KATHMANDU: The number of foreign climbers seeking permits to scale Nepal’s mountains has risen during the 2026 spring climbing season.
According to the Department of Tourism, a total of 1,181 climbers from 79 countries have obtained permits to climb various peaks this season. Of them, 494 climbers from 55 countries have received permits to climb Mt. Everest, the highest number among all mountains, said the Department’s Information Officer, Himal Gautam.
Chinese nationals account for the highest number of Mt. Everest climbing permits, with 109 climbers. 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, according to Gautam.
Similarly, 143 climbers have obtained permits for Lhotse, 111 for Ama Dablam, 56 for Nuptse, 46 for Himlung, 36 for Kanchenjunga, and 30 for Dhaulagiri. Permits have also been issued for several other peaks.
The Department of Tourism (DoT) issues climbing permits for mountains above 6,500 meters, while the Nepal Mountaineering Association grants permits for peaks between 5,800 and 6,500 meters.
The Department has collected more than Rs 1.25 billion in revenue this year from mountaineering permits. Everest alone contributed the highest revenue collection, amounting to more than Rs 1.78 billion.
In addition, the government collected Rs 63.627 million from Lhotse, Rs 16.699 million from Ama Dablam, Rs 16.816 million from Kanchenjunga, Rs 13.454 million from Dhaulagiri I, and Rs 12.491 million from Annapurna I.
Various mountaineering expeditions are currently underway, with Everest climbing activities having started in late April. Following the completion of rope-fixing and route preparation work, climbers have continued their ascent.
In recent years, Nepal has witnessed growing interest from foreign climbers seeking to scale its mountains, including the world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest.
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