Permit rules in Nepal look confusing from the outside — TIMS cards, conservation areas, national parks, municipality fees, restricted zones. In practice, any given trek needs only two or three pieces of paper. Here is what each one is and what you actually need for the popular routes.
The building blocks
TIMS card
The Trekkers' Information Management System card registers who is on which trail, mainly for search-and-rescue. It costs around NPR 2,000 for foreign trekkers (roughly USD 15) and is issued at the Nepal Tourism Board offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara, or through a registered trekking agency. Note: in the Everest region, the local municipality fee has replaced the TIMS requirement.
National park / conservation area fees
Most trekking regions sit inside a protected area, each with its own entry fee paid once per visit:
| Area | Used for | Approx. fee (foreigners) |
|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP) | Annapurna Circuit, ABC, Poon Hill, Mardi Himal | NPR 3,000 |
| Sagarmatha National Park | Everest Base Camp, Gokyo, Three Passes | NPR 3,000 |
| Langtang National Park | Langtang Valley, Gosainkunda | NPR 3,000 |
| Manaslu Conservation Area (MCAP) | Manaslu Circuit | NPR 3,000 |
| Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park | Day hikes from Kathmandu | NPR 1,000 |
Local municipality fees
Some regions charge their own entry fee on top. The most important is the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee (about NPR 2,000–3,000) for the Everest region, paid on arrival in Lukla or at the Monjo checkpoint — you cannot buy it in Kathmandu.
Restricted area permits
A few spectacular regions — Upper Mustang, Manaslu, Nar Phu, Upper Dolpo, Kanchenjunga — require special restricted area permits that are significantly more expensive (Upper Mustang is around USD 500 for 10 days) and must be arranged through a registered agency with a guide, usually with a minimum group size of two trekkers.
What you need, route by route
- Everest Base Camp / Gokyo: Sagarmatha National Park fee + Khumbu municipality fee. Both purchasable en route. ~USD 50 total.
- Annapurna Circuit / ABC / Poon Hill / Mardi Himal: ACAP permit + TIMS card. Buy both in Kathmandu or Pokhara before starting. ~USD 40 total.
- Langtang Valley: Langtang National Park fee + TIMS. ~USD 40 total.
- Manaslu Circuit: Restricted area permit (seasonal pricing, ~USD 75–100/week) + MCAP + ACAP (you exit through Annapurna) + licensed guide. Agency required.
- Upper Mustang: USD 500/10 days restricted permit + ACAP + agency and guide.
Where and how to buy
Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu (Pradarshani Marg, near Bhrikutimandap) is the one-stop shop: TIMS and conservation area permits issued same day. The Pokhara NTB office does the same and is far less crowded — convenient if you start your trek from there.
Bring:
- Passport (original)
- 2–4 passport photos
- Cash in Nepali rupees — fees are quoted in NPR and counters do not take cards
- Your rough itinerary and insurance details for the TIMS form
If you book through a trekking agency, they handle all of this and the cost is folded into your package — just confirm the permits are included in writing.
Checkpoints on the trail
Permits are not theoretical: checkpoints at trailheads (Monjo for Everest, Besisahar and Birethanti for Annapurna, Dhunche for Langtang) record every trekker. Keep permits in a waterproof pouch at the top of your pack — you will show them several times.
Practical advice
- Buy in advance, not at the trailhead where possible — trailhead counters charge double for some permits bought on the spot.
- Photograph all documents and email yourself copies.
- Carry small bills — checkpoint offices rarely have change.
- Insurance is not a permit but treat it like one. Standard travel insurance often caps coverage at 3,000–4,000 m. For EBC or the Annapurna Circuit you need a policy explicitly covering trekking to 6,000 m, including helicopter evacuation.
For what to put in your pack once the paperwork is sorted, see the Nepal packing list, and if Everest is the goal, the full day-by-day EBC itinerary.
