Nepal has announced a hefty increase in permit fees for those looking to summit Mount Everest, marking the first hike in nearly ten years. Effective September, climbers during peak season will be charged $15,000—up from the previous $11,000, a substantial 36% increase. Fees for the off-peak months from September to November will now cost $7,500, while climbing during December to February will require $3,750.
Permit fees are crucial to Nepal’s economy, as climbing and trekking contribute over 4% of its GDP. Despite the increase, experts doubt it will deter climbers; British mountaineer Kenton Cool pointed out that for many, the rise won't significantly change the overall cost of climbing Everest.
Narayan Prasad Regmi of the Department of Tourism mentioned that the fees hadn't been reviewed in a long time. The additional revenue raised remains unspecified. Concerns over overcrowding and safety on Everest are growing, particularly after a 2024 Supreme Court order urged the government to limit the number of permits issued.
In response to the mess and dangers associated with overcrowding, the Nepalese army initiated annual clean-up operations on the mountain, recovering 119 tons of trash and even human remains. Despite these efforts, hundreds of bodies are believed to still be on Everest, which is often dubbed the "world's highest garbage dump." Nepal remains home to eight of the world’s fourteen tallest mountains, including Everest.
