NPR 3,000? NPR 3,087? NPR 6,000 if you wait until the checkpost? You will see all three numbers across various Nepal trekking sites and they are all technically correct, because they describe different versions of the same purchase. Here is exactly what an ACAP permit costs in 2026, where every rupee goes, and how to make sure you pay the right one.
The five prices you might see
| Scenario | Cost |
|---|---|
Foreigner — bought online in advance NPR 3,000 + 2.9% NTNC gateway fee. The number you should aim to pay. | NPR 3,087 |
Foreigner — bought at the checkpoint Double. A deliberate penalty for walk-up purchase. Avoidable. | NPR 6,000 |
SAARC national — online in advance Plus the 2.9% gateway, so around NPR 1,029. | NPR 1,000 |
SAARC national — at the checkpoint Same double-the-fee rule for walk-ups. | NPR 2,000 |
Child under 10 No permit required. Bring proof of age in case it is asked for. | Free |
Why NPR 3,087 — what's the extra 87 rupees?
When you pay online, NTNC's payment gateway charges a 2.9% processing fee on top of the NPR 3,000 base. That works out to NPR 87, and the total comes to NPR 3,087. The 2.9% is not us, not a markup, not optional — it is the same gateway fee any online card payment to NTNC carries. Anyone selling you an ACAP for a flat NPR 3,000 either has not noticed the gateway fee or is absorbing it.
Why NPR 6,000 — and how to avoid it
If you turn up at the Birethanti checkpoint (or any of the other ACAP entry points) without a permit and try to buy one on the spot, the price doubles to NPR 6,000. That is a deliberate penalty designed to push trekkers to apply in advance, and it is enforced. Showing up without a permit is also a small risk in itself — at peak times the checkpoint office runs out of paper or has technical issues, and you may end up waiting around for a while.
The fix is simple: get the permit before you start the trek. Either buy directly from NTNC's office in Kathmandu or Pokhara if you have time, or order online so it is waiting in your inbox before you fly.
What the NPR 3,000 actually covers
Entry to the Annapurna Conservation Area
For the dates you specify on the permit. Single entry — if you exit and want to re-enter you need a new one.
13% Nepali VAT
Already baked into the NPR 3,000. Not a separate line item you need to budget for.
Conservation Area Management
A meaningful chunk of the fee funds NTNC programmes — trail maintenance, waste management, micro-hydro projects in the villages, schools.
What it does not cover
- Lodges and food on the trail
- Transport from Pokhara to the trailhead
- Trekking gear, clothing, or rentals
- Travel or trekking insurance
- A guide or porter (you don't need either, but if you want one, that is on you)
- Any TIMS card (you do not need one as an independent trekker)
- Restricted Area Permits — those only apply to other regions
This last one matters: a not-small number of trekking shops in Thamel and Pokhara will try to sell you a "TIMS + ACAP package" for somewhere between NPR 4,000 and NPR 5,000. Independent trekkers do not need a TIMS card. You can decline and just buy the ACAP.
The realistic cost when you buy through us
| ACAP permit base fee | NPR 3,000 | Set by NTNC |
| NTNC online gateway fee (2.9%) | NPR 87 | Charged on top by the payment processor |
| Our service fee (1 trekker) | $20 | $17 each at 2 · $14 each at 3–4 · scales down with group size |
| FX conversion buffer (5%) | ~$1–2 | Hedge against the rate moving between quote and Stripe charge |
| 1 solo trekker total | $44.28 | All-in, in your inbox within 24 hours |
The service fee is the bit that is genuinely ours — for filling in the NTNC application on your behalf, dealing with edge cases, and making sure the permit lands in your inbox within 24 hours. It scales down with group size; a couple pays less per head than a solo trekker, and a group of four less again.
Group pricing — same permit, cheaper per head
| Group | Total via us | Per trekker |
|---|---|---|
| 1 trekker | $44.28 | $44.28 |
| 2 trekkers | $82.56 | $41.28 |
| 4 trekkers | $153.12 | $38.28 |
Service fee tiers: $20 for 1 · $17 each for 2 · $14 each for 3–4 · $11 each for 5–9 · $8 each for 10+. The permit cost itself stays at NPR 3,000 per trekker no matter the group size.
Where the money actually goes
The Annapurna Conservation Area Project is run by NTNC, an independent national conservation NGO. Permit revenue funds trail maintenance, waste collection on the trekking routes, micro-hydro plants in the villages, school programmes, and the conservation work that keeps the protected area protected. It is one of the more visibly well-spent permit fees in trekking-anywhere, and the trail-side infrastructure on Annapurna is a direct result of it.
That is partly why the doubled walk-up fee exists. The advance-purchase model gives NTNC something they can plan against; walk-ups are paid for in penalty pricing.
Bottom line
One number to remember: NPR 3,000. Buy in advance, pay NPR 3,087 with the gateway fee. Don't show up at the checkpost without one or you'll pay double. Through us, a solo trekker pays $44.28 all-in, including our service fee, and the permit lands in your inbox within 24 hours.
NTNC reviews permit pricing periodically. The figures here reflect the rate published in early 2026 and have been stable for several years.
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Sort your ACAP in 3 minutes. $44.28 for a solo trekker, less per head for groups. PDF in your inbox within 24 hours.
Get my ACAP permit · $44.28