the Travel Enthusiast
- 26 Oct
tomtum in Travel Planning | 2 COMMENTSTop 10 most famous mountains in the world
Mont Blanc, France
One of the first things that kids learn in geography classes is how high them mountains in their respective countries are, and of course all of them are compared to Mount Everest, or some other peak that is among the highest in the world. Mountains have somehow become a reason for national pride in many countries, and woe is the country that is unfortunate enough to have only plains and hills on its territory.
So naturally, when we visit another country, mountains are an instant attraction (well, maybe only for those who are into hiking and trekking). In any case, should you wonder which mountains are famous enough to be checked out during your travels, here’s a list (in no particular order) of some of the most famous peaks in the world.
Mount Fuji, Japan
Mount Fuji, Japan
Mount Fuji, which name means “immortality” (不死 fushi), is one of the most widely known symbols of Japan, and not only is it easily recognizable, but it is also fairly accessible. It is the scene of the world’s first science fiction story and one of the oldest japanese myths about the “Moon Princess”.
The recommended climbing season is in July and August, when the slopes are pretty much snow-free and the weather is good for climbing. There are 10 stations on the mountain, and there’s a paved road leading up until the fifth station.
The 3,376 meter high cone shaped mountain is actually a volcano that last erupted in 1707. Thousands of people visit and climb the mountain every year from Japan and all over the world. Most people come here between late July and late August, so that is when the area is most crowded. If you would rather climb or just visit during off season, you should come in early September, but note that temperatures are lower and public transportation less frequent.
Though some points of the trail are a little rocky and steepish, climbing Mount Fuji is not to difficult in general and does not require any special climbing skills or equipment – at least not during high season. The view is always stunning from up there, but if you want to see something really breathtaking, time your ascent to the peak to early morning, between 4:30 and 5:00 in the summer, to witness sunrise from Mount Fuji.
Popocatepetl, Mexico
Popocatepetl, Mexico
The volcano of the unpronounceable name is still active, and you can’t climb to the summit, but a good portion of the slopes can still be accessed. The last major eruption was in 1994, but the volcano has been a bit cranky the past few years. Nevertheless, you can visit the interesting monasteries located at a lower altitude.
The name of Popocatepetl comes from the Aztec words for ‘smoking mountain’. It has erupted several times over the centuries, the first recorded eruption being in 1345. It has been erupting in irregular intervals for the last 20 years sending smoke and burning rocks into the atmosphere. During the time before the land conquered by the Spanish, the volcano sometimes buried whole Aztec villages and even some pyramids.
The mountain is 5426 meters high and is located about 70 km southeast of the capital, Mexico City. It is also very close to Iztaccihuatl mountain. According to the old Aztec legend, Iztaccihuatl was promised by her father to the warrior Popocatepetl. While the he was in battle, the father found other suitors for Iztaccihuatl thinking that Popocatepetl will die in the war. But the girl did not want to marry anyone else, so she committed suicide. When the warrior returned, he took his dead lover to the mountains hoping the cold would wake her up, but instead he froze and the gods transformed both of them into mountains.Lhotse, Tibet/Nepal
Lhotse, Everest, Ama Bablam, Nepal
Lhotse is the fourth highest mountain in the world, and it can offer some amazing views if you are not too afraid of heights (it has the steepest face on the planet, so looking down can make your stomach a bit queasy). Lhotse is part of the Himalaya Mountains and is the fourth highest peak in the world located on the border of Nepal and China, south of Mount Everest.
There are several organized expeditions that can take you to climb the peak or do many other things in the area. Apart from climbing Lhotse, adventurers can explore ancient monasteries, climb several lower peaks in the area and more. If you want to go one one of these – usually 55 – 56 day – trips, you will have to fly to Kathmandu, as that’s where the expeditions start from. Many tours will take you to Pangboche Monastery, Tyangboche Monastery and to Namche Bazaar, a village known as the gateway to Mount Everest. The season for tours and climbing lasts from Spring to Fall.
Mount McKinley, USA
Mount McKinley
Mount McKinley is located at the center of the amazing Denali National Park in Alaska, and while it looks really nice from afar, be prepared to face some insanely low temperatures. Only about half of those attempting to climb the mountains actually reach the top. The first successful attempt to climb it was in 1913.
With its 6,168 meters height, Mount McKinley is the tallest peak in North America. The native people of the land, the Athabascan, called the mountain Denali, which in their language means ‘The Great One’. Climbing the peak is rated as extremely difficult doe to the harsh weather, low temperatures and wind only a few can acclimatize to. No wonder only half of the – so far – 32,000 attempts to ascend were successful.
The Denali National Park and Preserve is a six million acres pearl of Alaska. It is the first national park in the world, established over 100 years ago and is visited by hundreds of thousands of people every year. The low elevation taiga forest of the National Park gives home to incredibly diverse wildlife and breathtaking landscapes that are worth a visit even if you will only admire Mount McKinley from a distance.
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain in the world (meaning it is not part of any mountain range), and it has three volcanic cones: Kibo, Shira and Mawenzi. There are several trails to the summits, ranging from really difficult to fairly easy, and as long as you have some kind of altitude sickness medication with you, you’ll be fine. It is the highest mountain in Africa and is located in the northern part of Tanzania.
The mountain is 5,895 meters high and gives home to all kinds of ecological systems. You can find here moorlands as well as cultivated land, alpine desert, arctic summit and even rain forest! Isn’t that incredible! About two thirds of the attempts to climb Uhuru Peak, the summit of Kilimajaro, are successful and some very surprising and respectable. The French Valtee Daniel was 87 years old when he climbed the mountain and the South African Bernard Goosen ascended to the peak two times, in a modified wheelchair on both occasions, as he has cerebral palsy.
Mount Logan, Canada
Mount Logan, Canada
Mount Logan is the highest mountain in Canada, and one interesting fact about it is that it is still “growing”, thanks to the active tectonic uplifting in the area. With its 5,250 meters it is the second highest mountain in North America, right after the Alaskan Mount McKinley. Located in the southwestern part of the Yukon territory and is part of the Kluane national Park and Reserve.
Climbing the mountain has a low difficulty rate both from the perspective of endurance and technicality. Numerous expeditions are organized for those who want to ascend Mount Logan. It has the largest base territory among all the mountains on Earth and is rises above the breathtaking glaciers that surround it. If you are daring enough to go to the national park and climb the mountain, you will see why it has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kanchenjunga, India
Kanchenjunga, India
Kanchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world, and despite the fact that it is not as well known as Everest or K2, climbing this mountain is an awesome experience, especially if you start off from the charming panorama base located at 5,180 meters.
Located in the state Darjeeling, this 8,586 meter high mountain the the highest in India. Its name means The Five Treasures of the High Snow in Tibetan because it is a collection of five high peaks. Climbing the highest peak is no small challenge, but if you are an adventurous spirit and lover of nature, you will surely appreciate the raw conditions. The terrain is wild, landscapes untamed and villages are few and far between…
Aconcagua, Argentina
Aconcagua, Argentina
Climbing Aconcagua on your own usually means suicide if you are not a really experienced climber, but luckily there are many expeditions leaving regularly from the nearby city of Mendoza. Cerro Aconcagua is the highest mountain in all South America, it is 6,962 meters high and a great challenge for any climbing, hiking or mountaineering enthusiast.
Aconcagua is part of the Andes Mountains and is located in Argentina, 112 km away from Mendoza to the northwest. It is part of the Aconcagua Provincial Park and has a decent variety of South American wildlife. Summiting in the winter is quite challenging and dangerous as the average temperature is – 30 degrees Celsius and there is snow and strong wind all the time.
Mont Blanc, France
Mont Blanc, France
Mont Blanc has quite the history – the first Winter Olympics in the world were held here. While technically speaking, climbing the mountain is nothing out of the ordinary, it does have the benefit of being located between two beautiful little resort towns: Chamonix in France and Courmayeur in Italy.
It is the highest mountain in Europe, but really cannot be compared to the sky high peaks of Asia or the Americas with only 4,810 meters in height. But the mountain itself and the surrounding area are picturesque and provides the possibility to experience climbing a high peak even to less experienced hikers. The first ascent was made by two Frenchmen in 1786 and in 1808 it was first climbed by a woman. Today nearly 20,000 people make it to the top every year; the record of a round-trip hike to the top and back is only 5 hours.
Klyuchevskaya Sopka, Russia
Klyuchevskaya Sopka, Russia
Klyuchevskaya Sopka is the highest active volcano in Eurasia, and while the intense volcanic activity (over 50 eruptions in the past 200 years) might sound scary, thousand of climbers visit this mountain every year.
It is located on the Kamchatka Peninsula, in Russia among the steppes of the northwest Russian wilderness. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site called Kamchatka Volcanoes. It is 4,750 meters high and was first climbed in 1788. Klyuchevskaya Sopka is considered a sacred place in the mythology of the indigenous peoples. Other volcanoes are also respected, but the highest one holds the most important place. Here is where the god Volkov held the freshly created world and the volcanic activity is due to the fact that the work was not finished.
Whichever peak you chose as your destination, you will need a cheap flight to the nearest city with an airport and preferably also some comfortable accommodation – especially after you returned from the mountains eager for some civilization. Use the box below to find cheap flights and hotels by entering your departure, destination and preferred travel dates. Then select some of the providers and compare their prices to find the best travel deals.
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And the most difficult wall in the world: the Eiger Nordwand.