Everest Trek Permit: What You Need to Know Before You Go

When you plan to hike to Everest Base Camp, the starting point for climbers aiming to summit the world's highest mountain, located in Nepal’s Solu-Khumbu region, you don’t just need good boots and strong lungs—you need a Everest trek permit, a government-issued authorization required for all foreign trekkers entering the Everest region. This isn’t a suggestion. It’s the law. Without it, you won’t pass the checkpoint in Lukla, and no guide or lodge will let you continue. The permit system exists to protect the environment, manage crowd flow, and ensure your safety in one of the most remote and high-altitude zones on Earth.

There are two main permits you’ll need: the Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit, the protected area permit managed by Nepal’s National Park and Wildlife Conservation Department, and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit, a local fee introduced in 2023 to fund trail maintenance and community projects. The first costs $30 USD and covers access to the entire national park, including Everest Base Camp, Gokyo Lakes, and Kala Patthar. The second is $20 USD and applies only if you start your trek from Lukla or fly into Kathmandu and drive to Salleri. You can get both in Kathmandu at the Nepal Tourism Board office or in Monjo, just before entering the park. Skip the middlemen—going through a travel agent adds $50+ in unnecessary fees.

Many people confuse the Everest trek permit with the Climbing Permit, a separate, far more expensive authorization required only for those attempting to summit Mount Everest, not just trek to Base Camp. If you’re hiking to Base Camp and not climbing, you don’t need it. Don’t let a tour operator scare you into paying for something you don’t need. Also, remember that permits are non-transferable and tied to your passport. If you lose it, you’ll have to reapply—and you can’t reapply from within Nepal. Keep a digital copy and a printed backup.

The best time to get your permit is in Kathmandu, a few days before your flight to Lukla. Lines are shorter in the morning, and you’ll avoid the rush at the end of the season. Bring your passport, two passport photos, and cash—Nepali rupees or USD. Credit cards rarely work. Once you have it, stick it in a waterproof sleeve. You’ll show it at every checkpoint: Lukla, Namche Bazaar, Dingboche, and even at the entrance to Everest Base Camp. Rangers check it. Porters ask about it. Lodges keep a copy. It’s not bureaucracy—it’s your proof you’re allowed to be there.

And here’s something no one tells you: the permit fee supports local schools, waste collection, and trail repairs. Every dollar you pay helps keep the mountains clean and the villages alive. That’s why you’ll see signs in teahouses thanking trekkers for their permit fees. You’re not just paying to walk—you’re paying to preserve the place you’re walking through.

Below, you’ll find real stories from trekkers who made it to Base Camp, tips on avoiding permit scams, and what to pack so you don’t get turned away at the gate. No fluff. Just what you need to know before you step onto the trail.