The Manaslu Circuit Trek needs three permits and one local fee. They are the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, MCAP, ACAP and the Chumnubri Rural Municipality fee. On our 13-day route, they cost about USD 180 per person in autumn and about USD 145 the rest of the year.
Our package price includes all four, and we arrange every one before you start walking. This guide explains what each permit is, how the restricted area fee works, and where officers check them on the trail.
What’s Inside This Guide
- Permits at a glance
- The restricted area permit
- MCAP and ACAP
- The Chumnubri local fee
- Adding Tsum Valley
- Where permits are checked
- Documents you need
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Planning Guides
Manaslu Circuit Trek Permits at a Glance
First, here is every permit and fee for a foreign trekker on the Manaslu Circuit. The restricted area permit changes with the season; the others are flat fees.
| Permit or fee | Cost (foreign national) | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, Sep–Nov | USD 100 for the first 7 days, then USD 15 a day | Jagat to Larkya La |
| Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, Dec–Aug | USD 75 for the first 7 days, then USD 10 a day | Jagat to Larkya La |
| MCAP | NPR 3,000 | Manaslu Conservation Area, from Philim |
| ACAP | NPR 3,000 | Bimthang down to Dharapani |
| Chumnubri Rural Municipality fee | NPR 1,000 | Paid at Jagat |
Dollar totals for MCAP, ACAP and the Chumnubri fee depend on the exchange rate. Together they come to NPR 7,000, roughly USD 50.
The Manaslu Restricted Area Permit
The restricted area permit is the one that makes Manaslu different from an open trek. Because the upper Budhi Gandaki valley sits close to the Tibet border, Nepal’s Department of Immigration controls who enters it.
How the permit is charged
In short, you pay for the days you spend inside the restricted zone, not for the whole trip. On our itinerary, you enter at Jagat on Day 2. You leave the zone on Day 10, when you cross Larkya La and drop to Bimthang. In total, that counts as 9 days: the first 7 days plus 2 extra.
| Season | First 7 days | 2 extra days | Total for our route |
|---|---|---|---|
| September to November | USD 100 | USD 30 | USD 130 |
| December to August | USD 75 | USD 20 | USD 95 |
Who can get it
Only a registered Nepali trekking agency can apply for the restricted area permit. You cannot buy it yourself, online or in person. In addition, every trekker must walk with a licensed guide inside the restricted area. Nepali citizens do not need this permit, and SAARC nationals pay the same rate as other foreigners.
Solo trekkers can now get the permit
Until March 2026, the Department of Immigration only issued the permit to groups of at least two foreign trekkers. Then, on 22 March 2026, it removed that minimum. One trekker can now get the permit alone. However, the guide requirement did not change, so a solo trekker still walks with a licensed guide.
MCAP and ACAP
The Manaslu Circuit passes through two conservation areas, so you need two conservation permits. Unlike the restricted area permit, neither changes with the season or charges by the day.
Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP)
The MCAP costs NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals. It covers the Manaslu Conservation Area, which you enter around Philim on Day 3. The fee then goes toward trail upkeep and conservation in the valley.
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
After Larkya La, the trail drops into the Annapurna Conservation Area. So you need an ACAP too, even though the trek takes its name from Manaslu. It also costs the same as the MCAP: NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals.
The Chumnubri Local Fee
Every trekker pays a Chumnubri Rural Municipality fee of NPR 1,000. The municipality covers the whole upper valley, Nubri and Tsum alike. So the fee applies whether or not you visit Tsum Valley. Officials collect it at the Jagat checkpoint on Day 2, and we pay it for you.
Adding Tsum Valley
Tsum Valley branches off the circuit above Philim and has its own restricted area permit. In other words, you need it on top of the Manaslu permit, not instead of it.
| Season | First 7 days | Each extra day |
|---|---|---|
| September to November | USD 40 | USD 7 |
| December to August | USD 30 | USD 7 |
Tsum also adds several days to the trip, so plan for a longer trek. Our Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek includes both permits in one price.
Where Permits Are Checked on the Trail
Throughout the trek, your guide carries the permits and shows them at each checkpoint. The main ones on our route are below.
| Checkpoint | Day | What is checked |
|---|---|---|
| Jagat | Day 2 | Restricted area permit; Chumnubri fee paid here |
| Philim | Day 3 | MCAP and restricted area permit |
| Dharapani | Day 12 | ACAP, as you enter the Annapurna side |
Besides these, officers may check permits at other points in the upper valley. Keep your passport on you rather than in the porter bag, since officials sometimes ask to see it alongside the permit.
Documents You Need
We need a few things from you to apply for the permits. If you send them before you arrive, we can start the paperwork early.
- A scan of your passport, valid for at least six months beyond your trip
- Your Nepal visa details, or your visa once you land in Kathmandu
- Passport-size photos, if we ask for them
- Your travel insurance details, including cover above 5,000m
Everything else, including applying, paying and carrying the permits, is our job. All permit costs are in our Manaslu Circuit Trek package, and the full budget is in our Manaslu Circuit Trek cost guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Department of Immigration issues the Manaslu Restricted Area Permit only through registered Nepali trekking agencies. You can buy MCAP and ACAP separately, but not the restricted area permit. As a result, independent trekking is not possible on this route.
Yes. Samagaun and the upper valley sit inside the restricted zone, however you get there. If you fly in to skip the lower trail, you still need the restricted area permit, MCAP and a licensed guide.
For the conservation permits, yes: MCAP and ACAP cost NPR 1,000 each for SAARC nationals, against NPR 3,000 for others. The restricted area permit costs the same for SAARC nationals as for any other foreigner.
Jagat is where the restricted area begins. Officers check the restricted area permit and record your details. Your guide also pays the Chumnubri fee here. Your guide handles it, so it usually takes a few minutes.
Related Planning Guides
- Manaslu Circuit Trek Cost — the package, permits and everything you pay on top
- Manaslu Circuit Trek Itinerary — where each checkpoint falls in the 13 days
- How Hard Is the Manaslu Circuit? — Larkya La and the toughest days
- Best Time for the Manaslu Circuit — and why autumn permits cost more
- Tsum Valley Trek Guide — the side valley and its own permit
- Manaslu Circuit Trek Map — the restricted zone and the route
Let Us Handle Your Manaslu Permits
Our 13-day Manaslu Circuit package costs $1,099 to $1,699 per person. Every permit in this guide is already inside that price, along with the licensed guide the restricted area requires. See the full Manaslu Circuit Trek package → You can also message us on WhatsApp with your dates and nationality.
[…] Until March 2026, the restricted area permit needed at least two foreign trekkers. On 22 March 2026, Nepal’s Department of Immigration removed that minimum. One trekker can now get the permit alone, and our solo price reflects that. A licensed guide is still required for every trekker in the restricted area. More detail is in our Manaslu Circuit permits guide. […]
[…] Manaslu Circuit Trek Permits — the permits checked at Jagat, Philim and Dharapani […]
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