Nepal Trekking Permit Complete Guide for Indian Trekkers 2026

Every year, thousands of Indian trekkers land in Kathmandu — excited, well-trained, gear sorted — and then spend the first two days scrambling to figure out permits. Some miss a permit they needed. Some pay double because they didn't know what their package covered. A few have been stopped at checkpoints mid-trek and turned back.

This guide covers every Nepal trekking permit you'll need as an Indian citizen in 2025–26. What each costs, where to get it, which routes need which permits — and what happens if you skip one.

Do Indians Need a Visa to Trek in Nepal?

No. Indian passport holders do not need a visa to enter Nepal. You can cross freely with a valid Indian passport or Aadhaar card — no fees, no application, no stamp required at the border.

But this is where most people get confused: no visa does not mean no permits. Nepal's trekking permit system is completely separate from entry requirements, and it applies to Indians just as it does to every other nationality. The moment you step into any national park or protected trekking zone, permits are mandatory.

How Nepal's Trekking Permit System Works

Nepal uses a three-layer permit system. Which layers apply to you depends on where you're going.

•        Layer 1 — TIMS Card: Base registration for all trekkers on standard routes

•        Layer 2 — National Park / Conservation Area Permit: Entry fee for the specific region you're trekking in

•        Layer 3 — Restricted Area Permit (RAP): Required only for limited-access zones like Upper Mustang, Manaslu Circuit, or Dolpo

Most popular Indian trekking routes — EBC, Annapurna, Langtang — need Layer 1 + Layer 2. Restricted circuits add Layer 3 on top.

TIMS Card — What It Is and What It Costs

TIMS stands for Trekkers' Information Management System. It's a mandatory registration card that tracks trekkers across Nepal's backcountry — primarily for rescue coordination and safety. Two types exist:

•        Green TIMS — for independent/FIT trekkers going without a registered agency

•        Blue TIMS — for trekkers booked through a registered operator. Slightly cheaper, processed faster

Both the trekker and the guide carry separate TIMS cards. If you've booked through TrekYaari, your operator applies for Blue TIMS on your behalf — but it's still mandatory. Checkpoints verify both 

National Park and Conservation Area Permits

Every major trekking region in Nepal sits inside a protected area — a national park or conservation zone. You pay an entry fee to enter. These are checked at fixed checkpoints, and there is no alternate route around them.

Sagarmatha National Park Permit (EBC / Island Peak / Khumbu Region)

Sagarmatha National Park covers the entire Khumbu valley — from Monjo up to Everest and all surrounding peaks. If you're doing the EBC trek, Island Peak expedition, Lobuche East, or any trek above Namche Bazaar, this permit is mandatory. Rangers check every trekker at the Monjo gate. No permit, no entry — there is no exception.

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)

ACAP covers the world's most-visited trekking region. The fee goes directly into conservation and community support across the Annapurna zone.

Langtang National Park Permit

Cost: NPR 3,000 (~₹1,900) per person. Required for Langtang Valley, Gosainkunda Lake, and the Helambu circuit.

Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP)

Cost: NPR 3,000 (~₹1,900) per person. Required for the Manaslu Circuit — in addition to the Restricted Area Permit covered in the next section. You need both.

Restricted Area Permits — Where Extra Rules Apply

Certain Nepal regions are government-controlled limited-access zones. Trekking here requires a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) on top of the standard national park entry. Strict rules apply:

•        Minimum 2 trekkers required — solo trekking is not permitted

•        A government-registered Nepali guide is mandatory

•        Application must go through a registered trekking agency

Permit Requirements by Trekking Route

Everest Base Camp Trek

Annapurna Base Camp or Annapurna Circuit

Manaslu Circuit

Island Peak Climbing Expedition

Island Peak sits inside Sagarmatha National Park, so you need the standard Khumbu permits. But since Island Peak is a technical climbing peak, you also need a separate NMA climbing permit issued by the Nepal Mountaineering Association. This is a completely different permit from any trekking permit.

NMA Climbing Permits — What Indian Climbers Need to Know

If your Nepal trip involves any technical peak climbing — not just trekking — you need an NMA (Nepal Mountaineering Association) permit on top of everything else. The NMA issues climbing permits for all trekking peaks below 7,000m.

Island Peak (Imja Tse, 6,189m) is the most popular NMA permit peak for Indian climbers. Permit fees were revised in September 2025. Every member of your climbing team — including guides — needs one individually.

TrekYaari handles all NMA permit logistics as part of our Island Peak expedition package. You don't file anything separately. 

Where to Get Nepal Trekking Permits

Option 1: Through Your Trek Operator (Recommended)

If you've booked through a registered Indian or Nepali company, they procure all permits in Kathmandu before your trek starts. This is the cleanest approach — no queues, no risk of missing something, permits arrive with correct dates.

TrekYaari's Nepal packages include all standard permits (TIMS + relevant national park entry). Always confirm in writing which permits are included in your package before you travel.

Option 2: Nepal Tourism Board Office, Kathmandu or Pokhara

•        NTB Office, Kathmandu: Bhrikuti Mandap, near Dasarath Stadium

•        Hours: Sunday–Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM

•        Bring: 2 passport-size photos, photocopy of passport or Aadhaar, cash in Nepali Rupees

This office issues TIMS cards. National park permits are purchased at the respective park entry gates or through registered operators.

Option 3: At the Park Entry Gate

Sagarmatha NP permit can technically be bought at the Monjo gate checkpoint. But if you arrive late, find a long queue, or the officer is handling a group, you waste trekking time mid-route. Get it done in Kathmandu the day before you fly to Lukla.

5 Common Permit Mistakes Indian Trekkers Make

•        Thinking visa-free entry means no permits. The most common confusion. Visa and trekking permits are completely separate systems.

•        Skipping TIMS because you have a guide. TIMS is mandatory regardless. Both trekker and guide carry separate cards. Checkpoints verify both.

•        Confusing trekking permits with climbing permits. Sagarmatha NP permit gets you into the Khumbu valley. It does not allow you to summit Island Peak. For any technical climbing, you need a separate NMA permit.

•        Assuming your operator handles everything without confirming. Always ask in writing: which permits are included in my package, and which are not?

•        Not carrying physical copies. Remote checkpoints require physical permit copies. Phone screenshots are not accepted. Keep all permits in a waterproof document sleeve in your daypack.

What Happens at a Nepal Permit Checkpoint

Every major trekking route has multiple checkpoints where permits are physically verified. On the EBC route: Lukla, Monjo (Sagarmatha NP gate), Namche Bazaar, and additional stops higher up.

The process at each checkpoint:

1.     Hand over your permit and passport or Aadhaar

2.     The officer enters your details into the system

3.     You receive a stamp and move on

With papers in order: 2–5 minutes per checkpoint. If something is wrong — dates don't match, missing permit for that zone, name mismatch — you get turned back. This has happened to trekkers on organised trips where the agency made a date error. There is no negotiating past a Nepal checkpoint.

Nepal Trekking Permit Cost Summary (2025–26)

Conclusion

Nepal's permit system has three layers — registration (TIMS), regional entry (national park permits), and restricted access (RAP). Once you understand the logic, it stops being confusing.

For most Indian trekkers doing EBC or Annapurna, total permit cost sits around ₹3,000–₹4,000. It's a small number in the context of a full Nepal trip budget, and completely avoidable as a headache when you book through a registered operator.

Sort your permits in Kathmandu before any trailhead. Carry physical copies. And if you've booked with TrekYaari, confirm exactly which permits are covered in your package.

If you're going all the way to the Khumbu for EBC, it's worth spending a few extra days on Island Peak — same region, same permit zone (plus the NMA climbing permit), and a 6,189m summit that changes how you see yourself as a trekker.