Manaslu Circuit Trek Permit: Cost, Rules and How to Get It (2026)

19 May 2026 Chandra Gurung

The Manaslu Circuit Trek needs three permits plus one municipality fee. These are the Restricted Area Permit (RAP), the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP), and the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). You also pay a small fee at Jagat for the Chumnubri Rural Municipality. Total cost for a standard 14-day trek permit in peak season runs around USD 215 per person. From March 1, 2026, solo trekkers can go with a registered agency and licensed guide. The two-person minimum no longer applies.

Now, About Manaslu Permit

Last October, a trekker arrived in Kathmandu assuming his TIMS card covered Manaslu entry. He had read it on blog from 2021. It cost him two days reorganising permits before he could leave for the trailhead.

That kind of problem is avoidable. This page gives you the confirmed 2026 permit costs, the correct documents, and a clear process timeline. Nothing outdated. Nothing assembled from other blogs.

What Permit are Needed for Manaslu?

SAARC nationals pay NPR 1,000 for both MCAP and ACAP. Children under 10 need no permits.

Permits You Need for the Manaslu Circuit Trek

Trekkers need these permits for the Manaslu Circuit Trek:

• Restricted Area Permit (RAP)
• Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP)
• Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
• Chumnubri Rural Municipality Fee

All four are mandatory. Miss one and the Jagat checkpoint officer will not let you through. This is not a negotiable situation on the trail.

Only registered trekking agencies can apply for the RAP. Individual applications are not accepted at the Department of Immigration. You need a registered company to handle this, regardless of your experience level.

Why Manaslu Is a Restricted Trekking Area

Nepal opened the Manaslu region to foreign trekkers in 1991 and immediately placed it under a restricted permit system. The trail runs close to the Tibet border, making it a sensitive zone for national security. The permit system controls who enters and tracks movement through the area.

The restriction also limits tourism pressure in culturally sensitive villages near the Tibetan border. The Nubri Valley communities maintain a way of life closely tied to Tibetan Buddhism. The permit system keeps visitor numbers manageable. The fee funds conservation across the 1,663 square kilometre Manaslu Conservation Area.

When you pay your permit fee, part of it funds trail maintenance and conservation work inside the zone. That is part of why the area remains worth trekking.

Manaslu Restricted Area Permit Cost by Season

MCAP, ACAP and Municipality Fee

MCAP (Manaslu Conservation Area Permit) Covers the conservation area from Soti Khola to Dharapani. USD 30 for foreign nationals. Get it through your agency or at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu on Pradarsani Marg.

ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) The Manaslu Circuit exits through Dharapani, which falls inside the Annapurna Conservation Area. So ACAP is required even though you are not doing the Annapurna Circuit. USD 30 for foreign nationals. Same price, same issuing office.

Chumnubri Rural Municipality Fee This is the one most blogs miss entirely. At the Jagat checkpoint, you pay NPR 1,000 directly to the local municipality. It is collected on the spot in cash. There are no card readers at trail checkpoints. Make sure you have NPR on you before you leave Kathmandu.

Total Permit Cost for a 14-Day Trek

Peak Season (September to November), 10 days in restricted area:

• RAP: USD 100 + (3 extra days x USD 15) = USD 145
• MCAP: USD 30
• ACAP: USD 30
• Municipality fee: USD 10
• Total: USD 215 per person

Off-Season (December to August), 10 days in restricted area:

• RAP: USD 75 + (3 extra days x USD 10) = USD 105
• MCAP: USD 30
• ACAP: USD 30
• Municipality fee: USD 10
• Total: USD 175 per person

These are permit-only figures. Guide fees, porter fees, and agency service charges are separate.

Manaslu vs Other Major Nepal Treks Permit Comparison

Do You Need a TIMS Card for Manaslu?

No. Many older blogs still say TIMS is required for the Manaslu Circuit. The TIMS card tracks trekkers in open areas without dedicated permit. The Manaslu restricted area has its own tracking through the RAP. Your name, passport number, and route are already logged through that permit. TIMS adds nothing on top of it.

The only situation where TIMS becomes relevant is if you continue beyond Dharapani deep into the Annapurna Circuit past Besisahar. That section sits outside the restricted zone. If that is your plan, ask your agency about the specific extension route.

For the standard Manaslu Circuit ending at Besisahar or returning to Kathmandu, you do not need TIMS.

Solo Trekking on the Manaslu Circuit Is Now Allowed

Until February 2026, the Manaslu Circuit required a minimum of two trekkers to obtain a Restricted Area Permit. One person alone could not apply. You either found a second trekker or waited.

According to the current 2026 regulation update, solo trekkers can now obtain a Manaslu permit through a registered agency with a licensed guide. The two-person minimum has been removed.

What changed: Solo permit applications are now accepted by the Department of Immigration when submitted through a registered agency.

What did not change: A registered agency must still apply on your behalf. Individual applications are still not accepted. A licensed guide is still mandatory throughout the restricted zone. All checkpoint and documentation rules are unchanged.

In practical terms, you no longer need to find a second trekker before booking. But you still need an agency and a guide on the trail.

Regulations in restricted trekking areas can update without wide announcement. Confirm the current solo rule with our agency before finalising your booking.

Documents to Send Manaslu Guide

Send us these details at least two weeks before your trek start date. Processing takes time. Last-minute document submission in October is genuinely stressful and sometimes causes departure delays.

• Full colour passport scan, all information pages
• Nepal visa copy
• Two passport-sized photos (digital scans accepted by most agencies in 2026)
• Travel insurance details including policy number and the emergency contact number for your insurer. The policy must explicitly cover high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation.
• Trekking itinerary with your route and dates

We will need your original passport for a few hours in Kathmandu to get the final verification stamp from the Department of Immigration.

How Permit Processing Works and How Long It Takes

Once your documents arrive, we submits the RAP application to the Department of Immigration. MCAP and ACAP go to the Nepal Tourism Board. Normal processing runs 1 to 2 business days.

In October, every trekking agency in Nepal is submitting peak season permits at the same time. The DoI office in Kathmandu gets crowded. Processing stretches to 2 to 3 days. Guides sit outside the office waiting. Trekkers sometimes reorganise their departure date by a day. This is normal. It just needs to be planned for.

Arrive in Kathmandu at least 3 days before your trek start date. That buffer handles processing time, gear checks, and rest before the drive to Soti Khola.

How Permit Fees Are Paid

Most trekkers pay permits as part of a total package price. Your agency invoices everything together and you pay once before arrival.

If permits are handled separately, here is what matters on the ground.

The RAP fee is paid by your agency to the Department of Immigration in NPR. Bring USD or EUR and your agency will exchange at the current rate.

The municipality fee at Jagat is paid in cash on the trail. NPR 1,000 per person, collected at the checkpoint. There are no reliable ATMs once you leave Kathmandu. Every season trekkers arrive at Jagat trying to borrow NPR cash from other groups because they forgot to withdraw before leaving the city. Withdraw from an ATM in Thamel before your departure day. Not at the airport.

Checkpoints do not accept cards. They do not accept USD directly. NPR cash only.

Permit Checkpoints on the Trail

Your permits will be checked multiple times. Carry all copies every day.

• Jagat (1,340m): First and most thorough checkpoint. RAP, MCAP, and municipality fee all verified here. The checkpoint officer checks your name against your passport. If anything is missing, you stop here.
• Philim: MCAP checked again.
• Samagaun (3,530m): RAP verified again. Some trekkers are asked to show insurance documents at this point.
• Dharapani: ACAP checked on the exit side of the circuit.

Keep physical copies of all permits in your pack. Also keep digital scans on your phone. Permit papers get wet near the river sections around Jagat. Having a backup on your phone makes any checkpoint discrepancy easy to resolve.

Digital Logging at Jagat and Namrung in 2026

From 2026, checkpoints at Jagat and Namrung have moved to digital logging. When your guide presents your RAP at these checkpoints, your permit number and passport details are entered into the checkpoint system.

This means authorities can see which trekkers entered the zone, on what date, and on which route. If someone goes missing on the circuit, the checkpoint records tell rescue teams where they were last logged.

For you as a trekker, nothing changes in practice. Your guide handles the process. You present your passport when asked. But keep a digital backup of your permits. If paper copies are damaged, having them on your phone speeds up any checkpoint question.

Tsum Valley Permit If You Are Extending

Adding the Tsum Valley to your Manaslu Circuit requires a separate restricted area permit. This covers Lokpa to Mu Gompa.

Peak Season (September to November): USD 40 per person for the first 7 days, then USD 7 per additional day.

Off-Season (December to August): USD 30 per person for the first 7 days, then USD 7 per additional day.

Arrange this permit in Kathmandu with your main RAP. You cannot pick it up on the trail. The Lokpa checkpoint is strict. Trekkers who arrive at Lokpa without a Tsum Valley permit are turned back.

Common Permit Mistakes to Avoid

Sending a bad passport scan. We needs a clear full-colour scan of all information pages. A dark phone photo taken at an angle causes delays. Scan it properly.

Assuming TIMS replaces RAP. It does not. Two completely separate systems. If someone told you TIMS covers Manaslu entry, that information is outdated.

Booking non-refundable flights before permit confirmation. October processing can take 3 to 4 days. Do not assume same-day clearance during peak season.

Carrying only digital permit copies. Checkpoints require physical documents. A phone screen is not accepted at Jagat. Print your permits before leaving Kathmandu.

Entering Tsum Valley without an extension permit. The Lokpa checkpoint will send you back. Then you lose the detour and pay a fine.

Travel insurance without helicopter evacuation coverage. Agencies are required to see proof. Make sure your policy explicitly covers high-altitude Nepal and emergency helicopter rescue. A standard travel insurance policy often does not include this.

Permit Rules You Must Follow

Non-transferable. Your permit carries your name and passport number. It cannot be used by anyone else.

Single entry only. Once you exit the restricted zone, the same permit cannot be used to re-enter.

Fixed dates and route. The permit covers only the dates and itinerary submitted at application. If your plans change on trail, contact us. Changes cannot happen at checkpoints.

Guide mandatory. A licensed guide is legally required throughout the restricted zone. This is Nepal law, not an agency policy.

No refunds. Once issued, permits cannot be refunded for any reason. Travel insurance that covers trip cancellation helps here.

Children under 10. Exempt from all permit fees.

Cultural conduct. Respect for local customs is a printed condition on the permit. The Nubri Valley communities live along this trail. The permit system exists partly to protect them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the Manaslu permit myself?

No. The RAP must be applied for by a registered trekking agency. The Department of Immigration does not accept individual applications. You need a registered company, not just a guide.

What if my permit dates expire mid-trek due to bad weather or a delay?

We apply for an extension from Kathmandu. Trail checkpoints cannot process extensions on the spot. This is one of the main reasons to build buffer days into your itinerary.

Can permits be extended at Jagat or other checkpoints?

No. Extensions require the agency to submit paperwork at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu. Plan your dates with buffer from the start.

What happens if I trek without a permit?

You will be stopped at Jagat. If you somehow pass Jagat and are found at a later checkpoint, you face removal from the trail and a fine. Guides who take trekkers without valid permits risk losing their license. There is no workaround.

Are permits refundable if my trip is cancelled?

No. Once issued, permits are non-refundable and non-transferable. Get travel insurance that covers trip cancellation before permits are processed.

Do children need permits?

Children under 10 are fully exempt from all Manaslu permit fees.

Can I enter Manaslu from the Annapurna side and trek the circuit in reverse? Y

es. The circuit can be done in either direction. Your RAP covers the same restricted zone regardless of which end you enter from. Confirm your entry point with your agency when submitting your itinerary so the permit reflects the correct route.

Conclusion

The actual permit process is manageable once the paperwork is correct. Most problems happen because trekkers rely on outdated information, leave document submission too late, or arrive in Kathmandu without enough buffer time before their start date.

Get the documents to your agency early. Print your permits before you leave Kathmandu. Carry physical copies every day on the trail.

If you want the permits handled before you arrive, send your passport scan and trek dates. We confirm the exact RAP duration based on your itinerary, process all permits, and hand physical copies to your guide on departure day.

Chandra Gurung

Chandra Gurung is a trip organizer and founder of Himalaya Guide Nepal Pvt. Ltd. This company is a government-registered trekking company in the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Government...