Nepal Trekking Permits and Rules: The Complete 2026 Guide

Last updated: June 2026. Every fee here is checked against official Nepal government sources.

Quick answer: To trek in Nepal in 2026, you need two things. First, a park or conservation permit, which is NPR 3,000 per area for foreigners. In most regions you also need a TIMS card, at NPR 2,000. Since 31 March 2023, you must trek with a licensed guide through a registered agency. Restricted areas like Manaslu and Upper Dolpo need extra permits.

Nepal’s trekking permits are cheap and simple once you know the system. The rules changed in 2023, so older guides online are out of date. This page is the current, official 2026 reference: what each permit costs, who needs a guide, and which treks fall under restricted-area rules. Every figure here comes from Nepal government sources.

Key Takeaways

• The national park or conservation fee is NPR 3,000 per area for foreign trekkers, about US$23 (Nepal Tourism Board, retrieved 2026-06-29).
• The TIMS card is NPR 2,000 for foreigners, or NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals.
• Since 31 March 2023, a licensed guide and a registered agency are required across 14 major trekking regions, including Everest and Annapurna.
• Restricted areas (Manaslu, Tsum, Upper Dolpo, Upper Mustang, Nar Phu, Humla) need extra permits that only an agency can issue.

Do you need a guide to trek in Nepal in 2026?

Yes. Since 31 March 2023, foreign trekkers must trek with a licensed guide booked through a registered agency. The Nepal Tourism Board brought in the rule. It covers 14 major trekking regions, and that list includes Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Manaslu, Mustang, and Dolpo (Nepal Tourism Board, retrieved 2026-06-29).

So fully solo, guide-free trekking on Nepal’s main trails is no longer allowed. One guide can lead a small group, so couples and friends share the cost. In practice, your agency buys every permit for you, which is why a guided trip is now the simplest way to trek here.

There is one 2026 update worth knowing. In March 2026, Nepal eased the rule for restricted areas. Now a solo traveller can get a permit alone. However, a licensed guide and a registered agency are still required, and one guide may lead up to seven trekkers.

What do national park and conservation permits cost?

Every main trekking region charges a flat NPR 3,000 entry fee for foreign trekkers, which is about US$23. This is the official rate on the Nepal Tourism Board park-fee list (Nepal Tourism Board, retrieved 2026-06-29). Children under 10 enter free.

SAARC nationals pay a reduced rate, and Nepali citizens pay a small token fee. You buy the permit once, and it covers your whole trek in that region.

What is the TIMS card, and who needs it?

The TIMS card is the Trekkers’ Information Management System card, and it keeps a safety record of you on the trail. It costs NPR 2,000 for foreign trekkers, or NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals. The Nepal Tourism Board and TAAN, which run the system together, both confirm these rates (Nepal Tourism Board, retrieved 2026-06-29; TAAN, retrieved 2026-06-30). The card is now issued online through a registered agency, so the process is quick.

Most regions require it, with one notable exception. The Everest region has no TIMS card. Instead, you pay a local Khumbu permit of NPR 2,000. The local government collects it near Lukla or Monjo. So budget the same amount, just under a different name.

Which regions need a TIMS card and a guide?

The TIMS and guide rules cover 14 official trekking regions, named by TAAN and the Nepal Tourism Board. If your trek falls in one of these, you need the permits and a licensed guide. Here is the full list (TAAN, retrieved 2026-06-30):

• Kanchenjunga
• Makalu Barun
• Everest
• Rolwaling
• Panchpokhari Bhairabkunda
• Helambu
• Langtang
• Ganesh Himal and Ruby Valley
• Manaslu
• Annapurna
• Mustang
• Dhaulagiri
• Dolpo
• Humla

One note on Everest. It is on this list, but the Khumbu region collects its own local permit in place of the TIMS card, as covered above. So you still need a guide there, just not a TIMS card.

Your permits are checked at official check posts along the trail. For example, you show them at Monjo on the Everest route, at Dhunche or Syabrubesi for Langtang, at Jagat for Manaslu, and at Birethanti for Annapurna. Your guide handles this for you.

Restricted-area trekking permits

Some regions sit near the Tibetan border. They need a special Restricted Area Permit (RAP), and only a registered agency can issue one. The Department of Immigration sets these fees, and they cost more than a standard park fee. You cannot get one as an individual walking up to a counter.

Figures are from the Nepal Department of Immigration (Department of Immigration, retrieved 2026-06-29). On restricted treks you also pay the relevant conservation permit. The Manaslu Circuit, for example, needs the Restricted Area Permit plus the Manaslu and Annapurna conservation permits. For the full breakdown, see our Manaslu Circuit permit guide.

Two points avoid confusion. First, the fee structures differ by region, so some are charged per week and others per 10 days. Second, a few other restricted areas exist too, such as Kanchenjunga, Api Nampa, and Gaurishankar. Their rates vary, so always confirm the current fee for your exact route with your agency.

Permits by popular trek

Here is a quick reference for the most popular routes. Each links to a deeper cost and permit guide.

A licensed guide is required on all of these, at roughly US$30 to US$35 per day. On a guided package, that cost and every permit are already included.

How do you get your permits?

The easiest way is through a registered trekking agency, which is now also the legal way. You give the agency your passport, two passport photos, and your trek dates. They buy the park permit, the TIMS card, and any restricted-area permit before you set off. Park fees and the TIMS card are paid in Nepalese rupees, while restricted-area permits are charged in US dollars. Your agency settles all of it for you.

So you do not queue at government offices yourself. On a Spade Himalaya trip, we arrange every permit and provide your licensed guide, so all you carry is your passport and your documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you still trek solo in Nepal in 2026?

Not without a guide. Since 31 March 2023, foreign trekkers must use a licensed guide and a registered agency across the main regions, including Everest and Annapurna (Nepal Tourism Board, 2026). You can travel as a solo client, but a private guide walks with you. Fully independent, guide-free trekking is no longer allowed.

How much do Nepal trekking permits cost in total?

For most treks, about US$38 to US$40 in permits: a NPR 3,000 park fee plus a NPR 2,000 TIMS card. Restricted areas cost more, for example the Manaslu Circuit runs about US$130 to US$170 in permits because of its special Restricted Area Permit.

Do you need a TIMS card for Everest Base Camp?

No. The Everest region does not use the TIMS card. Instead you pay the Sagarmatha National Park permit (NPR 3,000) and a local Khumbu permit (NPR 2,000), about US$38 in total. Both are arranged for you on a guided trip.

What is a restricted area in Nepal?

A restricted area is a sensitive border region that needs a special permit issued only through a registered agency. Manaslu, Tsum Valley, Upper Mustang, Upper Dolpo, Nar Phu, and Humla are the main ones. As of March 2026, a solo traveller can apply, but a licensed guide and agency are still required.

Who sets Nepal’s trekking permit fees?

National park and conservation fees come from the Nepal Tourism Board, and restricted-area permit fees come from the Department of Immigration. Fees can change, so a good agency re-checks them before every departure.

Accuracy note: official fees, rules, and hard facts in this guide are cited inline from their sources; trail and price details are Spade Himalaya field research; route details reviewed by Yubaraj Katel, government-licensed trekking guide (Licence No. 19827) with 10 years of experience across the Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, and Manaslu regions.

Author

Pawan Bhattarai

Pawan Bhattarai is a co-founder of Spade Himalaya, a Nepal-based trekking and tour company he started to help share Nepal's mountains with the world. A keen traveller with a background in technology and content, he writes carefully researched guides to help people plan their trip. On the ground, Spade's treks are led by licensed local guides.