Nepal is set to waive climbing permit fees for 97 peaks in the remote northwestern Himalayas for the next two years, in a bid to attract more mountaineers and diversify its tourism beyond the country’s most famous routes.

The selected mountains, ranging from 5,970 to 7,132 meters in height, are located in provinces bordering China. Officials hope the move will draw climbers to less-visited regions and spread tourism revenue more evenly across the country.

At the same time, Nepal will raise its climbing fees for other peaks starting in September 2025. The cost of a permit for Mount Everest will jump from $11,000 to $15,000, while climbing smaller mountains in northeastern and central Nepal will rise from $250 to $350.

Mountaineering is a major source of revenue for Nepal, home to eight of the world’s ten tallest mountains. In 2024, the country earned $5.9 million from climbing permits — more than 75% of it from Everest expeditions alone.