Nepal will allow climbers to scale 97 Himalayan peaks free of charge for the next two years in an effort to draw visitors to its lesser-known mountain regions, officials said Monday.
The initiative targets mountains in Karnali and Sudurpaschim — two of Nepal’s most remote and least developed provinces — where peaks range from 5,970m to 7,132m.
Promoting ‘unexplored destinations’
Himal Gautam, director of Nepal’s Tourism Department, said the policy aims to showcase “unexplored tourism products and destinations” while creating jobs and strengthening local economies.
“Despite their breathtaking beauty, the number of tourists and mountaineers here is very low as access is so difficult. We hope the new provision will help,” Gautam told The Kathmandu Post.
Climbers have largely overlooked these areas — just 68 have attempted the peaks in the past two years — compared with 421 Everest permits issued in 2024 alone.
Everest fees climbing higher
The announcement comes as Nepal raises Everest permit prices for the first time in nearly 10 years. From September, summiting during the April–May peak season will cost $15,000, up from $11,000. Off-season climbs will cost $7,500 between September and November, and $3,750 from December to February.
The move follows an April 2024 Supreme Court order to limit the number of permits for Everest and other peaks to protect their environmental capacity.
Balancing opportunity and challenges
While the free climbs could boost tourism in Karnali and Sudurpaschim, questions remain over infrastructure and whether local communities are prepared for a surge in visitors.
Nepal’s parliament is also considering a law requiring Everest aspirants to first summit a mountain over 7,000m in the country — making these newly free-to-climb peaks potential training grounds.
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