1,181 foreign climbers from 79 countries get spring climbing permits
According to the Department of Tourism, a total of 1,181 climbers from 79 countries have received permits this spring season.
KATHMANDU: The number of foreign climbers obtaining permits for various mountains during the spring 2026 mountaineering season has been steadily increasing.
According to the Department of Tourism, a total of 1,181 climbers from 79 countries have received permits this spring season.
Information Officer Himal Gautam stated that the highest number of permits has been issued for climbing Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak.
So far, 494 climbers from 55 countries have obtained permission to attempt the ascent.
For Everest expeditions alone, Chinese climbers top the list with 109 permits.
They are followed by 77 climbers from the United States, 61 from India, 32 from the United Kingdom, 18 from Russia, 15 from Australia, 14 from Japan, 12 from Nepal, and 10 from Brazil.
Similarly, permits have also been issued for other major peaks, including 143 for Lhotse, 111 for Ama Dablam, 56 for Nuptse, 46 for Himlung Himal, 36 for Kanchenjunga, and 30 for Dhaulagiri, along with several other mountains.
The Department of Tourism is responsible for issuing permits for peaks above 6,500 meters, while the Nepal Mountaineering Association manages climbing permits for mountains ranging from 5,800 to 6,500 meters.
This year, the government has collected a total of Rs 1,258,460,554 in mountaineering royalties. Of this, Rs 1,078,691,475 has been generated from Everest climbing permits alone.
Revenue from other peaks includes Rs 63,627,700 from Lhotse, Rs 16,690,200 from Ama Dablam, Rs 16,081,650 from Kanchenjunga, Rs 13,454,550 from Dhaulagiri-I, and Rs 12,049,175 from Annapurna-I.
Climbing expeditions across various mountains have already begun, with the Everest ascent starting on 14 May after the completion of rope fixing and route preparation. Climbers are currently continuing their summit attempts.
Recently, Mount Everest and other peaks in Nepal have witnessed a growing influx of foreign mountaineers, reflecting rising global interest in Himalayan expeditions.
