Nepal Plans to Restrict Everest Permits to Climbers With 7,000-metre Experience

Nepal Proposes New Everest Rule: Only Climbers With 7,000-metre Ascent Experience May Qualify

In a significant step toward ensuring safety and sustainability, Nepal is planning to restrict Mount Everest expeditions to only those climbers who have previously scaled a peak above 7,000 metres. The proposed regulation is part of the Integrated Tourism Bill, tabled in Nepal’s upper house of Parliament on April 18, and aims to reduce fatalities and environmental damage on the world’s tallest mountain.

Why Nepal Is Tightening Everest Access
Since Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay first summited Everest (8,848.86 metres) on May 29, 1953, over 9,000 climbers have reached the peak — but more than 300 people have lost their lives attempting the feat.

In 2023 alone, 18 climbers died after Nepal issued 478 permits, leading to traffic jams and dangerous delays in the high-risk “death zone” where oxygen levels are critically low. Nepal’s new proposal aims to address these concerns with stricter eligibility and safety criteria.

Key Highlights of the Proposed Everest Climbing Rules

• Minimum Climbing Experience: Climbers must have successfully ascended at least one 7,000-metre peak, ideally in Nepal, to qualify for an Everest permit.
• Mandatory Health Check: A medical fitness certificate, issued within the past month by a government-approved medical institution, will be required. Individuals with pre-existing health conditions will be barred from attempting the climb.
• Mandatory Local Support: All expeditions must include a Nepali sardar (head of staff) and a licensed Nepali mountain guide.
• New Environmental Cleanup Fee: The current $4,000 refundable garbage deposit will be replaced with a non-refundable waste management fee. The Department of Tourism will take full responsibility for cleaning up Everest, which has long been dubbed the "world’s highest garbage dump."

What This Means for Future Climbers
If you're planning to climb Mount Everest, this proposed law could significantly affect your plans. You’ll now need to prove your technical and physical preparedness by first conquering another Himalayan giant like Mount Baruntse (7,129m) or Mount Himlung (7,126m).

This regulation is not a barrier — it’s a benchmark. It’s about earning the right to climb Everest safely and responsibly, and ensuring the mountain doesn’t pay the price for human ambition.

Nepal’s proposed Everest rule is a bold move toward responsible tourism. By prioritizing experience, safety, and environmental care, it not only protects climbers but also preserves the fragile ecosystem of the Himalayas. If passed, this law could reshape the future of high-altitude mountaineering for the better.

(With inputs from agenices)