How Long Does It Take to Climb Mount Everest? Complete guide

Introduction

If you’ve ever wondered how long does it take to climb Mount Everest? The answer is more than just a number. Everest requires patience, acclimatization, and precise timing.

Climbers often spend 6-10 weeks on the mountain, making their way from Base Camp to the summit extremely slowly and adapting to the high altitude. This guide takes you through the entire journey with an easy-to-follow, human-friendly timeline.

Everest Climbing Timeline Overview

Before going into specifics, here is a realistic estimate of how long it takes to climb Everest, from arrival at the mountain to the summit:

• Base Camp Trek: 10-14 days
• Acclimatization Rotations: 20-25 days
• Summit Push: 5-7 days
• Weather Delays: 3-10 days
• Total Duration: 6-10 weeks

Stage 1: Trek to Everest Base Camp

The adventure begins with a scenic trek from Lukla to Base Camp, which takes 10-14 days. This hike is designed to allow the body to acclimatize to the altitude changes, and the path is full of tall bridges, Sherpa villages, and alpine forests before climbers reach Base Camp at 5,364 meters.

Stage 2: Acclimatization Rotations

Rotations between camps during the acclimatization period involve training the body to survive the thinner air found higher in the atmosphere. These acclimatization training segments take weeks to complete, as increasingly higher camps must be rotated to. Eventually, the body becomes more efficient at utilizing the limited oxygen supply.

Stage 3: Waiting for the Weather Window

If the weather is good enough, there is no wind, and the paths to the summit and the camps have been deemed safe, climbers take their chance to climb. This period might take 3 to 10 days, depending on the specific annual weather conditions.

Stage 4: Summit Push (5–7 Days)

The summit push for Everest is very standard and is just about the same every single time. It can be broken down into specific days:

• Day 1: Leaving Base Camp and arriving at Camp 2.

• Day 2: Leaving Camp 2 and arriving at Camp 3.

• Day 3: Leaving Camp 3 and arriving at Camp 4.

• Day 4: Taking a rest and performing oxygen level checks.

• Day 5: Attempting the summit. This can take anywhere between 10 to 16 hours.

• Day 6: Leaving the summit and arriving back at Camp 2.

• Day 7: Returning to Base Camp.

Fastest and Slowest Everest Climbs Ever Recorded

The history of Mount Everest climbing features some astonishing extremes, offering valuable insight for anyone wondering How Long Does It Take to Climb Mount Everest under different conditions.

The fastest Everest climb ever recorded was completed by Lakpa Gelu Sherpa in 2003, who reached the summit from Base Camp in an extraordinary 10 hours and 56 minutes. In contrast, some of the slowest climbs have lasted more than 60 days, often due to severe weather, altitude-related challenges, or extended acclimatization needs.

These record-breaking and record-extending timelines reveal just how unpredictable the mountain can be, reinforcing that while rare speed ascents showcase elite capability, most climbers must prioritize safety, acclimatization, and proper pacing.

Why Everest Takes So Long

Climbers to Everest get acclimatized to the variable and rapidly changing conditions to a certain extent, but the climb is still very extreme. Because of the ever-changing conditions, climbers must take their time moving in a very planned, safe, and slow manner.

Training before the Expedition

As a serious climber, there is a specific minimum of 12 to 18 months that must be devoted to training before the Everest challenge. The training is very relevant to climbers’ specific skills and focuses on the climbers’ specific lung capacity.

Complete Timeline Table

Stage	Duration	Purpose
Base Camp Trek	10–14 days	Gradual altitude adaptation
Acclimatization Rotations	20–25 days	Prepare for extreme altitude
Weather Waiting Period	3–10 days	Select a safe summit window
Summit Push	5–7 days	Reach the top and return safely
Total Expedition	6–10 weeks	Full Everest journey

Conclusion

No climber can look at Mount Everest without wanting to climb it. The mountain is 29,029 feet tall, is highly dangerous with many extreme weather conditions, and requires climbers to have the utmost to patience, and most importantly, the right mindset.

Other climbers and climbers all talk about it, and it takes about 6 to 10 weeks, and even then, most people do Everest for the experience and achievement.

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