Trekking is the main adventure activity that tourists travel to Nepal to experience.Thousands of travelers visit the country every year for trekking adventure.
Nepal has some of the best trekking trails in the world. Before you head to the mountains, you need to make sure that you’re properly prepared.
To trek in any part of Nepal, a trekking permit is required. The normal visa is only valid for cities and places reachable by road.
All trekkers require a trekking permit to visit Nepal’s interior regions which are connected by highways.
Recently, Everest, Annapurna, and Langtang regions have been declared permit free areas. But national park and conservation area fees are applicable in these areas.
Some trekking permits are required in advance and some can be bought on the spot. If you want to trek in two areas, you’ll need two permits. Each permit requires details for the route and region
There are different types of trekking permits for trekking in Nepal:
Table of Contents
Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS Card)
From 2010, all trekkers are required to obtain a TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System) Card before you enter into in any trekking region of Nepal.
This card includes your personal details and all other details regarding the trek. TIMS card can be obtained in Kathmandu and Pokhara from TAAN (Trekking Agencies Associations of Nepal).
If you’re traveling through traveling company, they will organize for you and normally is included in the price.
The permits come in the paper form. You’ve to carry with you all the times during your trekking journey.
TIMS card help to carry out search and rescue operations in case of natural calamities and other accidents. You have to obtain the TIMS card before you start your trek.
There are two types of TIMS card:
Green Card: For independent trekkers (US$ 20)
Blue Card: For trekker in organized group (US$10)
You need to bring a copy of a passport and 2 passport size photographs and fill in a TIMS application form.
Independent trekkers can get TIMS card from the following places:
- Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- TAAN Secretariat at Maligaon in Kathmandu
- TAAN Pokhara Secretariat in Pokhara
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Conservation Area and National Park Entrance
Trekking through any of these National park and conservation areas requires a permit.
Such permits are issued by National Trust of Nature Conservation or Department of National parks and Wildlife Conservation. Generally, such permits are available at the entrance of that area.
Trekking permits will be checked at park entrances and along different the trekking routes. And at some checkpoints, you’ll also require registering your passport number.
Entry Permit to trek in National Park
- Entry fee to visit Langtang National Park:
For SAARC Nationals: NRs. 1500 per person
Other Nationals: NRs. 3000 per person
- Entry fee to visit Sagarmatha National Park
For SAARC Nationals: NRs. 1500 per person
Other Nationals: NRs. 3000 per person
- Entry fee to visit Rara National Park:
For SAARC Nationals: NRs. 1500 per person
Other Nationals: NRs. 3000 per person
- Entry fee to visit Shey Phoksundo National Park:
For SAARC Nationals: NRs. 1500 per person
Other Nationals: NRs. 3000 per person
- Entry fee to visit Chitwan National Park:
For SAARC Nationals: NRs. 750 per person
Other Nationals: NRs. 1500 per person
- Entry fee to visit Bardia National Park:
For SAARC Nationals: NRs. 500 per person
Other Nationals: NRs. 1000 per person
- Entry fee to visit Khaptad National Park:
For SAARC Nationals: NRs. 100 per person
Other Nationals: NRs. 1000 per person
- Entry fee to visit Makalu- Barun National Park:
For SAARC Nationals: NRs. 1500 per person
Other Nationals: NRs. 3000 per person
- Entry fee to visit Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park:
For SAARC Nationals: NRs. 250 per person
Other Nationals: NRs. 250 per person
- Entry fee to visit Banke National Park:
For SAARC Nationals: NRs. 500 per person
Other Nationals: NRs. 1000 per person
Entry Permit to trek in Conservation Area
- Entry fee to visit Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA):
For SAARC Nationals: NRs. 200 per person
Other Nationals: NRs. 2000 per person
- Entry fee to visit Manaslu Conservation Area (MCA):
For SAARC Nationals: NRs. 200 per person
Other Nationals: NRs. 2000 per person
- Entry fee to visit Gaurishankar Conservation Area (GCA):
For SAARC Nationals: NRs. 200 per person
Other Nationals: NRs. 2000 per person
- Entry fee to visit Kanchenjunga Conservation Area (ACA):
For SAARC Nationals: NRs. 500 per person
Other Nationals: NRs. 2000 per person
- Entry fee to visit Manaslu Conservation Area (ACA):
For SAARC Nationals: NRs. 1500 per person
Other Nationals: NRs. 2000 per person
Special Trekking Permits
Some parts of Nepal are restricted for trekking purpose because to protect the natural environment and culture from outside visitors.
These prohibited trekking areas are different in many features from ordinary trails.
In restricted trekking areas, individual tourists are not allowed to trek. You must travel with the groups of minimum two trekkers and their required staffs.
This restricted region lies behind the Himalayas in the rain shadow area. The popular trek in the restricted regions is from Jomsom to Mustang or from Dhorpatan Simikot to Yari.
There are special rule and regulation for operating trekking in this restricted region in Nepal. You’ll require special government permission to operate trek in these restricted regions. Without the special permit from Nepal Government, visitors are not allowed to enter these regions.
Dolpo District
Areas of Lower Dolpo: US$ 10 per person per week
Areas of Upper Dolpo: US$ 10 per person per week
Taplejung District / Kanchenjunga Region: US$ 10 per person per week
Mustang District: Upper Mustang
For the first 10 days: US$500 per person
After 10 days: US$50 per person per day
Gorkha District: Manaslu Region
Autumn Season
For the first 7 days: US$ 70 per person per week
After 7 days: US$ 10 per person per day
Winter and Summer Season
For the first 7 days: US$ 50 per person per week
After 7 days: US$7 per person per day
Areas of Chhekampar and Chunchet VDC
Autumn Season
For the first 8 days: US$ 35 per person
Winter, Spring and Summer Season
For the first 8 days: US$ 25 per person
Mugu District
For the first 7 days: US$ 90 per person
After 7 days: US$ 15 per person
Manang District
Area of Nar and Phu
Autumn Season: US$ 90 per person per week
Winter, Spring and Summer Season: US$ 75 per person per week
Dolkha District: US$ 10 per person per week
Rasuwa District: US$ 10 per person per week
Humla District
For the first 7 days: US$ 50 per person
After 7 days: US$ 7 per person per day
Sankhuwasabha
For the first four weeks: US$ 10 per person
After four weeks: US$ 2o per person per week
Taplejung District: US$ 10 per person per week
Bajhang District
For the first 7 days: US$ 90 per person
After 7 days: US$ 15 per person per day
Darchula District
For the first 7 days: US$ 90 per person
After 7 days: US$ 15 per person per day
Terms and Conditions: Nepal Trekking Permits
- Entry permits are valid for single entry only. It is non-refundable and non-transferable.
- The permit holder can enter the designated place within the Conservation Area
- The person entering the Conservation Area will abide by the National Park and Conservation Act 2029 B.S. (1973, Nepal).
- You must carry your trekking permit during the entire trip. And also you must show to the concerned person of the Conservation Area if they want to check it.
Note:
- Entrance fee is not required for children below 10 years of age.
- These Entry Permits are valid for only one Conservation Area. If you’re traveling to both Conservation Areas then you’ll need to get individual entry permits for each Conservation Area.
- To get a group trekking permit an application form with other relevant documents should be submitted through any registered agency of Nepal.
- Trekking fee can be paid in Nepalese currency.
Please note that when you’re taking trekking permits for different trekking region in Nepal you must respect all the rules and regulations.
You need to listen carefully to the directions given by the local guides during the trip.
