Top 10 Nepali People Who Have Climbed The Everest Highest Number Of Times

Last updated on 2024-04-19

When Nepal first opened its doors to mountaineers in 1949, mountaineering in Nepal almost immediately became a passionate and adventurous pleasure for climbers. Though attempts to climb mountains began in the early twentieth century, no one could claim victory until 1953, when Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay planted their first foot on the peak of Mt. Everest. Sherpas are a Nepalese ethnic group known for their climbing abilities as well as their strength and willpower at high elevations. Tourism provides alternate hobbies and sources of revenue for Sherpas. The people use their homes as overnight shelters for mountain-climbing expeditions, and they also work as cooks, porters, and guides. Overall, tourist-related professions are common in the Sherpa economy. We've compiled a list of the top ten people who have climbed Everest the most times.

*The ranking is based on the research done by The Everest List Team.

10. Sungdare Sherpa

Image Source: everesthistory

Sungdare Sherpa, born in Thame village, Solukhumbu, Nepal, was a Nepalese Sherpa guide for Mount Everest climbers who summited Everest five times. He was the first person to reach the peak of Mt. Everest three times. Sungdare was accompanying Hannelore Schmatz on a 1979 trip when she died. He stayed with her after she died, and as a result, he frostbit most of his fingers and toes. Despite losing his fingers, Sungdare returned to the summit of Mount Everest four times following the 1979 trip. In 1989, Sungdare perished in a river below his town of Pangboche, Nepal. According to Elizabeth Hawley, he suffered from drinking and committed suicide.

Climbed total no of times : 5 times

9. Lhakpa Sherpa

Image Source: courant

Lhakpa Sherpa is a mountain climber from Nepal. She is the only woman in the world who has ascended Mount Everest nine times. She was the first Nepalese woman to successfully climb and descend Everest in 2000. In 2016, she was listed as one of BBC's 100 Women. Sherpa was raised in Balakharka, a village in the Himalayan area of Makalu, Nepal. She is the eldest of eleven children.

Climbed total no of times : 9 times

8. Ang Rita Sherpa

Image Source: cdnph.

Between 1983 and 1996, Ang Rita Sherpa (27 July 1948– 21 September 2020) was a Nepali mountaineer who ascended Mount Everest 10 times without the use of supplementary oxygen. His sixth ascent established a global record for the most successful ascents of Mount Everest, which he re-established on his tenth ascent. He was nicknamed the "Snow Leopard" by his peers. Sherpa withdrew from climbing in 1996 after being ill with a liver disease that would last the remainder of his life.

Climbed total no of times : 10 times

7. Mingma Tsiri Sherpa

Image Source: ascenthimalayas

Mingma Tsiri Sherpa, born in Gaurishanker-1, Dolakha in 1970, began working in the tourism industry in 1991. He began his career as a porter and has since become one of Nepal's national heroes. He established Ascent Himalayas Treks & Expedition (P) Ltd. He has over 20 years of expertise as a Trekking Guide, Mountaineering Guide, and Expedition Organizer. He climbed Mount Everest 19 times and was one of the first Nepalese to conquer the world's second-highest mountain, K2, in 1997.

Climbed total no of times : 19 times

6. Chhewang Nima

Image Source: montagna.tv

Chhewang Nima Sherpa was a Himalayan veteran, having climbed Everest 19 times. He was killed in an avalanche at Baruntse. He was a professional climber, but at the time of his death, he was assisting another team in repairing lines after they had requested assistance. Chhewang had 19 Everest peaks at the time of his death.

Climbed total no of times : 19 times

5. Ang Dorje Sherpa

Image Source: everipedia

Ang Dorje (Chhuldim) Sherpa (born 1970) is a Nepali sherpa climbing guide, climber, and porter from Pangboche, Nepal, who has climbed Mount Everest's summit 20 times. In the spring of 1996, he was the climbing Sirdar for Rob Hall's Adventure Consultants trip to Everest, when a rare storm killed eight climbers from different teams, considered one of the greatest catastrophes in Everest mountaineering history.

Climbed total no of times : 20 times

4. Phurba Tashi Sherpa

Image Source: explorersweb

Phurba Tashi Sherpa is a Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer who has climbed several major Himalayan peaks. There have been 21 ascents of Mount Everest, five of Cho Oyu, two of Manaslu, and one each of Shishapangma and Lhotse. Tashi appeared in the Discovery Channel series Everest: Beyond the Limit in 2009. Phurba ranks fourth among Nepalis who have climbed Everest the most times.

Climbed total no of times : 21 times

3. Apa Sherpa

Image Source: cdn.britannica.com

Apa Lhakpa Tenzing Sherpa is a Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer who, alongside Phurba Tashi, held the record for reaching the top of Mount Everest the most times until 2017. His first ascent of Everest was in 1990, and his most recent ascent is 21 in the year 2011. When asked why he stopped at 21, Apa said, "Everyone believes 21 is a nice number."

Climbed total no of times : 21 times

2. Ngima Nuru Sherpa

Image Source: abenteuer-berg.de

In 1999, the 40-year-old from Tesho, near Namche Bazaar, the Khumbu region's core, began his climbing career as a local kitchen helper for climbing groups. By 2001, he had already scaled the world's highest peak, Mount Everest. Except for 2015, Ngima Nuru climbs Everest at least once a year. With 22 ascents, he is the second most frequent climber of Mount Everest, after only Kami Rita Sherpa. Nuru may one day overtake Kami Rita Sherpa at the top of the record list because he is eleven years younger.

Climbed total no of times : 22 times

1. Kami Rita Sherpa

Image Source: Punjabi News

Kami Rita Sherpa was born in Thame, a small village in the Solukhumbu area, and grew up there. Several notable Sherpa mountaineers, notably Tenzing Norgay, were born in the town. Kami reached the peak of Everest for the 25th time on May 7, 2021, setting a new world record for most ascents to the summit of Mount Everest and plans for the 26th time in the month of May 2022.