Required Permits for Everest Base Camp Trekking

There are numerous packages related to Everest Base Camp Trek (15 Day) and Everest or Khumbu Region Trek, which range from multiple numbers of days to single-digit days, from the low land of Everest Region for Everest View Trek to Panorama Everest Trek (6 Day), from Everest Three Pass Trek (17 Day) to Namche Bazaar Trek (5 Day), all these treks required permits.

If you are planning a Helicopter tour to Everest (1 Day) then you don’t need a trekking permit.

Now let’s talk about the required permits for trekking into the Everest Base Camp. There are two different permits required for the Everest trek. They are:

Sagarmatha National Conservation Area Permit

Sagarmatha National Conservation Area is one of the popular UNESCO Heritage Sites of Nepal carrying cultural and natural significance. It is also a heritage site situated at the highest elevation in the world.

The area covers 1,148 km² with the Himalayas including Mt. Everest sharing a border with Tibet to the north.

Sagarmatha National Conservation Area was declared the first national park and was listed as a Heritage Site in 1979 AD.

Trekkers need a permit to enter Sagarmatha National Park which can be obtained either in the Tourism Office of Kathmandu or the entrance office at Monjo upon the payment of Nepalese currency of Rs 3000.

The office at Monjo checks every trekker with the permit and keeps a record of entry as well as exit dates. This office helps trekkers get information about the culture, lifestyle of people, flora, and fauna of the entire Khumbu region with a showcase of different pictures along with details.

Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit

This is a new form of permit needed to carry while entering the entire Khumbu region, as, after the decentralization of the country in 2018 AD, the Khumbu region was declared as a Khumbu Pasang Lahmu Rural Municipality which is a local government.

Now trekkers need to pay the entrance permit to Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality upon their arrival at the Lukla airport if they are taking a flight to Lukla and if they are planning to trek from Jiri or Salleri you can obtain the permit in Monjo.

Please make sure there is no alternative office for Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality in Kathmandu. So, trekkers upon the payment of Nepalese currency Rs 2000 can obtain this permit either in Lukla or in Monjo.

Do we need TIMS Card too for Everest Base Camp Trekking?

Yes, the TIMS Card (Trekking Information Management System) is also required for trekking in the Everest Region which came into effect on 1st April 2023. TIMS can be obtained only through a registered trekking agency and costs 2000 Nepalese Rupees per person.

Other Permits Required for Everest Base Camp Trek

When you are taking a flight to Lukla, you only need to have three permits i.e. Sagarmatha National Conservation Area Permit, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit, and TIMS permit for the Everest Base Camp Trek or either entering into the Khumbu/Everest Region

If you intend to trek from Jiri or Salleri then you need an additional permit which is the Gaurishankar Conservation Area Permit.

While trekking from Jiri or Salleri, trekkers need to enter Gaurishankar Conservation Area. This permit can be obtained in Kathmandu at the Nepal Tourism Board Office upon payment of Nepalese currency Rs 3000.

What are the documents required to obtain Everest Base Camp Trekking Permits?

For all these trekking permits you are required to your passport details along with photos and a form needed to be filled out by trekkers.

If are planning your trek through a locally based trekking company in Nepal, which is legally registered. Such a company has the right to obtain all your required permits with proof of their legal documents.

Note To obtain permits of Sagarmatha National Conservation Permit, TIMS Permit, and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permits trekkers need passport detail and to fill out a personal detail form along with a local currency of Rs 3000 for Sagarmatha National Conservation Permit, Rs 2000 TIMS Permit and Rs 2000 for Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality for Everest Base Camp Trek and GaurishankarConservation Area Permit apart from passport detail and personal detail form you also need to provide 2pp size photos and Rs 3000.

Payment of all these permit fees should be in Nepalese currency. So, make sure you are carrying local currency while heading for permits.

Popular Everest Base Camp Trek Packages

1. 9-Day Everest Base Camp Trek

2. Short Everest Base Camp Trek (10-Day)

3. Budget Everest Base Camp Trek (12-Day)

4. Everest Base Camp Luxury Trek (11-Day)

5. 6-Day Everest Base Camp Trek

6. Kalapatthar Trekking (14-Day)

7. Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return (11-Day)

8. Everest Base Camp Trek for Beginners (16-Day)

9. 15-Day Everest Base Camp Comfortable Trek