Nepal offers varieties of activities to adventure seeking tourists. Mountaineering, trekking, white water rafting, hot air ballooning and gliding are some of the popular recreational activities. Ski resorts can be developed in the Himalayan slopes as numerous appropriate sites exist. There are eight of the world's fourteen highest peaks and more than 1300 peaks above 6000 meters in Nepal. So far, 142 peaks have been opened for climbing.
The landmark event in the Nepalese mountaineering was the ascent of Mt. Everest on May 29, 1953 by Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norge Sherpa. This historic event had drawn attention of many mountaineers, climbers, trekkers and tourists from over the world to Nepal. In 1962, the total number of tourist arrival in Nepal was 6,179, which has reached 491,504 in 1998 making tourism one of the largest industries and major employer in the Kingdom. Tourism has good prospect and potential in Nepal, and, this sector has been opened for foreign investment.