Annapurna Trek Permits 2027: ACAP and TIMS Cost, Rules and How to Get Them

Last updated 11 November 2026.

Short answer: every Annapurna trek needs two permits in 2027: the Annapurna Conservation Area permit (ACAP), NPR 3,000 for foreign trekkers or NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, and a TIMS card, NPR 2,000 for foreign trekkers or NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals. That is NPR 5,000 in total for most visitors. The TIMS card can only be issued through a registered trekking agency, and a licensed guide is required on the Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp, Poon Hill and Mardi Himal routes. Both permits are included in every tier of our Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp, Poon Hill and Mardi Himal treks.

I am Shreejan. I get this question almost every week, usually from someone who has read three different answers online and does not know which one is current. This page gives you the real figures we pay at the counter, what each permit is for, and what changes if you trek with us.

Ask me on WhatsApp about your dates, or see the full 12-day Annapurna Circuit itinerary and price.

Annapurna trek permits at a glance

NPR 5,000 is a little under USD 40 at current exchange rates. Fees can change, so I check them against the official Nepal Tourism Board pages before every season. The last check was in October 2026.

Which Annapurna treks need which permits?

The guide rule comes from the Nepal Tourism Board's revised provision of 31 March 2023, which names the Annapurna Circuit, Poon Hill to Annapurna Base Camp, Khopra, Mardi Himal and Tilicho among the routes where a licensed guide and an agency-issued TIMS card are needed. For restricted areas, the restricted-area permit is extra. It does not replace TIMS.

What is the ACAP permit for?

The Annapurna Conservation Area is Nepal's largest protected area. The ACAP fee goes to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, which spends it on trail upkeep, rubbish collection and the villages along the route. When you walk on stone steps between Ulleri and Ghorepani, or see the bins and signboards on the Circuit, that is where the money goes. I am happy to pay it.

The permit is checked at posts along the trail, so keep it with your passport where you can reach it. If you trek with us, your guide carries the permits and shows them for the whole group.

What is the TIMS card for?

TIMS is a safety record. It has been run by the Nepal Tourism Board and TAAN, the trekking agencies' association, since 2008. When we issue your card, we enter your passport details, nationality, contact details, route and dates, and the details of the guide walking with you. If there is an accident, a storm or a missing trekker, that record tells the authorities who is on which trail. Our own staff are on it too, which is one reason we take it on every route, including the ones where nobody asks to see it.

Since 2023 the TIMS card is an agency-issued eCard with a QR code. A trekker cannot buy one alone at a counter any more. That is also why the "do it yourself without a guide" advice you see in older blogs no longer works on these routes.

How do I get Annapurna permits?

If you trek with us, you do nothing except send me a clear photo of your passport page. We get the ACAP permit and issue your TIMS card in Kathmandu or Pokhara before your trek starts, and your guide carries them. Both are in the price of every tier, so there is nothing to pay on the day.

If you book with another agency, they should do the same. If anyone asks you to pay for permits separately in cash on arrival, ask for the official receipts. Each permit has a printed fee on it.

What do Annapurna permits not cover?

• Travel insurance. It is not a permit, but you need it. Make sure it covers trekking and helicopter rescue to at least 5,500 m for the Annapurna Circuit (Thorong La is 5,416 m) and 4,500 m for Annapurna Base Camp. A helicopter cannot land on Thorong La itself, so a rescue there starts by walking down to lower ground first.
• Restricted areas. Nar Phu and Upper Mustang need a restricted-area permit on top, as shown in the table above. Our complete guide to Nepal trekking permits has the figures for every region.

How much do Annapurna treks cost with permits included?

These are our live 2027 prices per person in US dollars for 2 to 4 people, with both permits, a licensed guide, transport and all government taxes included. The solo price is in brackets.

Budget has no porter and no meals. Standard has one porter for every two trekkers and three meals a day. Luxury has your own porter and private rooms with a bathroom where the lodge has them. The full breakdown, line by line, is in our Annapurna Circuit trek cost guide and our Annapurna Base Camp cost guide.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Annapurna permit in 2027? The ACAP permit is NPR 3,000 for foreign trekkers and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals. With the TIMS card (NPR 2,000 or NPR 1,000), the total is NPR 5,000 for most visitors.

Do I need a TIMS card for Annapurna Base Camp? Yes. The Nepal Tourism Board lists the Poon Hill to Annapurna Base Camp route among those that need a licensed guide and an agency-issued TIMS card.

Can I trek the Annapurna Circuit without a guide in 2027? No. Since the 2023 rule change, a licensed guide is required on the Annapurna Circuit, and the TIMS card can only be issued through a registered agency.

Can I buy the Annapurna permit in Pokhara? The permits can be arranged in Kathmandu or Pokhara. If you trek with us, we arrange both before you start, so you do not need to visit an office.

Is one permit enough for both the Annapurna Circuit and Annapurna Base Camp? Both treks are inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so they use the same ACAP permit type. Tell us if you plan to join them into one trip and we will issue the permits for the whole route.

Are Annapurna permits included in your trek price? Yes, on every tier: Budget, Standard and Luxury. The price you see is the price you pay, apart from things like tips, drinks and your own insurance.

Do children pay for Annapurna permits? Tell me your children's ages when you write. I will check the current rule for that season and include the right figure in your quote.

What documents do I need for Annapurna permits? A clear photo or scan of your passport photo page. We fill in the rest, including your route, dates and guide.

What are the booking terms?

The 10 per cent deposit is non-refundable and there is no refund if you cancel, but you can move your trip free of charge to any date within one year with at least 72 hours notice. A balance paid by card carries 3.5 per cent; cash in Nepal carries nothing. Full details are on our deposit and rescheduling page.

How do I book?

Write to me on WhatsApp, +977 9810351300. Tell me which Annapurna trek you want, your dates and how many of you are coming. I will send you the exact quote with permits included. Or book straight from the Annapurna Circuit or Annapurna Base Camp page.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday and a third-generation Himalayan guide. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.