Permits & Rules

Everest's new gatekeeper: climbers must summit a 7,000m Nepali peak first

Nepal's new Tourism Bill will require every Everest hopeful to prove a 7,000m Nepali summit, work with Nepali guides and carry out 8kg of waste…

By Laxman Rawal · Jun 15, 2026

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After the busiest and most crowded spring in its history, Everest is about to get a tougher front door. A new Tourism Bill working its way through Nepal's parliament will, for the first time, require anyone applying for an Everest permit to prove they have…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

What the rule says

The headline requirement is the 7,000-metre rule. Would-be Everest climbers will need a verified certificate, endorsed by the Department of Tourism, showing they have stood on top of a Nepali peak above 7,000 metres. There are 72 such peaks to choose from —…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

The context: a record, crowded season

The rule did not appear in a vacuum. The spring 2026 season set an all-time record of 1,008 summits, smashing the previous high of 877 from 2019. Nepal issued 494 individual Everest permits this spring, each costing USD 15,000 after the first fee rise in a…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

What is confirmed, and what is not

Here is the honest status: the bill has passed Nepal's National Assembly (the upper house), but it is not yet law and was not in force for the 2026 spring season. It is expected to be ratified by the lower house after the March 2026 elections, with a…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

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