How Long Does It Take To Climb Mount Everest?

April 6, 2025 Mukunda Gurung No Comments

Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world at 8,848.86 meters, is a dream destination for many climbers. However, reaching the summit is not easy. The journey involves trekking through terrains, battling extreme weather conditions, and enduring life-threatening altitudes. From the moment climbers set foot in Nepal to reaching the summit and descending safely, the entire process takes around 60 to 70 days.

Every stage of the climb plays a crucial role in the success of the expedition. The first few weeks are spent acclimatizing at Everest Base Camp and completing climbing rotations to higher camps to adapt to the thin air. The final push to the summit depends on a narrow window of favorable weather, requiring patience. When you understand the best time to climb, potential risks, and preparation strategies, it is easy to acquire the dream of conquering the world’s highest peak.

Important Everest Insights for Every Climber

Total Duration: Climbing Mount Everest typically takes 60 to 70 days, including preparation, acclimatization, and the final ascent.

Best Climbing Season: The Spring season ( April- May) offers the best weather conditions, while autumn(September- November) is another viable option to trek Mount Everest.

Major Challenges: Climbers face altitude sickness, extreme cold, and avalanches during the trek, which are the major challenges.

Summit Push: The final climb from Camp 4 to the summit takes 8 to 12 hours and requires peak endurance and mental preparedness.

From Base to Peak: How Long Is the Climb?

Everest is a multi-phase process that requires careful planning and execution. The journey involves arriving in Nepal, trekking to Everest Base Camp, undergoing weeks of acclimatization, and making the final summit attempt. The timeline varies based on weather, individual endurance, and logistical factors.

1. Preparation and Arrival (Days 1- 7 )

The actual climb to Mount Everest is challenging and demanding. It is essential to be prepared before climbing. Climbers spend months training their strength, endurance, and altitude adaptation through cardiovascular exercises, weight training and simulated high-altitude climbs. Additionally, the proper gear is crucial, including insulated clothing, climbing boots, crampons, harnesses, ropes, oxygen supplies, and medical kits. Mental preparation is equally important, as the climb demands resilience, patience, and the ability to endure extreme conditions.

Once you are ready, you have to arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal, and finalize all the necessary permits and logistics. The key permits include the Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit, the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entry Permit, the TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) card, and the Everest Climbing Permit. From Kathmandu, taking a flight to Lukla is the first step of your journey to Everest. Lukla is the gateway to Mount Everest. The trek to the Everest Base Camp(EBC) takes about 7 to 10 days. Along the way, climbers pass through key villages such as Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Dingboche, and Lobuche, each offering unique cultural experiences and necessary altitude adjustments. There are different routes to reach the Everest Base Camp, such as the EBC trek with a helicopter return, the Everest Cho La Pass Trek, and the Everest Gokyo Lake trek route. It offers additional acclimatization and stunning glacier views. This phase of preparation is vital for building endurance, minimizing health risks, and ensuring a strong foundation for the grueling climb ahead.

2. Acclimatization and Climbing Rotations (Days 8 – 40)

Acclimatization is the most time-consuming part of the Everest climb. After spending weeks at EBC, you are now being prepared for the higher altitude. This will help your body adjust to the thin air, which directly reduces the risk of altitude sickness, hypoxia, and other high-altitude illnesses. To adapt gradually, most of the climbers follow a rotation system, moving between camps multiple times before making their final summit push.

The acclimatization period typically lasts four to five weeks and involves a series of climbs to higher camps followed by returns to lower altitudes for recovery. The standard climbing rotations include:

Rotation 1: It involves climbing from Base Camp to Camp 1 (6,065m/19,900 ft), crossing the treacherous Khumbu Icefall, spending a night to adjust to the altitude, and then descending back to Base Camp for recovery.
Rotation 2: It requires ascending to Camp 1, then Camp 2 (6,400m/21,000 ft), where climbers spend several nights acclimatizing to the thinning air before returning to Base Camp to regain strength.
Rotation 3: One of the toughest pre-summit rotations, that involves a climb from Camp 2 to Camp 3 (7,200m/23,600 ft) on the Lhotse Face, a steep, icy wall, where climbers briefly stay to adjust before descending again.
Final push: The final push begins with a trek from Camp 3 to Camp 4 (7,950m/26,085 ft), located in the “Death Zone”, where oxygen levels are critically low.

3. The Summit Push (Days 41- 57)

The final ascent to Everest’s summit depends heavily on weather conditions. Climbers carefully plan their ascent based on detailed weather forecasts, waiting for a favorable weather window, typically in mid-to-late May when winds are calmer, and temperatures are slightly less extreme. The final summit push is nearly 2 days and begins late at night, around 8 PM to 12 AM, to reach the summit at sunrise and descend before afternoon storms develop. Usually, you have to rely on bottled oxygen and push your physical and mental limits as you ascend to:

The Balcony (8,400m/27,600 ft): A small resting point where climbers change oxygen bottles and assess their condition.
The South Summit (8,749m/28,700 ft): A false summit reached after a steep climb, offering views of the final approach.
The Hillary Step (8,790m/28,839 ft): A nearly vertical rock face requiring technical climbing skills, now partially collapsed but still a major obstacle.
The Summit (8,848.86m/29,031.7 ft): The highest point on Earth, where climbers spend a few minutes taking in the incredible view before beginning their immediate descent.

4. Descent to Base Camp (Days 58- 60)

Reaching the summit of Mount Everest is a breathtaking achievement, but the journey is far from over. In fact, the descent is often more dangerous than the climb up. After pushing the body to the absolute limit, most climbers are exhausted, dehydrated, and running low on oxygen. Every step down requires intense focus, but fatigue and altitude can slow reactions, increasing the risk of accidents. As soon as you reach the top, spend just a few precious moments taking in the view before turning around, as you don’t have longer time. The thin air at this altitude can quickly cloud judgment, and weather conditions can change in an instant. Then, you must carefully navigate back down through the Hillary Step, the South Summit, and the Balcony, all while battling sheer exhaustion.

The first goal is to return to Camp 4, and then rest briefly, but even here, you are in the Death Zone. In this zone, the body is slowly shutting down due to lack of oxygen. The safest option is to descend as quickly as possible, moving past Camp 3 and Camp 2 before finally reaching the safety of Base Camp. This final stretch is a true test of mental and physical endurance. This will take nearly 2-3 days for completion.

Which Is The Best Time to Climb Mount Everest?

The best climbing seasons for Everest are in spring (April-May) and autumn (September-November). Each season offers unique conditions and challenges.

Spring(April-May): The Spring season, with its mild temperatures and stable weather, is a popular time to climb. This is the best time to attempt summits because of lower wind speeds. The presence of compact snow also reduces the risk of an avalanche. If you have a large group, then it will ensure better logistical support. However, being a peak season, the route may be more crowded.

Autumn(September to November): Autumn is the next favorable season and is less crowded than spring. It is also accompanied by colder temperatures, stronger winds, and a more demanding climb. This season is unpredictable, which increases the likelihood of delays and snowfall.

Winter months (December to February): The winter months are not the best time for Mount Everest. Extreme cold and strong winds are common during this season, increasing the danger of frostbite and gear failure. Only a few climbers try to climb Everest in winter.

Monsoon season (June to August): This season is also not ideal for Everest Expeditions.

This period is characterized by heavy rainfall, snowfall, and avalanche dangers. Melting snow and moving glaciers can also increase avalanche risk. Due to this reason, successful climbs become rare in this season.

Most climbers opt for a May summit attempt, when the weather is at its most favorable.

Climatic and Physical Challenges that Affect Trek Duration

The total duration of a Mount Everest expedition can vary depending on several key factors. Each climber’s experience, fitness level, and ability to acclimatize play a significant role in determining how long the ascent will take. Additionally, external conditions such as weather patterns, the number of climbers on the route, and terrain stability can lead to delays or affect the overall speed of the climb.

Primary Factors

Weather Conditions: Harsh and unpredictable weather is one of the biggest factors affecting the climb. Storms can bring strong winds, heavy snowfall, and sudden temperature drops, making the ascent dangerous. Extended bad weather can cause you to delay in your summit push, adding extra days or even weeks to the expedition.
Acclimatization Needs: The human body requires time to adapt to low oxygen levels at high altitudes. Some climbers require more time to acclimatize than others, which can extend the duration of their stay at Base Camp. They may need additional rest days during rotations to higher camps. Proper acclimatization is critical to preventing altitude sickness, which can be life-threatening if not managed correctly.
Physical Fitness and Experience: Climbers with strong endurance and prior high-altitude experience tend to move more efficiently, allowing them to complete acclimatization rotations. So, they can push themselves to the final summit push more quickly. In contrast, climbers with less experience may require extra rest days or slower ascent rates to ensure safety.
Team Size and Sherpa Support: Support is necessary for the Everest climb. Expeditions with experienced Sherpas and a well-organized team tend to move more efficiently. Sherpas assist in carrying supplies, setting up camps, and guiding climbers through difficult sections, reducing the physical and logistical strain on the climbers themselves.
Route Conditions: The terrain on Everest is constantly changing due to icefall shifts and avalanches. Sections like the Khumbu Icefall and Hillary Step can become more dangerous depending on snowfall and ice stability, sometimes requiring teams to wait for safer passage, which can extend the climb’s duration.
Crowds on the Route: During peak climbing seasons, hundreds of climbers attempt to summit Everest. It leads to traffic jams at key bottlenecks, such as the Hillary Step. These delays can add hours to the summit push, increasing exhaustion and the risk of frostbite or altitude sickness.
Health and Injuries: The extreme conditions of Everest increase the likelihood of illness and injury. Climbers suffering from frostbite, exhaustion, or altitude sickness may need additional recovery time at higher camps. It even requires evacuation, significantly affecting the expedition timeline.

Top Climbing Advice for Successfully Reaching Everest’s Summit

Success depends not only on physical strength but also on proper preparation, strategy, and mental resilience. To climb Mount Everest is one of the most demanding challenges for a mountaineer. The extreme altitude, harsh weather, and unpredictable conditions require climbers to be well-trained, well-equipped, and highly disciplined.

Train extensively: Engage in rigorous cardio and strength training, along with altitude simulation exercises to improve endurance.
Hire experienced guides and Sherpas: Their expertise enhances safety, navigation, and overall success.
Follow a strict acclimatization schedule: Gradual ascent reduces the risk of altitude sickness.
Stay hydrated and eat well: Proper nutrition and hydration are critical for maintaining strength and stamina.
Invest in high-quality gear: Ensure you have insulated clothing, reliable boots, and oxygen supplies.
Monitor weather forecasts: Staying updated on changing conditions helps in planning the summit attempt effectively.
Carry emergency medical supplies: Be prepared for altitude sickness, frostbite, and other health concerns.
Develop mental resilience: The climb is as much a mental challenge as a physical one, requiring patience and determination.

From Dream to Summit: Planning Your Everest Climb

Mount Everest climbing is more than just an adventure. It is also a test for mental strength, physical endurance, and careful planning. This journey of 60-70 days requires intensive preparation, acclimatization, and a commitment to overcome extreme conditions. Every step involves caution and determination, whether you are trekking in the rough terrain of the Himalayas or enduring the harsh conditions of the death zone. The chances of reaching the summit are greatly increased by understanding the optimal time for climbing, the acclimatization strategy, and the potential risks. Climbers must remain disciplined and careful during the descent. Everest may be the biggest challenge, but it is rewarding for those who follow safety protocol, respect the mountain, and have patience and perseverance. Whether you dream of standing at the top of the world or simply admire the feat from afar, Everest remains a symbol of human endurance and the relentless pursuit of greatness.

FAQ:

How much does it cost to climb Mount Everest?

Climbing Mount Everest costs between $30,000 and $100,000 USD, depending on the level of support and expedition type. The cost includes permits ($11,000), guides and Sherpa support ($5,000 – $40,000), equipment and oxygen ($10,000 – $20,000), travel expenses, and logistics.