Nepal Raises Everest Climbing Fees

Published Fri, Jan 24, 2025

Nepal Increases Everest Climbing Permit Fees Amid Overcrowding Concerns

Nepal has announced a significant hike in climbing permit fees for Mount Everest, marking the first increase in nearly a decade. Starting September 2025, climbers aiming to summit during the peak season of April to May will now pay $15,000, a 36% rise from the previous $11,000 fee. Off-season permits will also see similar increases, with fees set at $7,500 for September to November and $3,750 for December to February.

This decision comes amid longstanding criticism of overcrowding on Everest, with the government issuing approximately 300 climbing permits annually. Experts have often raised concerns about safety and environmental degradation caused by the sheer number of climbers on the world’s tallest peak.

While the fee hike is expected to generate additional revenue, it remains unclear how these funds will be utilized. “The royalty had not been reviewed for a long time. We have updated them now,” said Narayan Prasad Regmi, director general of Nepal’s Department of Tourism.

The move has sparked mixed reactions within the mountaineering community. Renowned British mountaineer Kenton Cool, who has summited Everest 18 times, described the increase as unsurprising and unlikely to deter climbers. “In the grand scheme of the cost to climb Everest, it won’t impact most foreign climbers. Hopefully, the extra revenue will be put to good use,” he said.

Nepal’s Supreme Court has also weighed in on the issue of overcrowding. In April 2024, it directed the government to limit the number of permits issued for Everest and other peaks to preserve the mountains' capacity. However, no maximum limit has yet been established.

Efforts to address the environmental impact of Everest expeditions continue. Since 2019, the Nepalese army has conducted annual clean-up campaigns, removing over 119 tonnes of waste and recovering human remains left on the mountain. Despite these efforts, an estimated 200 bodies still lie on Everest.

As home to eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks, Nepal’s challenge lies in balancing the economic benefits of mountaineering, which contributes over 4% to its economy, with the need to ensure safety and preserve its natural heritage.