TIMS card: fee, the 2023 guide rule and which west Nepal routes need one

Since March 2023 the TIMS card is tied to a licensed guide and to a trekking agency, and a handful of far-west and Karnali routes are on the list¹. This page gives the fee, who issues the card, and the routes in west Nepal that are on the list. The other permits are collected in the permits hub.

What the rule says

The Nepal Tourism Board states the requirement this way:

As per Revised TIMS Provision effective from March 31, 2023, specific Protected Areas of Nepal need trekker to be accompanied by licensed trekking guide and carry a trekking agency issued TIMS Card.¹

The Board’s advice is to check the route first: the first thing a trekker must do is find out whether the route requires a trekking guide and a TIMS card¹. If it does, the next step is to contact a government-registered trekking agency to arrange both¹.

TIMS stands for Trekking Information Management System³.

Fee

In October 2026 the Nepal Tourism Board listed the card at the following amounts, and described payment as currently online¹.

The Himalayan Times, reporting the revision on 10 March 2023, gave the same amounts: Rs 1,000 per person for SAARC citizens and Rs 2,000 for trekkers from the rest of the world³. Park tickets are priced separately on the national park fees page.

Routes in west Nepal on the list

In October 2026 the Nepal Tourism Board’s list of routes needing a guide and TIMS card named these in the far west and Karnali¹:

No Rara, Khaptad, Api or Saipal trek appears in that list¹. Route detail is on the Upper Dolpo trek, Lower Dolpo trek and Limi Valley trek pages.

How the card is issued

The process is run by agencies, not by trekkers. To buy a card an agency completes a registration form with details of the trekkers, guides and trekking routes¹. Payment goes through services such as ConnectIPS and nepalpay¹. The same page lists Upper Mustang among the guided routes, so the far west is one part of a nationwide list¹. Once payment succeeds, an eCard for TIMS is generated for each trekker with a QR code on it¹. The Nepal Tourism Board says the system is generally available all the time¹.

TIMS and the restricted-area permit

A separate permit covers restricted areas. To visit restricted areas a Trekking Permit must be obtained from the Department of Immigration in Kalikasthan, Kathmandu². Trekking in any area or along any route except the specified one is deemed a violation of law². The permit is kept with the trekker and shown to immigration employees or police on request². Fees by district are on the restricted-area permits page.

Background: the March 2023 change

The Himalayan Times reported on 10 March 2023 that the Board had revised its procedures, so that all trekkers needed a licensed guide and a card from authorised agencies from April 1 onwards³. The Board gave its reason as helping to mitigate incidents such as trekkers getting lost en route, facing health issues or natural disasters, and said the decision followed numerous discussions with trekking and expedition stakeholders and the relevant trade union³. It also said the provision would generate jobs in the tourism sector and discourage unauthorised trekking operations³.

The change drew a dispute. On 3 April 2023 the Kathmandu Post reported that the Board had imposed its mandatory-guide rule on 44 trails, including a few in the Everest region, and that the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality said hiring a guide in the Everest region was not mandatory⁴. The Post reported that Nepali trekkers are not required to hire a guide⁴. It also reported industry insiders saying the guideline followed lobbying by the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal⁴.