The Annapurna Circuit trek permits in 2026 are straightforward — one active permit required, arranged before departure, handled entirely by Mountain Hike Nepal. The ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) at NPR 3,000 per person is the only permit needed for the standard circuit. Furthermore, TAAN has suspended the TIMS card across all Nepal trekking routes until further notice — not just the circuit, but EBC, ABC, Langtang, and every other Nepal route equally. Consequently, the total permit cost for the standard Annapurna Circuit runs approximately USD 23 per person — the lowest of any major Himalayan trekking route.
What’s Inside This Guide
- Permits Required — 2026 Summary
- ACAP Permit — Full Details
- TIMS Card — Current Status 2026
- Upper Mustang Permit
- Checkpoint Locations on the Route
- Circuit Permits vs Other Nepal Treks
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Planning Guides
Annapurna Circuit Trek Permits — 2026 Summary
| Permit | Status | Cost | In Package? | Where Issued |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) | ✅ Required | NPR 3,000 (~USD 23) | ✅ Included | NTB office Kathmandu or Pokhara — arranged before departure |
| TIMS Card | ⚠️ Suspended — all Nepal routes | USD 0 | N/A | Not required until further TAAN notice |
| Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit | Add-on only | USD 50/person/day (new 2024 rule) | ❌ Not in standard package | Registered agency mandatory to apply |
| Restricted Area Permit (standard circuit) | Not required | USD 0 | N/A | Standard circuit is open — no RAP needed |
Why the Annapurna Circuit trek permits are simpler than most trekkers expect
The Annapurna Circuit trek permits consist of a single active permit — the ACAP at NPR 3,000. No Restricted Area Permit, no NMA mountaineering permit, no special government clearance, and currently no TIMS. Furthermore, TIMS suspension applies equally across all Nepal trekking routes in 2026 — EBC, ABC, Langtang, Mardi Himal, and the circuit all operate without TIMS this season. Consequently, the circuit shares the lowest permit cost of any major Nepal trekking destination alongside ABC at approximately USD 23 per person.
Annapurna Circuit Trek Permits — ACAP in Detail
The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit covers the entire standard circuit from the entry point at Besisahar through the Marsyangdi valley, across Thorong La, and down the Kali Gandaki through Tatopani, Ghorepani, and Ghandruk. Every trekker who enters the conservation area needs this permit — no exceptions, no age exemptions.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Cost | NPR 3,000 per person (~USD 23) |
| Validity | Valid for full circuit duration — no daily limit or expiry within normal trekking period |
| Where issued | Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu or Pokhara — Mountain Hike Nepal arranges before departure |
| Documents needed | Original passport — checkpoints do not accept photocopies |
| Checked at | Multiple checkpoints throughout the full circuit route |
| In Mountain Hike Nepal package? | Yes — arranged before departure, guide presents at all checkpoints |
Mountain Hike Nepal arranges the ACAP in Kathmandu before departure day — your guide carries all documentation and presents it at every checkpoint throughout the route. Furthermore, checkpoint officers verify identity against the original passport, so carry your passport in the daypack top pocket throughout the entire circuit — not in the porter’s duffel. Consequently, the permit process requires zero independent action from the trekker beyond keeping the original passport accessible during the trek.
What the ACAP fee funds
The Annapurna Conservation Area Project uses ACAP revenue directly for trail maintenance, conservation, community development, and environmental monitoring across the 7,629 km² Annapurna Conservation Area — the largest protected area in Nepal. Furthermore, the ACAP model is internationally recognised as one of the most effective conservation funding systems in Asia. Consequently, the NPR 3,000 permit fee is one of the most direct and meaningful contributions any international trekker makes to the communities and environments that make the circuit possible.
TIMS Card — Current Status 2026
The TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) card is currently suspended until further notice from TAAN (Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal). This suspension has been in effect since 2023 and remains active for the full 2026 trekking season across all Nepal trekking routes.
What TIMS suspension means in 2026
No TIMS purchase needed. No Nepal Tourism Board office visit for TIMS registration. There is also no NPR 2,000 TIMS fee per person. This applies to every Nepal trekking route — not just the Annapurna Circuit. EBC trekkers, ABC trekkers, Langtang trekkers, and Mardi Himal trekkers are all equally exempt from TIMS in 2026. Furthermore, Mountain Hike Nepal monitors TAAN communications and notifies all booked clients immediately if TIMS reinstatement is announced before any departure date. Consequently, no trekker on any Mountain Hike Nepal departure faces an unexpected permit cost from TIMS regardless of when reinstatement may occur.
Upper Mustang Permit — If You Extend the Circuit
Upper Mustang is a restricted area north of Kagbeni — accessible from Day 10 of the standard circuit. If you extend the circuit into Upper Mustang, you need a separate Restricted Area Permit in addition to the standard ACAP.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Cost | USD 50 per person per day — pay only for days actually spent in Upper Mustang |
| 2024 rule change | Old system: USD 500 fixed 10-day block. New system: USD 50/day, no minimum — 3 days = USD 150 |
| Agency requirement | Registered Nepal trekking agency mandatory — no independent application exists |
| In standard package? | No — add-on only. Contact Mountain Hike Nepal before booking to arrange |
| Application timing | Arrange before departure from Kathmandu — the Kagbeni checkpoint cannot issue this permit |
The new 2024 Upper Mustang permit pricing makes the extension significantly more accessible than before. A 3-day visit costs USD 150 per person in permit fees — less than a third of the old fixed 10-day cost. Furthermore, Mountain Hike Nepal handles the entire application process as a registered agency since independent applications are not accepted. Consequently, any trekker wanting to add Upper Mustang to the circuit must confirm this with Mountain Hike Nepal before booking — the permit cannot be arranged on the trail at Kagbeni on departure day.
Permit Checkpoints on the Circuit Route
| Checkpoint | Location | Day | Permit Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACAP entry | Besisahar or Dharapani | Day 1–2 | ACAP + passport identity |
| Chame checkpoint | Chame village | Day 2 | ACAP verification |
| Manang checkpoint | Manang village | Day 5–6 | ACAP verification |
| Thorong La approach | Thorong Phedi | Day 8 | ACAP spot check |
| Muktinath checkpoint | Muktinath | Day 9 | ACAP on descent |
| Jomsom checkpoint | Jomsom | Day 10 | ACAP + Upper Mustang RAP if extending north |
| Ghorepani checkpoint | Ghorepani village | Day 12 | ACAP verification |
Your Mountain Hike Nepal guide presents all permit documentation and manages every checkpoint entirely. The officer verifies identity against the original passport and records the permit number — a process that takes 2–5 minutes per trekker. Furthermore, carry the original passport in the daypack top pocket throughout the full 15 days — accessible within 10 seconds at any checkpoint, not buried in the porter’s duffel at the back of the group. Consequently, the guide presents documentation first at every checkpoint — no delays, no queuing, no confusion.
Annapurna Circuit Trek Permits vs Other Nepal Treks
| Trek | Permits Required | Total Permit Cost | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Circuit | ACAP only (TIMS suspended) | ~USD 23 | Lowest — single permit |
| Everest Base Camp | SNP + Khumbu Pasang Lhamu (TIMS suspended) | ~USD 38 | Two permits — all included in package |
| Annapurna Base Camp | ACAP only (TIMS suspended) | ~USD 23 | Same as circuit — single permit |
| Langtang Valley | Langtang National Park (TIMS suspended) | ~USD 23 | One permit — simple |
| Manaslu Circuit | MCAP + MSTBZ + Tsum Valley (if applicable) | USD 175–350+ | Restricted area — complex |
| Upper Mustang | ACAP + RAP at USD 50/day | USD 23 + USD 50/day | Restricted area — agency required |
The Annapurna Circuit trek permits sit at the lowest cost end of the Nepal trekking permit spectrum — equal to ABC and Langtang, lower than EBC, and dramatically lower than Manaslu. Furthermore, with TIMS suspended across all routes in 2026, the circuit’s permit advantage over EBC has widened — one permit at USD 23 versus two permits at USD 38. Consequently, permit cost is one more financial argument in favour of the circuit for trekkers comparing routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
One permit — the ACAP at NPR 3,000 (~USD 23) per person. TAAN has suspended the TIMS card until further notice — it does not apply in 2026. This applies to the circuit and every other Nepal trekking route — it is a universal suspension, not circuit-specific. Furthermore, Mountain Hike Nepal includes the ACAP in every package price and arranges it before departure. Consequently, the Annapurna Circuit trek permits process requires zero independent action from the trekker beyond carrying an original passport at all times on the trail.
No — TAAN has suspended TIMS across all Nepal trekking routes until further notice. The suspension applies to the Annapurna Circuit, EBC, ABC, Langtang, and all other routes equally. Furthermore, Mountain Hike Nepal monitors TAAN communications and notifies all clients immediately if reinstatement is announced. Consequently, no trekker on any 2026 Mountain Hike Nepal circuit departure faces a TIMS cost.
USD 50 per person per day under the new 2024 rules — you pay only for the days you actually spend in Upper Mustang. A 3-day visit costs USD 150 per person in permit fees. The old fixed 10-day block at USD 500 no longer applies. Furthermore, this permit requires a registered Nepal trekking agency to apply — Mountain Hike Nepal handles the application entirely. Consequently, contact us before booking if you want to add Upper Mustang — arrange the permit in Kathmandu before departure — Kagbeni checkpoint cannot issue it on the trail
Related Planning Guides
- Annapurna Circuit Package — Full 15-day expedition from USD 828 per person
- Circuit Cost 2026 — Permit costs in the full budget breakdown
- Day-by-Day Itinerary — Checkpoint locations on the daily route
- Trek Route and Map — Full route with checkpoint positions
- Best Time to Trek — Season guide for 2026
- How Hard Is the Circuit? — Full difficulty guide
- Altitude Sickness Guide — Preparing for 5,416m
One Permit. Zero Complications. Fully Handled.
The Annapurna Circuit trek permits in 2026 are the simplest on any major Nepal trekking route — one ACAP at USD 23, no TIMS anywhere in Nepal, no Restricted Area complexity on the standard circuit, all arranged before departure, and all presented by the guide at every checkpoint from Besisahar to Ghorepani. Mountain Hike Nepal handles the paperwork so you focus on the preparation that actually matters: breaking in the boots, training the consecutive days, and booking the bus to the trailhead.
Mountain Hike Nepal has managed circuit 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, TIMS status, Upper Mustang extension requirements, or checkpoint procedures gets a real answer before departure day.
The full package starts at USD 828 per person for groups of 8–10, USD 898 for 4–6, USD 998 for 2–3, and USD 1,198 for solo trekkers. ACAP permit included. All transport included.
View the full Annapurna Circuit Trek package →
Questions about permits, TIMS, Upper Mustang, or documentation? We respond within 12 hours and give straight answers.