Nepal Mount Everest: Record number of climbing permits
According to the authorities, Nepal has issued more permits than ever before for climbing Mount Everest in the spring season. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture in Kathmandu, 492 permits had been issued by Friday for climbers from 55 countries who want to scale the summit of Everest. The spokesman for the tourism department, Himal Gautam, spoke of a historic moment.
09.05.2026, 13:59
SDA
The previous record number was 478 and dates back to 2023. Last year, there were 468 permits for climbing the 8,849-metre-highest mountain on earth. Despite the Gen-Z protests in Nepal and the war in the Middle East, a record number of permits were issued to climbers for this year's peak season, Gautam said.
Unrest in September
Last September, there was serious unrest in the Himalayan country. The blocking of social media platforms had driven tens of thousands, mostly young people from Generation Z, onto the streets. The head of government at the time resigned and parliament was dissolved. Following elections, the country now has a new government.
Rise closed from the Chinese side
According to reports in the Nepalese media, another reason for the record number is the fact that China has closed the ascent to Everest from the Tibetan side. According to official information in Nepal, most of the applications this time come from China, followed by climbers from the USA and India.
According to Nepal, the permits have so far brought in more than 7.1 million US dollars (around 6 million euros). The permit fees and other expenses are an important source of income for Nepal. Last year, Nepal increased the fees from 11,000 to 15,000 US dollars for climbing to the summit of Everest via the southern route. Nepal is home to 8 of the world's 14 eight-thousanders, including Everest, making it a global center for high-altitude mountaineering.
Delays due to huge block of ice
This year's climbing season for Everest began with considerable delays. The route to the summit was blocked by a sérac - a piled-up block of ice - in the Khumbu Icefall. There was a risk of a collapse in the already particularly critical glacier area. According to Gautam, specialists, including Sherpa climbers, managed to open the ascent route to Camp 4 at 7,906 meters by Friday evening (local time). The fixed ropes had been laid, said Gautam.
The route to Camp 2 is normally open from mid-April and climbers can acclimatize by repeatedly changing camps before attempting the summit. The first summit ascents are usually successful at the beginning of May. Due to the obstacles this year, there are fears that an extreme rush could lead to traffic jams on the route.
