? NTB says no climbing permit is needed, though regional permits may still apply.

Which 8,000 m peak was climbed first? Annapurna I, on 3 June 1950, was the first of any 8,000 m peak. Everest followed in 1953.

Which 8,000 m peak is the easiest? NTB calls Cho Oyu the easiest eight-thousander to climb and one of the most popular, though no 8,000 m peak is easy.

Which 8,000 m peak lies entirely within one country? NTB says Dhaulagiri is the highest mountain within the borders of a single country.

Which peaks can I see on the Everest Base Camp trek? Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam, plus Cho Oyu in the same park, according to NTB. Kala Patthar (5,545 m) gives the classic Everest view.

Sources

• Nepal Mountaineering Association, NMA peaks (the 27 trekking peaks, heights, ranges and districts)
• Nepal Mountaineering Association, service charges and rules and guidelines
• Nepal Tourism Board, mountaineering (classes, 8,000 m list, 326 and 103 peaks, Liaison Officer, deposit, season)
• Nepal Tourism Board peak pages: Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Annapurna and the climb of Annapurna (heights, first ascents, first Nepali summiteers)
• Government of Nepal, Mountaineering in Nepal: Facts and Figures (2013, data to December 2012; printed heights of other expedition peaks)
• Nepal Tourism Board trade notice on peak permit fees (Everest fee mention, August 2025)
• Not found: no government royalty table for 8,000 m peaks, no Everest first-Nepali entry on the NTB Everest page, and the 2012 publication’s heights are older figures. NMA is not a government body, though NTB names it as manager of the trekking peaks.

Information correct as of 22 October 2026.