Island Peak NMA Permit Current Fees and How to Apply

Quick Answer: Island Peak NMA Permit Cost 2025–26
Spring (Mar–May 2026): USD 350 per climber for groups of 1–4.
Autumn (Sep–Nov 2026): USD 350 per climber for groups of 1–4.
Winter (Dec–Feb): USD 200 per climber for groups of 1–4.
Extra climbers beyond 4 in a group: USD 40 per additional climber.
Autumn rate was USD 175 before September 2025 — NMA revised it upward. Many blogs still show the old rate.
Permit issued by NMA (Nepal Mountaineering Association), Naxal, Kathmandu.

OUTDATED INFO: Most Island Peak permit guides online — including recently updated ones — still quote USD 175 for autumn permits. That rate changed in September 2025. Booking or budgeting on the old rate will leave you short on the day.

The NMA revised Island Peak's autumn permit fee in September 2025, bringing it in line with the spring rate. Before that, autumn was half price — a genuine saving that made October the most financially attractive month for this climb. That advantage is gone now. Spring and autumn cost exactly the same, and any operator or blog still quoting USD 175 for autumn is working from outdated information.

This guide covers the current fee structure, how the group pricing works, what else you need beyond the NMA permit, and the exact process of getting it arranged before you fly to Lukla.

Island Peak Permit Fees — Current Rates (September 2025 Onwards)

NOTE: Group pricing works on the first 4 climbers paying the standard rate. Each additional climber beyond 4 pays USD 40 — not the full USD 350. For a group of 8, that's 4 × USD 350 + 4 × USD 40 = USD 1,560 total, or USD 195 per person.

What Changed in September 2025 — And Why It Matters for Budgeting

Before September 2025, Island Peak's NMA permit had a two-tier seasonal structure — USD 350 in spring, USD 175 in autumn. That gap existed for years and made autumn the obvious choice for budget-conscious Indian climbers who could align leave with October or November.

NMA's September 2025 revision eliminated that difference. The reasoning hasn't been officially published in detail, but the pattern matches what NMA has done with other trekking peaks — equalising spring and autumn rates as both seasons are now similarly in demand.

What this doesn't change: autumn still has better weather stability, firmer summit snow, and aligns with Indian Diwali leave. The permit rate no longer rewards October financially, but the practical climbing case for that window remains strong.

Other Island Peak Permits — Full Checklist

NMA's climbing permit is the big-ticket item but not the only document you need. Three additional permits apply to the Island Peak route specifically:

NOTE: As an Indian passport holder, the SAARC discount applies to the Sagarmatha National Park entry fee — NPR 1,500 instead of NPR 3,000. It does NOT apply to the NMA climbing permit. On the permit that costs the most (NMA), everyone pays the same rate regardless of nationality.

(Nepal Trekking Permit Guide) general Nepal trekking permit process for Indian trekkers

Where and How to Get the Island Peak NMA Permit

Through Your Operator (Recommended)

Most climbers going with a licensed operator — which is effectively mandatory since Nepal introduced the guided climbing requirement — never handle the NMA permit personally. Your operator applies for it at the NMA office in Naxal, Kathmandu, on your behalf using your passport details and expedition dates. The permit is issued to the expedition group, not to individual climbers independently.

What you need to provide your operator for the permit application: full name as on passport, passport number, nationality, expedition dates, peak name. Simple, but do it as early as possible — NMA processes permits faster when applied for 4 to 6 weeks before the expedition start.

Walk-In at NMA Office (If Booking Independently)

If you're organising the expedition yourself rather than through an operator, the NMA office is in Naxal, Kathmandu — roughly a 20-minute taxi from Thamel. Office hours follow standard Nepal government timing: Sunday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Bring your original passport, two passport photographs, and the permit fee in US dollars or Nepali Rupees at the current exchange rate.

Walk-in applications for peak season months (October, April) can take 2 to 3 working days to process. Do not arrive in Kathmandu expecting a same-day permit before a Lukla flight the next morning — this is a real mistake people make.

Island Peak Permit Cost — Total for Indian Climbers in INR

Adding up every permit an Indian climber actually needs:

The garbage deposit is refunded when your team returns to Kathmandu and the waste you carried out is verified — it's not a cost, just a cash hold. Factor it into the money you carry but not your actual budget.

Common Mistakes on the Island Peak Permit

•   Budgeting on old autumn rate (USD 175) — that rate no longer exists from September 2025 onward. Any quote or guide citing this is outdated.

•    Assuming SAARC discount applies to NMA permit — it doesn't. SAARC discount applies only to Sagarmatha National Park entry. The NMA rate is the same for all nationalities.

•    Waiting to apply in Kathmandu — for October expeditions especially, apply through your operator 4 to 6 weeks before departure. Last-minute processing delays in peak season are real.

•    Not confirming garbage deposit refund process with operator — some operators handle the refund differently. Clarify before you leave Kathmandu whether the deposit goes back to you directly or is absorbed into their accounting.

•     Mixing up Island Peak permit with Everest permit — Island Peak is a trekking peak permitted through NMA. Everest requires a separate high-altitude royalty permit issued by the Department of Tourism. Different authority, different process, different cost entirely.

Conclusion

Island Peak's NMA permit now costs USD 350 per climber for both spring and autumn — the old autumn discount of USD 175 ended in September 2025. Factor ₹29,750 per person into your expedition budget for the permit alone, plus roughly ₹2,200 for the two additional permits required on the route. Most operators include all three in their package price, but confirm this specifically before booking.

For the full expedition cost in INR beyond just permits — flights, operator package, gear, and trail expenses — our complete Island Peak cost guide covers every line item.