The Langtang Valley trek permits are among the simplest and cheapest in Nepal. Three permits cover the standard route. Mountain Hike Nepal includes all three in the package price and your guide collects them in Kathmandu before departure. Furthermore, you never queue at a government office or pay separately at any checkpoint on the trail. Consequently, this guide exists to make sure you understand exactly what you carry, where officers check it, and why the permit system works the way it does on this route.
What’s Inside This Guide
- Three Permits at a Glance
- Langtang National Park Permit (LTBR)
- TIMS Card
- ACAP — Gosaikunda Extension Only
- Where to Get the Permits
- Permit Checkpoints on the Route
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Planning Guides
Langtang Valley Trek Permits — Three at a Glance
Every foreign trekker on the Langtang Valley trek permits route needs two mandatory documents for the standard circuit. A third permit — the ACAP — applies only when trekkers add the Gosaikunda Lake extension.
| Permit | Cost Per Person | Required For | Where Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| Langtang National Park Entry (LTBR) | NPR 3,000 (~USD 23) | Standard Langtang Valley route | Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu or Dhunche checkpoint |
| TIMS Card | NPR 2,000 (~USD 15) | Standard Langtang Valley route | Nepal Tourism Board or trekking association offices, Kathmandu |
| Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) | NPR 3,000 (~USD 23) | Gosaikunda extension only | Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu |
Total permit cost — standard route
The LTBR and TIMS together cost approximately NPR 5,000 — around USD 38–42 per person. Furthermore, this ranks among the lowest combined permit costs of any major Nepal route. Consequently, permits take a small portion of the total Langtang Valley Trek budget — and Mountain Hike Nepal covers all of them in the package price.
Langtang Valley Trek Permits — National Park Entry (LTBR)
The LTBR is the foundational Langtang Valley trek permits requirement. Without it, the Dhunche checkpoint officer stops the jeep before the trail begins. Your guide obtains this permit in Kathmandu on your behalf before departure day.
What the LTBR covers
The LTBR gives you entry to Langtang National Park for the full duration of the trek. Furthermore, the fee funds conservation across one of Nepal’s most ecologically important protected areas. The park shelters red pandas, snow leopards, Himalayan black bears, and over 250 bird species. Consequently, every trekker’s permit fee goes directly toward protecting the landscape they walk through.
Cost and validity
The LTBR costs NPR 3,000 per person — approximately USD 23 at current exchange rates. Furthermore, the rate stays fixed year-round regardless of season. The permit covers the full duration of your trek with no daily charges. Consequently, the standard 10-day itinerary needs no extension process and no additional payment at any point on the route.
Where officers check it
Officers first check the LTBR at the Dhunche checkpoint on the road before Syabrubesi — before walking begins. Furthermore, they re-check it at Ghoda Tabela and again at Kyanjin Gompa. Consequently, your guide carries all permits accessible and ready at each stop so the group never breaks pace on the trail.
TIMS Card — Trekker Registration
The TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) card registers every trekker across all Nepal routes. It records your name, passport number, trekking company, emergency contacts, and planned route. Furthermore, when a trekker goes missing, search teams use TIMS data to identify the registered route and emergency contacts quickly. Consequently, this card protects you rather than restricting you — treat it accordingly.
Cost and collection
The TIMS card costs NPR 2,000 per person — approximately USD 15. Furthermore, the office issues it per trekker with a photo attached — bring two passport-size photographs to Kathmandu. Your guide collects the TIMS through Mountain Hike Nepal’s registered office before departure. Consequently, you never visit the Nepal Tourism Board queue yourself.
Where officers check it
Officers check the TIMS card at the Syabrubesi trailhead checkpoint at the start of Day 2 and potentially at Ghoda Tabela. Furthermore, each checkpoint officer stamps the card as proof of legitimate passage. Consequently, keep the TIMS with your LTBR inside a waterproof holder throughout all 10 days above Syabrubesi.
ACAP — Required for the Gosaikunda Extension
The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit does not apply to the standard Langtang Valley Trek. However, trekkers who extend to Gosaikunda cross into the ACAP zone beyond the Laurebina Pass. Furthermore, the ACAP also covers the Annapurna Circuit and ABC routes — trekkers who recently bought one may not need a new issue. Consequently, confirm your existing permit validity with your Mountain Hike Nepal guide when booking the combined itinerary.
ACAP cost
The ACAP costs NPR 3,000 per person — the same as the LTBR. Furthermore, it covers all ACAP-designated zones across Nepal in a single document. Consequently, the combined permit cost for the full Langtang and Gosaikunda extension reaches approximately USD 61 per person — still one of the lowest totals for any multi-day Nepal circuit.
Where to Get the Permits
Your Mountain Hike Nepal guide obtains all permits in Kathmandu before departure. You never visit any government office personally.
| Permit | Issuing Office | Location | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTBR | Nepal Tourism Board | Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu | Same day |
| TIMS | Nepal Tourism Board or TAAN office | Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu | Same day |
| ACAP (if needed) | Nepal Tourism Board | Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu | Same day |
What your guide needs from you
Your guide needs your original passport, two passport-size photographs, and the permit fees — all covered in the package price — to collect all permits. Furthermore, your passport must carry at least six months of validity beyond your Nepal departure date. Consequently, check the expiry before booking. An expired or near-expiry passport blocks permit collection and creates problems that no Kathmandu office resolves quickly.
Langtang Valley Trek Permit Checkpoints
Officers check your Langtang Valley trek permits at four points along the route. Your guide presents all documents at each stop. You carry your original passport on your person at all times above Syabrubesi — never in the porter bag.
| Checkpoint | Day | Altitude | Permits Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhunche (road checkpoint) | Day 1 (drive) | 1,982m | LTBR entry — national park boundary on the road |
| Syabrubesi trailhead | Day 2 (trail start) | 1,460m | TIMS card and permit confirmation |
| Ghoda Tabela | Day 3 | 3,000m | LTBR re-check — national park inner checkpoint |
| Kyanjin Gompa | Day 4 | 3,870m | Final permit check on ascent |
What happens at each checkpoint
Your guide approaches each checkpoint first and hands over all documents. The officer records your permit number, nationality, and entry date. Furthermore, the officer stamps your permit — these stamps confirm legitimate passage at every subsequent stop. Consequently, store all original permits in a waterproof holder throughout. Wet or torn documents cause delays that affect the whole group.
The Dhunche checkpoint — the most important stop
Dhunche sits at 1,982m on the road before Syabrubesi and marks the national park entry point. Officers here check documentation thoroughly — they flag incomplete permits before the trail begins rather than at later stops. Furthermore, your guide verifies all permit details before the jeep leaves Kathmandu, not at the checkpoint itself. Consequently, the group never waits at Dhunche while your guide resolves a paperwork issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two permits cover the standard Langtang Valley Trek — the Langtang National Park Entry Permit (LTBR) and the TIMS card. Furthermore, trekkers who add the Gosaikunda Lake extension also need the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). Mountain Hike Nepal includes all permits in the package price and your guide collects everything in Kathmandu before departure. Consequently, you arrange no permits independently and pay nothing extra at any checkpoint on the route.
Yes — unlike restricted-area routes like Manaslu, trekkers can obtain Langtang Valley permits independently at the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu. Furthermore, the LTBR is also available at the Dhunche checkpoint on the road. However, Nepal’s 2023 regulations require all trekkers in the Langtang region to trek with a licensed guide or registered agency — so an independent permit does not allow guide-free trekking. Consequently, booking through a licensed operator like Mountain Hike Nepal remains the most practical approach — permits and guide come together in one booking.
The standard route permits — LTBR and TIMS — total approximately NPR 5,000 per person, equivalent to USD 38–42. Furthermore, the ACAP for the Gosaikunda extension adds NPR 3,000 — bringing the combined total to approximately USD 61 for the full circuit. Consequently, the Langtang Valley Trek carries among the lowest combined permit costs of any major Nepal destination — significantly cheaper than the Manaslu Circuit at USD 175–205 in restricted area permits alone.
Related Planning Guides
- Full Cost Guide 2026 — How permit costs fit into the total Langtang Valley Trek budget.
- Full Day-by-Day Itinerary — Every checkpoint stage with altitude and trail notes.
- Route Map Guide — Where each permit checkpoint sits on the Langtang Valley route.
- Gosaikunda Lake Extension — The extension route that needs the additional ACAP permit.
- Best Time to Trek — Seasonal guide for the Langtang Valley route.
- Langtang Valley Trek Package — Full 2026 package with all permits included in the price.
Two Permits. One Kathmandu Collection. Zero Queues on the Trail.
Your guide collects the LTBR and TIMS card in Kathmandu before the jeep departs for Syabrubesi. Officers check them at four points on the route. You carry your passport. Your guide handles every checkpoint interaction. The Langtang Valley permit system runs as simply as any major Nepal trek offers — and every rupee funds the conservation infrastructure that keeps the route open.
View the full Langtang Valley Trek package on Mountain Hike Nepal →
Questions about permits, the guide requirement, or what happens at each checkpoint? Our team responds within 12 hours.