Permits & Rules

Nepal just put trek permits online — and trekking without a guide now costs you

From March 2026 you can apply for Nepal's restricted-area permits online before you even land — and the fine for trekking without a licensed guide is…

By Laxman Rawal · Jun 17, 2026

Read the full story

Two quiet changes in 2026 have reshaped how you get onto Nepal's trails — one that makes life easier, and one that makes going it alone genuinely costly. Nepal has launched an online permit system that lets you apply from home before you fly, and at the same…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

The good news: permits from your sofa

The Department of Immigration's new digital platform, live since March 2026, lets foreign trekkers apply for restricted-area permits online — using your approved Nepal tourist visa number — and pay the fees in advance, before you arrive. For anyone who has…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

The catch: going guideless is risky now

The flip side is enforcement. On the national-park and conservation-area trails — Annapurna, Langtang, most of the Everest region — a licensed guide is mandatory, and checkpoints do verify it. Get caught without one and you face a fine of up to NPR 12,000…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Plan your trek

Manaslu Circuit Trek — 14 Days

NMA-certified guides · permits sorted · 5,000+ treks since 1998.

From $1890

Plan this trek