Permits & Rules

97 peaks, zero royalty: Nepal's free-climbing window in the wild far west

Until July 2027, Nepal has waived all climbing royalties on 97 Himalayan peaks across Karnali and Sudurpaschim — a once-in-a-generation opening for…

By Laxman Rawal · Jun 15, 2026

Read the full story

While Everest's permit price climbed to USD 15,000, Nepal quietly did the opposite at the other end of the country. To pull climbers toward its least-visited corners, the government has waived the climbing royalty entirely on 97 Himalayan peaks across the…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

What has actually changed

Climbing any Nepali peak normally means paying a royalty — anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a small mountain to many thousands for the giants. For these 97 peaks, that fee has been set to zero for a fixed two-year window running to 17 July 2027. The…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

The catch (and it is a real one)

Free of royalty does not mean free of effort, and this is country for experienced, self-sufficient mountaineers. The far west is Nepal at its most remote: long overland approaches, sparse infrastructure, few teahouses and limited rescue cover. You will still…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

A different kind of Nepal

Karnali and Sudurpaschim are the Nepal most visitors never see — the country of Rara Lake, Limi Valley, Humla and the Api-Saipal massifs, where Tibetan-influenced culture, empty trails and raw mountain wilderness still feel genuinely undiscovered. The royalty…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Plan your trek

Api Base Camp Trek — 16 Days

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

From $2490

Plan this trek