Trekking Permit Kathmandu: Required Documents for Your Nepal Trekking Tour

Trekking in Nepal is one of the most exciting adventures in the world, with the high Himalayas fringing its northern border with Tibet. There are few places where you can get such an amazing view of the highest mountains in the world, let alone get the chance to walk among them. Trekking has fast become the most popular activity in Nepal, and the entire tourist industry has been based around the tourist treks that exist in the country. From its earliest beginnings, Nepal has been the trekking capital of the world, and one of the most exciting places to visit.

Trekking in Nepal is the ultimate Himalayan hiking adventure, with hundreds of places to trek in. From the stunning treks of the Everest Base Camp (EBC) and the Annapurna Region to the desolate Upper Mustang treks and the exciting treks around the Pokhara region. However, while it may not be a requirement to have a guide to take you along he trekking tails (though this is recommended if you have never trekked in Nepal before), there are certain documents that you will need in order to trek along the many trails in Nepal.

What are the trekking permits for different trekking regions in Nepal?

Most of Nepal’s trekking trails fall in areas of national conservation projects or in restricted areas. While there are many regions for trekking in Nepal, there are some permits that are required no matter where you trek. Certain regions and trekking areas have their own permits as well, and travelers to Nepal are not permitted to trek without them. Aside from your passport and visa, what documents you need largely depend on where you are trekking.

Trekkers’ Information Management Systems Card for Treks in Nepal

The single most important permit you need for trekking in Nepal, the Trekkers’ Information Management System card (or TIMS card), is required for all trekkers, irrelevant of where they are trekking, with the exception of the Everest Base Camp trek only. Implemented by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), in conjunction with the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), the TIMS card is required to ensure the safety and security of all trekkers, as well as to control illegal trekking operations by unregistered agencies.

The green TIMS card is for individual trekker and the blue one is for group trekker.

The card is required for both group trekkers and individual trekkers, and carries personal information about the tourist, such as passport number, nationality, contact numbers in case of emergency, complete itinerary, etc. The personal data is uploaded to a database that can be accessed in case of accident or calamity, so that the relevant people or agencies can be informed.

Trekking Permits for Mount Everest Trek in Nepal

Since October 1, 2017, the TIMS card is no longer required for taking the trek to Everest Base Camp in the Khumbu Region of Nepal. Decentralization has allowed the local authority to issue their own permits to trek this single route alone or with a group. The permit can only be obtained from the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality checkpoint at the Lukla Check Post and costs 2,000 NRs, for both Group Trekkers and Free Individual Trekkers. This new permit system is strictly enforced, and permits are checked as people leave the town along the trail towards Mount Everest Base Camp. However, you will still need a TIMS card if you are trekking from Jiri to Lukla or EBC, as there are plenty of checkpoints along the route.

Also, you will still need to obtain a Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit, which costs 3,390 NRs per person, and must be done individually, as there are no group permits available. The permit can be obtained in Kathmandu at the Tourist Service Center before you leave for Lukla or at the entrance to the national park at Monjo.

If you are trekking in the area of the Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project (GCAP) between Jiri and EBC, you will need to obtain the entry permit for the GCAP as well. The permit costs 2,000 NRs per person, and can be obtained from the Tourist Service Center in Kathmandu.

Trekking Permits for Annapurna Trek in Nepal

The TIMS card is a requirement for trekking in the Annapurna Region of Nepal, as well as the permit for entry to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), which includes trekking to the famous Annapurna Base Camp. Most of Annapurna circuits treks fall inside the conservation area, and most of the ones that do not have parts of the trail that passes through it. All international trekkers are required to obtain the permit, which is available from the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu or at the Tourist Service Center in Pokhara. You can also obtain it from the ACAP entry permit counter in Besisahar, in Lamjung.

Both TIMS card and ACAP entry permit are required to enter to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project.

The ACAP entry permit costs 2,000 NRs for international trekkers, and just 200 NRs for members of the SAARC nationals. If you have booked your trek through an approved agency, then the agency is responsible for procuring your permits.

More Kinds of Trekking Permits for Other Areas

There are also other areas of Nepal that have requirements for permits, some of which are restricted areas, such as the Manang region, the Upper Mustang Region, and the Manaslu Region. Restricted areas require Restricted Areas Permits, as well as any other permits required for the region, such as the ACAP for parts of Upper Mustang, as some of the trails lie within the Annapurna Conservation Area.

Restricted areas are those areas restricted by the government because of the unique cultures of the local communities in the area, and for the protection of these areas and cultures from excessive external influences that may change the culture too drastically. Many of these cultures and communities have survived for thousands of years, and live in the same way as their ancestors in ancient times, preserving their ancient ways and religious beliefs. The fees collected from the Restricted Areas Permits, which are usually quite expensive, are used to help cultural preservation projects and local community development in the restricted areas.

How to Apply for the Trekking Permits in Nepal

Most of the permits for the various areas across Nepal can be obtained from the Tourist Board Service Centers in Kathmandu. The main Tourist Board Office is on Pradarshani Marg in the capital, and handles permits for all the areas, with the exception of the permit for the Everest trek, which can only be obtained in Lukla. The office can provide the permits for both conservation areas and restricted areas for all regions across the country.

The main Tourist Board Office in the capital handles permits for all the areas.

Permits for Annapurna, however, can also be obtained in Pokhara, at either the Nepal Tourism Board Service Center in Damside or at the ACAP entry permit counter in Besisahar. The permits cost the same amount, wherever you get them from, though it is a good idea to get it in Kathmandu if you have the time, as the queues in Damside and Besisahar can be quite long in the peak months.

For the Manang Restricted Area, the permit costs around 90 US dollars per week, while for Upper Mustang, it is around 500 US dollars per person for the first ten days, then 50 dollars per day after. In the Manaslu Region, the Restricted Areas permit costs 70 US dollars for the first week and ten dollars per day thereafter, and you will need the ACAP for parts of the region that fall within the Annapurna Conservation Area.

The TIMS card can be obtained from the Tourist Service Center in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu; from the Trekking Agencies’ Association Nepal (TAAN) Office in Maligaon, Kathmandu; from the TAAN Lakeside office in Santi Patan, Pokhara; or through government registered trekking agencies in both Kathmandu and Pokhara. For Group Trekkers (GT), the card is blue and costs 1,000 Nepali rupees, while the card for the Free Individual Trekker (FIT) is green and costs 2,000 Nepali rupees.

For the TIMS card, the applicant is required to submit their passport and visa for checking, and provide at least two passport-sized photos along with the completed application form. It is best to make photocopies of your passport and visa before you apply, as you will be charged for the office taking their own copies of both.

For most of the other permits, including Restricted Areas Permits, photocopies of the passport and visa must be provided, although passport-sized photos are not required.

More Tips for Trekking in Nepal

Other Required Documents

For anyone planning to trek in the Himalayas in Nepal, you will need to have a valid passport with at least six month’s validity remaining, as well as two blank facing visa pages, in order to obtain the Nepal Entry Visa for Tourists. Tourist visas are usually issued for a period of 30 days from date of entry, and can be easily obtained at the entry point, either the overland border or the Tribhuvan International Airport. If you need to extend your visa, you can do so for up to 60 additional days at the Immigration Office in Kathmandu.

Tourist visas are usually issued for a period of 30 days from date of entry.

A valid visa is required for all travelers from countries that do not have a freedom of movement agreement or a visa-free agreement with the Nepal government. However, while a visa-free agreement can allow entry into the country, it is usually for a limited time, so it is essential to make sure that, if your trek in Nepal is longer than your visa-free period, you apply for a visa on entry.

It is also a requirement when trekking in Nepal to have adequate insurance, on top of your standard holiday insurance. Standard holiday insurance does not cover trekking and adventure sports, and a good trekking insurance policy is necessary for covering the eventuality of an accident that may require medical attention not covered by your travel insurance or for coverage of a helicopter rescue, should the need arise.

Best Time to Trek in Nepal

Nepal is a country that has a very varied climate from the heights of the Himalayas to the lowlands close to the Indian border. As most of the trekking regions are in the mountains in the north of the country, with a few in the central areas, making sure you get the best time of year to trek is important.

Spring and Autumn are the best times of year to trek in the Himalayas, as the weather is at its best for taking on the many trails through the mountains. The skies are clear for most of the days in each month from April to June and October to the end of November. The temperatures are also warm during the daytime, although it can get a little colder at night. Also, all of the guesthouses, lodges, and teahouses are open for business, and if you plan well, you will be able to sleep in a bed (albeit a rough one) each night, instead of a tent. You will need your sleeping bag though, as blankets are few and not warm enough at night. Winter in Nepal is also a trekking season for some trekking trails. Check more about the best winter treks in Nepal.

Where to Find a Local Guide for Trekking in Nepal

Having a guide while trekking in the Himalayas can sometimes mean the difference between life and death, especially in the winter months. However, while there is no requirement to have a guide in many of the areas you can trek through (some of the parks and restricted areas now insist on there being a registered guide in the party), it can be of benefit in more ways than you might think. Having a guide will make sure that you do not get lost, and the guides all know the area, including the teahouse owners, which can be an advantage.

Booking the services of a guide for treks should be done in Kathmandu, as all guides in Nepal need to be registered and fully insured, and there are often unregistered guides touting for business at the entry to the trail around Nepal, especially in Lukla. However, if you are trekking in Annapurna, then you can get a good, registered guide in Pokhara, which is actually better than getting one in Kathmandu.

You are welcome to book your trekking tour with us through our local office in Kathmandu.

Guides cost around 15 to 20 dollars per day, which includes their food. Guides can usually be found through the various agencies in Kathmandu, who do charge commissions as well on the guides, and can offer you various Nepal tours that are guided, or you can be added to a group that is using one guide for the trip. The norm is around five trekkers per guide group, and this can reduce the cost of your guide, as it is shared with all the members of the group.

Conclusion

In general, no matter where you trek in Nepal, the Trekkers’ Information Management System card (also known as the TIMS card), is the most important permit you need get wherever you will trek in Nepal. For trekking in different regions, there are also some other permits you need to get, such as the entrance permits for each national parks you will trek through. It is convenient to apply for the trekking permit in Nepal by yourself. If you have any further questions about trekking in Nepal, please feel free to leave your question below. We are glad to help you organize a real hassle-free trip in this amazing trekking paradise.