Climbing Mount Everest is a dream for many adventurers around the world – but the iconic mountain peak in Nepal is not just dangerous to climb, it’s also incredibly expensive
Mount Everest, the towering peak of the Himalayas, soars to a staggering 8,849 metres (29,032ft) above sea level. Each year, approximately 800 intrepid adventurers attempt to conquer its summit, facing numerous hazards from reliance on bottled oxygen to the threat of hypothermia and frostbite.
Climbers typically spend months acclimatising to the harsh conditions as they gradually ascend the mountain. The climb itself is gruelling due to the severe weather, high altitude, and sheer exhaustion that prevents many from reaching the pinnacle.
Since 1953, around 7,000 climbers have successfully reached the summit.
Embarking on this ascent isn’t just perilous, it’s also incredibly expensive. For those who’ve contemplated scaling Mount Everest, a TikTok user named @geogeek2_8 shed light on the true cost of climbing Everest, leaving viewers gobsmacked.
According to the content creator, you’ll need a permit from Nepal which will set you back $11,000 (£8,000). Additionally, you’ll need to employ guides and sherpas to help you navigate the brutal conditions, costing anywhere between $5,000 and $8,000 (between £3,700 and £5,900).
The necessary gear for the trek, ranging from boots to oxygen tanks and high-altitude equipment, can cost anything from $6,000 to $10,000 (£4,400 to £7,400).
And that’s before you’ve even set foot in Nepal. Flights to Lukla Airport, inclusive of grub and porters, can set you back anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000 (£2,900 to £5,900).
All in all, you’re looking at a total cost ranging from $26,000 to $37,000 (£19,300 to £27,462).
However, some reckon the Everest trek costs a fair bit more. According to Alan Arnette, who conquered Everest in 2011 and has reached “just below the Belcony” three other times, for most it will cost between $40,000 to $60,000 to scale Everest, but some people will fork out as much as $200,000.
Alan detailed how various operators compete on either price or luxuries and technologies, and guides have upped their rates. He also factored in budget for things like insurance, hotel, airport transport and jabs.
When quizzed if the price estimate was a tad low, GeoGeek responded: “There are still many less important costs that have not been included.”
From September, those aiming to ascend the world’s tallest peak during peak season (April to May) will have to cough up a hefty $15,000 (£11,100). For those wishing to climb from September to November, the fee is $7,500 (£5,500), and from December to February, it’s $3,750 (£2,700).
Many viewers were left astounded by the steep cost of ascending the famed peak, as seen in the comments on the video. “11k for a permit? Why?” someone questioned.
GeoGeek answered: “Mount Everest is inside Nepal’s territory, and the government regulates all climbs for safety, environmental protection, and revenue.”
Another chimed in: “With that much money I’d pay my bills and pay off loans! and sleep in my bed without being cold or no oxygen.
“People pay all that money to risk death?” questioned yet another baffled commenter. One more admitted their surprise: “Why did I think it was free?” Another wrote optimistically about alternative travel plans: “For that price I could see all of Europe, Asia and do a lower 48 state road trip”.