How to climb mount Everest for free?

Do you want to experience the thrill and challenge of climbing the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest, but don’t have the budget? Don’t worry because you can still achieve this lifelong dream without spending a dime. In this blog post, we will discuss the different ways you can climb Mount Everest for free and the steps you need to take to make it happen.

 Read on to find out how you can make the climb of a lifetime without breaking the bank.

Get sponsored

Securing sponsorship is probably one of your best options if you wish to summit Mount Everest for free. Sponsors can provide you with the necessary gear along with the money you need for your ascent. All of these costs can indeed be paid for free by your sponsors.

You must first develop a strong case for sponsorship. Describe your motivation for climbing Mount Everest as well as your goals. After that, be sure to include a budget outlining the costs related to the adventure. Getting a sponsorship means that you will have to be the face of the company during the expedition. The sponsor anticipates some financial gain, such as increased sales, brand awareness or some measurable outcome.

After the pitch is finished, it's time to start exploring for sponsors. Start by looking into businesses that engage in financing climbing adventures online. Make contact with these businesses and present your sponsorship request. Provide details about who you are along with your mountaineering background and experience.

Don't be hesitant to contact other sources if you're having problems attracting possible sponsors online. Try asking your relatives and friends if they know any influential people or possible sponsors who would be interested in helping you with your expedition.

Additionally, a university, an outdoor club or even your local government might be willing to fund you. These kinds of organizations frequently have grant programs aimed at funding outdoor activities like scaling Mount Everest.

Last but not least, if you are having a hard time finding a sponsor from the above-mentioned options, you can consider starting a crowdfunding campaign. Crowdfunding allows you to raise money from individuals who support your cause. With crowdfunding, you can easily reach many people and potentially get the sponsorship you need.

Climbing Mount Everest is an amazing achievement and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Getting sponsored is one of the best ways to do it without spending a dime. With some effort and determination, you can find a sponsor or collect money from crowdfunding and make your dream of summiting Mount Everest come true.

Photo: Mount Everest sunset view

Fundraise

If you are determined to make the climb up Mount Everest without spending a dime, fundraising is a great option. The best way to go about it is to find a group of like-minded people who are also interested in doing the climb and have them help with your fundraising efforts.

After successfully building up a team, you can start by setting up a fundraising event. You might want to spread your team across different locations to collect more funds parallelly for higher success. There are several platforms available for this, such as Kickstarter and GoFundMe. You can create a page on these sites that outlines your story and your goal for the trip. You can then share the page on social media and other platforms to spread the word.

Fundraising and crowdfunding might sound similar but they are a bit different. While crowdfunding is used to establish individual initiatives or company ideas, fundraising is done by non-profit organizations with the goal of supporting charitable causes or local projects.

The sole definition of fundraising is "gathering donations," and it is always done for charitable purposes. Donors can donate as much money as they wish to the organization or individual who is seeking financial assistance when they participate in fundraising.

You might also want to think about approaching sponsors to assist you in paying for a portion of your trek. Companies are frequently eager to provide financial support to people or organizations who are attempting an adventure or pursuing an ambitious goal. To achieve your objectives more quickly, you might create a hybrid model of fundraising and sponsorship. In an appealing letter, you can put your motivation for climbing Mount Everest and how their support would help you accomplish this objective.

Organizing events in your neighbourhood is yet another inventive approach to raising funds. This can be bake sales, movie nights or handicraft shops. You might even organize an auction and request donations from surrounding companies for goods you could sell.  

Whatever method you select, make sure to record all donations and manage the funds effectively. You can climb Mount Everest for free if you put in a little work and are persistent.

Become a guide

If none of the above-mentioned tips works for you, becoming a guide can be your best shot. However, to become a guide, you will have to invest a lot of time and money. It might be the best alternative for Nepalese citizens, but foreigners might find this option time-consuming.

To become a trekking guide in Nepal, you’ve got two options :

1. Sign up for a training program organized by the Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management (NATHM).

2. Signing Up for the training program organized by Nepal Mountain Academy.

Time and qualifications :

1. Course duration: 5 weeks

2. Fee: around 7,000 NPR

3. Qualification: two years experience with a registered travel company / 12th standard or equivalent

    OR

Three years experience with a registered travel agency / 10th standard or equivalent

Photo: PP size photo not older than six months

Hence, if you intend to go down this path, it will roughly take you 2.5 years to train and gain experience. Despite this alternative being the most time-consuming, it has its own set of pros.

For instance, you can climb Everest multiple times for free after you have the license. You can easily make a decent living out of it in Nepal if you are a licensed guide with a couple of years of experience.

Become an agent

Attracting more customers to the travel company you are working for might be a good option to climb Mount Everest for free. You can agree upon a deal that suits both the company and yourself. For every number of customers you convert, you can propose a free climb to Everest for yourself.

However, the permit to climb Everest is around USD 10,000, and your travel company might not be down to pay this amount. Nonetheless, other expenses, including guides, porters, and gear which cost around USD 20,000 may be waived off for you. Hence, you can cut down a large chunk of expenses by being an agent who offers to climb Mount Everest.

Find a group

Finding a group that is already on the adventure is one of the finest ways to climb Mount Everest for free if you are eager to do it. This group could be a climbing club or a scheduled tour of a company that intends to take on the challenge.

Many organizations around the world offer expeditions to Mt. Everest and other Himalayan peaks. These groups often provide a much-needed support system as well as discounted prices. While it's less likely to summit Everest for completely free by using this method, you will be amazed at the discounted cost you might be offered.

Additionally, by joining a group, you will not only have the opportunity of benefiting from the experience and wisdom of people in the group but you will also make friends during the expedition.

Local climbing shops, online discussion boards, social media pages, and even newspaper classifieds are good places to look for such groups. Make sure to do your research on any organization you are thinking about joining so you can confirm that their safety procedures, experience, and credentials are up to code. Be careful to assess the group size, the availability of knowledgeable guides, and other aspects that may affect your experience when choosing a group.

To find out if there are any planned excursions to Mount Everest or surrounding peaks, you can also ask around at your local climbing store, mountaineering club, or sports shop. What you discover might astound you.

Also Read: Francys Arsentiev - The Sleeping Beauty of Mount Everest

Conclusion

All in all, climbing Everest for absolutely free is not an easy task. You will need to invest significant time and resources to achieve the goal. However, people climbing Everest for free is not unheard of. There are multiple methods like sponsorships, fundraising and becoming an agent or a guide. Methods like sponsorships and fundraising will be significantly easier if you are an influencer or have strong ties with powerful personnels. 

Moreover, famous people like celebrities and sportspeople can easily find donations for their mission. If you are a common individual, you might need to look for other options, such as crowdsourcing and becoming a guide/agent. 

If scaling Mount Everest is your lifelong dream, but you’re struggling to make it happen for free, Swotah Travel can make it happen in the most affordable way. Let us help make your dream come true, and join us to make the climb of a lifetime.