KATHMANDU: Nepal has issued climbing permits to 170 mountaineers across 24 expedition teams on 12 peaks in the first month of the spring 2026 season, collecting USD 729,530 — approximately NPR 108.73 million — in royalties, according to the latest data from the Department of Tourism covering March 1 to April 3.

Mount Everest leads the season's permit activity with 33 climbers across four teams, generating the highest royalty of USD 495,000 (NPR 73.73 million). Annapurna I follows with 27 climbers across four teams and royalties of USD 81,000, while Ama Dablam has drawn 34 climbers across three teams with USD 34,000 in royalties.

The full breakdown across all 12 permitted peaks is as follows:

1. Mt Everest (8,848.86m): 4 teams, 30 male, 3 female, 33 total — USD 495,000
2. Annapurna I (8,091m): 4 teams, 19 male, 8 female, 27 total — USD 81,000
3. Lhotse (8,516m): 1 team, 6 male, 6 female, 12 total — USD 36,000
4. Makalu I (8,463m): 2 teams, 3 male, 2 female, 5 total — USD 12,330
5. Dhaulagiri I (8,167m): 2 teams, 9 male, 8 female, 17 total — USD 51,000
6. Ama Dablam (6,814m): 3 teams, 21 male, 13 female, 34 total — USD 34,000
7. Khangri Shar (6,811m): 1 team, 2 male, 0 female, 2 total — USD 1,000
8. Saribung (6,346m): 2 teams, 11 male, 2 female, 13 total — USD 4,550
9. Thorong Peak (6,144m): 1 team, 4 male, 0 female, 4 total — USD 1,400
10. Chulu Far East (6,038m): 2 teams, 11 male, 1 female, 12 total — USD 4,200
11. Tengkoma (6,215m): 1 team, 0 male, 3 female, 3 total — USD 1,050
12. Annapurna IV (7,525m): 1 team, 8 male, 0 female, 8 total — USD 8,000

Of the 170 total permit holders, 124 are male and 46 are female, representing climbers from across the globe.

On the mountains: Progress and delays

On Everest, route preparation is underway but facing weather-related setbacks. Icefall doctors deployed by the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee to fix ropes and ladders from Base Camp to Camp II are struggling to make progress due to strong winds and heavy snowfall. 

It has been reported that they are strugging to place ladders along icefall section due to the adverse weather condition. 

On Annapurna, the route has been opened up to Camp III.

Above Camp II on Everest, the Expedition Operators Association of Nepal (EOAN) has a dedicated 10-member rope-fixing team standing by to establish the summit route on both Everest and Lhotse. The team, announced by EOAN on March 24, is led by Mingma Tenje Sherpa and includes Pam Dorjee Sherpa, Chhomba Tenji Sherpa, Pasang Tashi Sherpa, Mingma Nurbu Sherpa, Lopsang Bhote, Furtenzi Sherpa, Guru Bhote, Mingma Dorchi Sherpa, and Pasang Tenjing Sherpa. 

Expedition operators have already established base camp and transported logistics for the season.

The season's first Everest climbing permit was issued to TAG-1 (Everest/Lhotse) Spring 2026, a 10-member international team organised by Tag Nepal Treks & Expedition Pvt. Ltd., led by American climber Michael Tyler Bennett and comprising climbers from the United States, Ireland, and Canada.

With major expeditions yet to fully mobilise and the season's peak weeks still ahead, permit numbers and royalty collections are expected to rise significantly in the coming weeks.