Tourism department starts issuing spring mountaineering permits

Kathmandu / March 26: The Department of Tourism (DoT) has started issuing mountaineering permits for the spring season 2025. So far, 58 climbers, 18 women and 40 men from eight expedition teams, have obtained permits to climb various peaks, including Annapurna I.

Climbers from 24 countries, including Nepal, have already secured their permits. Liladhar Awasthi, director of the DoT, confirmed the beginning of the permit issuance process. “We have started issuing permits for spring mountaineering, and we will soon issue Everest permits. The Everest region is already witnessing increased mountaineering activity,” he said.

Expedition operators have begun preparing for Everest climbs. Several companies, including Snow Horizon, Pioneer, Seven Summit Treks, Seven Summit Club, Elite Expeditions, Himalayan Guides, and Asian Trekking, have set up base camps and logistical support at Everest Base Camp.

Spring serves as the ideal season for Everest and other mountain expeditions, drawing a significant number of foreign climbers. The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) has deployed “Icefall Doctors” to build the climbing route from Everest Base Camp to Camp II. A team of 10 specialists is currently working on this section.

Additionally, a team of experienced climbers has started fixing ropes from Camp II to the Everest summit. The Expedition Operators Association has assigned Ashok Lama and a group of eight Sherpa climbers to complete the rope-fixing task.

According to Rishiram Bhandari, General Secretary of the association, climbers have already left for Everest and Lhotse summits this spring. Atke Expeditions has taken charge of rope-fixing operations for Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam in spring 2025.