Which Are the Tallest Mountains in the World? See Costs of Climbing Them

• Most of the world's tallest mountains are located in Asia, with 14 of them rising higher than 8,000 meters (26,000 feet) above sea level
• China has the highest mountains in the world (50), followed by Pakistan (42), Nepal (32), India (27), and Bhutan (five)
• Thousands of people, including Kenyans, have summited the world's tallest mountains, spending millions of shillings

TUKO.co.ke journalist Japhet Ruto brings over eight years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting, offering deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Over 100 mountains rise to a height of 7,200 meters (23,600 feet) above sea level. Out of these, 14 of them are higher than 8,000 meters (26,000 feet).

A man carrying gear on a rope ladder in the Khumbu Icefall on Mt Everest. Photo: Everest Today. Source: Twitter

Most tallest mountains are found in China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, at the margins of the Indian and Eurasian plates.

China has the highest mountains in the world (50), followed by Pakistan (42), Nepal (32), India (27), and Bhutan (five).

Thousands of people have summited the world's tallest mountains, spending millions of shillings.

Which are the tallest mountains in the world?

1. Mt Everest

Mt Everest in Nepal is the tallest mountain in the world, rising 8,848.86 metres above sea level.

According to Statista, it costs $84,123 (KSh 10,868,876.67) to summit the mountain.

Mt Everest draws many climbers, including very experienced mountaineers.

There are two main routes for climbing: the standard route approaches the summit from the southeast in Nepal, while the other approaches it from the north in Tibet.

While summiting using the standard route, Everest doesn't provide many significant technical climbing obstacles, but there are risks from wind, weather, altitude sickness, avalanches, and the Khumbu Icefall.

The New York Times reported that over 300 people have died climbing Mt Everest.

2. K2

After Mt Everest, K2 is the second-highest mountain on earth, rising 8,611 meters (28,251 feet) above sea level.

It is located in the Karakoram mountain range, with a section in China's Trans-Karakoram Tract in the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous county of Xinjiang and a portion in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan area of Kashmir.

The cost of the royalty fee paid to the Pakistani government to climb the mountain is $12,000 (KSh 1,550,426.40).

According to Makalu Expeditions, the full board service of the K2 adventure, which includes all necessary provisions, costs $35,000 (KSh 4,522,077) up to the summit.

3. Kangchenjunga

At 8,586 meters (28,169 feet), Kangchenjunga's summit is located in the Kangchenjunga Himal, a region of the Himalayas bordered to the west by the Tamur River, to the north by the Lhonak River and Jongsang La, and to the east by the Teesta River.

Three of the five summits, the main, central, and south peaks, lie directly on the boundary between Koshi Province, Nepal, and Sikkim state, India; the other two peaks, west and Kangbachen, are located in Nepal's Taplejung district.

The average cost of the Kanchenjunga trek, for a 15-22-day journey, is between $1780 (KSh 230,000) and $2200 (KSh 285,000) per person, as per Magical Summits.

The costs cover permits, lodging, meals, transportation and guides.

4. Lhotse

Lhotse is the fourth-highest mountain in the world, at 8,516 metres (27,940 ft) above sea level.

Its main summit is at the border of Nepal's Khumbu region and China's Tibet autonomous region.

Climbing the Seven Summits costs of scaling the mountain start from $34,995 (KSh 4.5 million).

5. Makalu

Mt Makalu has an elevation of 8,485 metres (27,838 ft) above sea level.

Situated on the China-Nepal border, it lies 19 km southeast of Mt Everest in the Mahalangur Himalayas.

It costs $12,500 (KSh 1.6 million) to summit the mountain.

Kenyan banker dies on Mt Everest

Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported that Cheruiyot Kirui's adventurous sojourn to the summit point of Mt Everest ended tragically on Thursday, May 23.

It was on May 17 when the Kenyan put himself on a trial of ascending the world's highest mountain without supplemental oxygen.

The banker working for Kenya Commercial Bank was reported missing after reaching 8,000 meters above the mountain.