For centuries Nepal was closed to outsiders. Here is how it became one of the world's great trekking destinations.
Quick answer: Nepal opened to foreign climbers around 1949–1950. Annapurna (1950) and Everest (1953) were first climbed soon after, the first trekking company was founded in 1964, and regions such as the Annapurna Circuit (1977), Manaslu (1991), Upper Mustang (1992) and Tsum (2008) opened over the following decades.
- 1949 British explorer Bill Tilman is among the first Westerners allowed to explore Nepal's mountains, including Langtang.
- 1950 On 3 June, Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal climb Annapurna, the first 8,000 m peak ever summited.
- 1953 On 29 May, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Edmund Hillary reach the summit of Everest.
- 1964 Jimmy Roberts founds Mountain Travel, often described as the first trekking company.
- 1976 Sagarmatha (Everest) and Langtang become national parks.
- 1977 The Annapurna Circuit, through Manang, opens to foreigners.
- 1986 The Annapurna Conservation Area Project begins, pioneering community-based conservation.
- 1991–1992 Manaslu (1991) and Upper Mustang (1992) open to trekkers.
- 2008 The Tsum Valley opens to trekkers.
- 2015 The Gorkha earthquake devastates parts of Nepal; trails and lodges are rebuilt.
- 2023 Licensed guides become mandatory for foreign trekkers in most areas.
- 2025 The Everest royalty rises to US$15,000 in spring.
- 2026 Solo trekkers can get restricted-area permits; Upper Mustang moves to a US$50 daily fee.
Read more: who first climbed Everest? and the 2023 guide rule.