Everest is the highest mountain above sea level, officially measured in 2020 by both Nepal and China. Its summit reaches 8,848.86 metres (29,031.70) feet into the sky. It is part of the Himalayas, a vast mountain range formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Mount Everest lies on the border of Nepal and Tibet. In Nepali, it’s known as Sagarmatha (“Goddess of the Sky”), while Tibetans call it Chomolungma (“Goddess Mother of the World”). The English name came much later.
In 1865, British surveyor Andrew Waugh, then Surveyor General of India, named the mountain Mount Everest in honour of his predecessor, Sir George Everest. Ironically, Sir George had never even seen the mountain, objected to the name, and believed local names should be used instead. Adding to the confusion, he pronounced his name “Eve-rist,” not “Ever-est” as we say it today.
Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa from Nepal, became the first confirmed climbers to reach the top on 29th May 1953.
All climbers must obtain a government permit to scale Everest. This is around $11,000 USD (about £9,000) per person on the Nepal side. As of 2023, solo climbs are banned, meaning you must join an approved expedition with a guide. Total costs, including gear, support, insurance, and travel, typically range from £30,000 to £70,000.
Above 8,000 metres (26,247 feet), Everest enters what climbers call the death zone, a region so high that oxygen levels are just a third of what we breathe at sea level. In these conditions, the human body can no longer function properly: digestion slows, decision-making becomes impaired, and vital organs begin to deteriorate, even if you're resting.
Over 300 climbers have died on Everest, many in this upper zone, where extreme cold and exhaustion make rescue nearly impossible. Some bodies remain frozen in place, becoming grim markers along the route, known by nicknames like "Green Boots" or "Sleeping Beauty."
Nicknamed “the highest garbage dump on Earth,” the mountain has long been littered with old gear and waste. But it also contains fossilised sea life, proof that this mighty peak was once under the ocean.
On popular summit days, climbers can face traffic jams in the death zone. Despite this, Everest Base Camp has 4G and satellite Wi-Fi, so you can post your selfies in real time.
Thanks to tectonic plate movement, Everest rises by around 4 millimetres per year. But that same force also triggers earthquakes and avalanches, which pose serious risks to climbers. The Himalayas are geologically active, making Everest a constantly changing, and sometimes unpredictable, environment.
Sherpa guides often summit multiple times a year to support others. Kami Rita Sherpa holds the record, with over 28 successful ascents - a true Everest legend.
Sherpas are an ethnic group native to the Himalayan region, especially Nepal. The are known for their mountaineering skills and natural ability to thrive at high altitudes, and many Sherpas work as guides and porters on Everest expeditions.
