Nepal Gov. Increased Mountaineering Royalty

Nepal government has increased Mountaineering royalty includes Mt Everest climbing permit fees. The new rates will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Under the revised rules, every two climbers must hire a guide to climb any mountain over 8,000 meters, including Everest.

Climbing permits, previously valid for 75 days, will now be limited to 55 days. The reduced validity is aimed at streamlining climbing activities.

Paragliding is permitted from mountains above 8,000 meters but only during descents and with prior authorization.

The government has also hiked the insurance coverage for high-altitude workers. Insurance coverage for high-altitude guides has gone up to Rs2 million ($14,400) from Rs1.5 million ($10,800), and for base camp workers, it has been raised to Rs1.5 million ($10,800) from Rs 800,000 ($5,760).

The increased insurance coverage aims to provide better security to the Sherpas and other support staff who take on big risks while helping climbers. These workers often face harsh conditions and receive little recognition or protection despite their indispensable contributions to successful expeditions.

The revisions, which were approved in the Cabinet meeting on January 8, will soon be published in the Nepal Gazette.

Under the revised mountaineering regulations, the royalty fee for foreigners climbing Everest from the normal south route in spring (March-May) has been raised to $15,000 from the current $11,000 per person.

Autumn (September-November) climbing fee has increased from $5,500 to $7,500. At the same time, the permit cost per individual for the winter (December-February) and monsoon (June-August) seasons has risen from $2,750 to $3,750.
For Nepali climbers, the royalty fee for the normal route during the spring climbing season has doubled from Rs75,000 to Rs150,000.

Here are the increased fees:

Royalty for Foreign Climber per Person in US Dollar:

1. Everest Normal Route - Spring Season 15,000, Autumn Season 7500 and Winter/Summer 3750
2. Everest Other Route - Spring Season 10,000, Autumn Season 5000, Winter/Summer 2500
3. Others Mountain more than 8000 - Spring Season 3000, Autumn Season 1500, Winter/Summer 2500
4. Mt. Manaslu - Spring season 1500, Autumn seasons 3000, Winter/summer season 1500
5. Mountains - 7501 m. - 7999 m. Spring Season 1000, Autumn Season 500, Winter/Summer 250
6. Mountains - 7001 m. - 7500 m. Spring Season 800, Autumn Season 400, Winter/Summer 200
7. Mountains - 6501 m. - 6999 m. Spring Season 500, Autumn Season 250, Winter/Summer 200
8. Mt. Amadablam (6812 m) - Spring Season 1000, Autumn Season 1000, Winter/Summer 500
9. Mountains - Less than 6500 m. Spring Season 350, Autumn Season 175, Winter/Summer 175

Royalty for Nepalese Climber per Person in Nepalese Rupees:

1. Everest Normal Route Spring Season 150,000, Autumn Season 75,000, Winter/Summer 37,500
2. Everest Other Route Spring Season 100,000, Autumn Season 50,000, Winter/Summer, 25000
3. Others Mountains more than 8000 m. Spring Season 50,000, Autumn Season 25,000, Winter/Summer 12,500
4. Mountains - 7501m. - 7999 m. Spring Season 40,000, Autumn Season 20,000, Winter/Summer 10,000
5. Mountains - 7000 m. - 7500 m. Spring Season 30,000, Autumn Season 15,000, Winter/Summer 7500
6. Mountains - 6501 m. - 6999 m. Spring Season 25,000, Autumn Season 12,500, Winter/Summer 6,250
7. Mt. Amadablam (6812m) - Spring Season 40,000, Autumn Season 20,000, Winter/Summer 10,000
8. Mountains - Less than 6500 m. Spring Season 20,000, Autumn Season 10,000, Winter/Summer 5000

The last royalty fee revision was made on January 1, 2015, when the government switched from a group-based system to a uniform fee of $11,000 per climber for spring from the normal route.

As per the amended rules, from the upcoming spring season, Everest climbers will be required to bring their poop back to base camp for proper disposal. Climbers must carry biodegradable bags to collect waste in the upper reaches.

Base camps typically have designated toilet tents with barrels to collect human waste during expeditions. However, in higher camps, only a few agencies provide similar facilities, while others rely on pits. Very few climbers use biodegradable bags to transport waste from the summit.

Climbers have long relied on unsustainable practices, accumulating garbage, including discarded oxygen canisters, abandoned tents, food packaging, and human waste in one of the world’s most iconic places. Such practices have tarnished the region’s natural beauty and created health hazards for local communities.

According to the new rules, climbers are barred from carrying items not listed in their permit documentation issued by the Department of Tourism.

According to the Himalayan Database, which records all expeditions and deaths in the Himalayas, more than 200 people died on the Nepal side of Everest between 1953, when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa first scaled the peak, and 2022.

Nearly 8,900 people have summited the world's highest peak from Nepal’s side since 1953.

News by: Asian Hiking Team Pvt. Ltd.