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 organise your Nepal trekking permits. In this article we explain what you’ll need and how to get the various Nepal trekking permits paperwork done.

TIMS Card and Trekking Permit

The first official document you need – and the one that 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 9am-5pm (though there’s sometimes nobody around between about 1-2pm). The latest you can make a permit application is 4pm.

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.

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 takes half-an-hour or so to issue. In addition to the payment you’ll also need to provide:

• 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

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 then it’s likely going to be a long journey back to Kathmandu or Pokhara!

The cost of permits for the Everest, Annapurna and Langtang areas, as well as many other trekking regions, is 3000 Nepalese Rupees per person. For the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, it’s 2000 Nepalese Rupees. For Makalu Trek - National park fee 3000, Nepalese Rupees TIMS 2000 and Local Municipality fee 2000 Nepalese Rupees per person.

If you’re trekking the most popular routes in any of the big three trekking regions (Annapurna, Everest or Langtang) then you’re now good to go.

Restricted Area Permit

If you’re trekking in some of the lesser trodden parts of the country then 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), but in other areas such as Upper Mustang and Inner Dolpo they are very expensive indeed.

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

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

Sorce: Nepal Tourism Board

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 at the start of your holiday to get everything sorted out. If you’re on an organised trek, your trekking agency will deal with all the required permit paperwork when you go sight-seeing. Independent trekkers will need to do it alone but in most cases it’s all pretty painless. Unfortunately, none of the Nepal trekking permits can be obtained at home before leaving for Nepal.