Nepal is making 97 mountains free to climb for two years. The country wants tourists to go trekking in two poor and less-developed areas in the far west of Nepal. A tourism official said the peaks that will have no climbing fees are between 5,970 metres and 7,132 metres high. Nepal's tourism department told the "Kathmandu Post" about the new plan. It said the number of tourists and mountaineers in the poorer areas was low because access was difficult. It hopes more trekkers will create jobs, generate income, and strengthen the local economy.

Nepal's government also said the fee to climb Mount Everest would increase. From September, the cost of climbing the world's highest mountain will rise from $11,000 to $15,000. This is the first increase in ten years. An additional rule to climb Everest started earlier this year. Trekkers need to prove they have climbed a peak in Nepal that is over 7,000 metres high. The government hopes this will get more people to try some of the 97 free mountains. The tourism department said the remote mountains are "ideal training grounds" to reach the top of Everest.