Even before setting their feet on the mountain, climbers have to undergo a lengthy period of months, or even years of preparation. In order to achieve physical fitness necessary for climbing mountains, they have to undertake some tough training programs. Additionally, climbers must collect gear and supplies as well as organize permits by either employing professional guides or participating in organized expeditions.

There are, however, other things that people still need to do before they start climbing Everest. Most climbers prefer to fly into Lukla which is located in Nepal and has one of the most challenging airstrips. From Lukla, it will take about 8-14 days of hiking up to the base camp of Everest at an elevation of 17600 feet above sea level. This trek helps climbers acclimatize with the high altitude and thus reduces the chances of suffering from altitude sickness while climbing.

The journey experience needs acclimatization which is an essential part. Mountaineers must give their bodies time to adapt to the low levels of oxygen as they go up. It implies that they have to spend some days for short climbs to higher heights and come back down again. Usually, this period can be between two or four weeks at most for the Base Camp and near areas.

Climbers begin making climbing rotations between higher camps and Base Camp after they have settled in at Base Camp. These rotations help acclimatize the body more and entail hiking up as far as camp 1, 2, or sometimes 3 before descending back to Base Camp to rest. Each of these takes a few days, with normally three to four before the last summit push is made. As a whole, another two to three weeks can be taken by this stage.

Having acclimatized and finished the rotations, they wait until there is a good weather window for the summit push. It is during this moment that climbers are usually at their most vulnerable since Mount Everest’s weather can turn out to be extremely unpredictable and dangerous; however, the summit push 

Camp 1 to Camp 2: This segment can require 4-8 hours.n can take 4-8 hours.

Camp 2 to Camp 3: This climb usually takes about 4-7 hours.

Camp 3 to Camp 4 (South Col): This piece of the ascension can require 6-10 hours.

Camp 4 to the Summit:The climbers find the final ascent to be the most difficult; it can take as long as 8-12 hours. Many times, they start this part at night so that by morning they will have reached the summit and also started going downhill before bad weather sets in during the afternoon.

Half of the journey is done when you reach the summit. The most important and challenging portion is descending safely from the peak back to Base Camp. Depending on the climber’s energy levels and conditions, it may take between 4-8 hours to descend from the summit to Camp 4 and another 1-2 days to return to Base Camp.

So, how long does it take to climb Mount Everest?Preparation time, trekking to Base Camp, acclimatization or rotations, the summit push and descent all add up making a typical Everest expedition take about six to ten weeks from arrival in Nepal to return. The timing of this differs depending on weather conditions, pace of each individual climber among other factors.

Endurance and physical fitness are not all there is to climbing Everest. There are a number of important challenges that can affect the duration and success of a climb:

Altitude Sickness: Air becomes less dense as an individual increases in altitude. Altitude sickness may sometimes lead to headaches, vomiting and even death if severe..

Weather:Everest’s weather is notorious for its unpredictability; It’s a place where climbers could be forced to go back owing to heavy winds, deep cold and abrupt storms.

Technical Difficulties: Technical climbing challenges are present in certain sections such as the Khumbu Icefall and the Hillary Step, which calls for great care and expertise.

Logistics:Careful planning is required when it comes to organizing supplies, oxygen and other resources. Any logistical mistake can put the whole expedition at risk.

Physical and Mental Fatigue:The expedition can be so long, and the physical demands of high-altitude climbing are quite strenuous. It is then easy to get very tired and mentally worn out.

Severe difficulty, demanding exhaustive readiness, great physical endurance and mental stamina characterizes the climb. How long does it take to climb Mount Everest is not a question that has an easy answer. The whole trip lasts between six to ten weeks and includes acclimatization for weeks, climbing rotations and then waiting for the right weather window. Apart from time, there are many obstacles mountaineers face including severe weather conditions, technical rock labyrinth like sections and altitude sickness which can be fatal. Nevertheless, a chance of standing on top of the highest point on earth compensates them all, making climbing Everest an ambition that could fire up imaginations of many thrill seekers.