There are 14 peaks over 8,000 meters Peaks in the world and 10 highest no less than eight are in Nepal. , although some of the peaks actually straddle borders- for example: Everest is in Nepal and China, Kanchanjungha is in Nepal and India. The height of the 14 highest peaks followed by the highest peaks in South America, North America, Africa, Russia, Antarctica, Europe, Australia and Britain can be seen in the World Mountain Heights diagram.

"Nepal’s magnificent mountains can be enjoyed in three distinctly different fashions. The eeriest way is to simply look at them. This can be done by flying at them- either on regular flights or the daily tourist- season mountain flights. Alternatively, you can admire them from the various popular mountain view points such as Nagarkot or Dhulikhel near Kathmandu or Sarangkot above Pokhara. Getting to these viewpoints is covered in the appropriate chapters.

If simply looking at the mountains isn’t enough, you can get right in amongst them by trekking. Trekking is not mountain-climbing: apart from high passes on certain treks and the approach to the Everest Base Camp you are unlikely to go above 3,500 meters. Trekking, however, does provide breathtaking views.

Finally, there is real mountain-climbing and while getting to the top of an 8,000 meter peak is strictly for the professionals, there are plenty of ‘trekking peaks’ which small-scale amateur expeditions can readily attempt. This is not to say that mountaineering in Nepal can be easy- climbing mountain also called trekking Peak Climbing this high always involves an element of risk- but getting to the top of worthwhile Himalayan peak doesn’t necessarily require millionaire status or big commercial backers.

Mountaineering became a fashionable pursuit in Europe during the second half of the 1800s and having knocked off the great Alpine peaks, the much greater heights of the Himalaya were an obvious new challenge.