Nepal Trekking Permits and Costs 2026: The Complete Guide

Nepal Trekking Permits and Costs 2026: The Complete Guide

Every trekker who lands in Kathmandu has the same headache before they hit the trail: which permits do I actually need, who issues them, and how much does the paperwork cost? Permit rules in Nepal change more often than people realise, and the consequences of getting it wrong are not small. The official fine for trekking without a valid permit is now NPR 12,000 per person, plus the embarrassment of being turned around at a checkpost three days into your hike. This is our up-to-date 2026 explainer of the five permit families you might encounter, with current fees, who can apply, and the regions each one covers.

Who issues what

Permits in Nepal are not handled by one office. Five separate authorities each look after their own slice of the puzzle: the Department of Immigration manages restricted area permits, Nepal Tourism Board and the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) jointly run the digital TIMS system, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation administers park entry fees, the National Trust for Nature Conservation handles conservation area permits, and increasingly local rural municipalities are adding their own community charges. Every reputable Kathmandu agency knows the dance, but it helps to understand the structure yourself.

1. E-TIMS card

The TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) card has been digital since 1 April 2023, replacing the old paper cards you used to see hanging off rucksacks. Today's E-TIMS is issued only to group trekkers who book through a government-registered Nepali agency. Free Individual Trekkers no longer qualify, which is part of Nepal's broader push to require guides on all trekking routes.

• International trekker: NPR 2,000
• SAARC nationals: NPR 1,000

E-TIMS is required on most non-restricted trekking routes including Annapurna Base Camp, Langtang Valley, Mardi Himal, Khopra Danda and the Helambu region.

2. Restricted Area Permits

Restricted Area Permits (RAPs) are the gatekeeper for Nepal's most sensitive border zones and culturally fragile valleys. Only registered trekking companies can apply, the trekker cannot walk into Immigration alone. A minimum of two trekkers per group is the historical rule, although Kanchenjunga and Tsum Valley have recently relaxed this for solo trekkers under specific conditions.

Current RAP fees by region (2026):

• Upper Mustang: USD 500 for the first 10 days, USD 50 per day beyond
• Upper Dolpo: USD 500 for the first 10 days, USD 50 per day beyond
• Lower Dolpo: USD 20 per week, USD 5 per day after one week
• Manaslu (Sept-Nov): USD 100 first week, USD 15 per extra day
• Manaslu (Dec-Aug): USD 75 first week, USD 10 per extra day
• Tsum Valley (Sept-Nov): USD 40 first week, USD 7 per extra day
• Tsum Valley (Dec-Aug): USD 30 first week, USD 7 per extra day
• Nar Phu (Sept-Nov): USD 100 per week
• Nar Phu (Dec-Aug): USD 75 per week
• Kanchenjunga: USD 20 per week for the first 4 weeks, USD 25 thereafter
• Humla / Simikot: USD 50 first week, USD 10 per day after

The paperwork your agency files on your behalf includes your passport copy, visa, day-by-day itinerary, an agency guarantee letter, business and tax registration documents, insurance proof and a bank voucher showing payment of fees. This is why restricted area trips need to be booked at least 10-14 days in advance.

3. National Park entry permits

Nepal has 12 national parks, one hunting reserve and one wildlife reserve, all of which charge entry fees administered by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. Most are issued at the Nepal Tourism Board office at Bhrikuti Mandap in Kathmandu, although you can also pay at park gates in some cases.

Standard 2026 fees for foreign trekkers run NPR 3,000 (about USD 22) per park, with SAARC nationals charged less. Common parks that show up on trekking itineraries:

• Sagarmatha National Park (Everest region)
• Langtang National Park
• Shey Phoksundo National Park (Dolpo)
• Makalu Barun National Park
• Rara National Park

4. Conservation Area Permits

Six conservation areas in Nepal are managed by the National Trust for Nature Conservation rather than the parks department. The most important ones for trekkers are:

• Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): NPR 3,000 (USD 30) foreigners, NPR 1,000 SAARC
• Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP): NPR 3,000 foreigners, NPR 1,000 SAARC
• Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project (KCAP): NPR 3,000 foreigners
• Gaurishankar Conservation Area: for Rolwaling and Lapchi treks

These are also issued at Bhrikuti Mandap. If you cross from a restricted area into ACAP (for example finishing the Manaslu Circuit at Dharapani), you need both MCAP and ACAP.

5. Local government / rural municipality fees

Since the federal restructuring of 2017, Nepal's rural municipalities have begun layering on their own entry fees. In practice today (mid-2026), three places matter most:

• Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality (Everest region): NPR 3,000 per trekker (increased from NPR 2,000 in September 2024). Collected at Lukla.
• Tsum Valley local fee: NPR 1,000
• Manaslu local fee at Jagat: NPR 1,000

Expect more municipalities to add their own charges over the coming year. Reputable agencies build these into your package price.

Permit checklist by trek

To translate the above into something useful, here is what each of our most-booked routes needs:

• Everest Base Camp: Sagarmatha NP + Khumbu Rural Municipality (no TIMS required since 2018)
• Annapurna Base Camp: ACAP + TIMS
• Ghorepani Poon Hill: ACAP + TIMS
• Annapurna Circuit: ACAP + TIMS
• Annapurna Circuit + Nar Phu: ACAP + Nar Phu RAP + TIMS
• Mardi Himal: ACAP + TIMS
• Khopra Danda: ACAP + TIMS
• Langtang Valley: Langtang NP + TIMS
• Tamang Heritage Trek: Langtang NP + TIMS
• Helambu / Gosainkunda: Langtang NP + TIMS
• Manaslu Circuit: Manaslu RAP + MCAP + ACAP + local fee
• Tsum Valley: Tsum RAP + MCAP + local fee
• Upper Mustang: Upper Mustang Special Permit + ACAP
• Upper Dolpo: Upper Dolpo RAP + Shey Phoksundo NP
• Kanchenjunga: Kanchenjunga RAP + KCAP

Documents you need to hand your agency

To process any of the above, get these ready before you fly in:

• Passport copy (valid 6+ months from entry)
• Nepal visa (or visa application confirmation)
• 4-6 passport-size photos
• Travel insurance certificate covering high-altitude trekking
• Flight tickets in and out of Nepal
• Day-by-day itinerary (your agency will draft this)

Final tips

Carry your original passport and physical copies of every permit on the trail. Photocopies are not always accepted at checkposts. Photos of permits on your phone will not save you when the village has no signal. And do not try to enter a restricted area on a normal trekking permit — the checkposts at places like Philim, Lokpa, Jomsom and Phaplu are strict and turning back is your only option.

Plan your Nepal trek with us

We handle all permits, paperwork and government fees for every trip we run, so you arrive in Kathmandu and walk straight onto the trail without queueing at Bhrikuti Mandap. Browse our Nepal trek collection or contact our team for a quote that includes every permit, fee and municipal charge upfront.