24 climbers obtain permit for autumn season Dhaulagiri expedition

September 23, Kathmandu: In the ongoing autumn season of 2025, 24 individuals have secured permits to climb Dhaulagiri peak in Myagdi district. Mt Dhaulagiri is the world’s seventh-highest mountain with an altitude of 8,167 meters above sea level. It is situated in Ward No. 4 of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality in Myagdi.

According to the Department of Tourism, these climbers have generated Rs 5.071 million in royalty fees. Foreign climbers targeting 8,000-meter peaks other than Everest must pay $900 per person during the autumn season, while fees for smaller peaks range from a minimum of $125 to a maximum of $400.

Recent department data shows that 374 people have obtained permits for Manaslu, the 8,163-meter peak in Gorkha. Manaslu remains the top choice among autumn climbers, with Dhaulagiri ranking second in permit numbers.

Climbers, Sherpas, guides, porters, and support staff have begun arriving at the base camp, according to Hari Prasad Tilija, a ward member of Dhaulagiri-4 who also operates a hotel at Italian Base Camp.

This season’s teams are approaching via Marpha in Mustang, passing through Yak Kharka to the base camp, as the traditional route through Mudi Bagar in Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality has deteriorated.

In the previous spring season, two teams comprising 15 climbers contributed Rs 3.691 million in revenue through permits. During the 2024 autumn season, a group of 14 male mountaineers obtained permits, but five Russians perished in an avalanche. The rapidly changing weather on Dhaulagiri poses significant challenges, making its ascent riskier and more adventurous compared to other peaks.

On May 13, 1960, Austrian Kurt Diemberger became the first to summit Dhaulagiri, accompanied by Peter Diener, Ernst Forrer, Albin Schelbert, Nima Dorje, and Nawang Dorje.