Poon Hill Trek Permits 2027: ACAP, TIMS, Cost and What You Need

Updated 19 October 2026.

Short answer: For the Poon Hill trek you need two permits: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) at NPR 3,000 and a TIMS card at NPR 2,000. That is NPR 5,000 for a foreign trekker, about USD 33 at roughly NPR 152 to the dollar. SAARC nationals pay NPR 1,000 for each. Poon Hill is not a restricted area, so there is no special permit and no daily fee. On our 6-day trek both permits are already in the price.

I am Shreejan. Every month someone asks me whether they can just turn up in Pokhara and walk to Poon Hill without a permit, or whether the permit is "optional". It is not optional. This is what you need, what it costs, who arranges it and what is not covered.

The Poon Hill permits at a glance

These are the figures the Nepal Tourism Board lists. I last checked them in October 2026, and I check again before every season. If they change before you travel, I will update this page.

Why do I need a TIMS card, and who issues it?

TIMS stands for Trekkers' Information Management System. It has been run jointly by the Nepal Tourism Board and the Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) since 1 January 2008. The agency files your passport details, nationality and itinerary into a database. If there is an accident or a natural disaster, the database tells the authorities who is in the area.

Since 31 March 2023 the Nepal Tourism Board has said that listed routes need a licensed guide and an agency-issued TIMS card. The list includes the Poon Hill and Annapurna Base Camp route. So you cannot arrange the TIMS card yourself on this route, and a licensed guide is part of the rule. We take TIMS for every client. It protects you, and it protects my staff, whose names go on the record too. For the wider picture, read is solo trekking banned in Nepal and our complete guide to Nepal trekking permits.

Where are the permits checked on the trail?

Our itinerary has you drive from Pokhara to Nayapul on day 2, and walk to Birethanti, where your ACAP permit is checked. Your guide carries your permits and does the paperwork, so you do not queue. Keep your passport with you on the trail. You can read what the trailhead is like in the Nayapul trailhead guide.

What does the Poon Hill trek cost for 2027?

These are the prices on the trip page today, in US dollars per person. The price falls as the group grows.

Both permits, the guide and the government taxes are inside every tier. The tiers differ in the usual ways.

A solo trekker on Standard has no porter, and the guide carries up to 10 kg of your bag. Luxury solo has a dedicated porter. Pokhara and Kathmandu hotels are not included in any tier, and I quote them separately. For the full cost story, read Poon Hill trek cost 2026 and 2027.

What is not covered by the permits or the trek price?

Your international flight, your Nepal visa (USD 50 for 30 days on arrival), travel insurance, your hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara, tips for the team and, on the Budget tier, your meals on the trail. Buy your insurance at home. The highest point is Poon Hill at about 3,210 m, and I round up to the next 500 m, so ask for cover to 3,500 m, with helicopter evacuation.

What does the 6-day route look like?

The altitudes come from the trip page and are approximate. For the other options, read the 4 and 5 day versions, and for the months, Poon Hill best time, month by month.

Frequently asked questions

What permits do I need for the Poon Hill trek? The ACAP (NPR 3,000) and a TIMS card (NPR 2,000). There is no third permit.

How much are the Poon Hill permits in US dollars? NPR 5,000 in total, which is about USD 33 for a foreigner at roughly NPR 152 to the dollar. The rate moves a little, so treat it as approximate.

Can I get the permits myself without an agency? Not for the TIMS card. On the Nepal Tourism Board list of routes, a licensed guide and an agency-issued TIMS card are required, and the Poon Hill route is on that list. We arrange both permits for you.

Is Poon Hill a restricted area? No. Restricted areas such as Upper Mustang and Manaslu need a special permit with a daily fee. Poon Hill does not.

Do SAARC citizens pay less? Yes. SAARC nationals pay NPR 1,000 for the ACAP and NPR 1,000 for the TIMS card. Tell me your nationality when you write.

What do I need to bring for the permits? Your passport. I ask for a copy within a week of booking, and it should be valid for at least six months from your arrival date.

Is the Poon Hill trek hard? It is a short and steady trek, with one big climb of stone steps to Ghorepani on day 3. Read Poon Hill distance and difficulty to judge it for yourself.

Do I need travel insurance? Yes, bought at home. Ask for cover to 3,500 m with helicopter evacuation.

How do payment and cancellation work?

You pay a deposit of 10 per cent to book and the balance when you meet us in Kathmandu, in US dollars or euros, in cash or by card. Cash carries no fee, and card carries a 3.5 per cent bank charge. We cannot take Nepali rupees from foreign guests.

The deposit is non-refundable, and there is no refund if you cancel yourself. I can move your trip free of charge to any date within one year, with at least 72 hours notice. If we cannot run the trip, we refund what you have paid, less taxes, bank or card charges and any money already spent on your behalf.

What is the next step?

The full trip page is Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek, 6 Days. Message me on WhatsApp on +977 9810351300 with your dates, group size and nationality, and I will confirm what you pay.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.