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Kami Rita Sherpa Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth17 January 1970

Age55 Years

BirthplaceThame village, Namche VDC, Solu-Khumbu region, Nepal

ProfessionMountain Climber

NationalityNepali

Marital statusMarried

SpouseLakpa Jangmu

FamilyDaughter and a son (Lhakpa Sherpa); parents Mingma Tshering Sherpa and Pasang Diki; one brother and six sisters

Kami Rita Sherpa Biography

Kami Rita Sherpa is a Nepali mountaineer from the Solu-Khumbu region who has set multiple high-altitude climbing records, including the most ascents of Mt.

Early life and background

Kami Rita Sherpa was born on 17 January 1970 in Thame village, Namche VDC, in Nepal’s Solu-Khumbu region. Raised in a Tibetan-Buddhist household, he attended Thame Primary School and spent part of his youth at Thame Dechen Chokhorling monastery. As a child he considered a monastic life but left the monastery school and entered the local tourism industry. His father, Mingma Tshering Sherpa, was a mountaineer who later retired, and his mother is Pasang Diki. Kami Rita grew up in a large family that includes one brother, Lhakpa (also called Lakpa Rita), and six sisters.

Career

Kami Rita began working in the Everest region in his teens, carrying supplies and helping support expeditions. Accounts indicate he started ferrying goods toward Everest Base Camp at a young age and in the early 1990s worked in support roles there. He made his first summit of Mount Everest on 13 May 1994 via the Southeast Ridge (South Col route) and subsequently climbed the mountain from the Northeast Ridge as well.

Over the following decades he progressed from porter and support staff to a leading climbing guide. He has guided and summited repeatedly, developing expertise across the world’s highest peaks. Kami Rita has climbed Everest more times than any other person, reaching the summit on multiple occasions and advancing a succession of milestone totals over the years. He reached his 21st Everest summit in 2017, became the first person to reach 22 summits in 2018, and continued to extend that record. In May 2023 he achieved what the records report as his 28th summit of Mount Everest.

His high-altitude résumé extends beyond Everest. He has climbed Cho Oyu eight times between 2001 and 2016, and has summited Lhotse and K2 as well. Other peaks on his list include Baruntse, Ama Dablam, Manaslu, Annapurna IV, and Mount Elbrus. He holds a world record for the maximum number of climbs over 8,000-metre peaks during the period from May 1994 through May 2022.

Kami Rita worked for Alpine Ascents International before joining Seven Summit Treks in May 2018. He has taken on roles beyond guiding, including being appointed Brand Ambassador and Chief Adventure Consultant for Himalayan Glacier Adventure and Travel Company in August 2019. He has also endorsed a Nepalese cement product as a brand ambassador.

Public profile

Kami Rita’s long list of accomplishments has been recognized by a wide range of organizations. Honors and acknowledgements include awards and appreciation letters from Nepal Mountaineering Association, Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal, Kathmandu Environmental Education Project, Himalayan Rescue Association Nepal, and others. He received the Tenzing-Hillary Mountaineering Award and various national honors and certificates, including a Vibhushan certificate from the Government of Nepal. International recognition includes a Guinness World Record for his Everest ascents and a Guinness World Record noted for the most climbs over 8,000-metre peaks during a specified period.

He has used interviews to speak about the Sherpa community’s place in mountaineering and has criticized authorities for insufficient support to Sherpas despite their global reputation. He also keeps a personal Buddhist locket containing prayers and chants close while climbing.

Personal life

Kami Rita is married to Lakpa Jangmu and is a father of two children, a daughter and a son named Lhakpa Sherpa. He stands about 168 cm tall and his physical profile is reported at approximately 65 kg, with black hair and black eyes. He identifies as Nepali and Buddhist and his zodiac sign is Capricorn.

Latest updates

In May 2023 Kami Rita completed his 27th and then his 28th documented summits of Mount Everest, extending the record for the most Everest ascents. He has written a short autobiographical ebook titled How to Climb Everest. He has stated his intention to keep climbing as long as his body permits and announced plans to attempt further Everest ascents, including a stated goal to attempt a 31st summit in 2025 while leading a team for Seven Summit Treks.
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Recent Work

How to Climb Everest

A short autobiographical ebook authored by Kami Rita Sherpa sharing his mountaineering experience.

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Career Highlights

  1. First Everest summit on 13 May 1994
  2. Reached 21 Everest summits by 2017 and became the first to reach 22 in 2018
  3. Guinness World Record for 28 Everest summits (23 May 2023)
  4. Guinness World Record for maximum climbs over 8,000-metre peaks between 13 May 1994 and 7 May 2022
  5. Multiple national and international awards including the Tenzing-Hillary Mountaineering Award
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Kami Rita Sherpa born?

17 January 1970

What is Kami Rita Sherpa known for?

Mountain Climber

What is Kami Rita Sherpa’s marital status?

Married

Who is Kami Rita Sherpa married to?

Lakpa Jangmu