By Spl. Reporter
Climbing Mount Everest has long been the ultimate adventure dream. But with a
permit alone now costing $15,000 not counting flights, guides, gear and weeks of
preparation. The world’s tallest peak is increasingly becoming an expensive,
exclusive pursuit. Add to that the crowds, queues at the summit ridge, and concerns
over safety, and Everest no longer feels like the untouched crown of mountaineering
it once was.
Nepal, however, is not just Everest. The country is home to eight of the world’s 14
tallest mountains and hundreds of other snow-capped summits, many still unseen by
the wider world. In a bold move to shift attention, the government has announced
that 97 peaks in the far western regions of Karnali and Sudurpaschim will now be
free to climb for the next two seasons.
While Everest dominates headlines, Karnali and Sudurpaschim have quietly held
their own treasures, majestic, unscaled mountains, remote valleys, and landscapes
that brush against Tibet and India’s Uttarakhand. These regions are harder to reach,
requiring long flights and challenging road journeys from Kathmandu, but therein
lies their charm. Unlike the crowded trails of Everest Base Camp, these mountains
promise solitude, unspoiled beauty, and perhaps even the thrill of being the first to
leave footprints on virgin peaks.
Of the 97 mountains now open, seventy-seven are in Karnali and twenty in
Sudurpaschim. Some remain unclimbed, offering an irresistible lure for
mountaineers seeking fresh challenges and new records.
Tourism is the backbone of Nepal’s economy, employing over a million people and
drawing more than a million international visitors in 2024. Yet, the heavy
concentration on Everest has created imbalance—overcrowding on one side, neglect
on the other. By waiving permit fees on these 97 peaks, Nepal hopes to distribute
tourist interest more evenly, boost local economies in poorer western states, and
position the country as more than a one-mountain wonder.
This initiative comes at a time when Nepal has tightened rules for Everest itself.
Climbers must now prove prior experience on high-altitude peaks and face steeper
fees. The message is clear: Everest is not for everyone, but the Himalayas have space
for all.
For seasoned climbers, these free-to-climb peaks offer a training ground to prepare
for higher summits while setting their own milestones. For explorers, they represent
a chance to chart new paths, engage with untouched cultures, and contribute to
regions where tourism is still in its infancy.
The real challenge may not be the ascent but the journey to reach these remote
provinces. Flights are limited, infrastructure is basic, and facilities remain sparse.
Yet, for those who dare, the reward is an authentic Himalayan experience—far from
the queues and commercial bustle of Everest.
With this move, Nepal is quietly rewriting its adventure map. Everest will always
stand as the ultimate prize, but its lesser-known siblings are stepping into the
spotlight. From unclimbed ridges to hidden valleys, the Himalayas are vast enough to
offer new stories for a new generation of climbers.
For the next two climbing seasons, at least, the mountains of Karnali and
Sudurpaschim are free to all. Beyond Everest’s shadow, the Himalayas are
calling—and this time, the path may lead somewhere entirely new.