Nepal Trekking Permits — What You Need for Each Route
Every major trek needs permits — and checkpoints check them. Getting turned back at a checkpoint because you "forgot" a TIMS card wastes a day and costs transport. This table tells you exactly what you need for your route, how much it costs, and where to get it.
| Permit | Cost | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIMS Card (Trekkers' Information Management System) Most popular routes: EBC, Annapurna Circuit, Langtang, ABC — not needed for restricted areas | NPR 2,000 (~$15) | Nepal Tourism Board office, Thamel or Pokhara | Requires 2 passport photos + itinerary. Agencies handle this; solo trekkers must visit the office. |
| ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) All Annapurna-region treks: Circuit, Base Camp, Poon Hill, Jomsom, Nar-Phu | NPR 3,000 (~$22) | NTB office or ACAP entry checkpoints | Checks at Besisahar and other entry points. Keep it accessible — you'll show it multiple times. |
| Sagarmatha National Park Permit All Everest-region treks: EBC, Gokyo, Three Passes, Everest View | NPR 3,000 (~$22) | NTB office or Monjo checkpoint | Issued at Monjo checkpoint on the Lukla–Namche trail — pay cash. |
| Langtang National Park Permit Langtang Valley, Gosainkunda, Helambu | NPR 3,000 (~$22) | NTB office or park entry checkpoint | Checked at Syabrubesi entry — carry it with you, not in your pack. |
| Restricted Area Permits Upper Mustang ($500/10 days), Upper Dolpo, Manaslu, Nar-Phu, Kanchenjunga, Tsum Valley | USD $50–$500 depending on area | Only through registered trekking agencies — no DIY | Requires a licensed guide + minimum 2 trekkers for most restricted areas. Agency handles everything. |
What to Bring to the Permit Office
- Passport (original, not copy)
- 2 passport photos (get them in Thamel for ~NPR 200)
- Your trek itinerary — approximate route and dates
- Cash (NPR) — card payments aren't accepted at permit offices
- Your insurance policy number (some forms ask for it)
The Paper Trail
Nepal trekking requires permits — the TIMS card tracking trekkers, the conservation area permits funding the parks, and the restricted area permits controlling access to sensitive regions. The bureaucracy is real but manageable; the cost is a fraction of the trek; the enforcement is checkpoint-based and absolute. No permits, no trail.
Permit requirements by route
- EBC, Annapurna, Langtang: TIMS + conservation area permit
- Manaslu, Upper Mustang, Dolpo: restricted area permit + guide required
- Kanchenjunga: restricted permit + minimum group size
- All routes: passport photos, passport copy, fee payment
- Process: Kathmandu tourism office or trekking agency handles it
The Restricted Area Reality
The restricted areas exist for a reason — border proximity, cultural preservation, environmental protection. The permits are expensive ($100–500+), require licensed guides, and are not negotiable. The trekker who wants Upper Mustang pays for the privilege; the one who enters without permits is removed. The guide requirement is not bureaucracy — it is the enforcement mechanism that makes the restriction real.
The Permit Categories
TIMS card (the trekkers' information management), the conservation area permits (ACAP for Annapurna, MCAP for Manaslu, the national park entry fees), and the restricted-area permits (the Upper Mustang, Dolpo, Nar-Phu, Kanchenjunga — the special permits that require the registered guide and are more expensive).
The Acquisition
Permits are obtained in Kathmandu (the Tourism Board office or the agency-arranged) or at the trail checkpoints. The registered guide typically arranges them (the tour operator or the independent guide). For the independent trekker, the permits are the process to arrange before starting — the checkpoints on the trail verify them.
The Checkpoint Reality
The permit checkpoints on the trail — the TIMS checkposts, the conservation area entry posts — verify the documentation. For the trek without the permits, the checkpoint turns you back or fines you. The permits that are obtained before the trek are the requirement.
The Cost Summary
Permit costs (approximate): TIMS ~$20, ACAP ~$30, restricted-area permits $100+/week. For the budget planning, the permit costs that add up on the trek.
The TIMS Card
TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System) — the card that is required for the popular routes. The TIMS that is purchased in Kathmandu or through the trekking agency. For the Everest, the TIMS that is required.
The National Park Fees
The national park permits: the Sagarmatha (Everest), the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP), the Langtang National Park fees that are additional to the TIMS. For the trek that enters the parks, the fees that are paid.
The Types
Nepal trekking permits: the TIMS (the trekker card for the popular routes), the ACAP (the conservation area for the Annapurna), the MCAP (the Manaslu), the National Park permits, and the restricted-area permits (the Upper Mustang, the Nar-Phu, the Tsum).
The Guide Requirement
Since 2023, the guide is mandatory for the popular routes — the regulation that requires the licensed guide for the Annapurna, the Everest, and the Langtang regions. For the trek, the guide that is arranged.
The TIMS
TIMS card — the trekker information management that is required for the independent trekker (the not the guided who uses the different permit). For the trek, the TIMS that is carried.
The Conservation
Conservation area permit — the ACAP (the Annapurna), the MCAP (the Manaslu), or the other that covers the region. For the trek in the conservation area, the permit.
The TIMS Cost
TIMS card cost — the ~$20 for the independent trekker (the group that is the less). For the trek, the TIMS that is the fixed cost.
The Conservation Fee
Conservation area fee — the ACAP ~$30, the MCAP ~$30, the national park that varies. For the permit budget, the combined that is calculated.
The Checkpoint Cost
Permit checkpoint — the fine or the turned-back (the unpermitted that pays more than the permit). For the route, the carried that prevents the problem.
The TIMS Value
TIMS card ~$20 — the registered (the SAR database that may matter). For the trekker, the logged that is the safety record.
The Permit Cash
Permit payment — the NPR cash at the office (the TAAN/park counter that is the channel). For the trek, the carried that is the practical.
The Agent Option
Permit via agency — the ~$5-15 fee (the queued-for that is the convenience). For the time-short, the arranged that is the service.
What permits do I need for Nepal trekking?
TIMS card (Trekkers Information Management System) for most routes plus conservation area or national park permits depending on the region. Restricted areas (Manaslu, Upper Mustang, Dolpo, Kanchenjunga) require additional special permits. The permits are separate from your visa — the visa enters Nepal; the permits enter the trail.
How much do permits cost?
TIMS: ~NPR 2,000 ($15). Conservation area permits: NPR 3,000 ($23) for ACAP (Annapurna), similar for others. Restricted area permits are expensive: Manaslu ~$100/week, Upper Mustang $500/10 days minimum. Budget $50–100+ for permit costs depending on the route.
Where do I get permits?
TIMS and conservation permits: Nepal Tourism Board offices in Kathmandu or Pokhara, or through trekking agencies (they handle it as part of booking). Restricted area permits require a registered agency — you cannot trek restricted regions without a licensed guide. Bring passport photos and copies.
Do I need a guide for permits?
For restricted areas — yes, a licensed guide is required for Manaslu, Upper Mustang, Dolpo, Kanchenjunga, and other restricted zones. For standard routes (EBC, Annapurna Circuit, Langtang), guides are not required by permit rules but are recommended. The permit for a restricted area is tied to the guide requirement.
What happens without permits?
Checkpoints on the trails check permits — no permit means you cannot proceed or are turned back. Fines apply for trekking without permits. The checkpoints exist on every major route; evasion is not possible. The permit is not optional paperwork — it is the legal entry requirement.
