The economics of climbing non-Everest 8,000ers in Nepal shows that one should pay an agency around $7.5K for base services, including permit, transport to base camp and hotel in Kathmandu. Given the royalty for a permit is around $2.0K (if there are 3-5 members on the expedition) and the cost of transport is between $0.5K-$1.0K, that leaves for an agency whopping $4.5K-$5.0K on the table (7.5K minus 2.0K minus 0.5K/1.0K).
Compare that to Pakistan where an agency charges around $4.0K for a non-K2 8,000er (same permit, transport to base camp, hotel in Islamabad). Given the royalty for a permit is around $1.0K-$1.8K (if there are 3-5 members on the expedition) and the cost of transport roughly the same as in Nepal ($0.5K-$1.0K), that leaves for an agency just $1.0K-$2.5K on the table (4.0K minus 1.0K/1.8K minus 0.5K/1.0K). That is 2.5 - 4.0 times less than in Nepal...
So, my question is (a) whether it is possible to directly obtain a permit from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation under the Government of Nepal (http://www.tourism.gov.np) and (b) how complicated the process is (flying down to Kathmandu, hiring locals to apply)? Unfortunately, there are no clear application instructions on the Ministry's web site...
Not that I am greedy... I just want to spend money on where the real value is - e.g. equipment, supplies, preparation...
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FYI, latest Nepal royalties for 8,000-ers (excl.Everest):
1 member - $5.0K
2 members - $3.0K each
3 members - $2.3K each
4 members - $2.0K each
5 members - $1.7K each
6 members - $1.5K each
7 members - $1.4K each
(http://www.tourism.gov.np/menu.php?p=28&page=Mountaineering%20Royalty)
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