Nepal ends solo expeditions on Mt Everest, other 8000-metre peaks

The sixth amendment to the Mountaineering Regulation came into force on Tuesday after it was published in the Nepal Gazette, the government’s official publication.

The revised regulations require a high-altitude support staff or mountain guide to be assigned for every two climbers for peaks above 8,000 metres, including the 8,849-metre-tall Mt Everest. For other mountains, the rule requires at least one guide per group, according to a notice published in the Nepal Gazette.

Under the previous rule, one mountain guide was sufficient for a group of climbers scaling mountains above 8,000 metres.

“The government has made guides mandatory to ensure the climbers’ safety on the mountain,” said Arati Neupane, Director at the Department of Tourism. She added that the amendment was made to minimize the risks associated with mountain climbing.

This new regulation should have been implemented long ago, as it will have a positive impact on mountain tourism, said Mingma G Sherpa, Managing Director of Imagine Nepal Treks, a tourism company.

However, he stated that the royalty fee for climbing Mt Everest should not be increased, as it could discourage expeditions from coming to Nepal.

The government recently hiked the royalty to climb Mt Everest from USD 11,000 per person to USD 15,000, effective September 1 during the spring season.

Under the revised regulations, the royalty fee for foreign climbers attempting to climb Mt Everest from the south route in the spring season (March-May) has increased from USD 11,000 to USD 15,000 per person.

The climbing fee for the autumn season (September-November) has increased from USD 5,500 to USD 7,500.For winter (December-February) and the monsoon (June-August) season, the fee has increased from USD 2,750 to USD 3,750.