Everest permits surge, nearing all-time record
Early bookings sustain demand despite higher costs, geopolitical tensions and rescue scam concerns
PC: Abiral Rai
Nepal issued 464 climbing permits for Mount Everest by the end of April, already the second-highest number issued for the world’s highest peak so far, officials said.
In 2023, Nepal issued 479 climbing permits for Everest, the highest in the mountain’s climbing history. Last year, the Department of Tourism issued 456 permits to foreign climbers, the second-highest number. In 2024, the figure was 421 permits.
Officials at the Department of Tourism said only a few permits remain to be issued, which could push the total to a record.
This year, several adverse factors raised concerns in the industry about a potential impact on expeditions, including revelations of a fake rescue scam, the Iran-Israel war and its broader effects, and a hike in royalty fees for climbing permits.
Operators say the impact has been minimal so far, largely because most climbers booked their expeditions months in advance.
Everest expedition packages have also increased in price. Trips that once ranged from $30,000 to $35,000 now start at around $45,000.
The so-called fake rescue scam has emerged as one of the most serious ethical controversies in Nepal’s mountaineering sector. Allegations suggest some operators colluded with helicopter companies and medical personnel to stage unnecessary high-altitude evacuations.
Despite rising costs and ethical concerns, climbers remain committed. Industry insiders say Everest expeditions are often planned years in advance, making participants less likely to cancel even as expenses rise.
Climbers typically pay about 60% of the total cost at the time of booking, a significant sum that discourages cancellations. Foreign climbers usually spend between $45,000 and $100,000, depending on the level of service.
Chinese climbers account for the largest share this year after China closed the Tibetan side of Everest to foreign climbers, effectively shutting down the north route and redirecting expeditions to Nepal. As a result, Nepal has become the primary route for most international climbers this season.
Chinese climbers hold the largest number of permits, with 100, followed by Americans with 67.
Himal Gautam, spokesperson for the Department of Tourism, said the figures are a positive sign for mountaineering, a high-end segment of Nepal’s tourism industry.
