Which permits you need
For the treks on this site, the paperwork is simpler than for Everest or Manaslu. The Annapurna region is a conservation area, not a national park, so there is one entry permit for everyone, issued by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). ACAP is run by the National Trust for Nature Conservation, and the fee pays for trail maintenance, rubbish collection, safe drinking water stations and village projects inside the area.
On top of that, the rules as we understand them in 2026 are these. Check current status before you travel, because at least three of these points have changed since 2023.
- ACAP entry permit: needed by every trekker on every route, from Poon Hill to Thorong La
- Licensed guide through a registered agency: required for foreign trekkers since 1 April 2023
- TIMS card: required at some times and not at others; we include it whenever it applies
- Climbing permit from the Nepal Mountaineering Association: only for trekking peaks such as Pisang Peak or Chulu
- Restricted area permit: only for side valleys such as Nar Phu, off the Annapurna Circuit, and Upper Mustang
ACAP fees for foreigners and Indians
The ACAP permit is valid for a single entry and covers the whole conservation area, so one permit covers a trek that links Poon Hill, Ghandruk and Annapurna Base Camp. Fees are paid in Nepali rupees. As we understand the current rates, foreign nationals pay NPR 3,000, about US$22, and nationals of SAARC countries pay NPR 1,000. That SAARC group includes India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bhutan, the Maldives and Afghanistan.
Children under 10 are generally free, but they still need a permit issued in their name, so bring their documents too. Nepali citizens pay a token fee or none. If you arrive at a trail checkpoint without a permit, you may be charged double, and the officer may send you back, so buy it before you leave Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Our package prices include the ACAP permit. Our INR prices use the SAARC rate and our USD prices the foreign rate, which is one reason the two figures are not a straight currency conversion.
Where and how to get the permit
Permits are issued at the Nepal Tourism Board office at Bhrikuti Mandap in Kathmandu and at the Nepal Tourism Board permit counter in Pokhara, near Damside. Both are normally open Sunday to Friday, closing in the afternoon, and shut on public holidays, which cluster around Dashain and Tihar in October and November. The process takes 15–30 minutes outside peak weeks.
When you book with us, our team collects the permit in advance and the guide carries it, so you only need to send scans of the documents below.
- A clear copy of your passport photo page, or for Indian citizens a passport or voter ID card
- Two recent passport-size photos, though some counters now take a digital photo on the spot
- Your trek route, start and end dates, and an emergency contact in Nepal and at home
- Your guide's name and licence details, or the agency booking, while the guide rule applies
Checkpoints along the main trails
ACAP and police checkpoints sit along the main trails and stamp or record your permit as you pass. On the south side, the usual ones are at Birethanti near Nayapul, Ghandruk and Chhomrong, with others on the Ghorepani route. On the Annapurna Circuit, expect checks at Besisahar, Chame and Manang, and again around Muktinath and Jomsom on the far side of Thorong La. Exact locations shift as roads extend, so carry the permit somewhere you can reach it quickly.
The checks are quick but they matter. Checkpoint records are how search teams know when you passed, which is useful if weather turns or someone goes missing. Keep the permit until you leave the conservation area, because officers ask for it on the way out as well.
The licensed-guide rule since 2023
From 1 April 2023, the Nepal Tourism Board ruled that foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas must trek with a licensed guide hired through a registered trekking agency. In practice, enforcement on Annapurna trails has been patchy. Some checkpoints turned back solo trekkers in the first months, others did not ask, and how the rule applies to Indian nationals has been read differently from place to place.
Our advice is to plan on hiring a licensed guide, because that is the rule on paper and it can be enforced on any given day. Guides carry an identity card from the Department of Tourism. Every package we sell includes a licensed guide and the permits, so the rule is covered either way. Check current status before you travel if you are planning an independent trek.
TIMS card: what changed
The Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) card was introduced to keep a record of who is on which trail. For years every trekker in the Annapurnas needed one alongside the ACAP permit. Since 2023 the card has been made digital, re-priced, linked to the guide rule, and dropped for the Annapurna Conservation Area at least once, with announcements and practice on the ground not always matching.
Because the status has changed more than once, we do not quote a fixed TIMS fee. If you book with us, we obtain it whenever it is required. If you trek independently, ask at the permit counter in Kathmandu or Pokhara on the day you buy your ACAP permit.
Peaks, drones, side valleys and Nepalis
Climbing Pisang Peak at 6,091 m or the Chulu peaks above Manang needs a Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) climbing permit as well as the ACAP permit. The NMA royalty depends on the season, highest in spring and lowest in summer and winter, and a refundable garbage deposit is collected. You also need an NMA-licensed climbing guide. Our 14-day Pisang Peak package includes all of these; check current status before you travel, as peak permit rules were under review in 2025.
Drones need written permission from Nepal's civil aviation authority and the local conservation area office, which takes weeks to arrange. Flying without it can lead to the drone being confiscated at a checkpoint. We do not arrange drone permits.
Nar Phu, a side valley off the Circuit near Koto, is a restricted area that needs a special permit, at least two foreign trekkers and a licensed guide. Upper Mustang, north of Kagbeni, needs a more expensive restricted area permit. Nepali trekkers need only the ACAP permit at the national rate and are not covered by the guide rule.
| Trek or activity | Permits needed | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Ghorepani Poon Hill, Ghandruk | ACAP; TIMS if in force | Licensed guide for foreigners |
| Annapurna Base Camp | ACAP; TIMS if in force | Licensed guide for foreigners |
| Mardi Himal, Khopra Danda | ACAP; TIMS if in force | Licensed guide for foreigners |
| Annapurna Circuit, Tilicho Lake | ACAP; TIMS if in force | Licensed guide for foreigners |
| Pisang Peak, Chulu peaks | ACAP, NMA climbing permit, garbage deposit | NMA-licensed climbing guide |
| Nar Phu side trek | ACAP and restricted area permit | Licensed guide, minimum two foreigners |
| Drone use | Civil aviation and local permission | Not applicable |
Places in this guide
Questions travellers ask
How much is the ACAP permit in 2026?
As we understand the current rates, the ACAP entry permit costs NPR 3,000, about US$22, for foreign nationals and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, including Indians. Children under 10 are generally free but still need a permit in their name. Fees are paid in Nepali rupees. Check current status before you travel, as fees and rules have changed several times.
Do Indians need a permit for Annapurna Base Camp?
Yes. Indian trekkers need the ACAP entry permit, which costs NPR 1,000 at the SAARC rate, about ₹625. Indians do not need a visa for Nepal and can use a passport or voter ID card. Whether the 2023 licensed-guide rule applies to Indian nationals has been interpreted differently on the trail, so check current status before you travel.
Where can I get the ACAP permit?
The ACAP permit is issued at the Nepal Tourism Board office at Bhrikuti Mandap in Kathmandu and at the Nepal Tourism Board permit counter near Damside in Pokhara. Bring a passport copy and two photos. Offices close on public holidays. If you book a trek with us, we collect the permit in advance and the guide carries it.
Can I trek Annapurna without a guide?
Officially, foreign trekkers have needed a licensed guide booked through a registered agency since 1 April 2023. Enforcement on Annapurna trails has been patchy, and some people still walk alone, but a checkpoint can turn you back on any day. We recommend planning with a guide. Check current status before you travel if you intend to trek independently.
Is TIMS card required for Annapurna?
It depends on when you go. The TIMS card has been required, re-priced, made digital and dropped for the Annapurna Conservation Area at different times since 2023. We include it in our packages whenever it applies. Independent trekkers should ask at the permit counter in Kathmandu or Pokhara when they buy the ACAP permit, and check current status before travel.
Can I buy the ACAP permit at the checkpoint?
It is not a good idea. Permits are meant to be bought in Kathmandu or Pokhara before you start. Trekkers who reach a checkpoint without one may be charged double the fee or sent back to the trailhead, losing a day. Buy the permit before you leave the city, and keep it handy until you exit the conservation area.
Do children need an ACAP permit?
Children under 10 are generally exempt from the ACAP fee, but they still need a permit issued in their name, so bring a copy of their passport or other ID and a photo. Children aged 10 and over pay the same fee as adults of their nationality. Check current status before you travel in case the age threshold changes.
What permits do I need for Pisang Peak?
Pisang Peak at 6,091 m needs an ACAP entry permit, a climbing permit from the Nepal Mountaineering Association with a royalty that varies by season, a refundable garbage deposit and an NMA-licensed climbing guide. Our 14-day Pisang Peak package includes all of them. Peak permit rules were under review in 2025, so check current status before you travel.
Can I fly a drone on the Annapurna trek?
Only with written permission from Nepal's civil aviation authority and the local conservation area office, which takes weeks to arrange. Without it, officers at checkpoints may confiscate the drone, and some lodges and monasteries also object. We do not arrange drone permits, so plan well ahead or leave the drone at home.
