Trekking Permits
TIMS, licensed-guide rules, protected-area entry and restricted-area permits.
Permit requirements depend on the exact trekking route. Nepal Tourism Board's revised TIMS provision, effective from March 31, 2023, lists specific protected-area trekking routes where trekkers must be accompanied by a licensed trekking guide and carry a trekking-agency-issued TIMS Card.
The official TIMS route list includes major routes in the Everest, Langtang, Manaslu, Annapurna and Mustang regions, among others. Because requirements are route-specific, check your exact itinerary against the current Nepal Tourism Board list before trekking.
Protected areas can also require their own national-park or conservation-area entry permits. Restricted areas require a special trekking permit; Nepal Tourism Board states that restricted-area permits are obtained through the Department of Immigration and should be arranged through the applicable registered trekking process.
Permit fees, route coverage and guide rules can change. Before paying an agency or starting a trek, verify the current rules with Nepal Tourism Board and, for restricted areas, the Department of Immigration.