# Travel >> Types of Travel >> Ski Trips

Shopping on Everest? No Shops, Just Survival—And a Few Surprising Exceptions

There are no shops on Mount Everest—no convenience stores, no gear shops, no cafes. The summit (8,848.86 m / 29,031.7 ft) and the climbing routes are devoid of commercial infrastructure. However, the approach and base camps have a unique, high-altitude economy.

Where You Can Buy Things (Before the Climbing Starts)

Kathmandu (Thamel), Nepal: The world's premier mountaineering bazaar. Gear rental/purchase (down suits, boots, O₂ systems), souvenirs, snacks, last-minute everything.
Lukla (2,860 m): Gateway airport. Bakeries, gear shops, pharmacies, ATMs, Wi-Fi cafes. "Last chance" for many items.
Namche Bazaar (3,440 m): Sherpa capital. Saturday market (local produce, yak cheese, gear), bakeries, pharmacies, banks, equipment rental.
Pheriche (4,371 m) / Dingboche (4,410 m): Small lodges sell snacks, batteries, medicine, limited gear.

At Base Camp (5,364 m South / 5,150 m North)

Expedition Tents: Each team has dining, kitchen, comms, medical tents. Some sell snacks/drinks to other climbers (instant coffee, chocolate, O₂ refills).
Icefall Doctors' Camp: Sells ladder-crossing permits (via SPCC), rope fixing fees.
Helicopter Resupply: Expeditions fly in fresh food, gas, O₂, gear from Kathmandu ($5,000+/flight).

On the Mountain: The "Death Zone" Economy

No fixed shops. Sherpas carry all supplies up.
High Camp "Shops": Some commercial operators cache snacks, O₂, hand warmers at Camp 2/3/4 for clients (included in $30k–$100k+ fees).
Emergency Trade: Climbers may barter O₂, dexamethasone, gloves, batteries in extremis—but no commerce.

Why No Shops?

Physics: No roads, no porters above Base Camp (only Sherpas carrying for expeditions), everything must be carried or flown.
Physiology: Above 7,500 m, human effort is near-maximal just to survive. Running a shop is impossible.
Environment: Sagarmatha National Park / Qomolangma Preserve ban permanent commercial structures.
Ethics: Everest is a wilderness, not a mall. Commercialization is already controversial.