The two documents most Pokhara treks need

Trekking routes in the Annapurna region — Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, Khopra, Annapurna Base Camp, the Annapurna Circuit and the short ridge walks around the lake — lie inside the Annapurna Conservation Area. Entry requires an ACAP permit issued by the National Trust for Nature Conservation. The fee differs for foreign nationals, SAARC nationals and Nepali citizens.

Separately, Nepal Tourism Board maintains a list of trekking routes that require a licensed trekking guide and a TIMS card issued through a registered agency. Several Annapurna routes are on that list. The two systems are independent: you can need ACAP entry, TIMS, or both, depending on the route.

Where they are issued

ACAP permits are available through the National Trust for Nature Conservation and Nepal Tourism Board offices, including in Pokhara, and are also arranged by trekking agencies. Agency-issued TIMS cards are arranged by the government-registered agency that provides your guide. Restricted-area permits — which do not apply to the standard Pokhara routes — are a separate process through the Department of Immigration.

Carry the physical permits on the trail. Checkpoints along the Annapurna routes record trekker details, which is part of the search-and-rescue system if something goes wrong.

Check the current rule before you travel

Permit fees, the guide requirement and the list of covered routes have all changed in recent years, sometimes at short notice. Do not budget or plan from an old blog post or fee table.

Use the official Nepal Tourism Board TIMS and permit pages, the NTNC conservation-area information, and the Department of Immigration site close to your departure date, and ask your agency to name every permit your specific itinerary requires.