TOP 5 MOST EXPENSIVE SUMMIT TRIPS IN THE WORLD

Well, you might think Mount Everest is top expensive climb, but the real top is on the bottom of the world...

Climb Aconcagua with professionals & no fear from 3300$

Climb Denali with officially accredited local companies

Climb Kilimanjaro. Safety and positive experience

Climb Mount Elbrus w/ the oldest local guide company

Dick Bass, a rancher and mountaineer, spent 20 years and million dollars to summit the highest points of the Earth on each seven continents.This went down in the annals of the climbing history as the 7 Summits project. Today there are about 300 climbers who have succeeded to climb on all 7 Summits.

It seems that mountain adventurers are driven by the spirit of reaching new heights. Many of them got into somewhat a race of setting new records: Volcanic 7 Summits, maximum number of summits per year, record ascent and descent time… the list can be continued.

Mount Everest expeditions are generally recognized worldwide as the most expensive in terms of logistics, permit cost, travel and preparation expenses. However, www.mountainplanet.com conducted own research to identify the most expensive commercial guided tours and it appears that within the last years the top of the world, Mount Everest,  has been removed from 1st position*.

Let us present you top 5 most expensive summit trips according to www.mountainplanet.com

5. Cho-Oyu, Tibet

Average cost for guided tour – 23 500 USD

A mouse sleeping next to the Elephant...

We start countdown from number 5 on our list – Mount Cho-Oyu in Tibet. It seems that Cho-Oyu is destined to live in a shadow of its world famous neighbor Mount Everest. Cho-Oyu is the 6th highest mountain in the word with elevation 8,201 meters and though it’s often regarded as the most accessible of world’s 8,000 meters peaks there are few highly technical and complicated sections on the normal route.

Many adventure agencies promote Cho-Oyu expedition as the final preparation before summiting Mount Everest.

4. Carstensz Pyramid, Indonesia

Average cost for guided tour – 26 500 USD

The rock which raises uncertainty...

Number 4 on the list is Carstensz Pyramid  (or Puncak Jaya) - the only of 7 Summits which requires more rock climbing skills! The peak is 4,884 meters ASL and climbers need to be confident on moving through moderate rock terrain. Due to political upheaval in Indonesia the expedition to Carstensz Pyramid may raise a certain degree of uncertainty and last minute itinerary changes. Access to the peak requires a government permit and high-rate logistics. Both сan be usually handled by the adventure agency.

What climbers need to look out for is travelling to the mountain through the jungle where they can come across one of remaining uncontacted tribes whose intentions can be unpredictable.

3. Mount Vinson, Antarctica

Average cost for guided tour – 41 000 USD

The Hell freezes…

Number 3 on the countdown is Mount Vinson – the highest peak in Antarctica with summit elevation 4,892 meters. The expedition requires first-rate logistics, first-class gear and extreme physical strength and endurance. The climbers may spend 10-12 hrs a day exposed to extremely low temperatures carrying heavy loads. It’s imperative for climbers to go through a serious preparation, invest into first-class equipment, extremely warm clothes, footwear and even underwear before attempting Mount Vinson.

1. Mount Sidley, Antarctica

Average cost for guided tour – 56 000 USD

The real Top on the Bottom of the world...

Here comes number 1 - Mount Sidley, with elevation 4,285 meters. Antarctica’s highest volcano,  and the member of Volcanic 7 Summits. The expedition to Mount Sidley is considered to be one of the top adventuring challenges.  Mount Sidley is a rare visited location in the West Antarctica with the layer of ice in the area reaching 3 km thick. Travelling to Mount Sidley requires serious logistics. The whole expedition takes 15 days and climbers need to be physically fit to walk across windswept terrain with temperature dropping to -40C° or even more...