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Dubai boy, 7, sets record for dual Himalayan treks / Image credit: File photo
Seven-year-old Ivan Krasiukov, a Grade 2 pupil at Bloom World Academy in Dubai, has been certified by Official World Record (OWR) Europe as the youngest person to complete both the Everest Base Camp 130-km trek (April 2024) and the Annapurna Circuit’s Thorong La Pass (5,416 m) in April 2025, accomplishing both feats within a year.
Youngest Everest Annapurna trekker, Ivan Krasiukov world record
Ivan first walked the full Everest Base Camp trail in April 2024, covering roughly 130 kilometres and reaching the South Everest Base Camp area at about 5,364 metres, a demanding high-altitude route that most adults find tough. Less than a year later, in April 2025, he crossed Thorong La Pass (5,416 m) on the Annapurna Circuit, one of the highest walkable passes in the world. He has been formally recognized by the Spain-headquartered Official World Record (OWR) Europe.
Ivan Krasiukov, a Russian national and Grade 2 student at Bloom World Academy (BWA) in Dubai, his remarkable achievement crowns him the youngest person ever to complete both the Everest Base Camp (EBC) trek and the Annapurna Circuit trek in the span of 12 months.
The Himalayan double: Everest and Annapurna
Ivan completed the two massive challenges between April 2024 and April 2025, each requiring extreme endurance and careful acclimatization.First Ascent: Everest Base Camp (EBC)
- When: April 2024 (at age six).
- Altitude Reached: 5,364 meters.
- Trek Details: The trek, covering approximately 130 kilometers, was completed in 12 days.
- Reaction: Ivan’s father, Dmitrii Krasiukov, recalled that after reaching the EBC endpoint, Ivan was "genuinely upset," saying they should have chosen a longer, 16-day trek, confirming the boy's natural character for adventure.
Second Ascent: Annapurna Circuit
- When: April 2025 (at age seven).
- The High Point: He summited the Thorong La Pass, the highest point on the circuit.
- Altitude Reached: 5,416 meters, making it one of the highest walkable mountain passes on Earth.
Rigorous training and team spirit
Ivan’s ability to handle the grueling, high-altitude terrain was built on a foundation of intense physical preparation in Dubai.
His rigorous regimen included regular training sessions, sometimes up to 12 times per week, focused on athletics, swimming, parkour, and acrobatics, all of which contributed to the strength, endurance, and mindset necessary for mountain trekking.On both expeditions, Ivan was not alone. He was consistently accompanied by his supportive parents, Alla and Dmitrii Krasiukov, as well as a local guide, Krishna, and two porters from the Nepal Hiking Team.
Ivan shared that these morning treks were filled with team spirit, and he particularly enjoyed moments when the guide played music on a small speaker, allowing them to walk "like heroes from a cartoon."
What's next?
The Official World Record (OWR) Europe has provided the most significant external recognition for Ivan's unprecedented achievement. While specific awards from the Dubai or UAE authorities were not immediately mentioned in the coverage, his local community and school have provided strong backing. John Bell, the Founding Principal of Bloom World Academy, publicly stated that Ivan's record reflects an extraordinary sense of determination and resilience.For Ivan, however, the mountains themselves are the next goal. The young mountaineer has already expressed his ambition to continue seeking out greater challenges. His future plans include setting his sights on climbing two of the world's most famous major peaks:
- Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
- Mount Elbrus in Russia.
His ongoing, demanding training schedule confirms that this record is merely a milestone, not an endpoint, for the young adventurer.
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