Nepal raises Everest climbing fee to $15,000

Nepalese authorities announced on February 4 that they would increase the permit fee for climbing Mount Everest by 30% to help tackle pollution and increase the safety of climbers on the world's highest mountain.

During the peak climbing season in spring, the fee will increase from $11,000 to $15,000 for a permit to climb the 8,849-meter peak, announced Narayan Prasad Regmi, director general of the Tourism Department.

The fee has not changed in a decade, and it is time to adjust, he said. Climbing fees at other times have also increased by a similar amount, from $5,500 to $7,500 in the fall.

Nepal is home to eight of the world's 14 peaks higher than 8,000 metres and welcomes thousands of climbers each year.

Foreign climbers have spent tens of thousands of dollars trying to climb Everest. In 2024, more than 400 people bought climbing permits, generating about $4 million in revenue for Nepal.

This revenue is used to clean up waste and trash left by climbers on the mountain as well as for search and rescue operations.

Climbing expedition companies hope the price increase will not cause difficulties for climbers, while also warning of the possibility that some climbers may climb Everest from the Chinese side to avoid the fee.