Nepal Mountain Climbing Fees 2026: Official Permit Royalties

Updated July 2026: Nepal’s Department of Tourism lists mountaineering royalties effective from 1 September 2025. For foreign climbers, the government royalty depends on the mountain, route and season. The spring royalty for Everest’s normal route is USD 15,000 per person; lower rates apply in autumn and winter/summer. These amounts are permit royalties only, not complete expedition prices.

Everest climbing permit fees in Nepal

Source: Nepal Department of Tourism mountaineering-fee schedule. The schedule identifies these as royalties for each foreign climber.

Other Nepal mountain royalties for foreign climbers

The Manaslu schedule is unusual: the official table lists a higher royalty for autumn than for spring. Confirm the mountain, route and season in the government system before any payment is made.

What determines your Nepal climbing permit fee?

• Mountain: Everest, Manaslu, Ama Dablam and the height bands have different rates.
• Route: Everest’s normal route and other routes are priced separately.
• Season: spring is generally the highest-priced period, although Manaslu’s published autumn rate is higher.
• Nationality: the dollar figures above apply to foreign climbers; the Department publishes a separate rupee schedule for Nepali climbers.

Government garbage-management deposits

The official schedule also lists refundable garbage-management deposits for expedition teams. For mountains in the Khumbu and Annapurna Himalayan ranges, the published amounts include:

• Everest: USD 4,000
• Other mountains above 8,001 m: USD 3,000
• Mountains from 7,001–8,000 m and Ama Dablam: USD 2,000
• Mountains from 6,501–7,000 m: USD 1,000
• Mountains below 6,500 m: USD 500

For other Himalayan ranges, the same government page lists USD 3,000 for mountains above 8,000 m and USD 500 for mountains below 8,000 m. A deposit is not the same as the per-person royalty. Its return depends on the team meeting the applicable waste-management and documentation requirements.

What the climbing royalty does not include

A permit figure should never be treated as the total cost of climbing a mountain in Nepal. Depending on the expedition, the complete quote may also need to cover:

• Expedition planning and operator services
• Guides, high-altitude staff, porters and kitchen teams
• Travel, medical and evacuation insurance
• Flights, cargo and ground transportation
• Accommodation, meals, oxygen, equipment and communications
• Route fixing, local service charges and other applicable requirements
• Personal expenses, contingencies and evacuation

When comparing expedition quotations, ask whether the government royalty and garbage deposit are included, which other permits or conservation-area charges apply, and which costs remain payable by the climber. If you are considering a lower trekking peak, our Island Peak climbing itinerary provides a practical example of the route and trip structure to review alongside the permit fee.

Do Everest Base Camp trekkers pay the Everest climbing royalty?

No. The USD 15,000 spring royalty applies to foreign climbers seeking permission to climb Everest by the normal route. Travelers trekking to Base Camp do not pay an Everest summit royalty, although trekking routes have their own park, local or conservation permits. See our Everest Base Camp cost guide or the Everest Base Camp Trek itinerary for the costs relevant to trekkers.

How to verify the fee and prepare an enquiry

Use the official Mountaineering Expedition Permission System and the Department of Tourism fee page before committing funds. Government rules and payment procedures can change, so confirm the details for the exact expedition rather than relying on an old quotation.

For a useful permit or expedition discussion, prepare these details:

1. Mountain and intended route
2. Preferred climbing season and year
3. Climber nationality
4. Number of climbers in the team
5. Whether you need permit support only or complete expedition logistics

Ask for a written breakdown that separates the government royalty, refundable deposits, operator services and likely exclusions. Final eligibility, documents and charges remain subject to official approval.