Nepal's 97 Free Peaks: Royalty Waiver in Karnali and Sudurpaschim (2026 Status)

• DecidedCabinet, 3 August 2025
• Announced13 August 2025
• Peaks97 (77 Karnali, 20 Sudurpaschim)
• Height rangeAbout 5,870 to 7,132 m
• Waiver runsTo mid-July 2027
• What is freeThe climbing royalty only

Status as of October 2026: The waiver is in force. No official count of expeditions using it has been published. In April 2026 the chair of Api Himal Rural Municipality said some groups had already taken permits for Api Himal and other peaks. The government plans to review the policy when the two years end.

Nepal has taken a big step to promote mountaineering in less-visited areas. In August 2025 the government announced that 97 Himalayan peaks in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces would get free climbing permits for two years, covering Nepal’s fiscal years 2025/26 and 2026/27, which run to mid-July 2027. These peaks, in the far western part of the country, are some of the most remote mountains in the Himalayas.

The decision is part of a new tourism strategy to attract more international climbers, reduce crowding on Mount Everest, and bring economic benefits to communities that have so far seen very little from Nepal’s mountaineering industry.

Why Is Nepal Doing This?

For decades, Nepal’s mountaineering industry has been focused on a small number of famous peaks, especially in the Everest and Annapurna regions. In 2024 Everest brought in about USD 4.5 million of the USD 5.92 million Nepal earned from climbing fees, roughly three quarters of the total (UPI). By comparison, the far western peaks received almost no attention. Reports at the time of the announcement said only 68 of the 97 peaks had seen any climbing attempt in the previous two years.

By removing the government permit fees for these 97 peaks, the aim is to make them more appealing to climbers. Officials hope this will help spread tourism across the country, create jobs for local guides and porters, and give the far western provinces a chance to develop their own mountaineering economy.

Also Read: Best Peak Climbing Season In Nepal

Which Mountains Are Included?

The free climbing permit list includes peaks ranging from about 5,870 metres to 7,132 metres high (some reports give the lower end as 5,970 m). Three of them rise above 7,000 m. This means there is a mix of challenging high-altitude climbs for experienced mountaineers as well as smaller, less technical peaks suitable for those with moderate experience.

Some of the notable mountains on the list are:

• Saipal (7,031 m) – A striking pyramid-shaped peak known for its isolation and scenic beauty.

• Api (7,132 m) – The highest peak in the far west, surrounded by dramatic ridges and glaciers.

• Api West (7,076 m) – A neighbouring peak to Api. The Himalayan Database lists no recorded ascent, and some maps give its height as 7,100 m.

These mountains also work as training grounds for climbers preparing for bigger expeditions, such as Mount Everest. Under climbing rules proposed in Nepal’s draft Integrated Tourism Bill, anyone attempting Everest would first need to have summited a 7,000-metre peak in Nepal. That rule was still a proposal in October 2026, but if it passes, the three free peaks above 7,000 m become obvious preparation climbs.

The 97 Free Peaks at a Glance

Most of the free peaks are in Karnali, the province that also holds Rara Lake and Dolpo. Sudurpaschim has 20, including the highest of them all.

The highest peaks named on the list are below. Heights are from the Himalayan Database and Wikipedia, and the bars start at 5,000 m.

A full official list of all 97 peaks had not been published when the waiver was announced. The Mount Everest Foundation expected it to appear in the Nepal Himal Peak Profile.

Changes to Other Climbing Fees

While these 97 peaks are free until mid-2027, the government has also increased fees for other mountains to manage demand and raise revenue from the busiest routes.

• The Mount Everest permit fee rose from USD 11,000 to USD 15,000 in September 2025.

• Royalties for the NMA trekking peaks under 6,500 m (outside this free list), such as Lobuche and Island Peak, rose from USD 250 to USD 350 in spring, and to USD 175 in other seasons. See our peak permit guide for the full table.

The idea is to use pricing to spread out climbers across different parts of the Himalayas, reducing overcrowding in the Everest region and encouraging more people to explore new areas.

Opportunities and Challenges

The free climbing permit policy offers a big opportunity for adventure tourism in Nepal’s western Himalayas. For climbers, it’s a chance to explore remote mountains that are rarely visited and often unclimbed. For local communities, it could mean more income from guiding, accommodation, and other tourism services.

However, there are challenges too. These peaks are far from Kathmandu, and reaching them often requires a flight plus several days of trekking just to get to base camp. The infrastructure, such as lodges, roads, and reliable transport, is still limited in many areas. Even though the permit fees are waived, the overall cost of an expedition will still include guides, porters, equipment, insurance, and food, which can be significant.

Nima Nuru Sherpa, president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, said at the time that royalty fees alone were not keeping climbers away. He called for better infrastructure and more trained expedition staff in the region. In April 2026 the chair of Api Himal Rural Municipality told the Kathmandu Post that foreigners pay nearly triple the local fare on domestic flights to the far west, with a return ticket costing over NPR 60,000, and that his municipality’s headquarters still had no road link.

What This Means for Climbers

For experienced mountaineers, this is a unique chance to climb Himalayan peaks with fewer crowds and no government permit fees. Many of these mountains are still relatively unknown in the global climbing community, meaning climbers could make first ascents or take on routes that have only been done a few times before.

For less experienced climbers, the smaller peaks offer a way to test themselves at high altitudes while enjoying some of Nepal’s most beautiful and untouched landscapes. The cultural experience in the far west, home to diverse ethnic groups, traditions, and remote villages, adds to the adventure.

View: Saipal Himal Peak Climbing - Swotah Travel

Getting to Nepal’s Far West

Reaching these peaks is an expedition in itself. From Kathmandu, climbers typically fly to Nepalgunj or Dhangadhi, then connect by small aircraft or four-wheel-drive to district hubs such as Simikot, Bajhang, or Darchula. From the roadheads, allow several days of trekking through villages that see only a handful of foreign visitors a year. The approach to Api, for example, passes through the Api Nampa Conservation Area, while routes toward Saipal can be combined with a detour to Rara Lake, Nepal’s largest lake and one of its most beautiful corners.

The best climbing windows match the rest of the Nepal Himalaya: pre-monsoon (April to May) and post-monsoon (late September to November). Because lodges and supply points are scarce, expeditions here must be largely self-sufficient, with food, fuel, and camping equipment carried in from the start. Even though the royalty is waived, teams still need to register their expedition through an agency, climb with a licensed guide, and budget for insurance, porters, and logistics. Many approaches also cross restricted districts such as Humla, Mugu, Darchula and Bajhang, where a separate restricted area permit is still charged (see the table below). A realistic budget for a far-western 6,000-7,000 m expedition starts at several thousand dollars per climber, even with the permit fee at zero.

What You Still Pay on a Free Peak

The waiver removes one line from the budget. Everything else on a far-western expedition stays, and several items are higher than in the Everest region because the approach is longer. The restricted area fees below match our trekking permits guide.

Free Peaks Timeline: 2025 to 2027

Swotah Travel & Adventure – Your Gateway to the Free 97 Peaks

At Swotah Travel & Adventure, we see this as a golden opportunity for both seasoned mountaineers and curious explorers. Our “Free 97 Peaks Expedition Program” is designed to make the most of the waiver, which runs to mid-July 2027, offering:

• Full expedition logistics – transport, permits, guides, and porters all arranged

• Experienced climbing leaders familiar with the far western region

• Custom itineraries for both training climbs and challenging first ascents

• Cultural immersion through village stays and local festivals

• Safety-first approach, with proper acclimatization and backup plans

📩 Contact Swotah Travel & Adventure today to start planning your expedition. Be among the first to climb these remote Himalayan peaks, where the adventure is as big as the mountains themselves.

Nepal's 97 Free Peaks: FAQs