The BBC reports that the permit fees for climbers outside of the peak April to May period will also see an increase of 36%. This means that it will now cost $7,500 to climb Mount Everest between September and November, and $3,750 from December to February.
The income from these permit fees, along with spending by foreign climbers, serves as a significant source of revenue and employment for Nepal, which is otherwise known for its limited financial resources. Mount Everest, standing at 29,029 feet, is home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains. National Geographic reports that around 600 people successfully reach the summit each year, with over 1,000 people attempting the climb in 2024, according to Ultimate Kilimanjaro.
Since records began in 1922, the Himalayan database shows that at least 322 climbers have lost their lives on Mount Everest, averaging about 4.4 deaths per year. Tragically, the deadliest day in Everest’s history occurred on April 25, 2015, when a 7.8-magnitude earthquake caused the deaths of 19 people at the base camp, according to Climbing Kilimanjaro.
