As a trekker, it is mandatory that you have a Trekking Permit for trekking in any part of Nepal except for general trekking in Annapurna, Everest and Langtang region without entering into the protected areas. Depending on the trekking trail you have chosen, you may need other type of trekking permit as well. Failing to possess a valid trekking permit may get you in trouble as police check posts along the trail check permits. For trekking in Nepal, trekking permits provisioned are Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) card, Special Trekking Permit for restricted or controlled areas and Permits for trekking into a Conservation Area or National Park. As a trekker, depending on the trail, you may have to obtain any two of the trekking permits for the trekking expedition.
You need a Special Trekking Permit for Restricted or Controlled Areas for most regions, except those that do not require trekking permits. The Department of Immigration issues these special permits before the commencement of the trek. You can obtain them through a government-registered trekking company. In such restricted areas, they do not allow you to trek without a guide. Some restricted areas for trekking include Upper and Lower Dolpo, Upper Mustang, Nar and Phu valleys, and the Manaslu Area. Department of Immigration issues permits for foreign tourists who intend to trek in controlled areas of Nepal.
Trekkers need a Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) Card. They require you to have this permit in areas where a trekking permit is not needed. They implemented this card to keep a systematic database of trekkers. This ensures their safety and security. They can carry out search and rescue operations based on the gathered information of the trekkers. TIMS card is of two types, Green for independent trekkers and Blue for trekkers in organized groups. You can obtain a TIMS card from the TAAN (Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal) secretariat in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
You generally need a permit to trek into conservation areas and national parks. Most of the popular trekking trails are part of some national park or conservation area. The permits are issued either by National Trust of Nature Conservation (NTNC) or by Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC). The fees of such permit depend on the relative importance of protected areas and nationality of the trekkers. You need a special permit to enter Chitwan National Park, one of the major protected areas. Bardia National Park also requires such a permit. Sagarmatha National Park is another area with this requirement. Additionally, Makalu Barun Conservation Area and Gaurishankar Conservation Area require special permits for entrance. You can generally obtain permits for protected areas at their entrances. However, there are some exceptions to this provision.
Keep in mind that the trekking permit isn’t extended beyond the visa expiry date. They issue these permits for groups of two or more people, and a single trekker has to buy two permits. However, Nepali citizens do not need to get a trekking permit. Foreign guests invited by the Government of Nepal are also exempt from this requirement. Additionally, authorities from diplomatic missions with an official letter do not need a trekking permit.
