Nelly Attar Makes History as the First Lebanese to Summit the World’s Five Highest Mountains

Trailblazing athlete completes monumental climbs of Makalu (8,485 m) and Kanchenjunga(8,586 m), expanding the limits of Arab women in extreme sports

Renowned mountaineer, extreme sports athlete and wellness advocate, Nelly Attar, has etched her name into the history books, becoming the first Lebanese to summit the five highest mountains in the world: Everest, K2, Kangchenjunga, Lhotse, and Makalu.

She is also the first Arab to summit K2 (8,611 m), widely regarded as the most dangerous mountain on Earth. This achievement adds to a remarkable list of global climbs – over 40 peaks spanning five continents – and fuels her mission to complete all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter mountains.

What began as a spontaneous goal at the start of the year quickly evolved into one of the most ambitious chapters in Nelly’s already trailblazing journey so far. “At the start of this year, I had basically done Everest K2 and Lhotse, so the first, second, and fourth highest peak.

What was left was the fifth and the third and then the idea of doing the top five came about. I thought it would be amazing to do that for now so I was aiming to do Makalu and then it worked out for me to also do the third highest peak in the world, which is Kangchenjunga this year”, she shares.

Nelly’s training journey is a masterclass in adaptation. Based in Saudi Arabia before the region had any serious sports infrastructure, she built her early regimen around hiking desert terrain – sand dunes, tower staircases, and early‑morning sessions to simulate the endurance needed for slope climbing.

As she aimed for higher altitudes, she introduced winter conditioning: taking ice baths to train her nervous system and fortify her resilience against the cold. On peak training weeks, Nelly would train for up to 15 hours across multiple sessions, targeting different energy systems – strength, endurance, and recovery. “Suffer now, summit later – that’s what keeps me going through hours and hours of training,” she explains. “That’s how I built a bulletproof mindset”.

Her preparation for Makalu and Kangchenjunga was no different. But this time, she moved away from training in isolation and found strength in group sessions, incorporating a mix of high and low intensity workouts to activate different energy systems while feeding off the energy of others. The shift reflects how her mindset has evolved, not just in building physical resilience, but in drawing motivation from the community.

Reflecting on Makalu, she shares: “On May 10th, we attempted the summit of Makalu and it turned out to be one of my favorite climbs. I felt incredibly strong that day and moved in a complete flow state for hours. We went from Camp 3 to the summit and all the way back to Basecamp in one push. The route was exposed and challenging, the weather was perfect, and we moved for hours under a full moon. It was a long day, but an unforgettable one.”

On Kangchenjunga, the story was different. It was defined by a long, demanding summit day and adversity few could endure: “Kangchenjunga has the longest summit day of any 8000-meter mountain.

It’s 16 kilometers long with over 1,300 meters of elevation gain from Camp 4 and back – all above 8,000 meters, where oxygen levels are one-third of what we breathe at sea level, making every step significantly more physically demanding and mentally exhausting. Add to that -40°C temperatures, 50km/h winds, and the fact that two of my oxygen bottles were stolen. I had to dig so deep to keep going.”

The extreme conditions demanded every ounce of physical and emotional fortitude. But for Nelly, the lessons learned on the mountains transcend the peaks. “There is no room for ego up there. The mountain teaches you everything: resilience, teamwork, humility, and creativity. Even when my oxygen bottles were stolen above 8,000 meters on Kangchenjunga, we found a way to keep going”

Nelly’s climbs are not just personal milestones – they’re part of a greater vision to expand what’s possible for Arab women in sport, and to help communities across the Middle East embrace movement, wellness, and resilience. “I just hope that people see that our lives can be very different, that it stirs something in them to also follow their calling, their dreams, to go climb their own Everest, and to have the courage to do so.”

What makes Nelly’s journey extraordinary isn’t just the physical feats – it’s where it started: from building Saudi’s first dance studio, to climbing the highest peaks around the world. She’s also tackled some of the Alps’ most formidable mountains, including the Matterhorn and the Eiger.

Through her work, she has played a key role in helping shape and build the Kingdom’s sports ecosystem, ultimately emerging as one of the Middle East’s most accomplished athletes. “I hope I’ve paved the way for others, especially women from the region, to see that it is possible,” she shares.

As Nelly sets her sights on her next audacious dream – climbing all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks – she remains a beacon of hope, courage, and ambition for women across the Arab world and beyond.