Nepal is “home” to 8 of the 14 mountains in the world over 8,000 metres. The highest of them all of course being Everest. This is how you can get the very best views of the highest mountains in Nepal.

You can always sit in a lake side cafe in Pokhara and enjoy panoramic, but distance views of the likes of the Annapurna range. Or witness a magnificent Himalayan panorama from Nagarkot where if you squint hard enough you just might make out the top of Everest as a “pin prick” on the distant horizon.

This is how much you can see of Annapurna 1 from Pokhara...

But the view of the treacherous south face of Annapurna 1 close up at base camp is another thing....

Here we’re looking at how you can get “up close and personal” with the eight Himalayan giants in Nepal that exceed 8000m.

Starting with the highest, the mountains in Nepal over 8,000m are:

1. EVEREST
2. KANGCHENJUNGA
3. LHOTSE
4. MAKALU
5. CHO OYU
6. DHAULAGIRI
7. MANASLU
8. ANNAPURNA 1

Firstly, contrary to popular belief the famous “trekkers view” of Everest isn’t from Everest Base Camp. In fact you can’t actually see the summit of Everest from Everest Base Camp, rather you get views of the west shoulder of the mountain and dramatic views of the Khumbu Icefall.

The classic view of Everest from Kala Pattar

The classic “close up” view of Everest is from a vantage point called Kala Pattar, which is a broad ridge that extends from Pumori and is about a 90 minute walk up from the trekking lodges at Gorak Shep and is above Everest Base Camp itself. Gorak Shep is the nearest lodge accommodation to Everest Base Camp too, so trekkers following the Everest Base Camp Trek will usually visit base camp (to say they “we were there”) and go up Kala Pattar to get the classic view.

Everest from the “Scoundrel’s View”which is further up the valley from Gokyo Lakes

For those who don’t have the time (or the legs) to trek all the way to Gorak Shep, there are good (although still reasonably distant) views of the summit of Everest poking high above the Nuptse Ridge above Namche Bazaar, particularly from the aptly named Everest View Hotel and by following the Everest Highlights Trek.

From the Everest View Hotel – Everest’s summit rising above the Nuptse Ridge

Elsewhere, there’s also a great view point above the lodges at Gokyo Lake called Gokyo Ri, which those following the Ultimate Everest Trek usually include before heading towards the Cho La and ultimately to base camp.

A rarely seen view of Everest as this is taken from near the summit of Lhotse!

Further up the valley from Gokyo and a lengthy return hike at that is the rarely visited “scoundrel’s view” of Everest.

For those following the Everest Three Passes Trek, the Renjo La affords a more panoramic view that includes Everest. The descent route via the Kongma La affords a different view of Everest too.

A panoramic Himalayan view that includes Everest from the Renjo La. Gokyo Lake below.

All of the above involve trekking and pretty tough trekking at that (mostly). But, it’s Everest and many non-trekkers rightly would like to see Everest too. So, there are daily flights from Kathmandu (window seat guaranteed) that get reasonably close to Everest. Or to get closer still (and if you have lots of money) you can charter a private helicopter that can even land at base camp!

This map shows the location of Kala Pattar, Gorak Shep & Everest Base Camp

Everest Facts & Trivia

1. Height – 8849m (officially 8848.86m)
2. Highest mountain in the world
3. The Nepali name for Everest is Sagarmatha, “goddess of the world”.
4. The Tibetan name for Everest is Chomolungma, “holy mother/holy mountain”.
5. Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary made the first documented ascent of Everest in 1953.
6. There’s still a debate as to whether George Mallory and Andrew Irvine may have been the first to summit Everest on the ill-fated 1924 expedition.
7. It was a British survey in 1854 that confirmed that Everest was the highest mountain in the world, although back then it was known to the surveyors as “Peak XV” or “Peak B”.
8. The Royal Geographical Society officially adopted the name Everest in 1865. The mountain being named after Sir George Everest, a British surveyor.
9. The summit of Everest is about the same size as a dining table.
10 .In 1978 Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler became the first people to summit Everest without using supplemental oxygen.
11. In the same year Franz Oppburg made the first successful solo ascent.
12. As of 2023 the youngest person to climb Everest was just 13 years and 10 months of age.
13. As of 2023 Kami Rita Sherpa has climbed Everest more than any other person (28 times).
14. It’s estimated that as much as 12,000 kg of human poo is left on the mountain each climbing season.

The world’s third highest mountain is more of a massif than a stand alone peak. And it’s a huge massif at that and is more like a mountain range in its own right that rises way, way above other peaks in the far east of Nepal where it is located.

Kangchenjunga

The far east of Nepal and indeed Kangchenjunga itself is one of the least visited parts of the country. Partly because it is so remote and a bit of an effort to get there. But, if you make the effort to go east, then you can’t miss Kangchenjunga as it’s huge and dominates everything there.

The trek to Kangchenjunga Base Camp is properly wild

But, to get those striking close up views of the main summit of Kangchenjunga then you have to trek. But, what a trek it is. Unlike the Everest and Annapurna regions, the Kangchenjunga North & South BaseCamps Trek is much wilder and experiences just a tiny fraction of trekkers in comparison. That alone makes it more than worthwhile, but the close up views of a mountain that is nearly just as high as Everest are truly sensational.

The best views of Kangchenjunga are just beyond the base camps. Kangchenjunga actually has two base camps. North, is also known as Pang Pema and south is also known as Ramche. From the south base camp a hike up the Yalung Glacier to a place known as Oktang is a good place to see the climbing route to the summit of Kangchenjunga, first climbed by Joe Brown and George Band in 1955. From Oktang the whole mountain cirque is above 7500 m. Even better, the three main Kangchenjunga summits, all over 8400 m can be seen. 

A trekker beneath one of the satellite peaks of the Kangchenjunga massif

Kangchenjunga Facts and Trivia

1. Height – 8586m
2. Third highest mountain in the world.
3. It was assumed until 1852 that Kangchenjunga was the world’s highest mountain.
Joe Brown and George Band were the first people to climb Kangchenjunga in 1955. Although out of respect (as Kangchenjunga is 4. considered sacred in both Nepal and Sikkim) they stopped just short of the true summit.
5. Kangchenjunga means “the five treasures of the snow”.
6. Alternative spellings for Kangchenjunga include; Kanchenjunga, Kanchinjinga and Khanchendzonga.
7. Kangchenjunga has one of the highest fatality rates. Around 20% of people have died attempting to climb it.
8. Local legends speak of a hidden valley of immortality on Kangchenjunga.
9. The area around Kangchenjunga is said to be home to a deity known as the “”Kangchenjunga Demon” or “Dzonga”, a type of yeti or rakshasha.

Lhotse is right “next door” to Everest. In fact climbers following the traditional route to the summit of Everest have to make the steep ascent of the “Lhotse Face” after getting through the Khumbu Glacier and the Western Cwm before turning left to reach the south col, which separates Everest from Lhotse. Although it is considered a separate peak, Lhotse is part of the greater Everest massif.

Lhotse on the right, Everest on the left from just above Namche on the trek to Everest Base Camp

So, the simple answer as to how to see Lhotse is by basically undertaking any trek in the Everest region, or following the “how to see Everest” advice above.

From the summit of Ama Dablam! Lhotse with Everest behind it.

Lhotse Facts & Trivia

1. Height – 8516m
2. Fourth highest mountain in the world.
3. First climbed in 1956 by Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger.
4. At the moment the north east face of Lhotse remains unclimbed.
5. Lhotse means “south peak” in Tibetan.
6. It wasn’t until 2001 that Lhotse “middle” was climbed.

From a couple of higher vantage points in the Everest region (e.g. Gokyo Ri, Renjo La) you can see Makalu in the distance.

But, to get the best views close up of striking Makalu then it’s the Makalu Base Camp Trek.

Mighty Makalu

This is a stunningly beautiful, but challenging trek through the remote Makalu Barun National Park. Thankfully there are now simple trekking lodges all the way on this linear route. It’s also one of the least trekked routes, which in our opinion makes the great views you get of Makalu up at base camp even more special. In fact we would subjectively argue that Makalu is the most dramatic of all the 8000+m peaks in Nepal.

At Makalu Base Camp

Makalu Facts & Trivia

1. Height – 8481m
2. Fifth highest mountain in the world.
3. First summited in 1955 by Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy.
4. The name Makalu translates as “big black”.
5. Makalu is abut 23km from Everest.
6. Makalu is considered to be one of the hardest 8,000+m peaks to climb.
7. Makalu is a “four-sided pyramid” mountain.
8. Makalu was the last of all the 8,000+m peaks in Nepal to be climbed IN WINTER and this wasn’t achieved until 2009.

Poor Cho Oyu, it’s one of the world’s highest mountains, but it doesn’t really have a “named trek” like most of the other 8000+m peaks in Nepal.

Cho Oyu lies in the Everest region at the head of the Gokyo Valley. So, if you’re following one of the alternative Everest treks that passes through Gokyo, then all you need to do is add an extra day in Gokyo and head further up the valley as a return hike to get to see a closer view of Cho Oyu.

Cho Oyu from its base camp

The Ultimate Everest Trek, Everest The Hard Way Trek and Everest Three Passes Trek all pass through Gokyo.

You can also get distant views of Cho Oyu on the daily Everest mountain flights from Kathmandu too.

You can also get distant views of Cho Oyu on the daily Everest mountain flights from Kathmandu too.

Cho Oyu Facts & Trivia

1. Height – 8188m
2. Sixth highest mountain in the world.
3. Cho Oyu means “turquoise goddess” in Tibetan.
4. The first successful ascent of Cho Oyu was in 1954.
5. It’s regarded as the easiest of all the 8,000+m peaks to climb.

For the ultimate close up view of Dhaulagiri, then it’s the Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek although this trek is a really tough one and needs to be fully supported camping. Definitely not a trek for the inexperienced.

Dhaulagiri from the French Pass on the Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek

But, there are quite a few other ways of getting spanking views of Dhaulagiri.

Perhaps the easiest of them all is to travel by 4WD and stay at the Thasang Comfort Lodge in the Kali Gandaki Valley. It’s a day’s drive from Pokhara and at the lodge you’re right beneath Dhaulagiri and able to marvel at around 6000m of elevation above you!

Dhaulagiri from the Comfort Lodge at Thasang – a day’s drive from Pokhara

Although not as close, but as part of a great Himalayan panorama, of which Dhaulagiri is a prominent feature, the classic sunrise Himalayan view point of Poon Hill affords a great view of Dhaulagiri (and more) across the Kali Gandaki Valley. A little closer, the lesser visited view point of Khopra Danda affords arguably even better views.

Looking across the Kali Gandaki Valley to Dhaulagiri from the trekkers lodge at Khopra Danda

Dhaulagiri Facts & Trivia

1. Height – 8167m
2. Seventh highest mountain in the world.
3. Dhaulagiri is also the highest mountain in the world that’s entirely within a single country (Nepal).
4. The first successful summit ascent of Dhaulagiri wasn’t until 1960.
5. The name Dhaulagiri means, “white, beautiful mountain”, which it is.
6. With Annapurna 1 (8091m) on the opposite side of the Kali Gandaki Valley to Dhaulagiri, this technically makes the Kali Gandaki the world’s deepest gorge.
7. Dhaulagiri is the furthest westerly positioned mountain in Nepal over 8,000m.
8. When Dhaulagiri was “discovered” in 1808 it was thought to be the world’s highest mountain.
9. The fatality rate on Dhaulagiri is 16.8%.

Although not exactly a close up view, the hill top town of Bandipur is a great vantage point for a panoramic Himalayan view that features Manaslu.

The sun’s rays at dawn illuminate the steep slopes of Manaslu

But, to get those inspiring, mesmerising close up views then it is the incredible Manaslu Circuit Trek, end of.

Manaslu (left) on the Manaslu Circuit Trek

For the first few days of the trek Manaslu and other spectacular peaks are obscured as you’re heading up a very narrow, steep sided river valley. But, once you reach the village of Lho and head further up to Samdo and towards the foot of the Larkya La, the views of Manaslu just seem to get better and better each day.

Manaslu at night from a village on the Manaslu Circuit Trek

Manaslu Facts & Trivia

1. Height – 8163m
2. Manaslu is the eight highest mountain in the world.
3. Manaslu was first climbed in 1956.
4. Manaslu has a “false summit”. This is separated from the true summit by a very dangerous corniced ridge. It’s now thought that many who believed they reached the top of Manaslu actually only reached the “false summit”.
5. Of all the 8,000+m peaks, Manaslu is considered the fourth most dangerous.
Manaslu means “mountain of the spirit” from the Sanskrit word Manasa for “intellect” or “soul”.

And no….it’s not the Annapurna Circuit Trek. On this trek there are only limited views of Annapurna 1 and even then you’d need to undertake the full circuit to get those.

But, there are also daily mountain flights from Pokhara that can get you a decent view of Annapurna 1 and the rest of the Annapurna range for that matter.

One of the trekkers lodges at Annapurna Base Camp with Annapurna 1 as the backdrop!

Yes, you can see the top of Annapurna 1 from the likes of Pokhara and the Sarangkot hill view point. But, you’re only seeing the top as most of the mountain itself is obscured by Annapurna South and equally from around 25 miles away.

You can also get slightly better views on an easy short trek like Annapurna and Fishtail Delights. But, again not the whole mountain. Still, as you’re closer the views in general are more dramatic.

Enjoying a brew beneath Annapurna 1 at Base Camp and why not you’ve earned the view and the brew

Annapurna Facts & Trivia

1. Height – 8091m
2. Annapurna 1 is the tenth highest mountain in the world.
3. For decades it had by far the highest fatality rate of 32% (K2 is around 24%).
4. Annapurna 1 was the first 8000+m peak to be climbed, although the expedition that climbed it (led by the legendary Maurice Herzog) in 1950 had intended to climb Dhaulagiri, but couldn’t find a climbing route.
5. Annapurna can translate as “everlasting food”. In Sanskrit “Anna” means food and “purna means filled.
6. The south face of Annapurna is considered the most challenging route to the summit and one of the mot difficult climbs in the world.
7. The trek to Annapurna Base Camp is one of the busiest in Nepal. It’s probably busier than the Everest Base Camp Trek.
Annapurna 1 is the least climbed 8000+m peak in Nepal.

Originally published on the Snow Cat Travel WordPress Blog