North Annapurna Base Camp lies in the Annapurna Conservation Area, so operators arrange an Annapurna Conservation Area permit and a licensed guide. It is not a restricted area. Rules and fees change, so we confirm the current requirements when you book.
The conservation area permit
Operators list an Annapurna Conservation Area permit for this route. It is collected in Kathmandu or Pokhara, needs a passport copy and photos, and cannot be bought on the trail. Fees differ for SAARC nationals and for others, and they are revised from time to time.
TIMS and other paperwork
Some operators also list a TIMS card, and others say it is not needed for this route. Because the requirement has varied, we confirm what is needed before you travel and include it in your quote.
Guides
Operators describe a licensed guide as required, and the remote, camping nature of the route makes one essential anyway. A guide handles route finding, camp management, altitude checks and emergency contact.
Not a restricted area
Unlike Upper Mustang, Manaslu or Nar Phu, this trek does not need a special restricted area permit with a minimum group size. That is why a small group or a single traveller can go.
What to carry
Your passport, the permit copies, insurance papers and emergency numbers. Keep a digital copy of each. Your guide holds the group paperwork at checkpoints.
Insurance
Your policy must cover trekking to about 4,200 m and helicopter evacuation. Rescue from this side is slow and costly, and operators treat cover as mandatory.
How permits are arranged
Send your passport copy and photographs to your operator several days before you travel. The permit is issued in Kathmandu or Pokhara, and you collect nothing yourself. Late paperwork is the most common reason for a delayed start.
Local rules to respect
Keep to the trail, carry out all your rubbish, do not cut wood or damage vegetation, and follow your guide’s instructions about camps. Do not fly drones without permission. Respect shrines and local customs in the villages.
What to do if requirements change
Rules for newer routes change often. We update your plan if the fee, the permit type or the guide requirement changes, and we tell you before you pay. If you read a different figure elsewhere, ask us and we will check.
Plan it
See altitude and safety and solo or group.
