Tilicho Lake Trek Permits: ACAP, TIMS & Rules

The Two Permits You Need

The Tilicho Lake trek lies inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal's largest protected area, so the permits are the same as for the wider Annapurna Circuit. It is a teahouse trek, not a mountaineering expedition, so there is no climbing permit, just two documents.

Figures are 2026 estimates; confirm current rates with the Nepal Tourism Board or your agency before you travel.

No Restricted-Area Permit Needed

A common question: Tilicho Lake is not a restricted area, so you do not need an expensive restricted-area permit to reach it. This is a key difference from the neighbouring Nar Phu Valley, which branches from the same Manang region but does require a costly restricted-area permit.

Because Tilicho sits on the standard Annapurna Circuit corridor, the ACAP and TIMS cover the entire route, including the climb to the lake, the crossing of the Thorong La (5,416 m) and the descent to Muktinath and Jomsom on the far side.

ACAP, Annapurna Conservation Area Permit

The ACAP is the main entry permit, issued by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the National Trust for Nature Conservation, whose fees fund conservation and local development across the region. For foreign nationals it costs around NPR 3,000; SAARC nationals pay less.

It is checked at conservation-area entry posts and at points along the route, so keep it accessible with your passport. The permit is single-entry for your trek and non-transferable.

TIMS, Trekkers' Information Management System

The TIMS card registers you in a central database so authorities can locate and account for trekkers in an emergency, which matters on a high, exposed trek like this. For foreign nationals it costs around NPR 2,000 (a higher individual-trekker rate has sometimes applied; SAARC nationals pay less). The card records your route and emergency contacts, and is checked alongside the ACAP.

Where & How to Get Them

Both permits are issued in Kathmandu or Pokhara, at the Nepal Tourism Board offices and the Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN).

You will need:

• Your passport (and a photocopy).
• 2–4 passport-sized photos.
• The fees in Nepali rupees (cash).
• Your itinerary and emergency contact details.

If you book through a trekking agency, they routinely arrange both permits as part of the package, you simply hand over your passport details and photos. Sort them out in town before you drive to the trailhead at Chame; permits cannot be obtained on the trail.

The Licensed-Guide Rule

Since 2023, Nepal's Tourism Board has required trekkers in many national-park and conservation areas, including the Annapurna region, to be accompanied by a licensed guide, ending the era of fully solo, independent trekking on routes like this.

• Given the extreme altitude and the exposed, landslide-prone Tilicho traverse, a licensed guide is strongly advisable here in any case.
• A guide also handles permit logistics, navigation, lodge bookings and altitude and weather judgement at the pass.
• Rules and enforcement continue to evolve, confirm the current requirement with a registered agency or the NTB before you travel.

Guide costs are covered in the Tilicho cost guide.