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    The Hardest Country Highpoints

    The hardest country highpoints are not just the tallest. Some need a full Himalayan expedition, others are blocked by permits, closed borders or active conflict. These are the summits that decide whether the full list of 195 is realistic.

    40 peaks · 2 climbed by Martin

    The Hardest Country Highpoints
    #CountryHighest pointElevation
    1NepalMount Everest8,849 m
    2ChinaMount Everest8,849 m
    3PakistanK28,611 m
    4IndiaKangchenjunga8,586 m
    5BhutanGangkhar Puensum7,570 m
    6TajikistanIsmoil Somoni Peak7,495 m
    7AfghanistanNoshaq7,492 m
    8KyrgyzstanJengish Chokusu7,439 m
    9KazakhstanKhan Tengri7,010 m
    10ArgentinaAconcagua6,961 m
    11ChileOjos del Salado6,893 m
    12PeruHuascarán6,768 m
    13BoliviaNevado Sajama6,542 m
    14EcuadorChimborazo6,263 m
    15USADenali6,190 m
    16CanadaMount Logan5,959 m
    17MyanmarHkakabo Razi5,881 m
    18ColombiaPico Cristóbal Colón5,700 m
    19MexicoPico de Orizaba5,636 m
    20KenyaBatian (Mount Kenya)5,199 m
    21GeorgiaShkhara5,193 m
    22UgandaMargherita Peak5,109 m
    23DR CongoMargherita Peak5,109 m
    24VenezuelaPico Bolívar4,978 m
    25AntarcticaVinson Massif4,892 m
    26IndonesiaPuncak Jaya4,884 m
    27SwitzerlandMonte Rosa (Dufourspitze)4,634 m
    28MongoliaKhüiten Peak4,374 m
    29New ZealandAoraki / Mount Cook3,724 m
    30DenmarkGunnbjørn Fjeld3,694 m
    31YemenJabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb3,666 m
    32IraqCheekha Dar3,611 m
    33ChadEmi Koussi3,445 m
    34South SudanKinyeti3,187 m
    35SudanDeriba Caldera3,042 m
    36BrazilPico da Neblina2,994 m
    37United KingdomMount Paget2,934 m
    38MadagascarMaromokotro2,876 m
    39LaosPhou Bia2,817 m
    40SyriaMount Hermon2,814 m

    Difficulty here combines technical ground, altitude, remoteness and access. Political difficulty is tracked separately on each peak page.

    Quick stats

    Peaks on this list

    40

    0 climbed by Martin

    Highest

    8,849 m

    Mount Everest, Nepal

    Lowest

    2,814 m

    Mount Hermon, Syria

    Median elevation

    5,193 m

    217,870 m stacked total

    Continents covered

    Africa · Antarctica · Asia · Europe · North America · Oceania · South America

    Main ranges

    Mahalangur Himal, Himalayas (2) · Eastern Himalayas (2) · Western Cordillera, Andes (volcanic) (2) · Rwenzori Mountains (2) · Baltoro Karakoram (1)

    Difficulty spread

    Hard30 peaks75%

    e.g. Noshaq (Afghanistan), Aconcagua (Argentina), Ojos del Salado (Chile)

    Expert10 peaks25%

    e.g. Mount Everest (Nepal), Mount Everest (China), K2 (Pakistan)

    Route options

    Hard

    Alpine routes

    Multi-day expeditions, high altitude, real glacier hazard or committing rock and ice. Acclimatisation is part of the plan.

    Gear: Full alpine kit, crevasse rescue, tent or hut chain, and a partner you trust.

    NoshaqAconcaguaOjos del SaladoHuascarán
    Expert

    Expedition objectives

    Remote, permitted, politically restricted or extreme-altitude peaks. Months of planning, fixed logistics and often a narrow legal window.

    Gear: Expedition setup, permits, local operator support, medical and comms plan.

    Mount EverestMount EverestK2Kangchenjunga

    Best season

    northern peaks

    18 on this list

    June – September

    Northern-hemisphere summer: stable high pressure, melted-out approaches and long daylight. Shoulder weeks in May and October mean snow on the upper slopes.

    tropical peaks

    17 on this list

    Year-round, driest in the local dry season

    Near the equator temperature barely shifts; rainfall decides. Aim for the dry months and start before dawn to beat afternoon convection.

    southern peaks

    4 on this list

    December – March

    Southern-hemisphere summer. Expect the reverse calendar from Europe — the Andes and Oceania peaks come into condition when the Alps close out.

    polar peaks

    1 on this list

    November – January

    Antarctic season only. Flights operate in the austral summer window and everything is logistics-driven.

    Follow this list in the journal

    Jump straight into the live progress tracker, filtered to the status you care about.

    Summited high points0

    Peaks from The Hardest Country Highpoints already topped out.

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    Visited countries8

    Countries reached — summit done, attempted or scouted.

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    Yet to climb40

    Still open on the list — the road ahead.

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    Frequently asked questions

    What is the hardest country highpoint?

    Gangkhar Puensum in Bhutan is arguably the hardest — it is the world's highest unclimbed mountain and climbing it is banned.

    Which country highpoints require an expedition?

    Everest (Nepal/China), K2 (Pakistan), Vinson (Antarctica), Denali (USA), Aconcagua (Argentina) and Pico de Orizaba-class volcanoes all need multi-day, fully equipped trips.

    More lists

    The Highest Point in Every CountryThe Easiest Country HighpointsBest Beginner Country HighpointsEvery European Country HighpointCountry Highpoints That Are VolcanoesThe Seven SummitsHighest Mountain in Every Asian CountryHighest Mountain in Every African CountryHighest Mountain in Every South American CountryHighest Mountain in Every North American CountryHighest Mountain in Every Oceanian Country

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    Every summit on the way to all 195 country highpoints is filmed and posted on YouTube.

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