Nepal has officially banned solo expeditions on Mount Everest and other peaks over 8,000 meters, marking a major shift in the country’s mountaineering regulations. The amendment, published in the Nepal Gazette on Tuesday, mandates that climbers above this altitude must have a guide assigned for every two climbers. This change aims to enhance safety on these dangerous peaks, including Everest, by ensuring that climbers have necessary support, no matter their experience level.
Narayan Prasad Regmi, the director general of Nepal’s Department of Tourism, explained that the decision to make guides mandatory came in response to safety concerns, particularly for those tackling the 8,000-meter peaks. The new rule has brought an end to the era of solo climbs on Everest and other high-altitude mountains. It has notably impacted climbers like Jost Kobusch, a German mountaineer, who had planned a solo winter ascent of Everest.
While the change has been welcomed by many expedition operators, some have raised concerns about potential loopholes. Mingma Sherpa, managing director of Seven Summit Treks, emphasized that the regulation would create local jobs and improve safety. However, he pointed out that professional climbers could still technically “climb solo” if they hired a guide but chose not to rely on them during the ascent. Guides are required to document and report climbs, enhancing the possibility of locating missing climbers and improving search-and-rescue operations.
The amendment also introduces increased royalty fees for climbers. The fee for foreign climbers attempting Everest in the spring has risen from $11,000 to $15,000, with similar hikes for other 8,000-meter peaks. The new rates, effective from September 2025, are part of a broader initiative to address congestion at base camps and improve management practices.
In a further effort to enhance safety and environmental responsibility, the government has introduced stricter waste management rules for Everest expeditions. Climbers will now be required to bring their waste, including human waste, back to base camp for proper disposal. Additionally, new regulations prevent family members of climbers and guides from staying at Everest’s base camp unless they have prior approval.
The amended regulations also increase the daily wages for liaison officers, high-altitude guides, and base camp workers. The daily wage for liaison officers has increased significantly from Rs 500 to Rs 1,600, while wages for high-altitude guides have risen from Rs 350 to Rs 1,200. These changes aim to ensure fair compensation for workers who contribute to the safety and success of climbing expeditions.
These updates to Nepal’s mountaineering policies reflect a commitment to improving safety, environmental sustainability, and the overall experience for climbers. With nearly 8,900 summits recorded on Everest since 1953, the new regulations are seen as a necessary evolution to ensure the mountain remains a safe and sustainable destination for climbers from around the world.
