The national trust for nature conversation has increased entrance fees of Annapurna conservation area, Manaslu and Gaurishankar conservation area effective from October 15, 2018. New entry fees for foreigners are now 3,000 (Three Thousand) Nepali rupees. For SAARC national 1,000 (One thousand) rupees and for Nepalese 100(One Hundred) rupees. Fees are inclusive of government VAT and other taxes. The federal government published a directive in the Nepal Gazette fixing the new entry fees for Nepali and foreign tourists visiting the three conservation areas in the Himalaya. Earlier the fees of these three conservation areas were 2,260 rupees for foreigners, 226 for SAARC countries, and free for Nepalese.
The permit needs to obtain from the conservation area project counters operating under the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC). Counter stand at tourism board building Kathmandu and Pokhara too. NTNC fee collection counter is also stand in Besisahar, from where Annapurna circuit trekking starts. If you issue your permit on the way of regions, have to pay double of the cost. The cost of conservation area permits is the same for individual tourists as well as the same for Nepalese trekking companies.
Conservation permit need to obtain before entering in these areas. You need to pay double of the real cost of the permit, if you buy it on the way in checking post. Conservation offices are in Kathmandu, Pokhara and in Besisahar. You need your passport detail, photograph to obtain permits. TIMS cards are also mandatory to enter conservation areas. If you are planning to enter in restricted area like Upper Mustang, Narphu, you need to take services from registered Nepali Trekking Company.
Nepal is famous and Trekking in Nepal is a lifetime experience. The famous trekking trails inside the Annapurna conservation area are Annapurna Base Camp, Annapurna circuit, Mardi Himal, Machhapuchhre Model, Khopra Danda, Khayar Lake, Ghorepani Poonhill, Tilicho Lake and other small hiking near from Pokhara. There is some driving route to explore the region are Dhampus, Australian camp, Lwang village, Upper Mustang, and lower mustang need to obtain Annapurna conservation permit too. Inside Manaslu conservation, there is only one route named Manaslu trek. When doing Manaslu round through Larke La pass, it exits through Annapurna conservation area so Manaslu round trek needs both Manaslu and Annapurna conservation area permits besides Manaslu restricted special permit.
