Nearly 9,000 tourists visited the Everest region in just one month. According to the Sagarmatha National Park office in Namche, Solukhumbu, a total of 8,902 tourists explored Khumbu during the month of Ashoj (mid-September to mid-October).
The park generated Rs 23.49 million in revenue from these visitors, as reported by staff member Bibek Shrestha. He noted that the park charges an entry fee of Rs 100 for Nepali tourists, Rs 1,500 for visitors from SAARC countries, and Rs 3,000 for tourists from other countries.
In the current fiscal year 2024/25, only 125 tourists visited the Everest region in Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August), while 1,331 tourists came during Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September). The park collected Rs 345,975 in Shrawan and Rs 3.237 million in Bhadra, according to Shrestha.
“As we are currently in the tourist season, the number of visitors is high, particularly in the Everest region and other mountainous areas. With the increase in arrivals, we are busy collecting fees and maintaining records,” Shrestha explained.
Most tourists reach the Everest region by flying or taking helicopters to Lukla from Kathmandu and Manthali in Ramechhap. Some opt to travel overland through Salleri to get to Lukla. The primary tourist seasons are from February 27 to May 28 and during September, October, and November, while other times are considered the ‘off-season.’
During peak season, the Everest National Park office reports that over a thousand tourists enter the region daily. Chief Conservation Officer Sushma Rana noted that the Everest region is especially popular for mountain climbing, wildlife observation, and adventure tourism. Established in 1975, the park spans an area of 1,148 square kilometers.
Located in the Solukhumbu district of eastern Nepal, this national park is home to the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, as well as several other peaks over 6,000 meters, including Lhotse, Nuptse, Cho Oyu, Pumori, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku. The Gokyo lakes and associated wetlands within the park were designated as a Ramsar site in 2007.
The park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, covering altitudes from 1,800 meters to 8,848 meters. Wildlife here includes musk deer, Himalayan tahr, langur monkeys, and a variety of bird species such as monal pheasants and Tibetan snowcocks.
