How Long Does It Take to Climb Mount Everest?

Introduction

The perception of the dream of climbing Mount Everest is usually dramatized as a summit push in the media, yet in the real world, it is much more complicated. The summit of the world is not all about the last ascent, but it is months, and even years of training.

When you ask yourself how long it would take you to climb Mount Everest, the answer is not as straightforward as it might seem. An Everest hike is not a simple matter of spending days on a mountain, but a lot of training, acclimatization, traveling, and planning.

Concisely, the actual climb typically requires a span of 6 to 8 weeks, but it is the process that starts way earlier than you ever stepped on the ground in Nepal or Tibet. To provide you with a clear vision of how long it takes to climb Mount Everest, we are going to divide every stage into this guide.

The “Quick Answer” (and why it’s not so quick)

When you inquire with an average climber or tour operator, the general response you would get is that the average expedition takes about 60-70 days or about 2-2.5 months to complete the expedition. Typically, all you have to do is mark your arrival in Kathmandu (Nepal) or Lhasa (Tibet) and then the finish of your climb and the home-bound journey.

That initially sounds like an easy figure. However, the fact is that such a fast solution to problems can be deceptive. Those 60-70 days are nothing more than the main expedition itself. They do not have the months or even years of planning it takes before you get to the Himalayas.

It also fails to capture the effort of walking to the Everest Base Camp, adapting to the high altitude environment, and the waiting period. In other words, the Everest journey is much bigger than the simple two-month figure often quoted.

The only way you can find out how long it takes to climb Mount Everest is to examine each phase of the process, including physical training at home or long acclimatization on the mountain.

Phase 1: Pre-Expedition Preparation (Months to Years)

It is not something that you can make an overnight decision about climbing Mount Everest. Prior to your arrival in Nepal or Tibet, there is a lot of groundwork that has been done over the years. Comprehension of the time spent on Mount Everest peak implies consideration of all the training that takes place before the step to climb up. Here are the key stages:

Physical Training

The average time taken by most climbers before their expedition is 1-3 years (or more) of serious training. These involve cardiovascular endurance, strength, and, most significantly, acquiring mental strength. Everest does not just mean having good physical fitness, but being able to push it when one is exhausted, scared, and in harsh conditions.

Financial Planning

Scaling Everest is a huge financial undertaking. Prices vary between outfitters, support, and route, and cost can be as low as $40,000 and as high as over $150,000. The expedition will require years to save, since you will not only have to pay the cost of the expedition, but also equipment, insurance, transportation, and emergency money. The way a person prepares financially is as vital as physical preparation- this is what prepares one to do the journey.

Skills & Experience Acquisition

Nobody begins their mountaineering career on Everest. The majority of climbers take years to get experience with a smaller, yet challenging, peak. Often, previous successful ascent of 6,000m and 7,000m peaks like Aconcagua, Denali, or Manaslu is required. You must also master the technical skills, such as climbing ice, using crampons and ropes, travelling on a glacier, and self-rescue. This stage can take the longest, but it is absolutely essential for safety and success.

Logistics & Booking:

The last stage of preparation normally commences 6-12 months before the departure. It is during this period that the climbers select an outfitter, obtain climbing permits, get medical examinations, and buy special equipment. Everest expeditions are seasonal and highly controlled, which means that it is crucial to make an early booking to secure your spot.

Combined, these actions demonstrate that the time that it takes to climb Mount Everest frequently expands to years of training, years prior to the 60-70 day climb.

Phase 2: Journey to Everest Base Camp (Nepal/Tibet Side) (10-18 Days)

The journey to Everest Base Camp (EBC) is the beginning of every Everest expedition. Before the real climb begins, all Everest expeditions begin with a trip to the base camp of Everest. This stage may require between 10 and 18 days, and depends upon the direction you take, either Nepal (South Side) or Tibet (North Side).

This stage of understanding aids in the visualization of how long it takes to ascend Mount Everest, not just to the peak, but the entire trip to the peak, starting with the trip to the base camp of Everest (EBC). This stage may require between 10 and 18 days, and depends upon the direction you take, either Nepal (South Side) or Tibet (North Side).

International Travel

The majority of climbers are initially flown into Kathmandu, Nepal, or Lhasa, Tibet, taking 1 to 3 days based on their home country and connections. Upon arrival, the climbers are introduced to their expedition team, briefed, and final gear checks are conducted as they embark on the mountains.

Trek to Everest Base Camp (EBC)

• Nepal (South Side): Climbers use a short yet spectacular flight between Kathmandu and Lukla Airport, the base of the Khumbu region. It is a 10-14-day walk through the villages, Namche Bazar, Tengboche, and Dingboche until you finally arrive at EBC, 5,364 meters. This gradual speed is necessary for acclimatization and to enable the climbers to adapt to the thinning air.
• Tibet (North Side): Base Camp is not really a trek and is more of a journey via overland. Climbers make their way out of Lhasa to places like Shigatse, Tingri, and so on as the altitude increases. The trek can be completed in 4 to 7 days with a break at the intervals, as the body will need to acclimatize before reaching the North Base Camp, which is 5,150 meters.

This stage is not just about reaching base camp—it’s the first real test of endurance and adaptation to high altitude. It also highlights an important part of how long it takes to climb Mount Everest, showing that the journey starts long before the summit push.

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Phase 3: Acclimatization Rotations & Waiting Periods (4-6 Weeks)

This stage is the heart of any Everest expedition. While the trek to base camp feels like the beginning, the real work starts here. Climbers spend 4 to 6 weeks on acclimatization rotations and recovery periods, making it the longest and most critical phase of the climb. Understanding this phase is key to knowing how long it takes to climb Mount Everest.

Why It Takes So Long

• Acclimatization: The human body cannot survive at extreme altitude without careful adjustment. Gradually climbing higher and returning to lower camps allows climbers to adapt and lowers the risk of serious illnesses like Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), or High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE).
• “Climb High, Sleep Low” Rule: Climbers repeatedly move up to higher camps during the day but return to lower camps to sleep. This is the safest way to build endurance at high altitude.
• Rest Periods: Between each climb, climbers return to Everest Base Camp (EBC) for recovery, meals, and medical checks. These rest days are vital to regaining strength before the next push upward.

Typical Rotation Schedule (South Side Example)

• Everest Base Camp (5,364m): The home base for the expedition. Climbers spend a few days here before their first rotation.
• Rotation 1: Climb through the dangerous Khumbu Icefall to reach Camp I (6,100m), then continue to Camp II (6,400m). After a short stay, descend all the way back to EBC to rest.
• Rotation 2: Climb again to Camp II, then push higher up the Lhotse Face to reach Camp III (7,200m). Some teams spend a night at Camp II before descending.
• Optional Training: During these rotations, climbers may also practice with supplemental oxygen, fixed ropes, and finalize gear checks to prepare for the summit push.

Waiting for Weather Windows

Climbers are unable to go directly to the summit even after being acclimatized. They wait days, or even weeks, at Base Camp awaiting a favorable weather forecast, generally in late May when jet stream winds are resting. It is a game of waiting since there are no storms, snowfalls, or high winds that do not cause delays.

The whole stage is not so much one of the speed of climbing as of survival, patience, and delicate adaptation. Such acclimatization rotations and wait times are an essential aspect of the time it takes to reach the top of Mount Everest, and climbers are ready to undertake the feat.

Phase 4: The Summit Push (5-10 Days)

Months of preparation and acclimatization are over, and the last push to the summit commences. This phase is normally 5-10 days and is most tedious and hazardous in the climb. Each step is well thought out, and time is important. The appreciation of this stage can be used to explain why it takes a considerable amount of time to traverse Mount Everest base camp to the peak and return.

The Final Ascent Timeline

Day 1: Move from Everest Base Camp (EBC) to Camp II (sometimes stopping at Camp I).

Day 2: Climb from Camp II to Camp III, a steep and exposed section on the Lhotse Face.

Day 3: Push from Camp III to Camp IV (South Col on the South Side, North Col on the North Side). This is the highest camp on Everest, reached by mid-afternoon to allow rest before the summit attempt.

Day 4 (Summit Day): Climbers usually leave Camp IV around 9 PM to midnight, climbing through the night under headlamps. The goal is to reach the summit (8,848.86m) at sunrise, typically between 6–10 AM. After just 15–30 minutes on the top, climbers begin the most crucial part—the descent back to Camp IV, which is just as exhausting and dangerous as the ascent.

Day 5–7: Rapid descent from Camp IV to lower camps. Some teams descend directly from the summit back to Camp II or even all the way to EBC in one long, grueling push.

Worth Reading: 2 Pm Rule on Everest

Why Timing Matters

The summit push comes down to accuracy. Climbers want to get to the top of the mountain and come down before noon, when the weather may get worse, they may be tired, and they may not have enough oxygen. Failing to get the timing can spell out success and tragedy.

Including this stage provides a complete overview of how long it takes to climb Mount Everest, from base camp preparations to reaching the highest point in the world.

Phase 5: Descent to Base Camp & Departure (7-10 Days)

After the summit, climbers now start the last part of the expedition- leaving Everest and going home. Though this stage is a lighter one than the strenuous summit push, it is not devoid of the need for endurance and pacing. This is a significant phase in learning how long it would take to climb Everest to its full height.

Trek or Drive Out

• South Side (Nepal): Climbers retrace their steps on the same trail used to reach base camp. The trek from Everest Base Camp to Lukla typically takes 3 to 5 days, passing through familiar villages such as Dingboche, Tengboche, and Namche Bazaar.
• North Side (Tibet): If you are climbing Everest from the Tibetan side on the Tibetan route, the descent is quicker. Climbers usually travel by vehicle, taking 2 to 3 days to drive from North Base Camp to Lhasa, with stops along the way for rest.

International Departure

At Lukla, climbers take a brief flight back to Kathmandu, and those on the North Side further proceed by road to Lhasa. The climbers finally take off on their international flights home after final celebrations, expedition debriefings as well and deserved rest.

This is the last step, although shorter than the uphill climbing; it is what makes the Everest experience complete. It provides time to look back and reflect on the journey, celebrate success, and realize the entire range of how long it requires to climb Mount Everest- preparation and acclimatization to the final descent.

Factors Influencing the Timeline

While most expeditions last about 60–70 days, the exact duration can vary widely. Several factors influence how long it takes to climb Mount Everest:

• Weather: The single biggest variable. Storms and snow, or heavy winds, may postpone climbs by days or even weeks. During climbing, a lot of time is normally spent in Base Camp waiting for favorable weather conditions.

• Individual Acclimatization: There are climbers who adjust more quickly to altitude than others do. In case a climber has trouble with altitude sickness, the timeline might have to be prolonged.

• Route Differences: The South Side (Nepal) takes a longer hike to Base Camp, whereas the North Side (Tibet) involves more driving. Such variations can change the schedule by a few days.

• Team & Guide Strategy: Every expedition company has slightly different itineraries, where the differences occur in the number of acclimatization rotations, rest days, and the time to climb the summit.

• Unforeseen Events: Illness, injury, logistical problems, or natural events like icefall collapses can cause unexpected delays.

• Season: The climbing season is narrow. The pre-monsoon window in May is the most popular, while the post-monsoon season in October/November sees fewer attempts. Timing your expedition in the right season is critical to success.

These are the reasons why no two different Everest expeditions are identical and why flexibility is as significant as preparation. They also bring out the reason as to why the time taken by different climbers to ascend Mount Everest may vary tremendously.

Why So Long? The Science and Safety

The question that many people would ask is how much time it takes to ascend Mount Everest. The solution is in the interaction of human physiology, mountain hazards, and safety precautions. Everest is not a mountain that can be approached quickly and easily, unlike lower altitude climbs.

Oxygen Deprivation

Beyond 8,000 meters, the so-called death zone, oxygen in the air can be found at a third of the concentration at sea level. The body is unable to perform properly under such conditions, and this is the reason why climbers require weeks of acclimatization and why they resort to the use of supplemental oxygen. Excessive speed heightens the chances of altitude sickness, which is potentially deadly.

Dangerous Terrain

The mountain has major areas, including the Khumbu Icefall on the South side and the North Ridge on the Tibetan side, that are considered the most dangerous in mountain climbing. Going through them involves ropes, ladders, and a lot of care, which is necessary, but slows down the progression, and without which, life will be impossible.

Logistics and High Camps

To climb Everest, several high camps have to be created. Oxygen, tents, and supplies are brought up the mountain in increments by Sherpa teams. This is one of the jobs that is physically demanding, time-consuming, and essential in assisting the climbers during their summit push.

Safety Protocols Over Speed

Every step is calculated on Everest, not on speed. Checks on weather, medical observations, and careful passage through technical areas are time-consuming activities, but they hugely improve the odds that you are going to make it back safely.

To put it in brief, Everest is not slow because the climbers are slow, but because the mountain requires respect, patience, and critical planning at all levels. These factors ought to be understood so that one may well comprehend the time taken to climb Mount Everest.

Sujjested Reading: How much it cost to Climb Mount Everest

Final Say

Reaching the summit of Mount Everest is not a race but a journey of endurance, preparation, and patience. It makes the process take weeks, months, or years of training and acclimatization. This demonstrates the time it takes to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

The path is the goal, and it molds not only physical power but also the inner strength of mind and making it a most desirable objective to reach the summit.

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