Mount Everest, standing at 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet) above sea level, does not simply “begin” at one point and “end” at another. Rather, it is a massive mountain system that stretches across the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas, straddling the border between Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Understanding where Everest starts and ends, geographically, physically, and in terms of climbing routes, is essential for anyone planning to trek or climb in this region.
Mount Everest starts, in the most practical sense, from its base camps and ends at its summit at 8,848.86 m. On the Nepal (south) side, the journey begins from Lukla (2,860 m), and the Base Camp sits at 5,364 m. On the Tibet (north) side, the Base Camp begins at 5,150 m. The summit marks the definitive “end”, the highest point on Earth.
Geographically, the mountain sits between 27.9881° N latitude and 86.9250° E longitude. Its massif covers an area of roughly 1,104 square kilometers across Nepal and Tibet.
The Mount Everest climbing route distance from Base Camp (Nepal side) to the summit is approximately 15 kilometers in horizontal distance, but the vertical gain is over 3,500 meters. This distance, however, is highly deceptive, it typically takes climbers 6 to 8 weeks to complete this journey due to acclimatization rotations, rest days, and weather windows.
There are primarily two main Everest routes to the summit, the Southeast Ridge (South Col Route) from Nepal and the Northeast Ridge Route from Tibet. Over the decades, more than 18 different routes to climb Everest have been attempted and documented, though only a handful are used regularly.
The different routes to climb Everest vary dramatically in terms of technical difficulty, cost, permit requirements, and infrastructure. Below is a comparison of the most used routes:
The most common Everest route is the Everest South Col Route, used by approximately 95% of all climbers on the Nepal side. It was first climbed by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa on May 29, 1953, and remains the most well-supported and well-documented path to the summit.
The Everest route map for the South Col Route follows this general progression from Base Camp:
The Everest South route map further highlights key technical sections: the Khumbu Icefall (between Base Camp and Camp I), the Geneva Spur (between Camp III and IV), the Balcony (8,400 m), the Hillary Step (approximately 8,790 m), and finally the summit.
The Mount Everest route from Base Camp to the summit, following the Southeast Ridge, covers a total climbing distance of about 15 km and involves crossing glaciers, fixed ropes, and near-vertical ice walls.
The mt Everest routes to the summit from the Tibet side follow the Northeast Ridge through the North Col (7,020 m), Camp V (7,775 m), Camp VI (8,230 m), and through the Three Steps, First Step, Second Step, and Third Step — to the summit. This route is technically demanding and less commercially supported.
The easiest Everest route, by consensus across the mountaineering community, is the Southeast Ridge / South Col Route from Nepal. This is the route that most commercial expeditions follow, and it is supported by the highest concentration of Sherpa guides, fixed ropes, supplemental oxygen logistics, and high-altitude camps.
That said, “easiest” is entirely relative. All Everest routes to the summit demand elite physical conditioning, altitude acclimatization, and prior high-altitude climbing experience. Most reputable guide agencies, including Trexmount Ventures, require climbers to have summited at least one 7,000-meter peak before attempting Everest.
Climbing Everest via the easiest route is still one of the most expensive undertakings in adventure sports. Based on data compiled from multiple international expedition operators as of 2024-2025:
Climbers approaching via the Nepal side are required to obtain a climbing permit issued by the Nepal Department of Tourism. As of 2025, this permit costs $11,000 USD per person during the spring season (March–May). For the Tibet side, permits are issued by the Tibet Mountaineering Association (TMA), and the cost is comparable, often ranging from $9,500 to $11,000.
Beyond the primary climbing permit, the following are also required:
Mount Everest begins, in trekking terms, from Lukla (2,860 m) on the Nepal side and ends at the summit at 8,848.86 m. Geographically, the mountain massif spans across Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The climbing journey starts from Base Camp (5,364 m on Nepal side) and ends at the summit, covering approximately 15 km horizontally with over 3,500 m of vertical gain.
The most common Everest route is the Southeast Ridge, also called the South Col Route. It was first successfully climbed in 1953 and accounts for the overwhelming majority of all summit attempts. It is commercially well-supported, has established camps, fixed ropes placed each season by Icefall Doctors, and a high concentration of experienced Sherpa guides throughout the route.
The Mount Everest climbing route distance from Base Camp to the summit on the South Col Route is approximately 15 kilometers horizontally. However, the vertical elevation gain is over 3,500 meters. Due to acclimatization schedules, weather holds, and rest rotations, the actual summit push from Base Camp typically takes 6 to 8 weeks in total expedition time.
More than 18 routes have been attempted on Everest. The main ones used today are the Southeast Ridge (South Col) from Nepal and the Northeast Ridge from Tibet. Other documented routes include the West Ridge, the Kangshung Face, the North Face Direct, and the South Pillar. Among all these, only the South Col and Northeast Ridge are used by commercial expeditions on a regular basis.
The easiest Everest route is the South Col / Southeast Ridge Route from Nepal. It has the best infrastructure, most guide support, most fixed ropes, and the highest rate of commercial summit success. That said, it still demands significant prior high-altitude experience. Most operators require climbers to have at least one 7,000+ meter summit before attempting this route commercially.
The total cost of climbing Everest via the South Col Route ranges from $55,000 to over $100,000 USD. This includes the Nepal government climbing permit ($11,000), expedition package with guides and Sherpas ($30,000–$65,000), personal gear, high-altitude insurance, and logistical expenses. Budget expeditions exist but generally involve reduced Sherpa support and shared oxygen resources.
No, a beginner cannot and should not attempt Mount Everest. Even the easiest Everest route demands years of mountaineering experience, including proficiency in glacier travel, fixed-rope ascent, crampon and ice axe use, and prior acclimatization on peaks above 6,000 to 7,000 meters. The Nepal government does not formally require proof of experience, but all reputable expedition companies enforce strict prerequisite requirements.
The Tibet-side Everest route map follows the Northeast Ridge. Climbers travel from Tingri through Rongbuk Monastery to the North Base Camp (5,150 m), then progress through the North Col (7,020 m), Camp V (7,775 m), Camp VI (8,230 m), and then navigate the Three Steps, a series of technical rock bands, before reaching the summit at 8,848.86 m. This route is technically harder and less commercially supported than the South Col route.
The best and most common season is spring (April to May), particularly May, which offers the most stable weather windows before the monsoon arrives. A secondary autumn season exists (September to November), though it sees far fewer climbers and smaller weather windows. Winter and monsoon climbing attempts are extremely rare and considered very high risk due to violent storms and extreme temperatures.
As of 2025, over 6,000 summits have been recorded on Everest in total, with the vast majority achieved via the South Col Route. The mountain has been summited more than 11,000 times in total (counting repeat ascents). The Everest South Col route accounts for roughly 60 to 65 percent of all summit successes in any given season, making it far and away the most frequently used path to the top of the world.
At Trexmount Ventures, we specialize in both Everest Base Camp trekking and full summit expeditions. Whether you are stepping onto the Everest route map for the first time or preparing for your summit push via the South Col Route, our team of certified Sherpa guides, high-altitude specialists, and logistics experts is ready to support you every step of the way. We handle all permits, gear briefings, acclimatization planning, and on-mountain support so that you can focus entirely on your climb.
Reach out to Trexmount Ventures today and take your first step toward the top of the world.
