TIMS: the baseline card
The Trekkers' Information Management System card is the baseline registration for almost every trekking route in Nepal. It exists so authorities know roughly how many trekkers are on a given trail, which matters for search and rescue coordination. We handle the application before you land; you just need passport photos and passport details in advance.
National park and conservation area permits
Routes through Sagarmatha National Park (Everest region) or the Annapurna Conservation Area carry their own entry permit, priced per trek and funding park maintenance and ranger staff. These are checked at physical gates on the trail, so we carry printed copies for the whole group, not just digital records.
Restricted areas: why Manaslu costs more
Manaslu sits close enough to the Tibet border that the route falls under a restricted-area permit, issued directly by Nepal's Department of Immigration rather than a park office. It requires a minimum of two trekkers travelling with a registered agency, a licensed guide for the full route, and a higher permit fee that scales with season. This is the main reason Manaslu costs more than Everest Base Camp for a similar number of days: the permit itself, not the trail.
The upside is real. Restricted-area status keeps trekker numbers low, which is most of why Manaslu still feels quiet compared to the Khumbu.
What you actually need to bring
A passport valid for at least six months past your travel dates, four to six passport photos, and your Nepal visa (available on arrival at Kathmandu airport for most nationalities, or in advance). Everything else, we file.