Nirmal Shrestha’s Road to Everest Explores Mountaineering, Sherpas and Climate Change
The first-look poster and official teaser for Road to Everest, a new documentary tracing an extraordinary journey from sea level to the summit of Mount Everest, have been unveiled ahead of the film’s Nepal premiere in Kathmandu.
Directed by Nirmal Shrestha, the 50-minute documentary combines adventure, personal determination and environmental concerns as it follows a man in his fifties pursuing his lifelong dream of reaching the summit of the world’s highest mountain.
Built around themes of courage, perseverance, mystery and the changing Himalayan environment, Road to Everest goes beyond the physical challenge of climbing Everest. The film explores the dangers of high-altitude mountaineering, the role of the Sherpa community, human resilience and the growing impact of climate change on the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
The documentary presents Mount Everest not only as the world’s highest peak, but also as a symbol of endurance, ambition and hope. Among those featured in the film are renowned Nepali mountaineers Phurba Tenzing Sherpa and Nima Gyalzen Sherpa.
Phurba Tenzing Sherpa has successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest 18 times, while Nima Gyalzen Sherpa has summited Everest 10 times and completed all 14 of the world’s peaks above 8,000 metres.
The documentary also features Binod Gurung, Suraj Gurung and director Nirmal Shrestha. Their personal experiences form part of the film’s attempt to offer an authentic perspective on the realities, risks and emotions surrounding an Everest expedition.
Nepal Premiere Date
According to the production team, Road to Everest will have its Nepal premiere on August 22, 2026, in Kathmandu.
Its international premiere is scheduled for September 13, 2026, in Hong Kong, after which the documentary is expected to be screened in different parts of Nepal as well as at international film festivals and cinemas.
The film is the result of more than two years of research, filming and production.
Journalist Santosh Acharya and director Nirmal Shrestha have written the story, while acclaimed broadcaster Bhusan Dahal provides the narration. The documentary has been prepared in both Nepali and English.
Production Team Highlights Authentic Everest Footage
The production team describes Road to Everest as the first Everest documentary made entirely by Nepali filmmakers and technical professionals to capture a complete real-life journey from sea level to the summit of Mount Everest without using artificial or computer-generated visuals.
According to the filmmakers, every scene in the documentary is based on authentic footage recorded during the journey.
The approach is intended to bring audiences closer to the actual experience of an Everest expedition—from the landscapes and physical challenges to the uncertainty and determination involved in reaching the top of the world.
Produced by the We Will Rise Foundation, Road to Everest also carries a broader message beyond mountaineering.
The documentary aims to promote Nepal as a tourism destination while drawing attention to environmental challenges affecting the Himalayas, particularly the visible consequences of climate change in high-altitude regions.
The newly released teaser introduces that combination of adventure and environmental storytelling, offering glimpses of the dramatic Himalayan landscape alongside the physical and emotional challenges at the heart of the expedition.
With its Nepal premiere approaching, Road to Everest is positioned as both a mountaineering documentary and a story about challenging personal limits in one of the world’s most unforgiving environments.
Watch Here: Road To Everest Teaser
