The Gilgit-Baltistan Government has announced new fees for mountaineering and trekking permits, significantly increasing the cost for climbing K2.
According to a notification from the Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism, Sports, Culture, Archaeology, and Museum Department, the permit fees for foreign climbers to ascend K2 have been revised to $5,000 for the summer season (April-September), $2,500 for autumn (October-November), and $1,500 for winter (December-March). Pakistani climbers will now pay Rs100,000 for the summer season, Rs50,000 for autumn, and Rs30,000 for winter.
The new trekking fees for foreigners are set at $300 for the summer season, $200 for autumn, and $100 for winter.
Additionally, the notification outlines several key regulations: climbers are permitted to scale only one peak per permit, groups are restricted to a maximum of 20 members, and high-altitude porters must be insured for up to Rs2 million, while low-altitude porters will be insured for up to Rs1 million. Environmental fees are to be deposited into the GB Adventure Tourism Account, and all expedition briefings and debriefings must be conducted at the tourism offices in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Previously, during 2023 and 2024, K2 climbing permits were issued collectively to groups of seven climbers for $12,000, with each additional climber costing an extra $3,000. Starting in 2025, this collective fee structure has been abolished in favor of an individual royalty of $5,000 per climber. Consequently, a group of seven climbers who paid $12,000 this year will face a cost of $35,000 in 2025, representing an increase of nearly 200%.
These revised fees and regulations are intended to streamline mountaineering operations in the region and are effective immediately.
