Explore the breathtaking filming locations of 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, from Everest and K2 to Annapurna, in Nims Purja’s extraordinary adventure.
14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible follows Nepali mountaineer Nirmal “Nimsdai” Purja and his extraordinary 2019 Project Possible mission to summit all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks in just seven months.
The Netflix documentary (and his book, Beyond Possible) capture his record-breaking journey across Nepal, Pakistan, and Tibet, using remarkable footage filmed during the climbs themselves.
Nims completed the challenge in just six months and six days, a feat that transformed him into one of the world’s most celebrated high-altitude mountaineers. He later continued pushing the limits of the sport, including the historic first winter ascent of K2 without supplemental oxygen.
Nimsdai Purja died in July 2026 while climbing Broad Peak in Pakistan, making the 14 Peaks documentary an especially poignant record of his determination, leadership, and extraordinary legacy.
The film’s breathtaking locations are not simply spectacular backdrops. They document the real mountains Nims and his team faced, from Annapurna and Everest to K2 and Shishapangma, preserving a remarkable chapter in mountaineering history.
Table of Contents
🏔️ 14 Peaks Filming Locations
The footage follows Project Possible across Nepal, Pakistan, and Tibet, covering all 14 eight thousanders. Here are the extraordinary locations behind the documentary.
🏔️ Annapurna I, Nepal
Annapurna I in Nepal opens the 2019 Project Possible journey and immediately establishes that Nims has not chosen the easy setting for his record attempt.
Rising to 8,091 metres, Annapurna is notorious for its avalanche danger, unstable terrain, and technically demanding climbing. It was the first of the 14 peaks Nims summited, on April 23, 2019.
The documentary captures the expedition at close quarters, with handheld and personal mounted cameras used during the first stage. Base camp footage was supplemented by footage shot higher on the mountain by Nims and members of his team.
What to see & do here:
- Annapurna Circuit: Trek through dramatic Himalayan scenery.
- Annapurna Sanctuary: Reach spectacular mountain viewpoints.
- Pokhara: Explore Nepal’s adventure capital.
🌨️ Dhaulagiri I, Nepal
Dhaulagiri I in Nepal, at 8,167 metres, was the second mountain in Project Possible. Nims reached its summit on May 12, 2019, less than three weeks after Annapurna.
Known for severe weather, exposed terrain, and powerful winds, Dhaulagiri provides another suitably intimidating backdrop for the documentary. The footage helps convey the extraordinary pace of the mission.
This was not a conventional expedition spending weeks settling into one mountain. Nims was trying to keep moving, climbing, filming, organising logistics, and somehow making it all work.
What to see & do here:
- Dhaulagiri Expedition: A true connoisseurs’ climb.
- Dhaulagiri Circuit: Trek around the massive massif.
- Marpha Apple Garden: Explore apple orchards in Mustang.
- Kali Gandaki River: Embark on a whitewater rafting adventure.
🏔️ Kanchenjunga, Nepal
Kanchenjunga in Nepal rises to 8,586 metres, making it the world’s third highest mountain. For Project Possible, it was the third summit, reached on May 15, 2019, only three days after Dhaulagiri.
Its remote location and immense scale made Kanchenjunga a formidable part of the challenge. The expedition also became notable for a rescue involving stranded climbers, adding another layer of danger to an already punishing schedule.
Kanchenjunga appeared in the first stage of the documentary’s footage, much of which was captured using handheld and portable mounted cameras. At higher elevations, Nims and his climbing partners took over much of the filming themselves.
What to see & do here:
- 28-Day Kanchenjunga Trek: Explore the 3rd highest peak.
- Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek: See the giant Himalayan massif.
- Kanchenjunga Conservation Area: Trek through remote landscapes.
🏔️ Mount Everest, Nepal
Mount Everest in Nepal needs little introduction, although Project Possible gave it a rather unusual supporting role. At 8,848 metres, Everest is the highest mountain on Earth and became Nims’s fourth summit of the challenge on May 22, 2019.
The documentary captures the extraordinary reality of climbing Everest during a record attempt, including the famous congestion on the mountain that Nims photographed during the expedition. Yet Everest was only one stop on his schedule.
More remarkably, Nims did not treat reaching Everest’s summit as the end of the day. He descended and continued toward Lhotse, turning one of mountaineering’s greatest achievements into a particularly brutal double feature.
What to see & do here:
- Everest Expedition: Summit the highest mountain on Earth.
- Everest Base Camp: Trek or fly to the legendary base.
- Namche Bazaar: Explore the famous Sherpa town.
- Sagarmatha National Park: Hike through Himalayan scenery.
🧊 Lhotse, Nepal
Lhotse in Nepal stands at 8,516 metres and is connected to Everest by the South Col. On May 22, 2019, Nims summited Lhotse only hours after reaching Everest. That extraordinary double ascent became one of the defining moments of Project Possible.
The mountain’s steep Lhotse Face provides some of the documentary’s most dramatic climbing terrain. It is a place where the phrase “steep uphill” feels wildly inadequate.
Lhotse was part of Stage One, whose footage was captured using handheld cameras and portable mounted equipment before Nims and his team filmed much of the higher climbing themselves.
What to see & do here:
- Everest Base Camp: Experience the legendary trekking route.
- Khumbu Glacier: View spectacular glacial landscapes.
- Kala Patthar: Views of Everest and surrounding peaks.
🏔️ Makalu, Nepal
Makalu rises 8,485 metres and became the sixth and final Nepalese summit of Project Possible’s first stage. Its distinctive pyramid shaped profile and exposed climbing terrain make Makalu one of the Himalayas’ great technical mountains.
Nims reached the top on May 24, 2019, just two days after his Everest and Lhotse double ascent. In the documentary, it represents the culmination of an astonishing opening run – six 8,000 metre peaks completed in Nepal before the expedition shifted to Pakistan.
What to see & do here:
- Makalu Expedition: Technically challenging for advanced climbers.
- Makalu Base Camp: Follow the challenging trekking route.
- Makalu Barun National Park: Trek through remote wilderness.
🏔️ Nanga Parbat, Pakistan
Nanga Parbat, at 8,126 metres, launched the Pakistan stage of Project Possible. Nims reached its summit on July 3, 2019, after the expedition moved from Nepal into the Karakoram.
Known as the “Killer Mountain,” Nanga Parbat features the enormous Rupal Face and steep, exposed terrain. Nims described climbing while simultaneously operating a drone, including while ascending the Kinshofer Wall.
The mountain also became one of the most challenging sections of the expedition, combining technical climbing, extreme altitude, and the logistical demands of filming while moving rapidly.
What to see & do here:
- Nanga Parbat Base Camp: Explore the Hunza Gojal Valley.
- Fairy Meadows: Admire and photograph Nanga Parbat.
🏔️ Gasherbrum I, Pakistan
Gasherbrum I (Hidden Peak), reaches 8,080 metres and was the eighth summit of Project Possible. Nims reached the top on July 15, 2019.
The mountain lies deep in Pakistan’s Karakoram, where isolation and difficult access add another logistical headache to an expedition already operating at extraordinary speed.
The documentary’s Pakistan sequences shift the visual character of the expedition from the Himalayan landscapes of Nepal to the stark, rugged Karakoram.
What to see & do here:
- Concordia: Trek to the Karakoram crossroads.
- Baltoro Glacier: Experience an iconic trekking route.
- Askole: Begin major Karakoram expeditions.
🏔️ Gasherbrum II, Pakistan
At 8,035 metres, Gasherbrum II became Nims’s ninth 8,000 metre summit. He reached the top on July 18, 2019, just three days after Gasherbrum I.
Although often considered one of the more approachable 8,000 metre peaks, Gasherbrum II is still an extreme environment, with crevassed glaciers, high altitude, severe cold, and intense exposure.
For Project Possible, the mountain was another rapid turnaround. Nims was moving from one enormous peak to another while racing a deadline that left very little room for delays.
What to see & do here:
- Baltoro Glacier: Trek beneath giant Karakoram peaks.
- Concordia: See multiple legendary mountains together.
- Hunza Valley & Skardu: Explore the Shangri-La of James Hilton.
🏔️ K2, Pakistan
K2 in Pakistan is the second highest mountain on Earth, rising 8,611 metres, but its reputation for technical difficulty arguably makes it the biggest celebrity in the Karakoram. Nims reached its summit on July 24, 2019, becoming the tenth peak of Project Possible.
The documentary captures K2 as one of the expedition’s major tests, with steep terrain, severe conditions, and the relentless pace of Nims’s mission. K2 is also particularly important to Nims’s later mountaineering story, although the documentary itself focuses on his 2019 challenge.
What to see & do here:
- K2 Base Camp: Follow the legendary trekking route.
- Concordia: Trek beneath K2 and surrounding peaks.
- Baltoro Glacier: Cross one of Pakistan’s great glaciers.
🏔️ Broad Peak, Pakistan
Broad Peak in Pakistan reaches 8,051 metres and became the eleventh mountain in Project Possible. Nims summited it on July 26, 2019, only two days after K2.
The mountain is famous for its long summit ridge and multiple high points, creating an exhausting final push when climbers are already operating with dangerously limited oxygen.
Its Karakoram setting also gives the documentary some of its most striking mountain scenery, with enormous walls and glaciers stretching across the horizon.
What to see & do here:
- Broad Peak Expedition: A rare mountaineering adventure.
- Concordia: Enjoy panoramic Karakoram mountain views.
- Baltoro Glacier: Trek through spectacular ice.
- Askole: Explore the traditional expedition starting point.
🏔️ Manaslu, Nepal
Manaslu in Nepal stands at 8,163 metres and was the twelfth summit of Project Possible. Nims reached the top on September 27, 2019, after the expedition returned to Nepal following the Pakistan stage.
Its upper slopes are known for heavy snowfall and avalanche danger, making Manaslu another mountain where the scenery is beautiful but the consequences of getting things wrong are anything but.
What to see & do here:
- Manaslu Expedition: Summit the 8th highest mountain in the world.
- Manaslu Circuit Trek: Tibetan-influenced communities.
- Manaslu Conservation Area: Hike through mountain wilderness.
🏔️ Cho Oyu, Tibet
Cho Oyu on the Tibet–Nepal border rises to more than 8,000 metres and became the thirteenth mountain completed during the overall challenge, although its summit came before Manaslu chronologically.
Nims reached Cho Oyu on September 23, 2019, as the project entered its final stage. The Tibetan location also brought geopolitical complications. Access and permits became increasingly important as they closed in on the final mountain.
What to see & do here:
- Tingri: Experience spectacular Tibetan mountain scenery.
- Rongbuk Monastery: The world’s highest monastery .
- Tibetan Plateau: Travel through vast high altitude terrain.
🏔️ Shishapangma, Tibet
Mount Shishapangma in Tibet is the lowest of the 14 eight thousanders at 8,027 metres, but its position as the final mountain made it anything but a gentle finale. Nims reached the summit on October 29, 2019, completing Project Possible in 189 days.
The mountain is entirely within Tibet and features a demanding summit ridge. On the summit, Nims and his teammates could finally declare the mission complete. After six months and six days of climbing, the world’s 14 highest mountains had been conquered.
What to see & do here:
- Shishapangma viewpoints: See the isolated mountain.
- Tibetan Plateau: Experience vast high altitude landscapes.
- Nyalam: Explore the Tibetan mountain region.
🎬 14 Peaks FAQs
Here are the answers to the questions mountain nerds are likely to ask after watching the documentary.
What is 14 Peaks about?
14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible follows Nirmal “Nimsdai” Purja as he attempts to summit all 14 of the world’s 8,000 metre mountains in seven months.
What are the 14 Peaks?
They are the world’s 14 mountains higher than 8,000 metres. Here’s the 14 peaks list:
- Annapurna I, Nepal
- Dhaulagiri I, Nepal
- Kanchenjunga, Nepal/India
- Mount Everest, Nepal/Tibet (China)
- Lhotse, Nepal/Tibet (China)
- Makalu, Nepal/Tibet (China)
- Nanga Parbat, Pakistan
- Gasherbrum I, Pakistan/China
- Gasherbrum II, Pakistan/China
- K2, Pakistan/China
- Broad Peak, Pakistan/China
- Manaslu, Nepal
- Cho Oyu, Tibet (China)/Nepal
- Shishapangma, Tibet (China)
Where and how was 14 Peaks filmed? How long did it take?
The expedition was filmed across the 14 mountains in Nepal, Pakistan, and Tibet (China), with additional footage shot in Kathmandu. Nims and his team captured over 100 hours themselves, later edited by Torquil Jones, while completing all 14 summits in just 189 days.
Did Nims climb all 14 peaks in seven months?
Yes. Nims completed the 14 summits in six months and six days, or 189 days.
How did Nims prepare?
Nims’ British Army and Gurkha experience shaped his approach to Project Possible, particularly its planning, logistics, teamwork, and rapid movement. The expedition was a carefully coordinated operation involving climbers, Sherpas, helicopters, weather windows, filming, fundraising, and permits.
Was 14 Peaks actually filmed while climbing?
Yes. Much of the footage was shot by Nims and his team using handheld cameras, mounted cameras, and drones, sometimes while they were actively climbing.
Which peak was the most challenging?
Nims identified Nanga Parbat as the most dangerous and challenging climb of his Project Possible expedition, citing its steep terrain, rockfall, fierce winds, and technical sections. The notorious Kinshofer Wall also tested his ability to climb while filming.
What is an eight thousander?
An eight thousander is a mountain whose summit rises above 8,000 metres, or 26,247 feet, above sea level.
Did Nims climb Everest and Lhotse together?
Yes. Nims summited Everest and then Lhotse on May 22, 2019, completing the two climbs only hours apart.
Who directed 14 Peaks?
Torquil Jones directed 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible. He also served as a writer and producer, with Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi among the executive producers.
Who’s in 14 Peaks?
- Nirmal Purja
- Suchi Purja
- Kamal Purja
- Mingma David Sherpa
- Geljen Sherpa
- Lakpa Dendi Sherpa
- Gesman Tamang
- Reinhold Messner
- Jimmy Chin
- Garrett Madison
- Don Bowie
- Klára Kolouchová
What are some movies like 14 Peaks?
- Free Solo (2018): Fearless climber tackles El Capitan.
- The Dawn Wall (2017): Climbers attempt an impossible granite route.
- Meru (2015): Friends tackle a Himalayan wall.
- The Rescue (2021): Divers attempt an impossible cave rescue.
- The Alpinist (2021): Solitary climber pushes the limits.
- Everest (2015): Climbers fight to survive a deadly storm.
- Vertical Limit (2000): A rescue mission unfolds on K2.
📺 Where to Watch 14 Peaks
Wondering where to stream 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible? The documentary is available on Netflix. Want to learn more about Nims Purja’s journey?
From Annapurna to Shishapangma, Nims Purja’s extraordinary race across the world’s highest mountains, proves that sometimes the greatest barrier is believing something cannot be done.
Disclaimer: This fan-created article is provided for entertainment purposes only. We don’t guarantee the accuracy of any of these facts and don’t recommend making important life decisions based on them. All referenced titles, names, and related intellectual property are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.
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