Annapurna Circuit Trek Permits 2026: ACAP and TIMS Costs, Process and Tips
The Annapurna Circuit needs two permits: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP, NPR 3,000) and a TIMS card (NPR 2,000). That's NPR 5,000, about USD 32, for a foreign trekker. SAARC nationals pay NPR 1,000 for each. Since 1 April 2023 both are issued through a registered agency, and a licensed guide has to walk with you. Buy ACAP in Kathmandu or Pokhara, because at a trail checkpoint it costs double. The standard circuit needs no restricted area permit. Side trips to Nar Phu or Upper Mustang do.
- Permits neededACAP + TIMS card
- ACAP feeNPR 3,000 (SAARC NPR 1,000)
- TIMS feeNPR 2,000 (SAARC NPR 1,000)
- Total, foreignersNPR 5,000, about USD 32
- GuideLicensed guide required since 1 April 2023
- Highest pointThorong La, 5,416 m
The Annapurna Circuit trek is one of the most adventurous treks in the Annapurna region. It is filled with big mountain scenery, lakes, glaciers and waterfalls. The maximum altitude of the Annapurna Circuit trek is 5,416 m (17,769 ft) at the Thorong La pass. As the trek involves passing high-altitude passes, there is the risk of acute mountain sickness /altitude sickness, and it is not beginner-friendly.
To complete this trek, one needs to obtain permits first. Permits are documents that provide permission to trek on the trail. These permits are especially needed in protected or restricted areas in every trek, such as national parks, conservation areas, and restricted areas. These help control the movement of people in these protected places of the nation.
To complete the Annapurna Circuit trek, one needs to trek through the Annapurna Conservation Area, which is a protected area hence, you need to obtain the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit. Another required permit is the Trekker's Information Management System card (TIMS card). These permits are mandatory for foreign trekkers. Nepali citizens do not need a TIMS card and pay little or nothing for ACAP.
1. Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP or ANCAP)
Annapurna Conservation Area was established in 1986 to conserve local flora and fauna, preserve local cultures and traditions, and increase tourist flow. Before this, the Annapurna region was not as sought after for treks as it is now. With the increase in the flow of trekkers, the Annapurna Conservation Area permit policy has been introduced to provide trekkers with better safety and protect the Annapurna Conservation Area. You can not think about completing the Annapurna Circuit trek without the ACAP.
The documents required for the Anapurna Conservation Area Permit are two passport-size pictures (recent), a photocopy of a valid passport, a trekking route, details of the trekking agency through which you want to obtain the permit, and the details of the guide.
2. Trekker's Information Management System card (TIMS card)
TIMS card was implemented in Nepal on January 1, 2008, by the joint decision of the Nepal Tourism Board(NTB) and the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal(TAAN). Since then, the card has been compulsory on most trekking routes in Nepal, the Everest region and restricted areas being the exceptions, and the Annapurna Circuit trek is no exception to this rule. TIMS card helps to keep a record of all the trekker's movements alongside their details for the safety purpose of the trekkers and easy rescue operation on the trail if needed. TIMS cards were once colour-coded (green for individual trekkers, blue for groups), but that system was scrapped in April 2023, and today there is a single card issued only through registered trekking agencies. But since April 2023, even solo trekkers have needed to apply for the TIMS card through a registered travel agency and have a guide who is going to assist their Annapurna Circuit trek.
The documents required to obtain the Trekker's Information System Card are a copy of a valid passport, two passport-size pictures, a detailed itinerary, details of the trekking agency, and emergency contact details in your home country.
Annapurna Circuit Trek Permit Costs
The price for Annapurna Conservation Area differs for foreigners and trekkers from the SAARC nations. Trekkers who are citizens of the SAARC countries pay Nepali rupees 1,000 for the ACAP permit. For other foreign trekkers, the cost of the ACAP is Nepali rupees 3,000 (about USD 20).
Just like the ACAP permit, the cost of a TIMS card differs depending on the trekker's nationality. For foreigners, it is Nepali rupees 2,000 (about USD 13), and for citizens of SAARC nations, it is Nepali rupees 1,000.
Note: The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit and the TIMS card are free for children under 10 years of age.
Permit Cost at a Glance (2026)
| Who | Total cost | NPR | Made up of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign trekker, permits bought in advance | NPR 5,000 | ACAP 3,000 + TIMS 2,000 | |
| Foreign trekker, ACAP bought at a checkpoint | NPR 8,000 | ACAP 6,000 + TIMS 2,000 | |
| SAARC national | NPR 2,000 | ACAP 1,000 + TIMS 1,000 | |
| Child under 10 | NPR 0 | Both free |
Fees are paid in Nepali rupees. No change to either fee has been announced for 2026, and both figures match our Nepal trekking permits guide and TIMS card guide.
Where do you get the permits needed for the Annapurna Conservation Area trek?
The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit can be obtained from the Nepal Tourism Board. It is located in two places in Nepal: Kathmandu (Bhrikutimandap) and Pokhara. Depending on which location is more accessible, you can get your Annapurna Conservation Area Permit from there.
The National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), which manages the conservation area, also issues ACAP in Kathmandu and Pokhara. If you do not get it in either city, the last place is the ACAP office at Besisahar, Lamjung, where you may be charged the higher checkpoint rate.
To save you some stress, we suggest you get the permit in Kathmandu or Pokhara, not while you are on the Annapurna Circuit trek. An ACAP bought at a trail checkpoint costs double, NPR 6,000 instead of NPR 3,000.
The TIMS card must be obtained through a trekking/travel agency, which will do all the work on your behalf. You need to provide them with the required documents and the money.
Tip: since April 2023 your agency normally arranges ACAP together with the TIMS card, so you rarely need to queue at the Tourism Board yourself.
Annapurna Circuit Permit Checkpoints
Expect to show both permits several times. ACAP staff and police check them at the posts below, and the exact list can shift between seasons. Keep the cards in a dry pocket near the top of your daypack. Your guide usually handles the stamping.
| Checkpoint | Altitude | Where it sits on the circuit |
|---|---|---|
| Besisahar | 760 m | Start of the trek, ACAP office |
| Dharapani | 1,860 m | Where the Manaslu route joins |
| Chame | 2,670 m | District headquarters of Manang |
| Manang | 3,540 m | Acclimatisation stop, ACAP office |
| Muktinath | 3,760 m | First check after Thorong La |
| Jomsom | 2,720 m | Exit by road or flight to Pokhara |
Also Read:
Annapurna Circuit Trek in July
Annapurna circuit trek in April: Weather, Pros and Cons
Is a Restricted Area Permit needed for the Annapurna Circuit trek?
Few places in Nepal are labelled as restricted areas as the government keeps these places on top of the priority list for their protection or conservation in every way possible. To trek through these restricted areas, one needs a Restricted Area Permit (RAP). The main Annapurna Circuit route doesn't pass through any restricted area, so trekkers on the standard circuit do not need a Restricted Area Permit. Two popular side trips do, as the table below shows.
Note: some of the places in Nepal that require the Restricted Area Permit are Upper Mustang, Upper Dolpo, Manaslu Circuit Trek, Nar Phu Valley Trek, Tsum Valley Trek, etc.
Side Trips That Change Your Permits
| Side trip | Permit status | What you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Tilicho Lake (4,919 m) | No extra permit | ACAP and TIMS cover it. See our Tilicho Lake guide. |
| Nar Phu Valley, from Koto | Restricted area permit | USD 100 for the first week from September to November (USD 75 in other months), then USD 15 a day, plus ACAP. |
| Upper Mustang, north of Kagbeni | Restricted area permit | USD 50 per person per day inside the restricted zone, plus ACAP. |
| Starting on the Manaslu Circuit | Extra permits | Manaslu restricted area permit and MCAP (NPR 3,000) for the Manaslu side, then ACAP from Dharapani on. |
Restricted area permits are issued by the Department of Immigration through an agency, and since March 2026 a single trekker can get one, though a licensed guide must still go along. Fees here follow the TAAN schedule and the November 2025 Upper Mustang change, as listed in our permits guide.
Can trekkers get permits for the Annapurna Circuit trek without a guide or travel agency?
No, since the law to ban solo trekkers has been implemented in Nepal since April 1st, 2023, you need to go through a registered travel agency to get a TIMS card. There is no way an individual trekker is handed the permit without the assistance of a travel agency, as the Annapurna region abides by this law. Why such a law you may ask. Well, according to the authorised governmental bodies, the ban on solo trekkers is to increase the safety of the people as solo trekkers can get in more trouble without anyone around to help them. In the group, there is always some assistance, and having guides ensures nothing goes wrong on the trail. Another main motive for implementing this law is to increase the employment opportunities for the local guides and give them more recognition. So you can't get a TIMS card without a travel agency and a guide.
Some must-know facts about the trekking permits of the Annapurna Circuit trek (TIMS and Annapurna Conservation Area Permit)
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For both TIMS and ACAP permits, you need to pay in Nepali currency, any other currencies of other nations are not accepted.
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Even if you decide to change your mind and do not want to trek anymore the price paid for the permits is non-refundable.
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Before starting the Annapurna Circuit trek, make sure you have both the TIMS card and the Annapurna Conservation Area permit.
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The TIMS card and ACAP permit are for single use that is they are valid only for a single entry.
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You must be able to show a permit anywhere on the Annapurna Circuit trek at any time when asked by authorised personnel.
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Permits must be used by the permit holder only (the person whose documents are used to issue the permit), or legal action will be taken.
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In cases where one is in genuine trouble and needs to get permits at the checkpoints, 100% of the additional charge is added to the original cost.
What is the process for obtaining permits for the Annapurna Circuit trek through a travel agency?
First and foremost, you need to do your research and find an authorised travel agency to guide you on your trek. After deciding on the agency, give them your detailed itinerary. The travel agency then asks you for all the documents required to get both the permits for the Annapurna Circuit trek (TIMS card and ACAP permit). You need to provide them with those documents. Pay the travel agency fees for the permits needed. Now be patient and wait for the agency to proceed further. Once both permits are in hand, you're ready to start walking.
Annapurna Circuit Permits: FAQs
Do I need a TIMS card for the Annapurna Circuit?
Yes. The Annapurna region still uses TIMS alongside ACAP, at NPR 2,000 for foreigners and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals. The card comes through your agency.
How much do Annapurna Circuit permits cost in total?
NPR 5,000, about USD 32, for a foreign trekker who buys ACAP in advance. Buy ACAP at a checkpoint and the total rises to NPR 8,000.
Can I trek the Annapurna Circuit without a guide?
Not legally. Since 1 April 2023 foreign trekkers in the Annapurna region need a licensed guide booked through a registered agency, and the TIMS card is only issued that way.
Do I need an extra permit for Tilicho Lake?
No. Tilicho sits inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so your ACAP and TIMS card cover the detour from Manang.
Can I use the same permits for a second trek later?
No. Each permit covers one entry for the trek on your application. A second trip, even in the same region, needs new permits.
