Spring remains the busiest and most favorable mountaineering season in Nepal, attracting climbers from around the world to the Himalayas. While many adventurers are preparing for their first Himalayan expeditions, others are aiming to establish new records and achievements on some of the world’s highest peaks.
The Nepal Tourism Board issues permits for mountains above 6,500 meters, while the Nepal Mountaineering Association manages permits for 27 trekking peaks ranging from 5,800 to 6,500 meters.
This season, Seven Summit Treks is leading the largest Everest expedition, guiding 85 climbers to Mount Everest. According to operator Mingma Sherpa, 85 out of the 464 climbers who received Everest permits are associated with the company. Other expedition organizers include Elite Expeditions, TAG Nepal, Imagine Nepal Expeditions, Himalayan Guides Expeditions and 8K Expeditions.
Nepal, which is home to eight of the world’s 14 mountains above 8,000 meters, continues to see strong international interest in mountaineering. According to the Department of Tourism Nepal, a total of 1,072 climbers from 79 countries have already received permits during the ongoing spring season. Among them are 811 men and 261 women, and officials expect the number to rise further in the coming weeks.
The climbing industry has shown steady growth in recent years. Last year, 1,140 climbers secured permits during the spring season, generating approximately Rs 794.7 million in revenue. In 2024, the number of climbers stood at 991.
According to Rajendra Lama, international interest in Nepal’s mountains has increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that the 27 trekking peaks managed by the association are also witnessing growing popularity among foreign climbers. Between July 2024 and July 2025, the association issued 2,204 permits and generated nearly Rs 160 million in revenue. Since July 2025, it has already issued 2,025 permits and collected over Rs 200 million.
Everest has once again emerged as the most sought-after destination this spring. Nisha Thapa Raut stated that 464 climbers from 55 countries have obtained permits to climb Everest, including 364 men and 100 women. Chinese climbers form the largest national group with 139 permits, followed closely by 132 climbers from the United States. Significant numbers have also arrived from India, the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, Canada, Japan, France, Australia and Ukraine.
The government has issued permits for 29 peaks this season, including Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Annapurna I, Dhaulagiri, Makalu and Kanchenjunga.
Despite the impact of ongoing tensions in West Asia on Nepal’s tourism sector, participation in mountaineering expeditions has remained strong. This year alone, the government has earned more than Rs 1.17 billion in royalty revenue from mountaineering permits. Everest contributed the largest share, generating over Rs 1.01 billion, while major revenue also came from expeditions to Lhotse, Makalu, Ama Dablam, Dhaulagiri-I, Annapurna-I and Kanchenjunga.
Climbers have already begun moving toward their destinations, with many reaching Everest Base Camp. Rope-fixing operations along the Everest route are currently underway. The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee has completed route preparation and rope fixing from Everest Base Camp through the Khumbu Icefall to Camp II. Further rope fixing from Camp II to the summit is being carried out by the Expedition Operators Association of Nepal.
Association president Dambar Parajuli stated that ropes have already been fixed up to Camp III, although poor weather conditions have slowed progress toward the summit. He expressed optimism that the remaining work could be completed within four to five days if conditions improve.
Meanwhile, the Himalayan Rescue Association Nepal has stationed medical teams at Everest Base Camp and Pheriche to provide emergency healthcare services to climbers and trekkers.
The Everest Base Camp medical team includes Australian doctor Samantha Allison Wills, Nepali doctor Pins Singh and assistant Lakpa Norbu Sherpa. At the Pheriche health post, the deployed team includes Australian doctor Rebecca Allen Carpenter, American doctor Caitlin Brooke Harper, Nepali doctor Aakriti Singh, and assistants Ang Dawa Sherpa and Thaneshwar Bhandari.
The first successful ascent of Mount Everest was achieved on May 29, 1953, by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. The historic achievement is commemorated every year as Everest Day.
