Nepal Trekking Permits in 2026: Costs and Rules, Clearly Explained

Nepal's permit system looks intimidating from abroad and takes about twenty minutes to understand from Kathmandu. Here is the whole thing in plain English, including the parts we simply handle for you.

The building blocks

Almost every trek uses one or more of these:

• TIMS cardthe Trekkers' Information Management System registration, issued through registered agencies and tied to the licensed-guide rule (see our guide article).
• Conservation area permitsmost famously ACAP for the entire Annapurna region: the Circuit, Base Camp, Poon Hill and Mardi Himal.
• National park permitsSagarmatha for the Everest region (plus a local Khumbu municipality fee), Langtang National Park for Langtang, and so on.
• Restricted area permitsspecial, more expensive permits for border regions such as Manaslu and Upper Mustang (the famous USD 500/10-day permit). These require a registered agency, a licensed guide and usually a minimum of two trekkers. No exceptions.

Where permits are checked

At real checkpoints, with real ledgers, at the entry to each region and at points along the trail, Manang, Monjo, Syabrubesi, Kagbeni and friends. Trekking without the right papers means fines, back-payments and occasionally being turned around. It is simply not worth it.

What it roughly costs

For the classic open routes, budget the equivalent of USD 30–60 total in permits per person. Restricted areas are the big exception: Upper Mustang's permit alone is USD 500 for ten days, and Manaslu's varies by season and week. We always list every permit, by name and price, inside your written quote, so you can see exactly where your money goes.

What you actually have to do

When you book with Reet Trails: send us a passport scan and a couple of passport photos. That is the entire job. Every permit above is issued, paid and carried by your guide, and produced at every checkpoint while you drink tea.