Trekking in Nepal requires permits. Which permits depend on where you're going, but every trekker on every major route needs paperwork before they set foot on the trail. This guide covers everything you need to know about Nepal trekking permits — what each one costs, where to get it, what it actually controls, and the special restricted-area permits that some treks demand.
The two universal permits: TIMS and conservation area
Almost every major trek in Nepal requires two permits:
TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System). Cost: NPR 2,000 (~USD 15) for free individual trekkers (FITs), NPR 1,000 (~USD 8) for group trekkers booked through a registered trekking company. TIMS is a safety registration system. It logs your itinerary so that the Nepal Tourism Board knows where you are in case of emergency, and so that search and rescue can find you if you don't return on schedule.
Conservation area or national park permit. Cost varies by area:
- ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project): NPR 3,000 (~USD 23)
- Sagarmatha National Park (Everest region): NPR 3,000 (~USD 23)
- Langtang National Park: NPR 3,000 (~USD 23)
- Manaslu Conservation Area: NPR 3,000 (~USD 23)
These conservation fees go directly into managing the trail infrastructure, supporting local communities, and protecting wildlife habitat. The Annapurna Conservation Area in particular is one of the world's largest community-managed protected areas — almost the entire annual budget for trail maintenance, waste management, and rescue services comes from ACAP fees.
Where to get permits
Both TIMS and conservation area permits can be obtained in Kathmandu or Pokhara. In Kathmandu, the easiest location is the Nepal Tourism Board office in Bhrikuti Mandap (open Sunday to Friday, 10am to 5pm). In Pokhara, the ACAP office is in Damside.
You'll need: passport, two passport-size photos, and the cash to pay (no card payments accepted at most permit offices). Bring more passport photos than you think you need — every permit takes one, and some require two.
If you're trekking with a guide or trekking company, your operator handles the entire permit process for you. You provide your passport copy and photos, and your permits are arranged and waiting before you depart. This is one of the practical reasons many trekkers choose to go with a company even when not legally required.
Restricted area permits
Some treks require an additional Restricted Area Permit (RAP) on top of the standard permits. RAPs are designed to control visitor numbers in sensitive border regions or in areas of cultural preservation concern. They are significantly more expensive than standard permits and require additional documentation.
Upper Mustang: USD 500 per person for the first 10 days, then USD 50 per day after. You must trek with a registered guide; solo travel is forbidden. You need a group of at least two people booked through a Nepal trekking agency.
Manaslu Conservation Area: USD 100 per person per week (September to November), USD 75 per person per week (December to August). You must be in a group of at least two trekkers with a registered guide.
Upper Dolpo: USD 500 per person for the first 10 days, then USD 50 per day after. Group of at least two required.
Tsum Valley: USD 35 per person per week (September to November), USD 25 per person per week (December to August). Adjacent to Manaslu and often combined.
Nar-Phu Valley: USD 100 per person per week (September to November), USD 75 per person per week (December to August).
Kanchenjunga area: USD 20 per person per week. Often combined with Eastern Nepal expeditions.
RAPs cannot be obtained on arrival — they must be processed through a registered Nepal trekking agency, typically requiring 2–3 business days in Kathmandu before your departure to the trail. Don't expect to walk in on a Monday morning and start trekking restricted areas the same day.
The recent guide regulation (2023 onward)
As of April 2023, the Nepal government mandated that all trekkers in conservation areas must be accompanied by a registered guide. This rule applies to:
- Annapurna region (all routes)
- Everest region (all routes)
- Langtang region (all routes)
- Manaslu, Upper Mustang, Dolpo (already required)
The intent of the regulation is safety — too many solo trekkers were getting into trouble on remote trails and stretching rescue resources. Enforcement has been variable. At ACAP and Sagarmatha entry checkpoints, you will be asked to show your guide's license. At smaller checkpoints, enforcement is inconsistent. But planning to trek without a guide is no longer reliable — you can be turned back at any checkpoint.
A licensed guide typically costs USD 25–35 per day plus their meals and accommodation (which are included if you eat at the same tea house). For a 14-day trek, that's roughly USD 350–490 added to your trip cost. Most trekkers find the value clearly worth it: cultural context, safety management at altitude, language assistance with tea house staff, and route knowledge that prevents wrong turns.
How permits actually work on the trail
You'll show your permits at multiple checkpoints throughout each trek. On the Annapurna Circuit, you'll pass through ACAP and TIMS checks at Besisahar, Chame, Manang, and Muktinath. On the Everest Base Camp trek, you'll register at Lukla, Monjo (Sagarmatha National Park entry), and Namche Bazaar.
Each checkpoint stamps your permit and records your entry. If you don't exit a checkpoint by an expected date, search and rescue may be alerted. This is why TIMS is genuinely useful — it's a real safety system, not just bureaucracy.
Lose your permit and you'll have to return to Kathmandu or Pokhara to replace it. Keep it in a waterproof bag in your daypack. Keep a photo on your phone as backup. Bring photocopies in case of inspection.
What permits don't cover
Permits do not include:
- Helicopter rescue (you need travel insurance with mountain evacuation cover)
- Medical treatment
- Tea house accommodation or food
- Transport to and from the trailhead
- Guide and porter fees
- Equipment rental
Permit costs are a small fraction of total trek expenses but they are mandatory and non-refundable. Plan for them as a fixed cost of trekking in Nepal.
Final practical advice
If you're booking a trek through a registered operator, you don't need to think about permits at all — your operator handles everything. If you're planning to organise your own trek, budget two full business days in Kathmandu or Pokhara for permit processing, especially if any restricted area permits are required.
Always carry your passport with you on the trail. Permit checkpoints occasionally cross-check permit numbers against passport numbers. The hassle of getting a replacement permit when you've left your passport behind in Kathmandu is not worth saving the small weight in your daypack.
