Nepal Trekking Permits Guide 2026: TIMS, National Parks, Restricted Areas, and Costs

Overview of Nepal Trekking Permit Regulations in 2026

Trekking in Nepal requires the correct combination of national park or conservation area entry permits, local government fees, and - outside the Everest region - a TIMS card. Since 2023, foreign trekkers must also book a licensed guide through a government-registered agency for national parks, conservation areas, and restricted areas. Permit revenue funds trail maintenance, local community infrastructure, waste management, and search-and-rescue coordination.

Carrying invalid, expired, or missing permits can result in hefty on-trail fines (typically 100% surcharge at military and police checkpoints) or being forced to turn back. Here is the complete breakdown of permits, fees, required paperwork, and application processes for 2026.

Major Open Route Permits (Everest, Annapurna, Langtang)

**1. Everest (Khumbu) Region:**

• **Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit:** NPR 3,000 (~$23 USD) for foreign nationals; NPR 1,500 for SAARC citizens; NPR 25 for Nepali citizens. Fees include tax. Obtainable at the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) in Kathmandu or directly at the Monjo checkpoint on trail.

• **Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entry Fee:** NPR 2,000-3,000 (~$15-23 USD) for foreign nationals, collected at Lukla or the Monjo checkpoint. This local fee replaced the TIMS card in the Khumbu region - **no TIMS card is issued or required for Everest treks**. Trekkers now receive a digital trek card with a QR code scanned at checkpoints.

**2. Annapurna Region (ABC, Circuit, Mardi Himal, Poon Hill):**

• **Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP):** NPR 3,000 (~$23 USD) for foreigners; NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, tax included. Obtain in Kathmandu (NTB) or Pokhara (ACAP office at Damside), or apply online (a 2.9% payment gateway charge applies). Children under 10 are exempt.

• **TIMS Card:** NPR 2,000 (~$15 USD). Only the group/guided (blue) TIMS is issued - the independent/solo (green) TIMS was discontinued when the mandatory guide rule took effect, so the card is arranged through your registered trekking agency.

**3. Langtang & Gosaikunda Region:**

• **Langtang National Park Permit:** NPR 3,000 + VAT (~$25 USD), purchased in Kathmandu or at Dhunche checkpoint.

• **TIMS Card:** NPR 2,000 (~$15 USD), issued through your registered trekking agency.

Restricted Area Permits (RAP): Rules, Guides & Quotas

Certain Himalayan valleys border Tibet or contain fragile indigenous cultures and are classified as **Restricted Areas**. To trek in these regions, Nepal immigration regulations mandate:

1. A registered trekking agency must apply for your permit on your behalf.

2. A certified licensed Nepali trekking guide is strictly mandatory.

3. Since 22 March 2026 a solo foreign trekker can be issued a Restricted Area Permit; the previous two-trekker minimum no longer applies. The licensed-guide requirement is unchanged.

• **Manaslu Circuit Trek:** Autumn (Sept-Nov) USD 100 for the first 7 days + USD 15 per day thereafter. Winter/Spring (Dec-Aug) USD 75 for the first 7 days + USD 10 per day thereafter. Also requires MCAP (NPR 3,000) and ACAP (NPR 3,000) for the Annapurna-side exit.

• **Upper Mustang:** USD 50 per person per day. Nepal replaced the old flat $500-for-10-days structure with pay-as-you-go pricing, so a 10-day trek still works out to ~$500 but shorter itineraries are no longer forced to pay the full amount. ACAP (NPR 3,000) is also required.

• **Upper Dolpo:** USD 50 per person per day under the rules passed 22 March 2026, replacing the previous $500 / 10-day flat fee. Shey Phoksundo National Park entry (NPR 3,000) is also required.

• **Tsum Valley:** USD 40 per week (Sept-Nov) or USD 30 per week (Dec-Aug), plus USD 7 per additional day. MCAP (NPR 3,000) is also required.

What Documents Do You Need to Apply?

When applying for trekking permits at the Nepal Tourism Board or through an agency, bring the following:

• Original passport valid for at least 6 months, plus 2 clear photocopies of your passport bio page and current Nepal visa stamp.

• 4 to 6 printed passport-sized photographs on white background (photos can also be taken for NPR 50 - 100 nearby).

• Detailed trekking itinerary with anticipated entry and exit dates and checkpoints.

• Emergency contact details and travel insurance policy numbers covering emergency helicopter evacuation up to 6,000 meters.

• Payment in cash (Nepali Rupees preferred at NTB counters; credit card terminals occasionally experience network timeouts).

Calculate Your Complete Trip Budget

Permits represent only one part of your overall Himalayan expedition logistics. For a transparent breakdown of daily teahouse lodging, dal bhat meals, guide and porter wages, and transportation costs across all 33 Nepal routes, explore our free interactive Nepal Trek Cost Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions