For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, China is reopening access to Mount Everest via Tibet for foreign mountaineers.
Many climbers prefer the route through Tibet to the summit of the world’s highest mountain, unlike the more well-known route through Nepal.
Permits for ascents will be issued by the China Tibet Mountaineering Association (CTMA). Foreigners obtaining tourist visas to China must additionally obtain a visa to Tibet, which is a semi-autonomous region. CTMA assists climbers in this process. Each year, no more than 300 permits are available for foreign climbers.
The window for Everest ascents is small—typically from late April to mid-May. The best way for foreigners to find out if the Tibetan side is open is to wait for the price list from CTMA for the season. The list provides information on costs for permits, local guides, translators, and transportation from Lhasa to the base camp.
While Nepal has the more popular route to Mount Everest, climbers are increasingly complaining about litter and erosion. Meanwhile, the Chinese route was more popular from 2000 to 2007, but the situation changed after the Beijing Olympics. Now, with foreigners regaining access to Everest via Tibet, this trend may gradually begin to change.
