Trekking Permits in Nepal 2026: TIMS, ACAP, Everest Guide

Nepal's trekking permits look intimidating from the outside — different cards for different regions, prices that change in different years, an extra fee per zone — but the system is actually simple once you see the structure. For 2026 there is also one significant rule change you need to know about before you finalise your itinerary: most trails now require a registered guide.

This is the plain-English guide. What each permit is, who needs it, what it costs, where to apply, what's changed in 2026, and how to do all of it from a single morning in central Kathmandu.

The three "everyone" permits

For 99% of trekkers heading to Annapurna, Everest, Langtang or Manaslu, you'll deal with these three permit families:

• TIMS card — the universal trekker registration card
• Conservation Area Entry Permit (ACAP for Annapurna, Manaslu Conservation Area for Manaslu, Langtang National Park, Sagarmatha National Park for Everest, etc.) — pays for the trail and protected-area upkeep
• Restricted Area Permit (RAP) — only required for restricted regions like Upper Mustang, Dolpo and the Tsum Valley

You always need a TIMS card. You always need the area permit for the specific area you're trekking. You only need a Restricted Area Permit for specific border-adjacent regions.

TIMS card — the universal registration

TIMS stands for Trekkers' Information Management System. It is a small laminated card that registers you with the Nepal Tourism Board and with the Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) for safety tracking — if you don't come out of the trail when expected, your card record helps rescue operations locate you.

Who needs it: every trekker in every National Park, Conservation Area or restricted region. There is effectively no popular trail in Nepal where you don't need a TIMS card.

Cost in 2026: NPR 2,000 (~USD 15) per person for individual trekkers. SAARC nationals pay roughly half.

Where to apply:

• Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) office at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu — the central location, walking distance from Thamel and our Putalisadak apartments.
• TAAN office in Maligaon, Kathmandu — alternative.
• TAAN office in Pokhara — if you're starting the trek from Pokhara directly.

What to bring:

• Original passport (and a photocopy)
• Two passport-sized photos
• Trekking insurance certificate (helicopter evacuation cover up to 6,000m is mandatory — see below)
• Cash for the fee (NPR or USD accepted at the desks; bank transfer not accepted)
• A printed itinerary covering trail dates and trekking agency details

Tip: most agencies will run TIMS for you for a small fee (NPR 500–1,000). If you're already paying for a guide and a permit package, let them do this — it saves you an hour each at NTB.

ACAP — the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit

The Annapurna region is the most popular trekking destination in Nepal — the Annapurna Circuit, the Annapurna Base Camp trek, Poon Hill, the Mardi Himal trek, Khopra Ridge, the Nar Phu Valley all sit inside the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA).

Cost in 2026: NPR 3,000 (~USD 22) per person for foreign trekkers. SAARC nationals pay NPR 200.

Where to apply: Nepal Tourism Board office at Bhrikutimandap, or the ACAP counter in Pokhara if you're starting from there.

One per trek: the ACAP card is valid for one trek window, single entry. If you exit the area and want to re-enter later, you need a new permit.

Sagarmatha National Park (Everest region)

If your itinerary includes Everest Base Camp, the Three Passes, Gokyo, Pikey Peak or any of the popular Khumbu region trails, you need a Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit.

Cost in 2026: NPR 3,000 (~USD 22) per person. Get this in Kathmandu BEFORE flying to Lukla — there is also an Entry Counter on arrival at Lukla, but the Kathmandu queue is shorter and the price is the same.

Local levy: in addition to the National Park permit, the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality charges its own entry levy of NPR 2,000 per person, paid at Lukla on arrival.

Where to apply (Kathmandu): Nepal Tourism Board at Bhrikutimandap.

Langtang National Park

The Langtang Valley, Helambu and Gosainkunda treks sit inside Langtang National Park — closer to Kathmandu than Everest or Annapurna and a great option if you have only 7-10 days.

Cost in 2026: NPR 3,000 (~USD 22) per person.

Where to apply: Nepal Tourism Board at Bhrikutimandap.

Manaslu — restricted region

The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a restricted region — meaning you need additional permits beyond the standard TIMS + conservation area entry.

Permits required: 1. Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (RAP) — USD 100 per person for the first 7 days during the September–November high season, USD 75 in low season. After 7 days, USD 15 per person per day high season / USD 10 low season. 2. Manaslu Conservation Area Permit — NPR 3,000 (~USD 22). 3. Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) — NPR 3,000 again, because the standard Manaslu route descends into the Annapurna area.

Critical rules for Manaslu:

• A minimum group size of two trekkers and a registered guide are required. You cannot trek Manaslu solo.
• The RAP can only be applied for through a TAAN-registered trekking agency in Kathmandu — you cannot apply directly at the Tourism Board counter as an individual.

Upper Mustang, Dolpo, Tsum, Nar Phu and other restricted regions

Restricted regions sit close to the Tibet border and have their own rules and significantly higher fees:

• Upper Mustang: USD 500 per person for the first 10 days, USD 50 per day after
• Upper Dolpo: USD 500 per person for the first 10 days, USD 50 per day after
• Tsum Valley: USD 35 per week per person in season
• Nar Phu Valley: USD 90 per week per person in high season

All restricted regions require a TAAN-registered agency, a minimum group size of two, and a registered guide. You cannot DIY any of these treks.

The 2026 guide mandate — what changed

This is the single biggest change for 2026: you can no longer trek solo without a registered guide in any National Park, Conservation Area or Restricted Area in Nepal.

This includes the Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp, Langtang Valley, Manaslu and the entire Sagarmatha National Park. Selected parts of the lower Khumbu may still permit independent walking, but for the popular high routes a guide is now mandatory.

Why this rule exists: search-and-rescue operations for lost or injured solo trekkers climbed sharply between 2022–2024. The guide mandate is Nepal's regulatory response to better trekker safety, language and altitude-sickness recognition.

What this means practically:

• Plan your trek through a TAAN-registered agency
• Budget USD 25–35 per day for a guide (varies by region and season)
• Budget USD 18–25 per day for a porter if your pack is over 15kg
• Verify your agency's TAAN membership online before paying any deposit. See the wider safety framing in our solo female travellers guide which also covers how to request a certified female guide.

Mandatory travel insurance

Before any permit can be issued you must present travel insurance that explicitly covers:

• High-altitude trekking (specify the altitude — Everest BC is 5,364m, Thorong La on Annapurna is 5,416m)
• Helicopter evacuation up to 6,000m
• Medical care during evacuation

Generic travel insurance often EXCLUDES trekking above 3,000m. Buy a policy from a Nepal-specialist provider (World Nomads, Global Rescue, Heymondo) or upgrade your existing policy explicitly to include high-altitude cover.

Permits are not issued without printed proof of insurance. Take a copy, don't rely on the digital one.

Where to actually go in Kathmandu

Almost all permits can be obtained in one morning at the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) office at Bhrikutimandap, which sits between the Singha Durbar government compound and Thamel. From our Putalisadak apartments it's a 12-minute walk south. From Thamel it's 10-15 minutes.

Office hours are Sunday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00. Closed Saturdays and on public holidays — check the Nepali calendar before planning your permit run.

If you arrive on a Friday afternoon or right before a holiday, do it through your agency instead — most TAAN agencies in Thamel can run the permits same-day for a small surcharge.

A realistic permit-day timeline

If you're handling permits yourself, allocate one half-day:

• 08:30 — Arrive at NTB Bhrikutimandap. Coffee in Thamel first, then walk down via Putalisadak.
• 09:00 — Insurance check, TIMS application. 45 minutes including queue.
• 10:00 — Conservation area / National Park permit application. Same office, different counter. 30 minutes.
• 11:00 — Done. Walk back via Bhrikutimandap to Durbar Marg for lunch.

If your itinerary includes a Restricted Area, allocate a full day and lean on your agency.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Buying permits at the trailhead instead of in Kathmandu. Some counters operate at trail entry points (Besishahar for Annapurna, Lukla for Sagarmatha) but prices are no cheaper and the queues are slower.
• Forgetting passport photos. Carry six spare photos in your daypack — you'll need two per permit, and you'll lose at least one.
• Wrong currency. Some counters accept NPR only. ATMs near NTB cap withdrawals at NPR 35,000 — plan for two cards if you need more.
• Insurance that excludes altitude trekking. Standard travel insurance often excludes activities above 3,000m. Re-read your policy or buy a trekking-specific one.
• Booking the agency online without verifying TAAN membership. Always check. Fake agencies are rare but they exist.

Where this fits with Tiny Living

Our Putalisadak apartments sit a 12-minute walk from Bhrikutimandap and the Nepal Tourism Board. Permit day is something most trekkers slot into a buffer day in Kathmandu — you handle paperwork in the morning, do final gear shopping in Thamel in the afternoon, and fly out to the trail the next morning. Smart-lock self check-in means you can store luggage securely in the apartment for the trek and pick it up on the way back from Pokhara or Lukla — message the host on WhatsApp before booking to discuss luggage-storage arrangements.

For a fuller picture of trekking-side safety see our solo female travellers guide, and for connectivity en-route the Nepal SIM card guide covers what works in the high country (mostly Ncell up to 4,000m, NTC for the high passes).