Is It Safe to Trek Mount Everest During Nepal Protests?

(KATHMANDU) A spike in deadly unrest across Nepal has turned travel through the capital into a high-risk gamble for anyone heading to Mount Everest during the September 2025 Nepal protests. Authorities imposed curfews and tight movement controls in Kathmandu and several other cities after Gen Z-led demonstrations erupted nationwide from September 4–9 over a sweeping ban on 26 major social media platforms and corruption claims.

At least 19 people have been killed and 347 injured in violent clashes near government buildings, political party offices, and the homes of senior officials. The Everest region itself has seen no direct violence, but the disruption in the capital—where international travelers must arrive and depart—has become the biggest obstacle to any climb or trek.

Current ground situation

Tribhuvan International Airport remains open under heightened security, though travelers report added checks, longer queues, and the risk of sudden slowdowns if confrontations spill toward transport hubs. Some politicians were flown out from the airport at the height of the turmoil, underscoring the volatility around transit.

Tour operators say the social media blackout has upended their main tools for messaging clients, leaving many climbers and trekkers without quick, reliable updates when plans change on short notice. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the communications gap has pushed some expedition teams to rely on satellite messengers and email relays, which can slow decision-making during fast-moving situations.

Officials have deployed police and army units across Kathmandu, Pokhara, Rupandehi, and other urban centers. Curfews roll forward day by day, and residents face checkpoints along key routes. Hospitals in the capital are stretched by protest-related casualties, which could affect access to non-urgent care.

For incoming visitors, the practical risk is greatest in the first and last miles of the journey:

• Airport transfers
• Hotel moves
• The drive to domestic terminals
• City crossings to reach bus parks or regional airports (e.g., to Lukla)

Travel planners emphasize one point: while it is still possible to reach Everest, every step now carries more uncertainty. If you do not need to travel immediately, experts recommend delaying.

If you are already in Nepal:

• Keep time in the capital to an absolute minimum.
• Comply with curfews.
• Carry your passport and permits.
• Avoid known protest areas, government buildings, and party offices.

Many neighborhoods look calm during daylight, but flashpoints can appear with little warning. Hotel staff and registered trekking agencies remain the best first line for neighborhood-level updates when official channels are slow.

Important: If you can postpone travel, do so. Those who proceed should prepare for unpredictable delays and limited communications.

Security Conditions and Travel Logistics

• Urban risk: The primary safety threat is in cities, not on the trails. Protest routes change quickly, and large groups may form without notice. Keep movements simple and avoid photo-taking near security forces.
• Airport operations: The airport is open but under tight screening. Build extra time for security checks and traffic stoppages. If your domestic transfer to Lukla is delayed, consider pushing back your international departure to avoid missed flights.
• Communications: Major social media and messaging apps are blocked. Many guides use workarounds to reach clients, but expect delays in updates and slower coordination if weather or security changes force schedule shifts.
• Medical access: With hospitals in Kathmandu overwhelmed, pack a better-than-usual medical kit and confirm your travel insurance covers both political unrest and mountain evacuation. Keep emergency contacts printed and saved offline.
• Embassy registration: If you hold a passport from the United States 🇺🇸 or another country with a mission in Kathmandu, enroll in your embassy’s traveler program to receive alerts. Keep your phone charged and set to receive SMS if Wi‑Fi cuts out.

Expedition planning and team strategies

Expedition managers recommend splitting teams between those who can enter and stage quickly through the capital and those who prefer to wait for a more stable window. Some agencies are staggering arrivals to avoid crowding domestic terminals, which become pinch points when curfews tighten or roadblocks go up.

Because the unrest has limited routine government work in some offices, climbers should:

1. Confirm permit pick-up, briefing sessions, and required registrations are still running on expected timelines through their registered Nepali agency.
2. Stagger arrivals to minimize exposure to checkpoints and crowding.
3. Build flexibility into itineraries and allow buffer days at both ends of the trip.

The Everest region remains calm, and local communities want the autumn season to proceed safely. But the chain that connects Kathmandu to the Khumbu is only as strong as its weakest link. Weather disruptions at Lukla—never rare—can compound protest-related delays, producing rolling setbacks. Travelers who accept these risks should pack extra patience and keep flexible change fees in mind for flights and hotels.

Some teams have added an extra buffer day on both ends of the journey to absorb security or transport surprises without losing crucial acclimatization time.

Everest permit rules (effective 2025)

Separate from the protests, a new set of climbing rules is now in effect for 2025. These were designed months before the current unrest and are being enforced this autumn.

• Permit fee for foreigners: $15,000 (effective September 2025)
• Experience rule: prior ascent of a 7,000‑meter peak
• No solo climbs; every two climbers must hire a Nepali guide
• Permit validity: 55 days per season
• Mandatory GPS tracking devices for all climbers
• Death repatriation insurance: minimum NPR 5 million
• Environmental deposit: $4,000, refundable only if teams show proper waste removal
• Puja ceremony required before the ascent

In spring 2025, authorities issued 427 Everest permits, and demand may rise slightly as China’s northern route remains restricted, pushing more climbers to Nepal’s side. The new experience requirement aims to cut preventable accidents by filtering for climbers with prior high-altitude exposure. Agencies report that teams are compiling more detailed resumes and medical certificates to show readiness.

While many safety experts welcome the rules, the higher price and stricter checks could close the door for some independent or lower‑budget climbers. The required guide ratio and gear standards raise operating costs, while the deposit and insurance create higher upfront payments.

Teams should:

• Budget early for the higher permit and deposit costs
• Secure proof of a successful 7,000‑meter climb
• Confirm the process and timelines with their Nepali partner
• Ensure all expeditions are organized through registered local agencies

For official details on permits, fees, and expedition compliance, the Nepal Department of Tourism provides core guidance and contacts for registered agencies. Travelers can review the department’s information and verify rules directly on the government’s site: Nepal Department of Tourism.

Practical on-the-ground advice

Back on the ground in Kathmandu, the permits alone will not carry you to the mountain. With movement restrictions active, climbers should treat each transfer like a mission plan:

• Check route conditions with your agency the night before.
• Confirm driver availability.
• Keep a low profile near any public gathering.

If a roadblock forms, do not argue with officers; reroute or wait it out. Some travelers reported leaving for the airport before sun-up helped avoid crowds, though this only works if curfew rules allow.

The social media blackout has been especially hard on families tracking loved ones in the Khumbu. Guides are leaning on satellite beacons and email updates to close the gap. If you’re heading to Everest:

• Leave a clear update schedule with your emergency contact: what tool you’ll use, when you’ll check in, and who to call if a check-in is missed by more than 24 hours.
• Keep printed copies of your passport, permits, insurance, and emergency plan in separate bags.
• Bring printed maps and hard copies of key contacts.

From a policy view, Nepal’s challenge is to hold a safe climbing season while managing city unrest. Human rights groups have criticized heavy‑handed tactics in certain areas and called for restraint, while UN officials urge all sides to reduce tensions. For now, protests continue with no firm end date. If leaders extend curfews or expand restrictions, further strain on tourism is likely. The tourism industry is already hit hard by the social media ban, which cut off key channels for sales, customer support, and urgent logistics.

Advice for different traveler types

• Budget trekkers:
  • Trail conditions look normal; lodges are open; local guides want to work.
  • Consider whether the cost of a missed connection or blocked road outweighs continuing.
  • If proceeding: pack extra medication, bring printed maps, and plan for longer layovers.
  • If waiting: ask your agency about rebooking policies and deposit handling under civil unrest.
• Climbers with scheduled expeditions:
  • Confirm permits and logistics with your registered Nepali agency.
  • Expect more paperwork (resumes, medical certificates) to meet the new experience rule.
  • Keep flexible booking and buffer days to preserve acclimatization time.
• Families and supporters tracking teams:
  • Expect slower updates due to the social media blackout.
  • Rely on agency-confirmed check-in schedules and satellite beacons where available.

Final takeaways

Despite the turmoil, a fair number of climbers and trekkers remain determined to reach Sagarmatha. They accept the added friction in Kathmandu as the price of a season that, on the mountain itself, still promises clear skies and cold mornings.

Core advice for anyone traveling now:

• Move quietly in the city.
• Keep backup plans and extra buffer days.
• Listen to your guide and follow curfews and local instructions.
• Treat each transfer as a mission plan and keep emergency information printed and duplicated.

In a season when Kathmandu sets the tone, patience is the most useful piece of gear in your pack.