How to get TIMS card and trekking permits in Nepal

Most newly arrived visitors to Nepal are keen to get out on the high mountain trails as soon as possible. But, before you lace up your hiking boots you need to organize your Nepal trekking permits. This article explains what you’ll need and how to get the various Nepal trekking permits paperwork done.

TIMS Card And Trekking Permits

The first official document you need, which is required for every Nepalese trek, is a TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System) card. This is essentially just so that the authorities know where in the mountains you’re headed and when. It’s fast and simple to obtain in either Kathmandu or Pokhara.

In Kathmandu, you get the TIMS card at the main tourist office on Pradarshani Marg, which is about a twenty-minute walk from the Thamel tourist area. The office is open daily from 9 am-5 pm (though there’s sometimes nobody around between about 1-2 pm). The latest you can make a permit application is 4 pm.

In Pokhara, the paperwork can all be obtained from the TAAN (Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal) Lakeside office in Santi Patan. Hours are the same as for the Kathmandu office.

TIMS Card Cost

The TIMS card costs 2000 Nepalese Rupees (there’s an ATM just outside the building in Kathmandu) for fully independent trekkers and 1000 Nepalese Rupees for those who are part of a group using a trekking agency. The TIMS cards generally only take half an hour or so to issue. In addition to the payment, you’ll also need to provide:

Require Documents TIMS Card

• Photocopy of your passport information pages
• Two passport-sized photos

You’ll also need to have the following information to hand:

• Start and end dates of your trek
• Entry and exit points for your trek
• Trek route and itinerary
• Insurance policy number and details of what the policy covers in terms of trekking at altitude. You’ll also need to supply the emergency phone number of the insurance company.
• Emergency contact number and address in Nepal (trekking company/hotel)
• Emergency contact number in your home country

Trekking Permits

In addition to the TIMS card for the majority of treks, you’ll also need to gather up a few other bits of paper. For the main trekking areas (Annapurna and Langtang), these are simply the relevant national park permits which can also be obtained at the same Kathmandu or Pokhara offices as the TIMS card. It’s sometimes possible to get national park permits at the entrance check posts to each park. However, we strongly recommend that you do not do this because if you can’t get one, it will likely be a long journey back to Kathmandu or Pokhara!

Trekking Permits Cost

Find below the cost for the trekking permits in Nepal.

• If you are trekking any National Park or Conservation Area, then you need to pay 3390 Nepalese Rupees and TIMS Card 2000 Nepalese Rupees per person.
• For all Restricted Area, you need to pay special Restricted Area permits (details check below) and National Park or Conservation fees as you traveling.

Restricted Area Permit

If you’re trekking in some of the country's lesser trodden parts, you may have to obtain a Restricted Area Permit. In some cases, these Restricted Area Permits are fairly cheap and are fast to obtain (the Kanchenjunga area being a case in point). Still, in other trekking areas such as Upper Mustang and Upper Dolpo, they are very expensive indeed.

All Restricted Areas require you to be a part of an organized trek arranged through a licensed trekking company, but ‘organized’ can be as low-key as you, a companion, and a guide. Your trekking company will organize these permits for you (they’ll also organize your TIMS card and any national park permits required). Need minimum 2 people to get Restricted Area Permit.

The following is a non-comprehensive list of Restricted Area Permit costs and requirements:

Source: Nepal Tourism Board

Conclusion

If trekking outside of the main tourist seasons, for each trekking region, then permit and park entrance fees are sometimes reduced. SAARS citizens also pay less for park entry fees and TIMS cards but not for restricted area permits.

Whatever Nepal trekking permits you’ll need to complete before hitting the mountain trails, it’s best to allow a full day in Kathmandu to get everything sorted out at the start of your holiday. If you’re on an organized trek, your trekking agency will deal with all the required permit paperwork when you go sightseeing. Independent trekkers will need to do it alone, but it’s all pretty painless in most cases. Unfortunately, none of the Nepal trekking permits can be obtained at home before leaving for Nepal.