Records & People

Two Climbers Got Within 45 Metres of the Summit in 1957. Nepal Has Banned Anyone From Finishing It Ever Since.

Machapuchare towers over Pokhara and watches over half our treks in the Annapurna region — and by law, nobody is allowed to stand on top of it.

By Laxman Rawal · Jul 30, 2026

Read the full story

In 1957, two British climbers got closer to the true summit of Machapuchare than anyone officially has since — by their own account, somewhere between 30 and 46 metres short. Then they stopped, turned around, and went home. Nepal has made sure nobody has…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

What this means for trekkers

What this means for trekkers You will never need a Machapuchare climbing permit, because Nepal doesn't issue one — but you don't need one to get closer to this mountain than most climbers ever will. The Mardi Himal trek runs up the ridge directly beneath its…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Plan your trek

Annapurna Base Camp Trek — 9 Days

NMA-certified guides · permits sorted · 5,000+ treks since 1998.

From $1190

Plan this trek

Free guide

Get the free Nepal Trek Insider Guide

Permits, costs, seasons and routes — the essentials we send every traveller, plus a free, no-obligation trip quote.

↑ Swipe up

Your free Nepal trek kit

Read the full report and grab the free Nepal Trek Insider Guide — or ask our Pokhara team for a tailored, no-obligation quote.

Read more & get the free guide Plan my trip — free quote Browse Annapurna Base Camp Trek — 9 Days