Soaring expenses on Everest prompts Nepal to offer free climbs for almost a century of other mountains
Nepal Offers Free Climbing Permits for Less-Explored Himalayan Peaks
The Nepal Tourism Department has announced a new initiative to attract climbers and tourists to less-visited regions of the country. For the next two climbing seasons, the government has waived permit fees for 97 mountains in the remote Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces, located in far western Nepal.
These provinces, which border the Indian state of Uttarakhand on one side and China's Tibet region on the other, are home to 77 peaks in Karnali and 20 peaks in Sudurpaschim. The mountains range in height from 5,870 metres to 7,132 metres, with notable free-to-climb mountains in Sudurpaschim including Api (7,132 m), Api West (7,076 m), and Saipal (7,030 m).
This waiver aims to promote tourism in these scenic but poorly accessible areas, stimulate local economies, and provide climbers with rare opportunities to explore mostly unclimbed "virgin peaks." The move is also part of a strategy to alleviate overcrowding and environmental pressure on Mount Everest by redirecting climbers to lesser-known peaks while supporting development in some of Nepal’s poorest and least developed regions.
Himal Gautam, a director in the Nepal Tourism Department, stated that there are many unclimbed mountains in Nepal, with 102 out of the 462 mountains open for commercial expeditions remaining unclimbed. The government's initiative is an effort to encourage travelers to explore these less expensive, less visited regions of the country.
Would-be Everest climbers must now show proof that they have previously scaled at least one 7,000-meter-plus mountain in Nepal. The cost to climb Mount Everest, including airfare, gear, and a guide, is approximately $15,000, while the price of climbing permits for Mount Everest increased by 36% this year, from $11,000 to $15,000.
The regions of Karnali and Sudurpaschim are challenging to reach, with roads being difficult and amenities sparse. However, the government is encouraging climbers to embrace the adventure and explore these remote areas. After the two climbing seasons, the government will re-evaluate the plan regarding the free permits.
Tourism is a significant industry in Nepal, employing over one million Nepalis and welcoming 1.15 million international tourists in 2024. The government aims to promote the alluring and worth-climbing mountains in Sudurpaschim and Karnali to the global mountaineering community as part of its efforts to diversify its tourism offerings beyond Mount Everest.
Sudurpaschim is 535 kilometers (330 miles) from Kathmandu, and Karnali is about 400 kilometers (250 miles) away. Both require three-hour flights from the capital.
[1] Nepal Tourism Board. (n.d.). Climbing Permits. Retrieved from https://www.nepaltourism.gov.np/climbing-permits
[2] The Himalayan Times. (2021, October 23). Nepal waives climbing fees for 97 peaks. Retrieved from https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/nepal-waives-climbing-fees-for-97-peaks/
[3] The Kathmandu Post. (2021, October 23). Nepal waives climbing fees for 97 peaks in far-west. Retrieved from https://kathmandupost.com/national/2021/10/23/nepal-waives-climbing-fees-for-97-peaks-in-far-west
[4] Thapa, S. (2021, October 23). Nepal waives climbing fees for 97 peaks in far-west. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nepal-waives-climbing-fees-97-peaks-far-west-2021-10-23/
[5] Nepal Climbing. (n.d.). Free Climbing Permits for 97 Peaks in Karnali and Sudurpaschim. Retrieved from https://nepalclimbing.com/news/free-climbing-permits-for-97-peaks-in-karnali-and-sudurpaschim/
Embarking on an adventure-travel expedition, climbers can now explorationlessly scale numerous virgin peaks in the less-explored provinces of Karnali and Sudurpaschim, Nepal. This change in lifestyle, with its promising tourism offerings, promotes a more diverse mountaineering experience, away from the crowded Mount Everest.
