6days
3,900 mMuktinath
Moderate
The walk
Trekking in Nepal
Restricted area treks in Nepal
Along the Tibetan border, Nepal keeps some valleys "restricted": you need a special permit, a licensed guide, and a registered agency to apply. The reward is the Nepal of before the crowds: Tibetan Buddhist villages, old monasteries, and trails where you meet more yaks than trekkers.
Written by Rujan Neupane, licensed trekking guide from the Kathmandu Valley
The rules, simply
- A Restricted Area Permit from the Department of Immigration, paid in US dollars per person, by the week or by the day. Only a registered trekking agency can apply; I arrange it through one.
- A licensed guide for the whole walk inside the restricted area.
- Since 22 March 2026 a single trekker can get the permit. Before that, at least two trekkers were needed. Rules here change, so I check them again for your dates.
- You also need the conservation area or national park permit for the area, usually NPR 3,000.
- Carry your passport: the permits are checked at police and park posts along the way.
The permit fees
Per person, in US dollars. The fee at the counter is the one that counts.
| Area | Restricted Area Permit |
|---|---|
| Manaslu | USD 100 for the first week Sep–Nov, then USD 15 a day; USD 75 Dec–Aug, then USD 10 a day |
| Tsum Valley | USD 40 for the first week Sep–Nov, USD 30 Dec–Aug, then USD 7 a day |
| Nar Phu | USD 100 a week Sep–Nov, USD 75 Dec–Aug |
| Upper Mustang | USD 50 a day inside the restricted area (since late 2025; before, USD 500 for 10 days) |
| Upper Dolpo | USD 500 for the first 10 days, then USD 50 a day (some 2026 notices list USD 50 a day) |
| Lower Dolpo | USD 20 a week, then USD 5 a day |
Checked in November 2026 against the published 2026 fees. Upper Dolpo is listed differently by different sources, so I confirm it when you book.
Restricted area treks I guide
From each trek's own page: its permits are listed there.
11days
3,900 mAbove Ringmo (about 3,900 m)
Moderate
The walk
12days
4,100 mApi Base Camp
Challenging
The walk
12days
5,320 mKang La
Challenging
The walk
13days
5,106 mLarke La
Challenging
The walk
13days
4,010 mNyi La
Moderate
The walk
20days
5,143 mPangpema (north base camp)
Strenuous
The walk
20days
5,106 mLarke La
Challenging
The walk
23days
5,360 mKang La
Strenuous
The walk
Who they suit
Walkers who have trekked before, want quiet and culture more than comfort, and do not mind simple lodges, long days and a higher permit cost. Upper Mustang and Nar Phu lie in the rain-shadow, so they are good in the monsoon too. Trekking seasons in Nepal.
More on every permit, restricted or not: Nepal trekking permits · the permits for each walk · Upper Mustang, the full guide.
Questions people ask me
Can I trek a restricted area alone?
Since 22 March 2026, yes: one trekker can get the permit, with a licensed guide. Before that, two trekkers were needed.
Who issues the permit?
Nepal's Department of Immigration, through a registered trekking agency. You give your passport and visa details; the agency applies and pays.
Which restricted area trek is best?
For a high circuit, Manaslu; for monasteries without a high pass, the Tsum Valley; for a short wild valley, Nar Phu; for a desert kingdom, Upper Mustang. Nepal treks compared.
Are the permits refundable?
No. Once issued, a permit is not refunded, which is one more reason for good travel insurance.
Not sure which trek suits you? Tell me your dates and what you hope for, and I will say honestly.
