Planning to Climb Everest in Peak Season? "Entrance Fee Is 21 Million Won"

Nepal Raises Everest Entrance Fees for First Time in a Decade
Aims to Disperse Climbers... Fees to Vary by Season

The government of Nepal will significantly increase the entrance fee for Mount Everest (8,849m), the world's highest peak, for foreign climbers starting in September 2025.

Nepal Everest. Pixabay

According to reports from the BBC and Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun on May 15, the Nepalese government will raise the entrance fee for foreign climbers on Everest starting in September 2025. This is the first fee increase in about ten years since January 2015, and it has been implemented to disperse climbers. The increase amounts to 36% compared to the previous fee.

The new fee varies by season. During the peak climbing season from March to May, it will be $15,000 (about 21 million won) per person. From September to November, it will be $7,500 (about 10.5 million won), and from December to February, it will be $3,750 (about 5.24 million won).

Nepal is home to eight of the world's fourteen highest mountains, including Everest. Recently, advances in climbing equipment have led to an increase in the number of ordinary people attempting to climb Everest.

The entrance fees collected from climbers for Everest and nearby Himalayan peaks are also a major source of revenue for the Nepalese government. The Himalayan climbing industry is estimated to account for more than 4% of Nepal's economy.

However, as large numbers of climbers have flocked to Everest, resulting in many fatalities, the Nepalese government has faced criticism for allowing too many climbers, including those lacking sufficient experience. In 2023, Nepalese authorities issued 478 climbing permits, with at least 12 climbers dying and 5 going missing. Last year, the number of fatalities reached eight.

In response, the Nepalese government has taken measures such as restricting eligibility for Everest climbs to promote sustainable tourism. The government is currently pursuing legislation that would allow only climbers who have previously summited a peak over 7,000 meters to attempt Everest (8,849m).