Highest 5 Mountains in the World

Overview

High in the Himalayas, where the thin air and silence reign, lie five giants that have captured the human imagination for centuries. They are not merely mountains but living legends created by the collision of tectonic plates that push the Earth’s crust upward over millions of years.
Standing above the clouds, the world’s highest 5 mountains are beyond the peaks — they are adventures waiting to happen. The world’s five highest mountains — Everest, K2, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, and Makalu all rise above the elevation of 8,400 meters. You don’t need to climb the highest mountains to feel their power. Trekking to their base camp offers unforgettable views, rewarding adventures, and an immersive connection with the wilderness and rich cultural heritage.
So, if you are wondering which mountains are the highest in the world and which ones inspire your next adventure, join us as we discover these majestic mountains, facts, and the adventures they provide. Plan your Everest trek → Everest Base Camp (14 Days)

Ranking the top Highest 5 Eight-Thousanders in descending order 

Mount Everest (8,848.86 m / 29,032 ft): The World’s Highest Peak

A giant among giants, Everest wears the sky as her crown.

Mount Everest (8848.86m), the world’s highest peak, is located in Nepal and marks the border between Nepal and Tibet. Over the past 70 years, thousands of adventurers have attempted to and have successfully reached the roof of the world. Mount Everest (known as Sagarmatha in Nepal and Qomolangma in Tibet) is the highest mountain in the world and lies in the Khumbu Region of Solu Khumbu and Tibet of China. Everest has deep cultural and spiritual significance for the local people.

 

Mount Everest takes the first spot in the highest 5 mountains in the world. Mount Everest was formed through the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plate about 60 million years ago, which continue to cause the mountain to rise by around 4 millimetres per year. Everest is shaped like a three-sided pyramid, with each side known as a “face”. The North and East Face rises from Tibet, while the Southwest Face is in Nepal, home to the famous Khumbu Icefall, completing the mountain’s iconic shape.

 

The first successful summit was made on May 29, 1953, by Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal. Since then, thousands of climbers have attempted the climb the highest peak in the world, with more than 320 recorded deaths as of 2024. The cost for a permit in 2025 starts at $15,000, but a full expedition of Mount Everest can exceed more than $45,000.Prefer trekking over climbing? Explore the Everest Base Camp (14 Days) or EBC with Helicopter Return

K2 (8,611 m / 28,251 ft): The Savage Mountain

Only the bravest chase the thrill of K2’s untamed summit.

Among the Highest 5, K2 takes the second spot in the world’s highest mountain, standing at 8,611 meters(28,251 feet) above sea level. It is in the Karakoram range between the border of Pakistan and China. K2 is often called the “Savage Mountain’ because of its extreme difficulty and dangerous climbing conditions. It is technically more challenging than Mount Everest despite its lower elevation.

 

K2 was formed through the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which caused the uplift of the Karakoram Range. This mountain is mainly composed of metamorphic rocks called K2 Gneiss, formed from the ancient granitic material. K2 rises sharply with a steep pyramid shape, featuring several faces and ridges: the southeast ridge (Abruzzi Spur), the North Ridge, and the sheer West Face. 

 

The first successful ascent on K2 was made in 1954 by Italian climbers Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni. K2 attracts climbers primarily during the warmest months of the summer season. However, in January 2021, K2 became the final eight-thousander to be summited in the winter by a team of Nepalese climbers led by Nirmal Purja and Mingma Gyalje Sherpa. K2 is an iconic yet the deadliest peak to conquer.

Kanchenjunga (8,586 m / 28,169 ft): Five Treasures of Snow

Beneath Kanchenjunga’s watchful gaze, the earth feels both wild and holy.

Among the highest 5, Kanchenjunga takes the third spot as the tallest mountain in the world. Its summit lies at 8,586 m (28,169 ft) in a section of the Himalayas. It lies in the border region between Koshi Province of Nepal and the Sikkim state of India. The mountain is part of the Great Himalaya Range. Until 1852, Kanchenjunga was assumed to be the highest mountain in the world. However, the 1849 survey of India showed that Mount Everest, also known as Peak XV at that time, is higher. In 1856, Kanchenjunga was officially announced as the third-highest peak in the world. 

The Kanchenjunga massif includes several prominent subpeaks – such as Yalung Kang (8,505 m), Kanchenjunga Central (8,482 m), Kanchenjunga South (8,494 m), and Kangbachen (7,903)

It is a sacred mountain for the local people in Nepal and Sikkim and has significant spiritual and cultural importance, local legends, and biodiversity. There are four climbing routes to reach the summit of Kanchenjunga, three of which are in Nepal and one from northeastern Sikkim in India.

 

Kanchenjunga is a sacred mountain in Nepal and Sikkim. The name Kanchenjunga is derived from four words of Tibetan origin, usually rendered Kang-chen-dzo-nga or Yang-chhen-dzo-nga, interpreted as “Five Treasuries of the Great Snow.” The first ascent was made on 25 May 1955 by Joe brown and George Band, who were a part of the British Kangchenjunga expedition team. They stopped just short of the true summit, keeping a promise given to Tashi Namgyal, the Chogyal of the Kingdom of Sikkim, that the top of the mountain would remain inviolate. Thinking about eastern Nepal circuits? Browse all Destinations.

The Sister of Mount Everest.

Lhotse stands as the fourth-highest mountain on Earth, with approximately 8,516 m (27,940 ft) above sea level. It is situated on the Nepal-Tibet (China) border and is a part of the Mahalangur Himal range. It is tightly linked to Mount Everest through the South Col, forming a horseshoe-shaped massif. It is considered to be an intermediate-difficulty eight-thousander when ascended from the Standard Couloir Route.

The main ridge of the mountain features four distinct summits: Lhotse Main at 8,516 m (27,940 ft), Lhotse Middle at 8,414 m (27,605 ft ), Lhotse Central II at 8,372m (27,467 ft), and Lhotse Shar at 8,383 m (27,503 ft). The first attempt on Lhotse was made by the International Himalayan Expedition, headed by Noram Dyhrenfurth. The main summit of Lhotse was climbed on 18 May 1956 by the Swiss team of Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger. On 27 May 2019, Sherpa Mountaineer Mingma Dorchi Sherpa set a remarkable record by summiting both Everest and Lhotse in just 6 hours and 1 minute.

Lhotse, also known as “South Peak,” is within Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a critical and distinctive peak within the Himalayas, both for its climbing challenge and connection to Mount Everest, gaining the name Everest’s sister in terms of location and mountaineering routes. The standard climbing route for Lhotse is shared with the Everest South Col route, diverging from “Yellow Band” to climb the challenging Lhotse face.

Train beneath the Lhotse Wall on Island Peak (Imja Tse).

Makalu: “The Maha Kala”

Cloaked in shadow and snow, the Great Black One watches over the eastern gates of the Himalayas.

Makalu takes the rank of fifth in the highest 5 mountains in the world, with an elevation of 8,485 meters(27,838 ft) above sea level. It lies on the border of Koshi Province of Nepal and Tibet of China. It is an isolated peak shaped like a four-sided pyramid. The name “Makalu” is derived from the Sanskrit name Maha Kala, a name for the Hindu God Shiva. It is one of the most difficult eight-thousand-meter mountains, with the final ascent of the summit pyramid involving technical rock climbing.

Mount Makalu lies in the Sankhuwasabha District of Nepal. Makalu-Barun National Park, situated at the base of Mt Makalu, is a protected area known for its rich biodiversity with more than 3,000 species of flowering plants. The first successful ascent of Makalu was made on May 15, 1955, by a French expedition team led by Jean Franco. The first one to reach the pinnacle of the fifth-highest peak on the planet was Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy. The rest of the team, including Jean Franco, Guido Magnone, Gyalzen Norbu Sherpa, Jean Bouvier, Serge Coupe, Pierre Lerou, and Andre Vialatte, summited in the following days.

The expedition led by Jean Franco established the standard route, which goes by the north face and northeast ridge, crossing the saddle called Makalu-La between Makalu and its subsidiary peak Kangchungtse. It has several notable climbing routes, including the technical West Pillar route, first ascended in 1971, the southeast ridge, first climbed in 1970, and a difficult south face. On February 9, 2009, the first winter ascent was made by Simone Moro and Denis Urubko. "Catch Everest–Lhotse–Makalu from Farak Ri on the Kongde Trek.” → KONGDE TREK (12 DAYS).