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Mount Everest, Nepal

“Mount Everest is perhaps nature’s most magnificent creation – certainly it is the raison d’etre in the climbing world,” offer the travel planners at Geographic Expeditions. Part of the Mahalangur Himal—a link in the Himalayan chain—Everest, soaring to 26,035 feet, is the highest mountain on Earth. “The Tibetan word for Everest is Chomolungma, which means ‘Mother of the Universe,’ and the Nepalese, Sagarmatha means ‘Goddess of the Sky.’ Both are perfectly fitting, as there is no other mountain as grand as Everest.” Friedman of Unique Travel also has a soft spot for Everest—along with Himal Chuli, Manaslu, Pabil and the many other peaks dominating the spectacular views from Kathmandu. “Looking out at some of the tallest mountains in the world,” he says, “you ponder the reality of how small we truly are.”