Which permits you need
Every major trek in the Langtang region, the Langtang Valley, Gosaikunda, the Tamang Heritage Trail and the upper Helambu route via Tharepati, passes through Langtang National Park. Created in 1976 as Nepal's first Himalayan national park, it covers about 1,710 km² between the Kathmandu Valley's northern hills and the Tibetan border. Entry requires a park permit, which funds conservation and is checked at several points on the road and trail.
Trekkers also need a TIMS card, the Trekkers' Information Management System registration that records who is on which route. In the Helambu area, routes that start at Sundarijal cross Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park first, which charges its own smaller entry fee. Climbers attempting Yala Peak need a separate peak permit. No restricted-area permit is required anywhere in the Langtang region, unlike Manaslu or Upper Mustang.
Permit fees at a glance
The table summarises fees as we understand them for 2025–26. Rates are revised from time to time, VAT may be added, and procedures can change at short notice, so check current status before you travel. Children under 10 are generally exempt from national park fees.
| Permit | Foreigners | SAARC nationals | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Langtang National Park entry | NPR 3,000 | NPR 1,500 | NTB office Kathmandu or Dhunche counter |
| TIMS card | ≈ NPR 1,000–2,000 | ≈ NPR 600–1,000 | Through your registered agency |
| Shivapuri Nagarjun NP entry | ≈ NPR 1,000 | ≈ NPR 300 | Park gates (Sundarijal, Budhanilkantha) |
| Yala Peak climbing permit | ≈ US$ 70–250 by season | Same | Through a registered agency |
The licensed guide rule since 2023
From 1 April 2023, the Nepal Tourism Board required foreign trekkers in the country's national parks and conservation areas to trek with a licensed guide arranged through a government-registered trekking agency. The rule effectively ended independent solo trekking in Langtang, Annapurna, Manaslu and other popular areas. The TIMS card is now issued through agencies, and checkpoints may ask to see your guide's licence along with your permits.
The rule was introduced for safety, after cases of lost and injured solo trekkers, and to support local employment. Enforcement has varied by area and over time, and some local authorities elsewhere in Nepal have chosen not to apply it. In Langtang, expect it to be checked. How it applies to Indian nationals has been reported inconsistently; Indian trekkers have sometimes been treated differently from other foreigners. Our advice is simple: trek with a licensed guide, and check current status before you travel.
How to get your permits
In practice, your trekking agency arranges everything. You send a passport scan and photo before arrival, and the agency obtains the TIMS card and usually the national park permit in Kathmandu, handing them to your guide. If you prefer, the park permit can be bought at the Nepal Tourism Board office at Bhrikuti Mandap in Kathmandu or at the park counter in Dhunche on the drive to Syabrubesi.
Carry your passport throughout the trek, along with the original permits; photocopies may not be accepted. Indian citizens may use a passport or, in many cases, a voter ID card for identification in Nepal, but trekking agencies generally prefer a passport. Keep permits dry in a zip-lock bag, as you will show them several times.
- Passport valid for at least six months, plus a photocopy
- Two passport-size photos (some offices now take digital photos)
- Travel insurance details with helicopter evacuation cover
- Trek itinerary and agency details
- Payment in Nepali rupees for any counter fees
Where permits are checked
On the Langtang Valley trek, the first check is at the park gate near Dhunche on the drive from Kathmandu, where vehicles stop and passengers show permits. There are further checks on the trail, notably the army post at Ghoda Tabela between Lama Hotel and Langtang village. On the Gosaikunda route, permits are checked at Dhunche and sometimes at Chandanbari or Lauribina. Helambu trekkers pay the Shivapuri fee at Sundarijal and may be checked again near Tharepati.
If you lose a permit, tell your guide immediately; replacements can be arranged but may cost a full new fee. Trekking without a valid permit can result in a fine of double the fee or more, and foreign trekkers without a licensed guide risk being turned back.
Permits for Yala Peak and heli tours
Yala Peak (5,500 m) is a trekking peak administered under Nepal's mountaineering rules, and a climbing permit must be obtained through a registered agency before you leave Kathmandu. The fee varies by season, highest in spring and lowest in winter and summer. You also need the national park permit and TIMS card, and the climb must be led by a licensed climbing guide. Your agency handles the paperwork and may need your passport details several weeks ahead.
Helicopter tours that land inside the park, at Kyanjin Gompa or Gosaikunda, include the national park fee in their price. No TIMS card is needed for a day tour, since you are not trekking. Charter rules and landing permissions are the operator's responsibility.
Insurance and documents to carry
Permits are only part of the paperwork. Travel insurance that covers trekking to at least 5,000 m and helicopter evacuation is essential in Langtang, as the nearest hospital with advanced care is in Kathmandu, a long day's drive from Kyanjin Gompa or Gosaikunda. Many agencies, including ours, ask for policy details before departure so that rescue can be arranged quickly if needed. For Yala Peak, the policy must also cover climbing to about 6,000 m.
On the trail, keep your passport, park permit, TIMS card and insurance details together in a waterproof pouch, with photocopies stored separately in your main bag. Your guide carries the agency's contact numbers and a copy of the group's permits. If you are travelling on an Indian voter ID rather than a passport, confirm with your agency in advance that it will be accepted for TIMS registration, as practice varies.
Common permit mistakes to avoid
The most common problems are simple. Trekkers arrive at Dhunche without the original park permit, forget their passport in Kathmandu, or book a cheap unlicensed guide who cannot obtain a TIMS card through an agency. Others assume Helambu needs no permits, then find that the route through Shivapuri and Tharepati crosses two national parks. A few climbers turn up in Kyanjin hoping to buy a Yala Peak permit there, which is not possible. Booking through a registered agency avoids all of these.
Places in this guide
Questions travellers ask
How much is the Langtang National Park permit?
The Langtang National Park entry fee is NPR 3,000 for foreigners and NPR 1,500 for SAARC nationals, including Indians, with children under 10 generally free. VAT may be added and fees are revised periodically. Check current status before you travel. Our trek packages include the permit.
Is a TIMS card required for Langtang?
Yes. Trekkers in the Langtang region need a TIMS card, which since 2023 is issued through registered trekking agencies along with the licensed guide requirement. It costs roughly NPR 1,000–2,000 for foreigners and less for SAARC nationals. Your agency arranges it before the trek.
Can I trek Langtang without a guide?
Since 1 April 2023, foreign trekkers in Nepal's national parks, including Langtang, must hire a licensed guide through a registered agency. Solo independent trekking is effectively not permitted. Application to Indian nationals has varied. Check current status before you travel; we recommend a guide in all cases.
Do Indians need a permit for Langtang?
Yes. Indian citizens need the Langtang National Park entry permit at the SAARC rate, about NPR 1,500, and usually a TIMS card at a reduced rate. Whether the licensed-guide rule applies to Indian trekkers has been applied inconsistently. Carry a passport for identification. Check current status before you travel.
Where can I buy the Langtang permit?
You can buy the national park permit at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu, or at the park counter in Dhunche on the drive to Syabrubesi. The TIMS card is arranged through your trekking agency. Most agencies obtain both before you leave Kathmandu.
Do I need a permit for the Helambu trek?
Yes. Routes from Sundarijal pay the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park fee at the gate, and the upper route near Tharepati lies in Langtang National Park, so its permit and a TIMS card are needed. Foreign trekkers also need a licensed guide. Check current status before you travel.
Is there a restricted area permit for Langtang?
No. Langtang Valley, Gosaikunda, Helambu and the Tamang Heritage Trail do not require a restricted area permit. Only the national park permit, TIMS card and licensed guide are needed. The nearby Tsum Valley and Manaslu do require restricted area permits.
What happens if I trek without a permit in Langtang?
Trekkers found without a valid park permit can be fined, typically at least double the normal fee, and foreign trekkers without a licensed guide may be fined or turned back. Permits are checked at Dhunche, Ghoda Tabela and other posts. Always carry the original permit and your passport.
Do children need a Langtang permit?
Children under 10 are generally exempt from the national park entry fee, though they should still be registered with the trekking agency and may need a TIMS entry. Older children pay the standard rate. Bring passports for all children. Check current status before you travel, as exemptions can change.
