The Annapurna Base Camp trek permits are simple compared to most major Nepal trekking routes — two permits required, both included in the Mountain Hike Nepal package, and your guide handles every checkpoint presentation from Birethanti to the sanctuary. The Annapurna region requires both the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and the TIMS card in 2026 — unlike the Everest region, where a local municipality permit replaced TIMS back in 2018, TIMS remains in effect for Annapurna treks including ABC. The total ABC permit cost runs approximately USD 38 per person — among the lowest of any major Himalayan trekking route in Nepal — and every trekker’s only action is carrying the original passport for identity verification at checkpoints.
What’s Inside This Guide
- Permits Required — 2026 Summary
- ACAP Permit — Full Details
- TIMS Card — Current Status
- Checkpoint Locations on the Route
- Guide Requirement 2026
- ABC Permits vs Other Nepal Treks
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Planning Guides
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Permits — 2026 Summary
| Permit | Status | Cost Per Person | In Package? | Where Issued |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) | ✅ Required | NPR 3,000 (~USD 23) | ✅ Yes — included | NTB office Kathmandu, Pokhara, or Birethanti checkpoint |
| TIMS Card | ✅ Required | NPR 2,000 (~USD 15) | ✅ Yes — included | Kathmandu or Pokhara, via registered agency |
| Restricted Area Permit | Not required | USD 0 | N/A | Annapurna Conservation Area is open — no RAP needed |
| NMA Trekking Peak Permit | Not required | USD 0 | N/A | ABC is a trekking route — no peak climbing permit applies |
Why the Annapurna Base Camp trek permits are simpler than most trekkers expect
The Annapurna Base Camp trek permits consist of two permits — the ACAP at NPR 3,000 and TIMS at NPR 2,000, totalling roughly USD 38 per person. No NMA mountaineering permit, no Restricted Area Permit, no special government clearance. We include both permits in the Mountain Hike Nepal package and arrange them before you even land, so ABC has one of the lowest permit costs of any major Nepal trekking destination and zero independent application requirements from the trekker at any point.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Permits — ACAP in Detail
The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit covers the entire ABC route from the entry point at Birethanti through the Modi Khola gorge and into the Annapurna Sanctuary. Every trekker entering the Annapurna Conservation Area needs this permit — no exceptions, no age exemptions, no annual subscription system.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Cost | NPR 3,000 per person (approximately USD 23) |
| Validity | Valid for the duration of the trek — no daily limits or expiry within normal trekking period |
| Where issued | Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu or Pokhara — or at Birethanti checkpoint on the trail |
| Documents needed | Original passport — photocopy not accepted at Birethanti checkpoint |
| Checked at | Birethanti (main ACAP entry) and Chhomrong checkpoint on the trail |
| In Mountain Hike Nepal package? | Yes — arranged before departure, guide carries all documentation |
Mountain Hike Nepal arranges the ACAP in Kathmandu before departure day — your guide carries the documentation and presents it at both checkpoints. The checkpoint officer verifies identity against the original passport too, so carry your passport in the daypack top pocket throughout the trek, not in the porter’s duffel. The ACAP process requires no independent action from the trekker beyond passport availability at checkpoints.
What the ACAP fee funds
The Annapurna Conservation Area Project uses ACAP revenue directly for conservation, trail maintenance, community development programmes, and environmental monitoring across the 7,629 km² Annapurna Conservation Area, the largest protected area in Nepal. The ACAP model also stands out internationally as one of the more effective conservation funding systems in Asia — the permit fee directly supports the communities and environments that make the ABC trek what it is. The NPR 3,000 permit fee is one of the better-value contributions any international trekker makes on any Nepal trip.
TIMS Card — Current Status for 2026
The Annapurna region requires the TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) card, including on ABC, in 2026. This is a different situation from the Everest region: Khumbu replaced TIMS with its own local municipality permit back in 2018, and other regions like Annapurna and Langtang continued using TIMS as before. If you’ve seen a claim that TIMS is suspended everywhere in Nepal, that’s incorrect and likely conflates the Khumbu-specific situation with the rest of the country.
What the TIMS requirement means in practice
Mountain Hike Nepal arranges your TIMS card, alongside the ACAP, through a registered agency before departure. There’s no independent NTB office visit for TIMS registration and no separate NPR 2,000 fee to pay yourself — it’s already in your package price. Mountain Hike Nepal monitors current permit requirements before every departure too, so if anything changes ahead of your trek, you’ll hear about it directly from us rather than finding out at a checkpoint.
Permit Checkpoints on the ABC Route
| Checkpoint | Location | Day | Altitude | Permit Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birethanti ACAP entry | Birethanti — passed by vehicle en route to Ghandruk | Day 2 | ~1,025m | ACAP permit + passport identity |
| Chhomrong checkpoint | Chhomrong village | Day 3 | 2,170m | ACAP and TIMS verification |
| Upper sanctuary spot checks | Various above Chhomrong | Days 4–6 | 2,310–4,130m | Occasional permit spot checks |
What happens at checkpoints
Your Mountain Hike Nepal guide presents all permit documentation and handles the checkpoint process completely. The officer verifies your identity against the original passport and records your permit number and destination — a process that takes 2–5 minutes per trekker. Occasional spot checks also occur above Chhomrong where rangers verify permits on the upper gorge trail. Carry the original passport in the daypack top pocket throughout the trek, accessible within 10 seconds at any unexpected checkpoint, not buried in the porter’s duffel.
Guide Requirement 2026
Since April 2023, Nepal’s trekking regulation requires all foreign trekkers to use a licensed guide on all standard trekking routes — including the entire ABC route from Ghandruk to the Annapurna Sanctuary. Current Nepal government regulation no longer permits solo or independent trekking without a licensed guide, regardless of nationality, experience level, or group size.
This regulation applies on every ABC trail variation too — the standard Ghandruk route, the Poon Hill extension, and the Ghorepani approach all fall under the same guide requirement. Mountain Hike Nepal includes a licensed, experienced English-speaking guide on every ABC departure as a standard inclusion, not an optional add-on. For more on independent trekking and the guide regulation: ABC Trek Without Guide — What You Need to Know →
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Permits vs Other Nepal Treks
| Trek | Permits Required | Total Permit Cost | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Base Camp | ACAP + TIMS | ~USD 38 | Low — two permits, both included |
| Everest Base Camp | SNP + Khumbu Pasang Lhamu (TIMS not required in Khumbu) | ~USD 46 | Two permits — all included in package |
| Langtang Valley | Langtang National Park + TIMS | ~USD 40 | Two permits — simple |
| Manaslu Circuit | MCAP + MSTBZ + Tsum Valley (if applicable) | USD 175–350+ | Restricted area — complex |
| Annapurna Circuit | ACAP + TIMS | ~USD 38 | Same permits — same simplicity as ABC |
| Upper Mustang | Restricted Area Permit | USD 500+ | Complex — quota-controlled |
The Annapurna Base Camp trek permits table shows ABC sitting among the simplest and least expensive options — two straightforward permits at roughly USD 38, and we include both in the package. No Restricted Area Permit and no NMA trekking peak permit apply here either, which keeps ABC one of the more permit-straightforward major Himalayan treks available. The real financial contrast shows up against routes like Manaslu and Upper Mustang, where restricted-area permit systems push costs into the hundreds of dollars — ABC and Annapurna Circuit sit well below that, alongside Langtang and EBC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two permits — the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) at NPR 3,000 (~USD 23) and the TIMS card at NPR 2,000 (~USD 15), roughly USD 38 total per person. Mountain Hike Nepal includes both in every package price and arranges them before departure. The Annapurna Base Camp trek permits process requires zero independent action from the trekker beyond carrying an original passport for checkpoint verification.
No — Mountain Hike Nepal arranges both the ACAP and TIMS before departure as part of standard pre-departure logistics. The guide carries all documentation and presents it at every checkpoint on the route. No independent NTB office visits, no separate applications, and no permit queue management are needed from the trekker at any point. Your only permit-related action is carrying your original passport in your daypack throughout the trek for checkpoint identity verification.
Yes — TIMS is required for the Annapurna region, including ABC, in 2026. This is different from the Everest/Khumbu region, where a local municipality permit replaced TIMS back in 2018. Mountain Hike Nepal includes the TIMS card in every package price and arranges it alongside the ACAP before departure, so no trekker faces an unexpected permit cost or paperwork gap at a checkpoint.
Related Planning Guides
- ABC Trek Package — Full 10-day expedition with permits included from USD 597
- ABC Trek Cost 2026 — Full budget including permit costs
- Day-by-Day Itinerary — Checkpoint locations on each day
- Trek Route and Map — Full route with checkpoint positions
- Trek Without a Guide — Guide regulation and what it means for independent trekkers
- How Hard Is the ABC Trek? — Full route difficulty guide
- Best Time to Trek — Season guide for 2026
Two Permits. Zero Complications. Fully Handled.
The Annapurna Base Camp trek permits in 2026 are simple by Nepal trekking standards — ACAP and TIMS, roughly USD 38 total, no Restricted Area complexity, all arranged before departure, all presented by the guide at every checkpoint. Mountain Hike Nepal handles the paperwork so you can focus on the preparation that actually matters: training the knees, breaking in the boots, and booking the bus to Pokhara well in advance.
Mountain Hike Nepal has managed ABC permit logistics since 2018 as a licensed local operator in Kathmandu. When you contact us, you speak directly with the team that handles this paperwork every season. Any question about permits, the TIMS requirement, checkpoint procedures, or documentation requirements gets a real answer before departure day.
The full package starts at USD 597 per person for groups of 8–12, USD 659 for 5–7, USD 798 for 2–4, and USD 899 for solo trekkers. Both permits included. All transport included. No domestic flight required.
View the full Annapurna Base Camp Trek package →
Questions about permits, the TIMS requirement, documentation, or what to carry at checkpoints? We respond within 12 hours and give straight answers.