Nepal Considers New Experience, Health, and Planning Rules for Everest Climbers
Climbing Mount Everest could soon become much more regulated. Nepal’s upper house lawmakers have approved a new tourism bill. It introduces strict experience, health, and planning requirements for would-be climbers.
The goal is to reduce emergencies on the world’s highest peak. It also aims to raise funds for environmental actions on the mountain. The bill now moves to the Lower House for a final vote.
Mount Everest soars 8,800 meters above sea level. It attracts competitive thrill seekers and increasing numbers of inexperienced climbers. Expeditions from Base Camp last up to three months of extreme physical discomfort. Climbers face dangerously changeable weather and avalanche risks. Low temperatures and oxygen levels test human limits. Mandatory tracking chips increase chances of being found when things go wrong.
Existing Requirements Already Tough
Climbers already face significant obligations beyond the climb itself. Since 2014, Nepalese law requires them to lug back eight kilograms of rubbish. Since 2025, local laws demand they bring their own excrement down in specialist “wag bags.”
Failure means losing a $4,000 deposit. On top of all this, expeditions cost between $45,000 and $70,000 per person. Despite these barriers, climber numbers have increased dramatically. One experienced mountaineer described the scene as a “complete circus.” Long queues to reach the peak are now common. Climbers pass by corpses in the snow. Up to 300 deaths have occurred on the mountain, including five in 2025.
What the New Rules Would Require
The proposed legislation targets the root causes of overcrowding. Climbers would need to have previously conquered at least a 7,000-meter Nepalese summit. This ensures only those with proven high-altitude experience attempt Everest.
Recent health certificates would be mandatory. A comprehensive ascent plan must be submitted along with necessary fees. The idea is to ensure only fit and adequately prepared individuals are summiting. Other elements strengthen environmental protection. A Mountaineers’ Welfare Fund would support rescue and emergency services. The refundable deposit would become a straightforward fee going toward conservation.
Industry Reaction
Experienced mountaineers largely support the proposed changes. One climber with over 20 years of experience spoke anonymously to Travel Tomorrow. “Today with sufficient money almost anyone can ‘climb’ Everest,” he observed.
He noted there are plenty of mountains in the Himalayas. The new rules could help spread crowds and revenues across more peaks. Everest has become an “object of consumerism” attracting people unable to climb average 4,000-meter Alpine summits.
“If it were up to me, I would restrict the mountain to those climbing without oxygen,” he added. Failing that, limiting the mentor-to-climber ratio would require more experienced climbers. “More experienced means more respectful.”
Timeline for Implementation
A general election is pending in Nepal. The Lower House is expected to vote on the Tourism Bill sometime after March. If approved, the rules could take three months to come into force. This timing means expeditions in the most favorable spring 2026 season might avoid the new restrictions. Future climbers should prepare for a significantly more rigorous approval process.
The mountain that has drawn adventurers for generations may soon become accessible only to the most qualified. Safety, experience, and respect for the environment are becoming the new priorities on Everest’s slopes.
