GB slashes mountaineering, trekking fees to promote tourism

GILGIT: In a move aimed at boosting adventure tourism in the region, the Gilgit-Baltistan government has announced a significant reduction in royalty fees for mountaineering and trekking expeditions for both foreign and local climbers.

According to a notification issued by the GB Department of Tourism, the revised fee structure takes effect immediately for the current fiscal year 2024-25.

The decision was ratified during the 16th cabinet meeting held on 13 May 2025, under the provisions of the GB Finance Act 2024.

For international climbers, the royalty fee to summit K2 — the world’s second-highest peak — has been reduced from $5,000 to $3,500 during the summer season, with even lower rates for autumn and winter.

Similarly, royalty fees for peaks above 7,000 metres have also been slashed by up to 50 percent depending on the season.

Pakistani mountaineers will also benefited from the revision. Local climbers seeking to summit K2 will now pay Rs00,000 in summer and just Rs30,000 in winter.

The trekking permit fee has also been reduced across all seasons.

The revised notification comes after the GB Chief Court stayed a previous government decision that had significantly increased royalty fees.

Following the stay order and a petition filed by tour operators, the court directed the government to revise the rates downward.

The new rates are expected to revive the region’s tourism industry, which had stalled due to the earlier fee hike.

The updated fee schedule has been shared with all federal and regional departments concerned, including the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination and the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation.