Nepal Trekking Permits Cost: TIMS & ACAP Fees for Indians

I got stopped at a checkpost above Ghandruk with an ACAP receipt that looked fake. My guide just smiled, paid the real fee, and I learned my lesson. Paper matters more than fitness on Nepal trails.

If you are an Indian planning Annapurna, Everest or Langtang in 2026, you probably typed nepal trekking permits cost into Google and got ten different answers in NPR, USD and INR. So this is the straight version from someone who has paid these fees in both Kathmandu and Pokhara, queued at the counters, and messed it up once. You will get TIMS, ACAP, Sagarmatha and restricted-area fees in INR, where to pay, and the new guide rule that trips up many Indians.

Nepal Trekking Permits Cost Breakdown for Indians in 2026

The nepal trekking permits cost for Indians in 2026 is ₹625 to ₹3,200 per person for the common trails, depending on the region. So you pay TIMS (NPR 1,000-2,000) plus one conservation fee like ACAP or Sagarmatha. Restricted areas cost extra in USD.

Because Nepal bills permits in Nepali Rupees (NPR), Indians often get confused at the counter. However the math is simple. In 2026, NPR 1.60 = INR 1. So NPR 1,000 = about ₹625, NPR 1,500 = about ₹940, NPR 2,000 = about ₹1,250, and NPR 3,000 = about ₹1,875. That said, counters only take NPR, so change your money before you queue.

You can sort permits into three buckets. First, TIMS for trekker tracking. Second, a conservation or national park fee for the area you trek in. Third, a restricted-area fee if you go to Mustang, Manaslu, Dolpo and similar zones. Most first-timers only need the first two. Still, you should know the third before you book, because it changes the nepal trekking permits cost a lot.

TIMS Card for Indians: Price in INR 2026

TIMS stands for Trekkers' Information Management System. Think of it as your trekker ID. The Nepal Tourism Board and TAAN issue it, and every checkpost will ask for it.

For Indians, TIMS costs NPR 1,000 (about ₹625) if you trek with a registered agency and guide, and NPR 2,000 (about ₹1,250) if you try as a Free Individual Trekker (FIT). In practice, after the 2023 rule change, most offices now issue the NPR 1,000 TIMS through an agency. So the nepal trekking permits cost stays lower when you go via an agency, and you also clear the guide rule in one shot.

I paid NPR 1,000 in Kathmandu at the TAAN counter in Maligaon with two passport photos and a copy of my passport. In Pokhara, the office at Damside issues the same card. Meanwhile agencies in Thamel will bundle TIMS with your ACAP and park fee for a small service charge (usually NPR 300-500 / ₹190-315). That saves a second queue.

Also, keep the card on you. Checkposts between Chomrong and Deurali, or Lukla and Namche, actually scan it. If you lose it, you pay again. I clip mine inside my passport.

ACAP, MCAP and Other Conservation Area Permits in INR

ACAP is the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit. If you do Annapurna Base Camp, Ghorepani Poon Hill, Mardi Himal or the full Circuit, you need it. For Indians (SAARC rate) it is NPR 1,000, so about ₹625 per person. For other foreigners it is NPR 3,000, so you already save a lot.

Manaslu Conservation Area (MCAP) and Gaurishankar Conservation Area (GCAP) charge the same SAARC rate: NPR 1,000 (₹625). Langtang National Park, which many Indians confuse with a conservation area, is also NPR 1,500 for SAARC (about ₹940). So the nepal trekking permits cost for Annapurna is just TIMS + ACAP, while Langtang is TIMS + Langtang National Park entry.

Validity is single entry for the trek duration. ACAP does not limit days, but you cannot reuse it after you exit. That said, if you combine Annapurna and Mustang, you still need ACAP plus the restricted Mustang fee.

Sagarmatha National Park Permit (Everest Region) Fees in INR

Heading to Everest Base Camp, Gokyo or Three Passes? Then you need the Sagarmatha National Park entry instead of ACAP. For Indians it is NPR 1,500 per person, about ₹940. For non-SAARC it is NPR 3,000 (about ₹1,875).

You pay this one differently. TIMS and ACAP you get in Kathmandu or Pokhara before the trek. Sagarmatha you can get in Kathmandu at the Tourism Board, but most trekkers pay at the park counter in Monjo, just after Lukla, or at the Sagarmatha office in Namche. Carry cash NPR. They do not take INR or UPI.

So for Everest, the nepal trekking permits cost is TIMS (NPR 1,000 / ₹625 via agency) + Sagarmatha (NPR 1,500 / ₹940) = about ₹1,565 total. Add your Lukla flight and guide charges extra. For example, my 2024 EBC group paid exactly that, and the Monjo desk gave a paper receipt to show at every village.

Restricted Area Permits: When TIMS and ACAP Are Not Enough

Restricted areas need a special permit, a licensed guide, and at least two trekkers via a registered agency. Solo Indians cannot get these alone. And the fees are in USD, not NPR, so the nepal trekking permits cost jumps here.

• Manaslu: Dec-Feb $75 (₹6,250) per week + $10 per extra day; Sep-Nov $100 (₹8,330) per week + $15 per extra day; Dec-Aug $75 rate applies.
• Upper Mustang: $500 (₹41,650) per person for 10 days, then $50 per extra day.
• Upper Dolpo: $500 per 10 days + $50 per extra day.
• Lower Dolpo: $20 per week + $5 per extra day.
• Kanchenjunga & Tsum Valley: $20-35 per week depending on season.
• Nar-Phu Valley (Annapurna): $100 per week (Sep-Nov/Mar-May), $75 otherwise.

For Indians, the USD fee still applies and you pay the INR equivalent at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu via your agency. So if you plan Manaslu Circuit in October, budget about ₹8,330 just for the restricted permit, plus TIMS (₹625) and MCAP/ACAP (₹625 each). That total nepal trekking permits cost is around ₹9,580 before guide and transport.

Where and How Indians Pay: Kathmandu vs Pokhara vs On-Trail

Where you pay depends on your route. However the offices are straightforward once you know them.

In Kathmandu, go to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) office at Bhrikutimandap and the TAAN office in Maligaon. TIMS and ACAP/Sagarmatha are issued there between 10am and 5pm, Sunday to Friday. Bring passport, two photos, and NPR cash. Meanwhile in Pokhara, the NTB Tourist Service Center at Damside handles TIMS and ACAP daily till 4pm, which is perfect if you fly straight to Pokhara for Annapurna.

On-trail, you can pay Sagarmatha at Monjo and Langtang National Park at Dhunche or at the entry gate. ACAP checkpoints on Annapurna (Birethanti, Koto, etc.) only check, they do not sell. So sort ACAP before you start.

Agencies help a lot here. When TripCabinet plans your Nepal tour packages, our team handles the bookings and queues for you, so you just carry the receipts. Because permit rules change often, that saves a wasted day in Kathmandu. That said, if you go DIY, reach the counter by 10am. After 11am the line gets long.

Do Indians Need a Guide in Nepal in 2026?

Yes, for most TIMS routes you now need a licensed guide. The Nepal Tourism Board made guides mandatory for foreign trekkers in TIMS-controlled areas from April 1, 2023. Indians count as foreign trekkers for TIMS.

In practice, Everest and Annapurna enforce this strictly at checkposts. Langtang also checks. I saw two solo travellers turned back near Landruk in 2023 because they had no guide. So the nepal trekking permits cost should include guide fees in your budget even if you planned solo.

What does a guide cost for Indians? Expect NPR 2,500-4,000 per day (about ₹1,560-₹2,500) for a licensed guide, plus his food, stay and insurance. For a small group of 2-3, that splits well. Porters cost NPR 2,000-3,000 per day (₹1,250-₹1,875) if you want one. Restricted areas already require a guide by law, so no workaround there.

One exception: day hikes around Kathmandu Valley (Nagarkot, Shivapuri) and some short Pokhara viewpoints do not need TIMS or a guide. But any multi-day trek that asks for TIMS expects a guide in 2026.

Real Cost Examples for Indian Trekkers in INR (2026)

To make the nepal trekking permits cost clear, here are three common Indian itineraries with INR totals. These are permit fees only, not flights, stays or guide daily charges.

So for most Indians, the nepal trekking permits cost is modest on classic routes and high on restricted routes. Actually, the permit is rarely the budget breaker. Flights to Lukla (₹12,000-₹22,000 one way from Kathmandu) and guide fees add more.

Money tips: carry crisp NPR notes, keep 4-6 passport photos, and keep permit photocopies on your phone. Checkposts keep the original entry slip sometimes, but you still need to show it later. For forex card use and TCS on foreign travel, permits paid in Nepal do not attract TCS because you pay locally in cash. However if you book a full package from India, TCS rules apply to the package value, so factor 5-20% TCS that you can later claim.

Pro Tips Only Frequent Trekkers Know

First, photo matters. Bring two identical passport photos with white background. The TIMS card uses it, and a second copy helps if you extend a restricted permit. I once used a selfie print and got rejected.

Second, timing saves money. Manaslu and Nar-Phu cost less outside Sep-Nov and Mar-May. So shifting your Manaslu trek to December drops the restricted fee from $100 to $75 per week. That said, winter means snow, so pack accordingly.

Third, do not buy permits from a random shop in Thamel without a TAAN/NTB receipt. Real permits have a hologram and QR. Fake ACAP paper looks real until the Birethanti scanner beeps red. Because of that, use the official counters or a registered agency. Our Bangalore team checks every receipt before you fly, which avoids that exact scam.

Fourth, keep TIMS and ACAP together. The nepal trekking permits cost is often quoted as a single total, but they are two separate papers. If you laminate one and not the other, officials will still ask for both.

Quick check before you start: TIMS on top, conservation permit below, passport copy behind it, all in a zip pouch. I also click a photo of each. When it rains in Annapurna, paper dies fast.

Finally, if you plan two treks back-to-back, for example Poon Hill then Mardi Himal, you do not need a second ACAP if you have not exited the conservation area. Explain at the checkpoint and they will note it. That saves ₹625.

Practical Info: Best Time, What to Pack, Insurance and Getting There

Best time for permits? The office is open year-round, but trek season is mid-Sep to Nov and Mar to May. During Dashain (Oct) and peak spring, queues are longer. So reach early or let an agency queue for you.

How to reach Nepal from India: Direct flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Mumbai to Kathmandu run daily (IndiGo, Nepal Airlines, Air India). Return fares often sit at ₹18,000-₹28,000. Overland, Indians can cross at Sonauli, Raxaul or Panitanki with Voter ID or passport, then bus to Kathmandu or Pokhara. But for Everest, you still fly Kathmandu-Lukla.

What to carry for permits: passport original + 2 copies, 2-4 photos, NPR cash, and your guide/agency letter if using one. Keep a soft copy of each permit on your phone. Also carry travel insurance for Indians that covers trekking up to 5,500m and helicopter evacuation. Checkposts do not ask for insurance, but hospitals and heli companies do. A basic 14-day cover costs ₹1,800-₹3,500, which is tiny compared to a $5,000 heli bill.

What to pack beyond permits: layers, not bulk. Down jacket, rain shell, quick-dry tees, trekking poles, water purifier, and cash. ATMs in Namche and Jomsom work, but fees are high and networks fail. For more on spending abroad, this travel money guide for Indians and the Nepal Tourism Board official site help you double-check the latest fee notices before you go.

Need an adventure beyond Nepal later? You can also look at the Almaty Adventure & Ski Experience - 5 Nights 6 Days Winter Package or the Cebu & Bohol Adventure - 5 Nights 6 Days Philippines Thrills & Nature for a different mountain-to-island mix, while your core Himalayan plan stays focused on Nepal.

And remember, the nepal trekking permits cost is just one line in your budget. Food, tea houses (₹1,000-₹2,500 per night with meals), and guide/porter fees matter more. So budget permits at ₹1,250-₹3,200 for classic treks, and at ₹10,000-₹42,000 for restricted ones, then add daily expenses.

A Last Note Before You Tie Your Laces

Permits feel like admin until the mountains make sense of them. The fees keep trails marked, bridges repaired and forests guarded, and TIMS actually helps find lost trekkers. Pay the right fee at the right counter, keep the paper safe, and you walk easy.

If you want a hand, Nepal tour packages from TripCabinet handle permits, guide, stays and Lukla flights in one plan, so you just show up and trek. I still keep that first fake-looking ACAP as a reminder. The mountains forgave me. The checkpost did not.