Top 10 Highest Mountains in the World

The top 10 highest mountains in the world are impressive feats of nature. Each stands above 8,000 meters above sea level. All the top 10 peaks are in the Himalayas and the Karakoram in Asia. These mountains are also popularly known as freshwater reserves in the form of glaciers, ice, and snow. The highest mountains in the world are among the most majestic and beautiful sights one can be fortunate enough to experience in a lifetime.

Nepal has eight of the ten tallest peaks globally, including Mount Everest. Offering immense heights and rugged terrain, all the peaks attract several climbers each year. However, one must have technical skills, determination, and excellent preparation to climb successfully. Here, we present the list of the top 10 highest mountains in the world.

Highest Mountains in the World From Sea Level

Mount Everest (8,848.86 meters)

• Location: Nepal
• First Ascent: 1953

Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world, at 8848.86 meters. It is in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas. The peak straddles the border between Nepal and China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. The first two people to successfully climb to the peak of Everest are Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay from Nepal. The climb was made on May 29, 1953.

Mount Everest draws many climbers, including seasoned mountaineers. There are two primary routes to the summit: one from the southeast in Nepal, known as the “standard route,” and the other from the north in Tibet. The southeast is the most popular climbing path, offering the best views of surrounding peaks and valleys. However, the climb is challenging with harsh conditions such as extreme cold, high winds, and low oxygen levels.

The peak is not just famous for its beauty; it also holds cultural and spiritual significance. Nepalese called it Sagarnmatha, meaning “Forehead in the Sky.” Similarly, Tibetans called it Chomolungma, meaning “Mother Goddess of the World.” It is not an easy task if you plan on climbing Mount Everest. 

Read More: Mind Blowing Facts About Mount Everest

K2 (8,611 meters)

• Location: Pakistan/China
• First Ascent: 1954

The K2, standing at 8,611 meters, is the second-highest mountain in the world. The peak is located between the borders of Pakistan and China in the Karakoram range. It is as popular as Savage Mountain and is considered the world’s most challenging and technical climbing peak. On July 31, 1954, Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli were the first to climb the K2 successfully.

K2 has a lower summit success rate than Everest. Its pyramidal shape and steep icy ridges have claimed the lives of many climbers. The name K2 comes from the notation used by the Great Trigonometrical Survey of British India. Thomas Montgomerie first surveyed the Karakoram from Mount Haramukh, about 210 km (130 mi) to the south. He sketched the two most prominent peaks and labeled them K1 and K2, with the “K” for Karakoram.

Most ascents of K2 happen in July and August, usually the warmest months of the year. In January 2021, a team of Nepalese climbers led by Nirmal Purja and Mingma Gyalje Sherpa climbed K2 in winter. Almost all of its ridges have now climbed K2. However, unlike other eight-thousanders, it has never been summited from its eastern face.

Kanchenjunga (8,586 meters)

• Location: Nepal/India
• First Ascent: 1955

Kanchenjunga, also spelled Kanchenjungha, Kanchanjanghā, and Khangchendzonga, is the third-highest mountain in the world. It reaches 8,586 meters in a part of the Himalayas known as the Kanchenjunga Himal. Kanchenjunga Region peaks lie in the border region between Koshi Province in Nepal and the state of Sikkim in India. Three of its five peaks, Main, Central, and South, are directly on the border, while the West and Kangbachen peaks are in Nepal’s Taplejung District.

Kanchenjunga is a sacred mountain, first climbed on May 25, 1955, by Joe Brown and George Band. They stopped just before reaching the true summit, honoring a promise to Tashi Namgyal, the Chogyal of Sikkim, to leave the mountain’s top untouched. Climbers are restricted to the Indian side of Kanchenjunga. Khanchendzonga National Park is the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It features 16 peaks over 7,000 meters. To the north, it borders the Lhonak Chu, Goma Chu, and Jongsang La, while the eastern boundary is the Teesta River. Kanchenjunga rises approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of the main range of the Great Himalayas, and it is about 125 kilometers (78 miles) east-southeast of Mount Everest in a straight line.

Lhotse (8,516 meters)

• Location: Nepal/China (Tibet)
• First Ascent: 1956

Lhotse is the fourth-highest mountain globally, standing 8,516 meters above sea level. Its main summit lies on the border between the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and Nepal’s Khumbu region. The mountain is at the apex of a large horseshoe-shaped arc formed by the Everest massif, with Mount Everest to the north and Nuptse to the west.

Lhotse’s main ridge features four distinct summits: Lhotse Main at 8,516 meters, Lhotse Middle (also known as Lhotse Central I or Lhotse East) at 8,414 meters, Lhotse Central II at 8,372 meters, and Lhotse Shar at 8,383 meters. Climbing Lhotse Main via the standard Reiss Couloir route is moderately challenging among the world’s tallest peaks.

However, its secondary summits and the highly steep South Face are notorious for being among the most complex and dangerous climbs globally. The icy North East Face of Lhotse remains unconquered. Lhotse Main was first successfully climbed on May 18, 1956, by Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger as part of a Swiss expedition.

Mount Makalu (8,485 meters)

• Location: Nepal/China (Tibet)
• First Ascent: 1955

Makalu stands as the fifth-highest mountain in the world, reaching 8,485 meters. It is in the Mahalangur Himalayas, approximately 19 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of Mount Everest. The peak runs between China and Nepal. Shaped like a four-sided pyramid, Makalu is popular among the prominent eight-thousanders. On May 15, 1955, Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy summited Makalu for the first time.

The summit of Makalu offers breathtaking views of some of the world’s highest peaks, including Everest, Lhotse, and Kanchenjunga. Its remote location and rugged terrain preserve its pristine wilderness, creating a haven for wildlife and nature lovers in Makalu Barun National Park.

The mountain summit stands out with its pyramid shape. It casts a dramatic silhouette against the vast expanse of the Himalayan sky. Climbing Makalu is not just a physical challenge but a test of resilience against steep rock faces, icy slopes, and unpredictable weather. Even the most experienced climbers find themselves pushed to their limits by these formidable conditions.

Cho Oyu (8,188 meters)

• Location: Nepal/China (Tibet)
• First Ascent: 1954

Mount Cho Oyu is the world’s sixth-highest mountain, named “Turquoise Goddess” in Tibetan. It stands on the border between Nepal and China, part of the Mahalangur subrange in Nepal’s Himalayas. Rising 8,188 meters high, Cho Oyu is in the Khumjung Village Development Committees within Solukhumbu District.

A few kilometers west of Cho Oyu lies Nangpa La, a glaciated pass at 5,716 meters. This pass serves as the primary trade route between Tibetans and Sherpas of the Khumbu region. Cho Oyu is the most accessible 8,000-meter peak, making it a popular choice for guided expeditions led by professional mountaineers.

Compared to other 8,000-meter peaks, Cho Oyu has fewer risks, like rockfalls and icefalls, and avalanches are more predictable. The climbing route is moderate with some technical parts, making it the easiest and most doable of all fourteen 8,000-meter peaks. Cho Oyu provides a stable environment and benefits from better weather conditions.

Dhaulagiri I (8,167 meters)

• Location: Nepal
• First Ascent: 1960

Dhaulagiri, located in Nepal, is the seventh-highest mountain globally at 8,167 meters above sea level. It holds the distinction of being the tallest mountain entirely within the borders of a single country. The first successful climb was on May 13, 1960, by a team comprising climbers from Switzerland, Austria, and Nepal.

Dhaulagiri is the name of the Nepali mountain. The name comes from Sanskrit, where Dhaula means dazzling, white, and beautiful, and Giri means mountain. Dhaulagiri I is also the highest point of the Gandaki River basin. It stands east of its namesake range. Its South and West faces steeply ascend over 4,000 meters. Despite being closer to Cho Oyu and Mount Everest, Dhaulagiri is unique among Nepal’s eight thousanders.

At the summit of Dhaulagiri and Everest, layers of rock consisting of limestone and dolomite formed at the ocean’s bottom. In contrast, the summits of other Himalayan mountains are made of granite that has formed deep underground.

Manaslu (8,163 meters)

• Location: Nepal
• First Ascent: 1956

Manaslu, standing at 8,163 meters, is the eighth-highest mountain globally. It is in the Mansiri Himal of the Nepalese Himalayas, in west-central Nepal. Manaslu, derived from Sanskrit, translates to “mountain of the spirit,” reflecting its significance. On May 9, 1956, it was first summited by Toshio Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu, members of a Japanese expedition.

Manaslu dominates the Gorkha District and lies approximately 64 kilometers east of Annapurna, the tenth-highest peak globally. Its extensive ridges and valley glaciers offer accessible routes from all directions. It culminates in a steep peak that towers above its surroundings, making it a prominent landmark visible from afar.

The climate around Manaslu varies significantly across its different climatic zones. Temperature ranges vary widely. Summer temperatures average between 31–34 °C, while winter temperatures range from 8–13 °C. Snowfall is expected in the subalpine zone from December to May, with mean annual temperatures averaging 6–10 °C.

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Nanga Parbat (8,126 meters)

• Location: Pakistan
• First Ascent: 1953

The mountain known as Nanga Parbat in Urdu, meaning “Naked Mountain,” stands at 8,126 meters. It is southeast of the northernmost bend of the Indus River in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Nanga Parbat is the westernmost central peak of the Himalayas. It marks the end of the range as traditionally defined between the Indus and Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra rivers.

The name “Nanga Parbat” originates from Sanskrit, combining “nagna” and “parvata” to mean “Naked Mountain,” referring to its snowless south face. Locally, it is also known as Diamer or Deo Mir in Tibetan, which translates to “huge mountain,” emphasizing its imposing stature in the region.

Nanga Parbat is one of the 14 eight-thousanders. It towers dramatically above its surroundings with the second-highest prominence among the world’s tallest mountains, second only to Mount Everest. The peak is also nicknamed Killer Mountain. It offers a challenging terrain and extreme conditions, making the climb difficult.

Annapurna I (8,091 meters)

• Location: Nepal
• First Ascent: 1950

Annapurna is in Nepal’s Annapurna mountain range within Gandaki Province. The peak is the 10th highest mountain at 8,091 meters above sea level. Annapurna I is famous for its challenging ascent. In 1950, Maurice Herzog led a French expedition that successfully summited Annapurna via its north face, marking it the first eight-thousander climb.

The mountain derives its name from Annapurna, who is believed to live there. She is the Hindu goddess of food and nourishment. Annapurna comes from Sanskrit words meaning “filled” and “food,” translating to “everlasting food.” Streams from the Annapurna Massif’s slopes supply water to lower agricultural fields and pastures.

Annapurna I, alongside K2 and Nanga Parbat, is famous for its dangerous reputation among the eight-thousanders. It has steep terrain, unpredictable weather, and challenging conditions, marking it the most dangerous peak. Some climbers also say that certain sections of Annapurna are even more difficult to climb than K2, Manaslu, and Everest.

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Conclusion

Overall, the top 10 highest mountains in the world are incredible natural wonders. Mount Everest, the tallest peak, stands out for its immense height. Meanwhile, K2 and Annapurna present steep challenges due to their rugged slopes. No matter which mountain you wish to explore, each will present you with some challenges.

If you are climbing, you should prioritize your safety above all else. You should prepare thoroughly with the right gear and training. Never show disrespect to the mountain. You should also follow ethical practices to preserve the environment. And most importantly, you should not push yourself.

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