How Much Does It Cost To Climb Mount Everest?

9 Apr 2023 Prakash Devkota

Many people dream of climbing Mt. Everest. The thrilling adventure with a pump of endless adrenaline can be high for many. On top of that, Mt. Everest is blessed with being the tallest mountain in the world and is also in Nepal, the most beautiful country. Also, you can meet welcoming people while doing so. The journey is arduous, but you can climb it with proper planning and preparation.

And the number one thing in preparing to climb Mount Everest is knowing about the actual cost to climb Mount Everest. The cost of climbing Everest may be daunting to many significantly if you have never climbed any mountains before. Also, planning any adventure in a foreign country can take time and effort.

But don’t you worry since where there is a will, there is a way. If you genuinely wish to climb the glorious Everest and want to know the cost to climb Mount Everest, stay with us throughout the article as we go along every aspect of going towards the world’s highest point.

Cost To Climb Mount Everest: The Things You Need

The art of climbing Mount Everest is no joke since there are many things to prepare for. One must be ready, from booking the tickets to Nepal to fooding, lodging, gear, equipment, guides, and much more. Since climbing Mount Everest can be challenging, one must prepare themselves to the highest and as thoroughly as possible. And the number one thing one must know is the average cost to climb Everest.

So, let us look at everything that adds to your cost of climbing Everest. We have broken down the average cost to climb Mount Everest into various snippets. The list comprises the following commodities and activities. However, the list includes the average person’s prices on their quest.

Training Charges

Climbing Mt. Everest is no joke; you need rigorous training to do it successfully. Various organizations have many training options. One must be physically, emotionally, and psychologically prepared to climb Everest. The training usually includes cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility training.

The vigorous training may cost anything from USD 4000 to USD 6000.

Traveling, Fooding, and Lodging Costs

The traveling cost depends upon the country you are initially from. Depending on your country and flying standard, it can range from a few hundred to thousands of American dollars. After arriving in Kathmandu, you can fly directly to Namche or Lukla. A round-trip flight from Kathmandu to Lukla will cost anything from USD 360 to USD 380.

However, to save money, try booking your flight way before the peak season of ascending Everest. Also, you can take a bus to Jiri and trek to Lukla, which is cheaper than flying directly.

a) Cost Of Staying In Kathmandu

It might cost you more if you decide to stay in Kathmandu for a few days before beginning your ascend. In addition, if you choose to sightsee around Kathmandu, it might cost you even more.

You can, however, reduce your cost by staying at regular hotels that cost around USD 20 per night minimum. But, if you want to stay at a luxurious hotel, the price might go up to USD 450.

On top of that, if you decide to book a package to see around Kathmandu, it might cost you around USD 60 to USD 120. All these extra charges may add into your cost to climb Mount Everest.

b) Cost Of Climbing From Lukla To Everest Base Camp

The trekking days may range from a week to more than a week from Lukla to Everest Base Camp because you are acclimatizing yourselves as you move along.

So, the more time it takes, the more you pay for the food and lodging for yourselves and your guides. This particular trek may range anything from USD 400 to USD 1000. It all depends upon your traveling style.

One tip that can reduce your expenses is to buy all the necessary materials, like toilet paper, batteries, etc., at your home or in Kathmandu, Namche, or Lukla because the higher you go up, the prices of essential commodities rise.

c) Cost In Tea Houses

The tea houses in Khumbu expect you to pay USD 7 per night and around USD 5 to USD 10 for each meal. However, you can always camp and cook your meal to reduce costs. Also, the price you pay in tea houses depends upon the level of luxury you are looking for and how high you are up in your expedition. For example, at Gorak Shep, the cost of one night may be up to USD 10. But in Lobuche, the price of one night is USD 7 fixed.

Interestingly, if you eat elsewhere and live elsewhere, you might have to pay USD 10 more for the place you are staying at.

A tea house usually has two beds, pillows, blankets, and sometimes an attached toilet. Tea houses have a big communal hall where you can dine and socialize. Dining halls are illuminated with a fire pit at its center to provide warmth.

As mentioned, your cost may increase with the number of facilities you demand. Hot showers are not free and may cost USD 2 to 6 extra. If your tea house has it, an electric blanket or heater will cost you USD 20 more. Battery charging costs USD 2 to 6 per hour, while power banks cost you around USD 10. Finally, the internet is usually free but may cost USD 2 to 5 per hour high up in the mountain where the service is poor.

d) Price Of Fooding and Water in Everest Base Camp

Food and water are essential commodities that one cannot live without. And it becomes even more critical if you go on an expedition like climbing Mount Everest. The higher you are to the top, the higher the food and water prices go. As the number of tea houses decreases, so does the cost of food increases. Although interestingly, the menu is really impressive around Everest Base Camp. So, choose wisely the food you eat because it can contribute significantly towards the average cost of climbing Everest.

A regular Dal-Bhaat diet, a staple in Nepal, will begin its cost at USD 5 and may rise to USD 12 at Gorak Shep. Similarly, one litre of bottled drinking water may cost around USD 1. It may rise up to USD 4 as you go higher. If we talk about the average amount you will spend on food and water daily, it will be around USD 30 to 40.

However, sterilizing the water you find locally instead of buying bottled water may save you up to USD 50. In addition, try and eat vegetarian dishes because they are cheaper and fresher.

e) Cost Of Hiring Porters and Yaks

Climbing Everest requires a lot of support, especially in transporting your gear, pieces of equipment, tents, and sometimes even yourselves to base camp. For this, porters and yaks are the best bet.

Porters usually take around USD 20 per day and per load. Also, a single porter can carry around 25 kg of your luggage. If you are hiring a luxurious porter, they may charge up to USD 50 per day. And since you will have a lot of stuff to load, the price may go up to a thousand American dollars.

Suppose you are a loaded individual with much stuff to carry to the base camp. In that case, you can even be airlifted by a helicopter. However, obviously, it will cost you more.

Finally, the charges of porters and yaks may rise if you tip. Tipping is not mandatory in climbing Everest, but people do expect it. And you can tip around 10% of your actual cost.

You may also like:

• Best Month to Climb Mount Everest
• How Tall is Mount Everest?
• Dangers of Climbing Mount Everest
• How Hard Is It To Climb Mount Everest?
• How Long Does It Take To Climb Mt. Everest?

The Climbing Permits and Visas

a) Cost to Climb Mount Everest: The South Side or Normal Route

Let us begin your journey. With a piece of good news!

Did you know that the cost of climbing Mount Everest has been reduced from USD 25,000 to USD 11,000 for foreign climbers? This was done to attract more enthusiasts like you to come and climb Everest by the Ministry of Tourism of Nepal. Also, this is the climbing royalty from late April to late May during the spring season.

Now, mountaineering royalty is discounted by 50% if you decide to rise during autumn, making it USD 5,500. In addition, the price is even lower during the winter and summer seasons, where the cost to climb Mount Everest is only USD 2,500. However, the spring season is the best season to climb Everest.

If you are a Nepali citizen, the cost to climb Mount Everest during spring and autumn is Rs. 75,000 and Rs. 37,500, respectively. Also, Nepalese’s cost to climb Mt. Everest during winter is Rs. 18,250. Finally, these are the royalties of climbing Everest from the usual route.

b) Cost to Climb Mount Everest: Other Routes

The royalty cost of climbing Everest from other routes for foreign citizens is the same. The price is USD 11,000.

However, changes can be seen during the autumn and winter/summer seasons. During the autumn, foreign citizens are USD 5,000, USD 500 less than the regular route. And USD 2,500 is the cost of climbing Everest during the winter/summer season, which is USD 250 less than the usual route.

For Nepalese, the cost of climbing Mount Everest during the spring season from other routes is Rs. 60,000. Also, Nepalese’s cost to climb Mt. Everest during the autumn and winter/summer is Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 18,250, respectively.

So, it is comparatively cheaper for foreign and Nepalese climbers to ascend Everest from other routes than usual.

c) Cost to Climb Everest: Other Trekking Permits

If you desire to ascend to the Everest Base Camp, you need two trekking permits. The permits are the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entrance permit.

The price of the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit

with 13% VAT is shown in the table below:

Also, Rs. 3000 roughly converts to USD 22.

The price of the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entrance permit are as follows:

Suppose you are trekking towards Everest Base Camp via Jiri, walking for eight hours from Shivalaya to Kinja. In that case, you must pass through Gaurishankar Conservation Area. And for this, you guessed it, you need a permit. The permit cost is more than USD 16 with 13% VAT. You can obtain it at the Gaurishankar Conservation Area Permit (GSCAP) checkpoint in Shivalaya or DNPWC Counter-Tourist Service Center Bhrikuti Mandap, Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu.

In addition to the permits, you need someone to get them for you. For this, a local company organizes the permit for your team at USD 2,500. Also, per every permit, one must pay for the garbage management deposit, which is USD 4,000 per group; a liaison officer is required per team for USD 3,000.

d) Cost to Climb Everest: Nepal Visa

All citizens around the globe except Indians require a visa to enter Nepal. However, you can get the visa on arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. The visa prices are listed below:

• For 15 days, multiple entries visit, the visa cost is USD 30.
• For 30 days, multiple entries visit, the visa cost is USD 50.
• For 90 days, multiple entries visit, the visa cost is USD 125.

You should get the 90 days multiple entries to visit since climbing Everest takes around 60 days. Also, you can extend the tourist visa for 15 days for USD 45; for every extra day, you must pay USD 3.

You need two passport-size photos of your gorgeous face on a light background to get the Nepal visa. You also need cash to pay for the visa fee. Finally, you need a valid passport for up to six months.

e) Cost to Climb Everest: Gears and Equipment

While calculating the climbing cost, Mount Everest equipment and gear top the list. One can always cook their own food and save some extra bucks, but many people hire helper or a cook, which costs around USD 5,000 at the base camp. Also, around USD 800 is required for each person’s food and fuel while climbing Everest in around six weeks.

Single supplemental oxygen costs USD 600 per bottle, and a minimum of five bottles are required, costing around USD 3000. The mask and regulator also need USD 500 each. But people often carry more and require more porters to carry the cylinders, costing you around USD 4,000 to USD 10,000.

In addition, one requires many climbing gears like clothing layers, down suits, boots, gloves, sleeping bags, packs, and more. All of this will cost around USD 9000. Buying it in your home country or Kathmandu might cost you less. Also, remember to check the size correctly since the feet may swell up while climbing Everest. The better the quality of your commodities, the higher the price. Also, if you buy branded products, they will cost more.

Similarly, you also need satellite phones, which cost around USD 1,000 to 3,000. It depends upon your usage. Also, you must renew tariffs every six weeks while using them. For a minute of talk time, you need to pay USD 3.

Tents will cost you USD 3000 for a new one. It can be used for sleeping, cooking, toilet, and storage at the four camps for the utmost three people. In addition, you will also need a complete medical kit which will be around USD 1,000 to 1,500. You also need to give a gear allowance for the Sherpas, which will cost around USD 3000.

Finally, climbing Sherpa will cost you around USD 5,000 to 9,000. Additionally, a personal Sherpa with oxygen will come for USD 3000. Costs add up as you take more things and hire more Sherpas.

Average Cost To Climb Everest: Guided Ascend

Since 2013, Nepal has made hiring a guide while climbing Everest compulsory.

You can have three options. You can employ Nepali or foreign guide services with Sherpa guides or foreign guide services with Western guides. The list below includes the average cost one might pay based on their ascending style.

• The Nepali guide service will cost you around USD 45,000.
• The foreign guide service with the Sherpa guide will cost you around USD 51,750.
• While the foreign guide service with the Western guide is around USD 70,000.

However, the prices may change according to your route of climbing Everest. If you take a southern approach to climbing Everest, you might pay up to USD 90,000 for a foreign guide service. However, a Nepali guiding service may only charge USD 35,000 for the same southern route.

Talking about the northern route foreign guide service will charge you between USD 40,000 to USD 60,000, while the Nepali guide service will set you up to USD 30,000.

So, How Much Does It Cost To Climb Mount Everest?

Ok, we admit that the list was long. Well, you are going to climb the tallest mountain in the world! You can’t expect any less now, can you?

Spending this much is definitely worth it, though. The thrill of the climb, the people you meet, the beautiful mountains you will see, and the pride you feel will be nothing you have experienced. On top of that, who can beat the selfies you take?

So, are you ready to hear the final average? Then the averages are as follows:

• If you pay less and go when the season is off, you might pay as little as USD 35,000 to .
• Conversely, if you prefer a more luxurious climb, your average cost to climb Everest can be as high as USD 100,000.
• During the peak climbing season, spring, the average cost to climb Everest may be around USD 45,000.

Remember that the prices will rise and fall according to your standard of climb, the number of Sherpas you hire, the number of people in your team, and the guide system you choose. So, choose wisely and enjoy your climb as much as possible.

You Are Prepared, Financially!

So, are you ready? At least, financially, though?

If you are, then what are you waiting for? Book your next climb to Mount Everest today with Peak Climbing Nepal! We have the best Everest Expedition package with the most brilliant itinerary. The climb will last 66 days, and we provide the best price worldwide.

We also have hassle-free bookings and free cancellations, so don’t worry. In addition, we also have 10 years of experience in this industry with guaranteed departure. We provide the best quality service and have 60%, repeat customers. The average price that we offer is a boggling USD 39,999 per person!

So, hurry up and book your next ascend to Mount Everest with us today!

Prakash Devkota

Managing Director and Team Leader

Mr. Prakash Chandra Devkota is an established name in the Tourism Sector in Nepal. He is a focused individual gifted with a brilliant mind. He is also hugely dedicated to social work. Born in the Gorkha district, a beautiful hilly region of Nepal, he first entered the tourism industry as a guide in 1997. He has gained extensive experience in almost all the trekking and climbing routes like Mera, Island, Lobuche and, Ama Dablam, etc.

He registered Nepal Guides Treks & Expedition in 2009 AD. Due to his passion for adventure and efforts to provide quality personalized service to his clients, he has established himself as a successful tourism entrepreneur. He has dedicated most of his time working diligently to elevate the tourism industry and collected more than 15 years of experience in organizing trekking and expeditions in Nepal, Bhutan, and India. He believes in the power of the tourism industry and the employment opportunities that can be created through it. He constantly looks for innovative ways to run the company.

Mr. Devkota has always been an avid practitioner of eco-friendly tourism and has always promoted environmental conservation throughout his career. He motivates his staff to embrace eco-friendly tourism through responsible tourism practices. He believes promoting eco-tourism will preserve natural resources and positively impact the environment.