Since 31 March 2023, the Nepal Tourism Board has required trekkers on the Everest routes, including Everest Base Camp, to be accompanied by a licensed trekking guide and to carry a TIMS card issued through a registered trekking agency. You cannot simply turn up and buy the paperwork yourself, so the practical first step is to book through a government-registered agency.
TIMS card
TIMS is the Trekkers' Information Management System. For the routes covered by the rule, the agency fills in an online registration with details of each trekker, the guide and the route, and pays the fee online. The system then generates an electronic card with a QR code for every trekker. The Nepal Tourism Board lists the fee at NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, which includes India, and NPR 2,000 for everyone else.
Sagarmatha National Park entry permit
The route passes through Sagarmatha National Park, a World Heritage Site. The listed entry fee is NPR 3,000 per person per entry for foreign nationals and NPR 1,500 for SAARC nationals, with children under ten free. It can be paid at the Tourist Service Centre at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu or at the park entry point, and it is checked on the trail.
Local municipality pass
The Khumbu area is governed by a local rural municipality that issues its own trekker pass, usually collected near Lukla. The amount is set locally and has changed over time, so ask your operator to confirm the current figure and keep the receipt.
What the official fees add up to
Together, the TIMS card and the park permit come to NPR 5,000 for most foreign nationals and NPR 2,500 for SAARC nationals, before the local pass. These are only the government charges. Guide, porter, flights, lodging and meals are separate.
What to carry
- Your passport or other accepted identification, plus a few passport-size photographs.
- Printed or saved copies of the TIMS eCard, the park permit and the local pass receipt.
- Your travel insurance details and the emergency number on the policy.
Check before you book
Fees and rules are set by the authorities and can change, so confirm the current position with your agency or the Nepal Tourism Board before you pay. A reputable operator arranges all of this before you leave Kathmandu.
Why the rules exist
The permit system is partly about money and partly about safety and conservation. National park fees support trail maintenance, rangers and waste management in a very busy mountain area. The guide requirement for trekkers in this region is intended to improve safety, because a licensed guide can recognise altitude illness, arrange help and make sure the group stays on the route. The registration system also helps authorities know who is in the mountains if a search or rescue is ever needed.
Who arranges what
In practice, a registered trekking agency handles the paperwork for you. You supply a scan of your passport, a passport photo and your travel dates, and the agency prepares the TIMS card and the entry permits before you start walking. If you book through a reputable operator this is rolled into the price, but you should still ask exactly which permits are included so there are no surprises at the checkpoints. Indian travellers should also ask which rates apply to them, because fees differ by nationality.
Checkpoints on the trail
Permits are checked at a small number of points, including the park entrance near Monjo and at several police or park posts along the way. Guides normally carry the originals, but it helps to keep a photocopy and a phone photo of every document in a separate bag. If a permit is lost, tell your guide immediately so the agency can arrange a replacement through the correct office.
Common mistakes
- Assuming that a permit bought in Kathmandu by a friend or hotel is valid for a trek booked elsewhere. TIMS cards are linked to a registered agency and a specific trek.
- Arriving with a passport that has less than six months of validity remaining.
- Not asking whether the quoted price includes the local municipality pass and park fees, which are charged separately by some operators.
- Forgetting that rules and fees change. Always confirm the current figures with your operator before paying.
What our guests say
Excerpts from guest reviews of Himalayan Wonders, our parent company, on Tripadvisor.
“I had an incredible experience with Himalayan Wonders on my Everest Base Camp trek.”
