Nepal Trekking Permits

Some people argue about the provision of trekking permits being nuisance to the trekking industry in Nepal. This is absolutely a crazy argument because permits are not only for the permission to trek but it is significant for local economy, conservation effort, and safety. Therefore, you must not bypass the rule of the Nepal Trekking Permits for your epic trekking journey in the trails of Nepal. Today’s blog is about providing the authentic information about the various permits required for the trek.

The blogger has been working in the field of Nepalese Trekking and Tourism Industry for more than two decades. Therefore, I have seen lots of incidents happening in the trekking trail concerning the Nepal Trekking Permits. There are lots of cases where trekkers went missing and quick rescue was done due to the record keeping of the permit in the various check posts. These trekking permits help immensely in making sure those trekkers are right on course. In addition to the safety issues, these Nepal Trekking Permits are highly effective for the conservation works and uplifting the local economy of the host places.

Nepal Trekking Permits are helpful in running the system that protects vegetation, wildlife, and overall environment of the place. Furthermore, these permits are the only way to keep the tracking of trekkers. Please note that the permits help you to be safe while trekking in the higher elevation and wilderness areas of Nepal. The authority can promptly act in case of emergencies and trekkers get priority.

What are different Nepal Trekking Permits?

Countless trekking routes are there in Nepal for trekkers to knit the beautiful walking holidays. The trails are from short to long and from easy to arduous. Therefore, there is something for everyone. You can choose to walk through the valleys or through green lush forests into the open Himalayan landscape. Similarly, you can also traverse through authentic multi – ethnic villages. From culture to nature, trekking in Nepal is always special and momentous. If you are searching for the trails where you can get the value of your travel investment, then Nepal is an ideal trekking destination. To trek in Nepal, you must acquire various Nepal Trekking Permits. It depends upon the region and the specialty of the places.

Different Nepal Trekking Permits are the national park permit, conservation area permit, rural municipality permit, and special restricted area permit.

National Park Permits in Nepal

The country is rich in flora and fauna. Therefore, there are many national parks in Nepal where you can find the amazing diversity of wildlife and vegetation. These parks are an ideal place to do research about these wonders of Mother Nature. Some of the trekking trails of Nepal traverses through these national parks. Therefore, you need the national park entry permit. In fact, two national parks of Nepal are listed as the world heritage sites. They are the Sagarmatha National Park and the Chitwan National Park.

Local Municipality Permits for Trekking in Nepal

Few years before the provision of the local municipality entry permit was not in effect except in special places like Khumbu. Nowadays, you must acquire the local permit to do trek in certain areas. The provision of the local rural municipality permit is actually the blessing in disguise for the locals. It has helped immensely to increase the tourism awareness among the locals and they are benefitting greatly.

Furthermore, the local permit has helped the locals to conduct various training and workshop regarding the proper utilization of the local resources. Normally, the cost of the local municipality permit starts from NRs. 1000 to NRs. 2000 depending upon the destination. For example, Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit in the Everest Base Camp Trek route costs NRs. 2000 whereas the Tsum Nubri Rural Municipality Permit in the Manaslu Circuit Trek costs NRs. 1000.

Conservation Area Permits

The perfect example of the local and government participation for the preservation of culture and nature is the idea of the Conservation Area. These areas are created with view to benefit the locals and conserve the vegetation as well as wildlife of the region. It has contributed greatly in maintaining the environmental balance. Major conservation areas of Nepal are the Annapurna Conservation Area, Manaslu Conservation Area, and Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. Normally, the cost of the conservation area permits is around NRs. 3000 for foreigners and NRs. 1500 for SAARC nationals.

Special Restricted Region Permits

The places in the northern border of Nepal with Tibet (Autonomous region of People’s Republic of China) are listed under the restricted regions. These restrictions are made due to geo – political issues and rare cultural & natural resources of the region. Therefore, you need to fulfill certain criteria before visiting these places. Trekkers have to get the special restricted area permit from the Immigration office in Kathmandu with the help of the Nepal Government registered trekking company. You are not allowed to trek alone and unguided in these trekking trails of Nepal. The permit cost for the special restricted area depends upon the season and area. For example, the Upper Mustang Trek Restricted permit costs 500 $ whereas the Manaslu Circuit Trek permit costs 100 $ to 75 $.

What Happened to the Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) Permit?

Nowadays, you don’t need to obtain the Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS). This is the permit issued by the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) to track the trekkers and for the betterment of the lives of trekking workers. However, the permit became nuisance to trekkers and it increased the trip budget. Therefore, TAAN decided to stop the provision of the TIMS permit for trekkers. You don’t need TIMS which normally costs around 10 $ for trekking in Nepal.

What happens if I trek in Nepal without permit?

Don’t try to do the trek in Nepal without valid permits. If you are found trekking in the trails of Nepal without permit, then you may have to pay penalty which is double or sometimes triple the original price of the permit. Moreover, trekkers without trekking permit are banned from trekking and on extreme cases, they may be deported. Therefore, do not trek in Nepal without the Nepal Trekking Permits.