Climbing Mount Everest has become one of the pinnacles of human endurance, ever since Sir Edmund Hilary became the first person to do it in 1953. Today, climbing the mountain isn’t exclusively limited to just those of us who are expert mountaineers.
A whole industry has sprouted up to serve people who willingly pay to climb Mount Everest. For most people, the easiest route is to climb the South Col route, which is located in Nepal.
If you don’t feel like climbing the mountain to the peak, and experiencing the lack of oxygen at 29,000 feet, you can also make your way to the South Base Camp in Nepal – one of the two Everest Base Camps. This is still located approximately 17,500 feet above sea level and is far less gruelling than attempting to summit the tallest mountain in the world.
For those of us who want to climb Everest or trek to the South Base Camp, here’s a cost breakdown of how much it will set you back.
Not For The Faint Hearted; Not A Cheap Adventure
Clearly, climbing Mount Everest is for those of us who love the adrenaline rush of an adventure. Therefore, for nearly all non-mountaineers, it’s a necessity that you have a guide. Getting to the peak requires you to climb close to the cruising altitude of a commercial jet (30,000 feet).
At the top of Mount Everest, there’s only one-third of the oxygen in the air for you to breathe versus if you were at sea level. That means you will require oxygen canisters and an expert mountaineer to help guide you up the mountain.
In recent years, the price of a guided tour has gradually increased – alongside its popularity. You can expect to pay anywhere from US$50,000 up to US$80,000 (S$65,300 to S$104,460) per person for an all-in guided tour to summit Mount Everest. This fee will include equipment, oxygen canisters, climbing permits, and other miscellaneous costs associated with the climb.
If you want to do a more “luxury” experience with more guides per guest as well as other privileges like private camps at base camp and a helicopter service, you can pay anywhere from US$125,000 all the way up to US$220,000.
Median Prices For Guided Expeditions Of Mount Everest
Nepal 2023
Nepal 2024
% Change
Nepali Guide Service
US$45,000
US$45,000
0%
Foreign Guide Service with Sherpa Guide
US$51,750
US$53,725
$3.7%
Foreign Guide Service with Western Guide
US$70,000
US$71,500
+1.5%
Source: alanarnette.com
The difference in pricing between Foreign Guide services and Nepali Guide services is that non-Nepalese companies are required to pay a steep climbing fee per person, usually in the region of US$11,000 to US$15,000.
Meanwhile, Nepalese companies (and guides) only have to pay US$600 per climber, saving a significant amount of money. The expedition to ascend Everest takes around six to eight weeks and requires climbers to acclimatise to certain altitudes for days at a time before climbing further.
Equally Exhilarating Trek To Everest Base Camp Costs
For inexperienced climbers to want to experience the adventure, trekking to the Everest Base Camp (EBC) can be equally exhilarating and much safer. For many, this can be part of the journey to eventually reaching the summit of the world’s tallest peak.
Known as the “EBC Hike”, this is significantly cheaper than trying to reach the summit of Everest itself. That’s mainly down to not requiring so much specialised equipment (or time) to attempt the climb.
Permits are cheaper too, with only two main permits required to reach EBC. These cost as little as US$50 to US$100 each. Ascending to EBC takes around 12-16 days and can be done – all-in – for around US$1,200 to US$2,500 per person, not including any additional costs associated with peak season bookings.
If you want a “luxury” experience for your EBC Hike, you could be looking at anywhere from US$3,000 up to US$10,000 per person, with operators in these segments offering climbers perks like better meals, high-end lodging, and additional privileges where possible. This is a much more accessible service for anyone who wants to have a beginner’s version of the Mount Everest experience.
Understanding The Costs To Climb Everest
It is becoming increasingly expensive to climb Mount Everest with a guide given the amount of equipment, time and manpower needed to help individuals reach the top. While options do exist to climb in China and India, these are mainly reserved for nationals of those countries and the infrastructure to support climbs there isn’t as well established as it is in Nepal.
As a result, you can expect to pay at least US$50,000 for an all-in guided tour of Mount Everest in Nepal. For those who have done some research on the climb, you would appreciate why there’s no guarantee of reaching the summit. It’s weather-dependent and whether you are managing the climb well.
If you do want a less intense experience, then the Everest Base Camp Hike could make sense and is much more accessible – both from a climbing and cost perspective.
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