Nepal has 8 out of 14 the highest peaks above 8,000 m in the world, which has made it renown for mountaineering. The thousands of mountaineers come to Nepal from around the world each year to fulfill their desire of climbing the peaks of the Himalayas. There are 1310 identified Himalayan peaks in Nepal and 326 peaks have been opened for mountaineering in Nepal.

Nepal's fame for mountaineering expeditions started with the successful ascent of Mt. Annapurna I (8,091 m) by French mountaineers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal in 1950. The French duo are the first to have conquered one of the fourteen peaks over 8,000 meters in height, the world over.

The first successful ascent of the tallest peak in the world Mt. Everest (8,848 m) by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa followed in 1953. Ever since then, Nepal has continued to fascinate mountaineers across the world and has been witnessing a considerable number of expeditions every year.

Apart from Annapurna and Everest, the other peaks measuring over 8,000 meters in length are Mt. Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), Mt. Lhotse (8,516 m), Mt. Makalu (8,463 m), Mt. Cho-Oyu (8,201 m), Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), and Mt. Manaslu (8,163 m).

 A total of thirty three peaks, of up to 6600 metres elevation, have been designated as 'Trekking Peaks." These peaks are easier to attempt than expedition peaks. But some, in fact, are technically very demanding and have foiled the efforts of some high experienced mountaineers.

The control of these peaks has been entrusted to the Nepal Mountaineering Association which issues permits and oversees the regulation of ascent. Opened as recently as 1978, the trekking peaks of Nepal offer a towering potential for adventure and exploration far removed from large scale and expensive expedition climbing.