Everest permits to become more expensive – also in Tibet?

Sunrise on Mount Everest
Sunrise on Mount Everest (in fall 2019)

The Nepalese Ministry of Tourism wants to significantly increase the price for ascents of Mount Everest, by about 36 percent. The permit for foreign climbers should cost $15,000 from 2025 instead of the current $11,000, ministry spokesman Yubaraj Khatiwada told various media. However, the price increase should not take effect until the spring season after next, as the booking phase for spring 2024 has already begun, Khatiwada said.

While Nepal’s frequently changing governments have earned a reputation in recent years for very frequently announcing new regulations without subsequently implementing them. But a permit price hike seems quite realistic, given that the last increase was more than eight years ago. Another representative of the Ministry said that in the course of the reform, the insurance sums and wages for porters, high altitude porters and mountain guides should also be increased.

Prices raised for Shishapangma and Cho Oyu

Tibetan north side of Mount Everest
Tibetan north side of Mount Everest (in 2005)

Permit fees could also become more expensive on the Tibetan north side of Mount Everest. The price lists of the China Tibet Mountaineering Association for 2024 are not yet available, but they are for the coming fall season on the eight-thousanders Shishapangma and Cho Oyu in Tibet. According to this, a standard permit for the normal routes over the respective north faces of the two mountains will cost $10,848 per climber from abroad. So far these permits cost 9,300 dollar. The increase of a good 1,500 dollars corresponds to a plus of about 16 percent compared to the prices of 2020.

Thereafter, the eight-thousanders located in Tibet were closed to foreigners for almost three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last spring, Kristin Harila and Co. were the first and, in that season, the only expedition team from abroad to obtain permits again for Shishapangma and Cho Oyu and climb both mountains. As these two eight-thousanders have become more expensive, it would not be surprising if the Sino-Tibetan authorities will also charge more on Everest. Most recently, the permit for the Tibetan north side of the highest mountain on earth cost $15,800 per person.

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