Mardi Himal Trek Permit 2026: ACAP, TIMS and the Guide Rule

QUICK ANSWER
For the Mardi Himal trek permit, you need the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), which costs NPR 3,000 plus 13% VAT for foreign trekkers and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, and is free for children under 10. As of 2026, foreign trekkers must also hire a licensed guide through a government-registered agency, so independent solo trekking on this route is no longer allowed. A TIMS card is still listed for the Annapurna region but is checked inconsistently in 2026 and is arranged through your agency. You can obtain permits at the Nepal Tourism Board offices in Kathmandu (Bhrikutimandap) or Pokhara (Lakeside), through the online portal, or, most simply, through your trekking agency.

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On this page

• Do you need a permit for the Mardi Himal trek?
• The 2026 mandatory guide rule
• ACAP permit: cost and details
• TIMS card: is it still required?
• The Machhapuchhre local fee
• Permit cost summary
• Where and how to get your permits
• When to arrange your permits
• Checkpoints and what gets verified
• Common permit mistakes to avoid
• Frequently asked questions
• Sources

The Mardi Himal trek runs entirely inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal’s largest protected region, so every trekker needs to sort out permits before setting foot on the trail. The good news is that the paperwork is far simpler than for restricted-area treks. The catch, and the part that trips people up most in 2026, is the rule that foreign trekkers must now be accompanied by a licensed guide. This guide explains exactly which permits you need, what they cost by nationality, where and how to get them, and what happens at the checkpoints along the way.

This is part of our wider Mardi Himal series. For the full day-by-day route these permits cover, see our Mardi Himal trek itinerary, and for a complete budget including guide fees and on-trail spending, see the Mardi Himal cost guide.

The mandatory guide also shapes the trek difficulty and altitude safety, peak-season permit queues are covered in the best time guide, and the documents to carry are on the packing list.

Do you need a permit for the Mardi Himal trek?

Yes. Every trekker, foreign or Nepali, needs a permit to enter the Annapurna Conservation Area, and the Mardi Himal route lies entirely within it. The core requirement is the ACAP permit. On top of that, a TIMS card is listed for the region, a local municipality fee may apply on the trail, and, for foreign trekkers, a licensed guide is mandatory. Here is the short version before we look at each item in detail.

The 2026 mandatory guide rule

IMPORTANT: 2026 RULE
Since 1 April 2023, and fully enforced in 2026, every foreign trekker in a Nepali national park or conservation area must be accompanied by a licensed guide from a government-registered agency. The Mardi Himal trek is inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so it is covered by this rule. You cannot legally trek it solo or unguided as a foreign national, regardless of your experience.

This is the single most misunderstood point about trekking in Nepal right now, so it is worth being precise. A change in March 2026 allowed solo trekkers back into certain restricted areas, such as Upper Mustang and Manaslu, by removing the old two-person minimum. That change applies only to restricted-area permits. The Mardi Himal trek runs under conservation-area rules, not restricted-area rules, so it was not affected. Plenty of older blog posts still describe Mardi Himal as a solo-friendly trek, and trekkers who arrive expecting to walk it alone are turned back at the checkpoints.

In practice this means foreign trekkers book through a registered agency, which assigns a licensed guide and handles the permit paperwork as a package. Guide rates in 2026 typically run from USD 20 to 35 per day depending on experience. Nepali and SAARC nationals do not face the mandatory guide requirement, though hiring a guide is still sensible given the unmarked ridge sections higher up.

ACAP permit: cost and details

The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) is the main permit for the trek. It is issued by the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), which manages the conservation area, and the fees go toward trail maintenance, conservation and local community development. The ACAP also covers the neighbouring Annapurna Base Camp, Poon Hill and Annapurna Circuit routes, so if you combine treks on one trip you only need one ACAP.

ACAP fees by nationality

The ACAP is a single-entry permit valid for the duration of your trek. You pay in Nepalese rupees, and you should carry the physical permit with you because it is scanned at checkpoints. If your agency arranges it, you simply hand over a passport copy and photographs and the permit is ready before you start walking.

TIMS card: is it still required?

The Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card is a registration document that records your route, emergency contacts and insurance details in a central database used for safety tracking and search and rescue. For the Annapurna region in 2026, its status is genuinely confusing, so here is the current picture as clearly as we can put it.

The TIMS card is technically still listed as a requirement for the Annapurna region, and the official fee is NPR 2,000 for foreign trekkers and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, payable online. In practice, however, most checkpoints in the Annapurna region during 2026 are verifying the ACAP permit and the guide’s credentials rather than the TIMS card. The documents that actually stop you at the gate are ACAP and your guide registration.

Two structural changes matter. First, the old Green independent TIMS card that solo trekkers used to buy directly has been abolished, so any TIMS card is now issued through a registered agency. Second, Nepal is moving to an electronic e-TIMS system with QR codes that can be scanned at checkpoints. Because enforcement varies by season and checkpoint, the safest approach is to let your agency decide whether to arrange TIMS for your specific departure, and to follow their advice.

The Machhapuchhre local fee

VERIFY THIS LOCALLY
Sources conflict on whether a separate local fee currently applies on the Mardi Himal route. Several 2026 sources say the Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality collects a local entry fee of roughly NPR 500 to 1,000 at a checkpoint near Kande or on the approach to High Camp. At least one 2026 source says no separate local fee applies now, because an earlier village fee was absorbed into ACAP revenue in 2023. Confirm the current position with the Nepal Tourism Board, the ACAP counter, or your agency before you publish a fixed figure.

Whatever the official position turns out to be, the practical advice is the same: carry a small amount of extra cash in rupees so you can pay any local charge collected on the trail. Where this fee does apply, it funds trail signage, waste management, emergency shelters and clean water in the villages along the route, so it goes directly back into the area you are walking through.

Permit cost summary

Here is how the permit-related costs add up for a foreign trekker in 2026. The guide is a mandatory cost rather than a permit, but we include it here because you cannot legally trek without one. For a full trip budget, see the cost guide.

For sample totals at budget, standard and comfort levels, see our Mardi Himal cost guide.

Where and how to get your permits

You have four practical options for getting your permits. For most foreign trekkers the agency route is simplest, because you need a registered agency for the mandatory guide anyway.

1. Through your trekking agency (recommended)

Because foreign trekkers must use a licensed guide from a registered agency, the easiest path is to let that agency handle the permits as part of your package. You provide a passport copy and passport-sized photographs in advance, and the agency collects the ACAP permit and arranges TIMS if needed. This usually takes one to two working days and removes all queue time.

2. Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu

If you are starting from Kathmandu, you can get your ACAP permit at the Nepal Tourism Board office at Bhrikutimandap (Pradarshani Marg). Offices generally open Sunday to Friday, around 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Arrive early in peak season (March to May and October to November), as queues build up later in the morning.

3. Pokhara permit counter

Pokhara is the gateway to the trek, and many trekkers prefer to sort permits there the day before they start. The tourist information centre near Damside and Lakeside issues the permits, and it is a short distance from where vehicles leave for the Kande trailhead. Handling it in Pokhara saves you carrying paperwork from Kathmandu.

4. Online e-permit portal

Nepal has an online e-permit system run through the NTNC, and the TIMS card in particular is payable online. The online route works well for many nationalities, and your agency can complete it on your behalf. Always carry a printed copy as a backup, since some checkpoints still prefer paper.

What you need to apply

Passport (and a copy). Your details are recorded against the permit.

Passport-sized photographs. Carry two to four spares for permits and any on-trail registration.

The fee in Nepalese rupees, in cash. Permit offices do not accept card payments.

Guide and agency details. Required as part of the registration for foreign trekkers.

When to arrange your permits and how long it takes

There is no need to arrange your ACAP permit months ahead, because it is issued quickly and is valid for the duration of your trek rather than for a fixed future date. If you are booking a guided package, your agency will tell you when to send your passport copy and photographs, usually a week or two before departure, and will have the permit ready when you arrive. If you are arranging it yourself in Kathmandu or Pokhara, allow a short visit the day before you travel to the trailhead.

Permits issued at a Nepal Tourism Board counter are typically processed within about 10 to 20 minutes when you have the right documents, while an agency turnaround is usually one to two working days. Either way, do not leave it until you reach the trailhead, where buying a permit costs more and can delay your start. In peak season, going early in the day helps you avoid the longer queues that build up later in the morning.

Checkpoints and what gets verified

Your ACAP permit is checked at official checkpoints along the route, and in some cases by mobile patrol units. The first checks happen near the start of the trail, and your guide manages the paperwork at each gate. Officers verify the ACAP permit and the guide’s credentials, and may record your details. Carry the physical permit and your passport at all times, and keep them somewhere dry and easy to reach.

If you arrive at a checkpoint without a valid ACAP permit, expect to be charged for it on the spot, and in some cases at double the standard rate as a penalty. More seriously, foreign trekkers without a licensed guide are stopped at the checkpoints and not allowed to continue, so this is not something you can resolve on the trail.

Common permit mistakes to avoid

Assuming you can trek solo. The mandatory guide rule applies to Mardi Himal. The 2026 change for restricted areas does not cover it.

Trusting outdated blogs. Nepal’s permit rules have changed more between 2023 and 2026 than in the previous decade. Check the date on any source you rely on.

Not carrying enough cash. Permit offices take rupees in cash only, and there are no ATMs on the trail. Withdraw what you need in Pokhara.

Buying at the checkpoint. Turning up without an ACAP permit can mean paying double. Sort it in Kathmandu, Pokhara or online first.

Forgetting photographs. Carry several passport-sized photos so you are not held up at any registration point.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a permit for the Mardi Himal trek?

Yes. All trekkers need an ACAP permit because the route lies inside the Annapurna Conservation Area. Foreign trekkers must also hire a licensed guide, and a TIMS card is listed for the region. Permits are checked at official checkpoints along the trail, so you cannot legally trek without them.

How much do Mardi Himal permits cost in 2026?

The ACAP permit costs NPR 3,000 plus 13% VAT (about NPR 3,390) for foreign trekkers and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, and is free for children under 10. A TIMS card, if arranged, is NPR 2,000 for foreigners. A small local fee may also apply on the trail.

Do I need a guide for the Mardi Himal trek?

Yes, if you are a foreign trekker. Since 2023 and through 2026, all non-Nepali trekkers in conservation areas must use a licensed guide from a registered agency. Solo trekking is not permitted on Mardi Himal. The 2026 rule change for restricted areas does not apply to this route.

Is a TIMS card required for Mardi Himal in 2026?

It is listed for the Annapurna region, but in practice most checkpoints in 2026 verify the ACAP permit and guide credentials rather than TIMS. The old independent Green card has been abolished, so any TIMS card is now issued through an agency. Follow your agency’s advice for your departure.

Where do I get the Mardi Himal trek permits?

You can get them at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu (Bhrikutimandap), at the Pokhara permit counter near Damside and Lakeside, online through the NTNC portal, or through your trekking agency. For most foreign trekkers the agency route is simplest, since a guide is required anyway.

Can I get the permits in Pokhara?

Yes. Pokhara is the gateway to the trek, and many trekkers sort their permits at the tourist information counter there the day before starting. It is close to where vehicles leave for the Kande trailhead, so it saves carrying paperwork from Kathmandu.

What documents do I need for the permits?

You need your passport and a copy, two to four passport-sized photographs, the fee in Nepalese rupees in cash, and your guide and agency details. Permit offices do not accept card payments, so bring enough cash for the permits and your time on the trail.

Can I buy the Mardi Himal permits online?

Nepal runs an online e-permit system through the NTNC, and the TIMS card is payable online. The online option works for many nationalities, and your agency can complete it for you. Always carry a printed copy, because some checkpoints still prefer the paper version.

What happens if I trek without a permit?

Without a valid ACAP permit you can be charged on the spot, sometimes at double the normal rate, and turned back. Foreign trekkers without a licensed guide are stopped at the checkpoints and not allowed to continue, so it is not a problem you can fix once you are on the trail.

Do children need a permit for the Mardi Himal trek?

Children under 10 are exempt from the ACAP permit fee, though proof of age may be requested. Older children pay the standard rate. The mandatory guide rule for foreign trekkers applies to the whole group regardless of the children’s ages.

Is the ACAP permit refundable if I cancel?

Permit fees are generally non-refundable once issued, so arrange your ACAP permit only when your trek dates are confirmed. If you book through an agency, ask about their policy on permits when you cancel or change dates, as practices vary between operators.

How long does it take to get the Mardi Himal permits?

At a Nepal Tourism Board counter, the ACAP permit is usually issued within about 10 to 20 minutes when you have your passport, photographs and the fee ready. Through an agency, allow one to two working days. Arriving early in peak season helps you avoid the queues that build later in the morning.

Does one ACAP permit cover other Annapurna treks?

Yes. The ACAP covers the whole Annapurna Conservation Area, including the Annapurna Base Camp, Poon Hill and Annapurna Circuit routes. If you combine Mardi Himal with another Annapurna trek on the same trip without leaving the area, a single ACAP permit applies, which saves both money and paperwork.

Sources

Permit fees, the mandatory guide rule and TIMS status were checked for the 2026 season against the following:

• Nepal Tourism Board, TIMS card information (ntb.gov.np)
• Annapurna Conservation Area Project and National Trust for Nature Conservation, ACAP permit rules
• 2026 regional permit updates confirming the mandatory licensed-guide policy in conservation areas