How Much Does It Cost To Climb Mount Everest

However in 2020 because of the pandemic, mountaineering was shut down worldwide. There they sit as a warning to others of the perils of taking on the mountain, with other adventurers even giving them nicknames. See Climbing Kilimanjaro gear list for everything you’ll need to bring with you. Chances are, you’ve got some items in your closet already, but if you’ve never been hiking before you’ll be starting from the beginning.

All our guides carry extensive medical kits including Diamox, Dexamethasone, Nifedipine and Sildenafil for altitude illness. Generally, there is no need to take prophylactic altitude medication before or during your expedition but if you have a previous history of altitude illness, then please discuss this with us and your physician. On a trip as long as this, we request that you arrive in Kathmandu on the assigned date to assure your baggage makes it on time and you have time to recover from jet lag before trekking. It is hard to catch the group if you are arriving late and still waiting for lost baggage!

The Cost Of Climbing Everest

The western guided expeditions are ‘full service’ trips and are most appropriate for first-time Everest climbers or anyone looking for a bit more support. The fee includes all the services of a Sherpa-guided climb plus sharing one or more western guides. If you want a personal western guide, expect to pay $120K or more, plus tips and bonuses adding up close to $175K. For starters, the price can vary because of how much Sherpa support hikers plan on using.

Generally, we ask you to wait until 90 days prior to your trip start date to ensure your trip has met the minimum numbers and will operate. If you see a good deal and want to book your flights, then please ensure that you can make changes to your tickets or you run the risk of losing your ticket if we do have to cancel the trip. In such situations, we are usually able to help you book on to an alternate departure, either with us or another operator. You will have your own tent in Base Camp, similar to the one pictured, but on the mountain, you will be sharing a tent with others.

Sherpas: $5,000 Each

There’s never a language barrier and the guide makes all the decisions on emergencies, turnaround times and weather. Since this is a high end expedition, you will enjoy great food and open bars. International Mountain Guide’s is a Sherpa guided hike that usually has skilled Sherpa steer climbers through the route. Often, they depend on a Sirdar to make the final decisions such as when to go towards the summit or when to turn-back. At the lower end, you can pay as little as $30,000 (approx. £21,000) for a no frills, , local company with local, non-English speaking guides. These should not be dismissed as genuine options, as their guides have probably climbed the mountain more than anyone else.

Unless clients do not ask for some add-on services, they are reluctant to offer it upfront. While this may be a widespread scenario, some companies offer relatively all-inclusive-land-only packages ranging from US$1800 to US$2200 per person. It is important to remember that buying trekking or climbing expedition packages is not a joke, and it requires a lot of attention against a number of risks involved. You need to consider whether the company is highly experienced and has proficient team members or not.

A record 381 people were granted permits to climb Mount Everest in 2019, according to The Washington Post, and the number of guides can easily double the number of people on the mountain. His breakdown is much more detailed and intricate than what I’m providing here, with plenty of good advice and insight into what you do and don’t need for an expedition to the Himalayas. That wisdom has been gained over the years of his own climbing expeditions in a wide variety of locations across the globe, including successful summits on both Everest and K2. The minimalist option would suit high-altitude mountaineers who possess extensive experience above 8,000m, and are used to solo-climbing, expedition planning, and operating in the area known as the death-zone. This is a huge logistical task, accomplished with mystifying ease by your local team, but it costs thousands.

That, along with improved weather forecasting, extra supplemental oxygen, and generous Sherpa support, has made Everest one of the safest 8000-meter mountains and the most summited 8000er by a considerable margin. The rationale is that by minimizing your time on the mountain, you conserve energy and risk to illness. By using an altitude tent 30 days before leaving home, you arrive at base camp acclimatized to 17,000-feet. Thus you eliminate one or more acclimatization rotations thus increasing your chances of summiting. And of course, you can hurry back home and get back to work as soon as possible.

There are a number of reasons why prices change from one year to the next when climbing Mount Everest. According to pricing data from ExpedOverview, the average price of an expedition to Mount Everest in 2022 is $54,972 and the median price is $46,995. But no matter the results, the experience is what you take away – not the summit.Research, train, prepare and climb with confidence. Unfortunately, getting sponsored by a large outdoor gear company is extremely difficult. People have more success with large corporations like insurance or banks. There are ways to obtain a sponsor, but it takes years of work, a solid plan, proven experience, and often comes down to who you know and a lot of luck.

At the high end, profit, overhead, and the number of western guides drive up the price. The lower cost outfits promote a low price but charge for other not-so-optional “options” such as oxygen, Sherpa support, and food above base camp. A further option is to hire a personal Sherpa for an additional $5,000 to $10,000, (plus 5% to 20% for tips and bonuses). These Sherpas have significant experience and training in dealing one-to-one with western climbers, and their English skills are usually excellent. While they will not carry all your gear, they may offload some of your items on occasion.

Many of our trips are very similar in price to our competitors. Some companies even wait for us to set our prices and use ours as a guideline! You do get what you pay for which is why we stand out from the rest. Many clients come to us after failing on one of our competitors ‘less expensive’ trips. The other most important expenses the mountain climbers need to make include for bottled oxygen which cost about $550 per bottle. They need to even pay $500 each for the regulator and the oxygen mask.

In addition to evacuation and medical insurance, we recommend that our expedition members buy trip cancellation insurance upon sign up for the expedition. This is one of the best parts of the start of the expedition, having family and friends trek to Base Camp to see you off on your journey. Base Camp for non-climbers is not a very hospitable place, but we strive to make your guests comfortable and welcome. Guests for the duration of the expedition are allowed on a case by case basis. The weight of your pack will usually not exceed 5-7kg/10-15lb.

In 2017 a climber illegally made the traverse and was deported and banned for five years. With all the previous costs broken out, it can be overwhelming. But, don’t despair; you can join a fully supported or guided team that takes care of everything. Once in Kathmandu, it would be best if you flew to Lukla, Namche, or Lhasa to start the journey to base camp, so add a few hundred dollars for this airfare. But, of course, you can take a bus to Jiri and trek five days to Luka and then on to EBC to save a little money. I know a few individuals climbed on the cheap in years past, but few, if any, in the last five years.

High royalty fees by the Nepalese Government have created a large disparity between the costs of Everest expeditions from Nepal and Tibet. The second trip on to the mountain will involve climbing to Camp 3 for acclimatisation before returning to base camp for a rest period. In a perfect scenario, weather and health would remain constant, and these two trips up the mountain would take around 3 weeks. In reality, factors such as weather can add several days to the acclimatization process.