Every Nepal trekking permit for 2026 in one place: park and conservation fees in rupees, the TIMS card, restricted-area rates and totals for 34 treks.
Every trek in Nepal needs at least one permit, and most need two or three. The rules changed several times between 2023 and 2026, and many published lists are now out of date. This guide uses the Nepal Tourism Board's own fee tables, cross-checked against news reports, and adds something you won't find elsewhere: the permit total for each trek we list, worked out from those official fees.
Rupee fees are shown in Nepalese rupees (NPR) with a rough US-dollar figure in brackets, converted at about NPR 154 per US dollar, Nepal Rastra Bank's reference rate in early October 2026. Restricted-area permits are priced in US dollars by the government, so those stay in dollars. Fees change, so treat every figure as a guide and confirm with your trekking agency before you pay.
The four kinds of permit
- Park or conservation-area entry. Almost every trekking route crosses a national park or conservation area, and each charges an entry fee in rupees.
- TIMS card. The Trekkers' Information Management System card, issued through a registered trekking agency on the routes where a licensed guide is required.
- Restricted-area permit. Border regions such as Upper Mustang, Manaslu and Kanchenjunga need a special permit from the Department of Immigration, priced in US dollars and charged by the day or the week.
- Local fees. Some rural municipalities charge their own entry fee. The best known is the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu fee on the Everest trails.
Park and conservation-area entry fees
These are the fees the Nepal Tourism Board lists for foreign visitors, per person per entry. Children under 10 enter free, and visitors from SAARC countries pay a lower rate.
| Protected area | Foreigners | SAARC nationals | Treks that cross it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP) | NPR 3,000 (≈ US$19) | NPR 1,000 | Annapurna Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, Upper Mustang |
| Sagarmatha National Park | NPR 3,000 (≈ US$19) | NPR 1,500 | Everest Base Camp, Gokyo, Three Passes |
| Langtang National Park | NPR 3,000 (≈ US$19) | NPR 1,500 | Langtang Valley, Gosainkunda, Tamang Heritage Trail |
| Manaslu Conservation Area (MCAP) | NPR 3,000 (≈ US$19) | NPR 1,000 | Manaslu Circuit, Tsum Valley |
| Makalu-Barun National Park | NPR 3,000 (≈ US$19) | NPR 1,500 | Makalu Base Camp |
| Kanchenjunga Conservation Area (KCAP) | NPR 2,000 (≈ US$13) | NPR 500 | Kanchenjunga Base Camp and Circuit |
| Gaurishankar Conservation Area | NPR 3,000 (≈ US$19) | NPR 1,000 | Rolwaling, Tashi Lapcha |
| Shey-Phoksundo National Park | NPR 3,000 (≈ US$19) | NPR 1,500 | Upper and Lower Dolpo |
| Rara National Park | NPR 3,000 (≈ US$19) | NPR 1,500 | Rara Lake |
| Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park | NPR 1,000 (≈ US$6) | NPR 600 | Helambu and Gosainkunda routes that start or end at Sundarijal |
You can pay at the Tourist Service Centre in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, or at the park entry point. Some trekking agencies and counters quote national-park fees with 13% VAT added; the official table lists them without it.
The TIMS card
Under the revised TIMS provision that took effect on 31 March 2023, the routes the Nepal Tourism Board lists need a licensed trekking guide and a TIMS card issued through a registered agency. The card costs NPR 2,000 (≈ US$13) for foreigners and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, and agencies now buy it online.
The list covers the main routes in the Annapurna, Everest, Langtang, Helambu, Manaslu, Makalu, Kanchenjunga, Rolwaling, Mustang, Dolpo and Humla regions. In practice, if your trek crosses a national park or conservation area, expect to need both a guide and a TIMS card. Some shorter routes outside protected areas, such as Pikey Peak, are not on the list. Our guide Do you need a guide to trek in Nepal? maps the list onto every trek, including the Everest exception.
The Everest exception. When the guide rule began in April 2023, the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, which covers Everest Base Camp, said it would not enforce it and kept allowing independent trekkers. The Kathmandu Post and The Himalayan Times both reported the dispute, and we found no later report that settles it. The Tourism Board still lists the Everest routes as needing a guide and a TIMS card. Ask your agency what is being checked when you go.
Restricted-area permits
Restricted areas need a special permit from the Department of Immigration in Kalikasthan, Kathmandu. Only a registered trekking agency can apply for it, and you must trek with a licensed guide. Since 22 March 2026 a single foreign trekker can get one; before that you needed a group of at least two. The same notice is reported to cap a group at seven trekkers (sources differ on whether that is per guide or per permit).
| Restricted area | Permit fee |
|---|---|
| Upper Mustang | US$50 per person per day |
| Upper Dolpo | US$50 per person per day |
| Manaslu | Sep–Nov: US$100 for the first week, then US$15 per day. Dec–Aug: US$75 for the first week, then US$10 per day |
| Tsum Valley | Sep–Nov: US$40 for the first week, then US$7 per day. Dec–Aug: US$30 for the first week, then US$7 per day |
| Nar and Phu (Manang) | Sep–Nov: US$100 for the first week, then US$15 per day. Dec–Aug: US$75 for the first week, then US$15 per day |
| Kanchenjunga (Taplejung) | US$20 per week for the first four weeks, then US$25 per week |
| Makalu area (Sankhuwasabha) | US$20 per week for the first four weeks, then US$25 per week |
| Lower Dolpa | US$20 for the first week, then US$5 per week |
| Humla | US$50 for the first week, then US$10 per day |
| Rolwaling (Dolakha) | US$20 per week |
Restricted areas also need their park or conservation-area permit. Upper Mustang adds ACAP, Manaslu adds MCAP and usually ACAP, and Kanchenjunga adds KCAP.
How the day and week rates add up
- Upper Mustang, 12 days inside the zone: 12 × US$50 = US$600, plus ACAP NPR 3,000 (≈ US$19). Upper Mustang used to cost a flat US$500 for the first 10 days; the per-day rate makes a shorter visit cheaper and a longer one dearer.
- Manaslu, 9 days in the zone in October: US$100 + 2 × US$15 = US$130. The same 9 days in March cost US$75 + 2 × US$10 = US$95.
- Kanchenjunga, five weeks: 4 × US$20 + US$25 = US$105, plus KCAP NPR 2,000 (≈ US$13).
- Lower Dolpa, three weeks: US$20 + 2 × US$5 = US$30, plus Shey-Phoksundo NPR 3,000 (≈ US$19).
Local municipality fees
The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality charges trekkers entering the Everest region NPR 3,000 (≈ US$19). SAARC and Chinese nationals pay NPR 2,000. The fee rose from NPR 2,000 at the start of fiscal year 2024/25. It is collected at Lukla or Monjo, in addition to the Sagarmatha National Park fee. A few other rural municipalities charge smaller local fees; your agency will know which apply to your route.
What changed, and when
- 31 March 2023: the revised TIMS provision makes a licensed guide and an agency-issued TIMS card mandatory on the listed routes.
- April 2023: the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality says it will keep allowing independent trekkers in the Everest region.
- July 2024: the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu fee for most foreigners rises from NPR 2,000 to NPR 3,000.
- 18 November 2025: the Council of Ministers sets the Upper Mustang permit at US$50 per person per day, replacing US$500 for the first 10 days.
- 22 March 2026: the Department of Immigration lets a single foreign trekker obtain a restricted-area permit.
- 2026: the Tourism Board lists Upper Dolpo at US$50 per day as well. In November 2025 it was still a flat US$500 for 10 days.
Permit costs for every trek we list
These totals add up the entry fees, TIMS card, local fees and restricted-area permit for each route. For restricted areas they assume a typical itinerary at peak-season rates, so a longer trip or a different season will change the dollar part. Open a trek to see exactly which permits it needs and why.
Annapurna region
| Trek | Permits per person | Restricted area |
|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Base Camp Trek | NPR 5,000 (≈ US$32) | No |
| Annapurna Circuit Trek | NPR 5,000 (≈ US$32) | No |
| Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek | NPR 5,000 (≈ US$32) | No |
| Jomsom Muktinath Trek | NPR 5,000 (≈ US$32) | No |
| Mardi Himal Trek | NPR 5,000 (≈ US$32) | No |
| Sikles Trek | NPR 5,000 (≈ US$32) | No |
| Tilicho Lake Trek | NPR 5,000 (≈ US$32) | No |
| Upper Mustang Trek | US$500 + NPR 5,000 (≈ US$532) | Yes |
Dolpa region
| Trek | Permits per person | Restricted area |
|---|---|---|
| Dolpo and Mustang Trek | US$600 + NPR 8,000 (≈ US$652) | Yes |
| Lower Dolpa Trek (Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek) | US$25 + NPR 5,000 (≈ US$57) | Yes |
| Rara Lake and Dolpo Trek | US$25 + NPR 8,000 (≈ US$77) | Yes |
| Upper Dolpo Trek | US$600 + NPR 5,000 (≈ US$632) | Yes |
Everest region
| Trek | Permits per person | Restricted area |
|---|---|---|
| Everest Base Camp Trek | NPR 8,000 (≈ US$52) | No |
| Everest Three Passes Trek | NPR 8,000 (≈ US$52) | No |
| Everest View Trek | NPR 8,000 (≈ US$52) | No |
| Gokyo Ri Trek | NPR 8,000 (≈ US$52) | No |
| Pikey Peak Trek | NPR 2,000 (≈ US$13) | No |
| Tashi Lapcha Pass Trek | US$20 + NPR 11,000 (≈ US$91) | Yes |
Kangchenjunga region
| Trek | Permits per person | Restricted area |
|---|---|---|
| Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek | US$80 + NPR 4,000 (≈ US$106) | Yes |
| Kangchenjunga Base Camp Trek | US$60 + NPR 4,000 (≈ US$86) | Yes |
Langtang region
| Trek | Permits per person | Restricted area |
|---|---|---|
| Gosainkunda Lake Trek | NPR 6,000 (≈ US$39) | No |
| Helambu Trek | NPR 6,000 (≈ US$39) | No |
| Langtang Valley Trek | NPR 5,000 (≈ US$32) | No |
| Langtang Valley and Gosainkunda Lake Trek | NPR 5,000 (≈ US$32) | No |
| Langtang Valley with Tserko Ri Trek | NPR 5,000 (≈ US$32) | No |
| Lauribina Pass Trek | NPR 6,000 (≈ US$39) | No |
| Tamang Heritage Trail Trek | NPR 5,000 (≈ US$32) | No |
Makalu region
| Trek | Permits per person | Restricted area |
|---|---|---|
| Arun Valley Trek | NPR 3,000 (≈ US$19) | No |
| Makalu Base Camp Trek | US$40 + NPR 5,000 (≈ US$72) | No |
| Makalu to Kanchenjunga Trek | US$80 + NPR 7,000 (≈ US$125) | Yes |
Manaslu region
| Trek | Permits per person | Restricted area |
|---|---|---|
| Ganesh Himal Trek | NPR 5,000 (≈ US$32) | No |
| Manaslu Circuit Trek | US$115 + NPR 8,000 (≈ US$167) | Yes |
| Manaslu Circuit Trek with Tsum Valley | US$170 + NPR 8,000 (≈ US$222) | Yes |
| Tsum Valley Trek | US$40 + NPR 5,000 (≈ US$72) | Yes |
How to get your permits
- With a licensed guide, your agency arranges everything. On every route that needs a guide, the agency buys the TIMS card and applies for any restricted-area permit; they cannot be bought independently.
- Entry fees can be paid in Kathmandu at the Tourist Service Centre, Bhrikutimandap, or at the park or conservation-area entry point.
- Carry your permits and passport for the whole trek. Officials and police may ask to see them at checkpoints, and on a restricted-area permit, trekking outside the route it names counts as a violation.
- Keep your receipts. Fees are charged per entry, so leaving a protected area and re-entering can mean paying again.
If you are planning a trek, the guides listed on each trek page can confirm the current fees for your dates and handle the paperwork. You contact them directly, and they reply with their own price.
Sources
All fees and rules above were checked on 8 October 2026.
- Nepal Tourism Board: park entry fees
- Nepal Tourism Board: restricted-area trekking permit fees
- Nepal Tourism Board: TIMS card and routes that need a guide
- Nepal Rastra Bank: reference exchange rates
- Himal Press: entry fee to the Everest region raised by Rs 1,000 (July 2024)
- The Kathmandu Post: Everest region and Tourism Board dispute over solo trekking (April 2023)
- The Himalayan Times: solo travellers allowed in the Everest region
- Asia News Network (The Kathmandu Post): immigration eases rules for solo trekkers in restricted areas (March 2026)
- B360: TAAN welcomes the per-day Upper Mustang fee (November 2025)