Some documents required to trek in Nepal.
- Visa
- Passport
- Few passports sized photos
- Insurance papers, depending on the agency and where you will be traveling to.
Visa Details
All nationals except for that of India should get a Visa to enter Nepal. It is easy to get a Nepali visa.
Some nationals can get a visa on arrival or when entering Nepal at one of the border entry points. Check which nationals can get visa on arrival or consult with the embassy.
Fee structure for visa is as follows.
US $25 for 15 days
US $40 for 30 days
US $100 for 90 days
For extension, fee structure is as:
US $30 for 15 days extension
US $50 for 30 days extension
US $2 per day after first extension
Visa Details for Indian Nationals
Indian nationals do not need a visa. However, they should carry documents that identify them as an Indian citizen. It involves:
- A valid Indian Passport
- Photo identity card issued by the Government of India. Or, issued by any State Government or Union Territory Administration in India, or the Election Commission of India.
- Emergency Certificate issued by the Embassy of India in Nepal.
Visa Details for SAARC nationals
Trekkers from SAARC countries get a gratis visa, which means free visa, for up to 30 days.
In a year, one can only stay a total of 150 days.
Permits required for trekking in Nepal
Most of the trekking regions in Nepal fall under a certain conservation project or is a restricted area.
Therefore, every trekker, whether independent or trekking through a travel agency, need to get a few permits. You must show these permits at entrance point, exit point, and en route.
Always carry your permits and a photocopy of your passport.
For permits, you will need 2 or more passport-sized photo and a photocopy of your passport. If you are trekking with an agency, they will manage all the permits for you.
Permit fees are normally included in the package.
US $1= Nrs.100 (roughly). (Check the current exchange rate.) You need to pay for permits in Nepali rupees.
- Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit: Nrs.3000 per person ($30)
- Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) permit: Nrs.3000 per person ($30)
- Sagarmatha National Park permit (Everest region): Nrs.3000 per person ($30)
- Langtang National Park permit: Nrs.3000 per person ($30)
- Makalu Barun Conservation Area permit: Nrs.2000 per person ($20)
- Shey Phoksundo National Park permit: Nrs.3000 per person ($30)
Along with the regional permits, one needs to obtain Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) card before entering the trekking area. It costs Nrs.2000 per person. As a group, you can take a blue TIMS card that costs Nrs.1000 per person.
You can get TIMS card from Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) office or Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) office.
Permits for Restricted Areas
To trek to restricted areas, one needs to get a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) along with the conservation area permit of that place. TIMS card is not required if you have RAP.
Restricted areas of Nepal and their permit fees are:
- Manaslu: US $70 per person for 1 week and US $10 per day after one week
- Upper Mustang: US $500 per person for first 10 days and US $50 per day after the 10th day
- Upper Dolpo: US $500 per person for first 10 days and US $50 per day after the 10th day
- Lower Dolpo: US $10 per person per week
- Kanchenjunga: US $10 per person per week
Price may fall for offseason.
For Manaslu Circuit trek, you need MCAP and ACAP permit and RAP of Manaslu. TIMS card is not required for restricted areas.
You can get Restricted Area Permit through government registered trekking companies only. It is also compulsory to take along a licensed guide and one more trekker to trek to these areas. Trekking solo is not permitted.
