Restricted-area permits explained: RAP, MCAP, ACAP and KCAP
The short version
Every trekker on Manaslu, Kanchanjunga and Makalu carries a Restricted Area Permit plus a second permit for the protected area they walk through. The RAP can only be applied for through a licensed agency, for a group of at least two, with a licensed guide.
What a Restricted Area Permit is
Manaslu, Kanchanjunga and Makalu all sit inside government-designated restricted areas. Walking in one takes a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) on top of the ordinary conservation-area or national-park permit for the region. There is no independent way to get it: the RAP is issued only through a licensed trekking agency, which is one reason these trails stay so much quieter than Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit.
Three rules come attached to the RAP on all three routes:
- Minimum group of two. A solo trekker cannot be issued a RAP.
- A licensed guide, for the whole route. It is a legal requirement, not an optional extra.
- Seasonal rates. The Nepal government sets the fee and changes it from time to time, so we reconfirm it at booking rather than quoting a number here.
The permit stack on each route
The RAP is specific to the region, and a second permit stacks on top of it. The second permit is different on each route:
| Route | Permit stack | Min. group | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manaslu Circuit | RAP (Manaslu) + MCAP + ACAP | 2 | Licensed, mandatory |
| Kanchanjunga | RAP (Kanchanjunga) + KCAP | 2 | Licensed, mandatory |
| Makalu Base Camp | RAP (Makalu) + Makalu-Barun National Park entry | 2 | Licensed, mandatory |
- RAP: Restricted Area Permit.
- MCAP: Manaslu Conservation Area Permit.
- ACAP: Annapurna Conservation Area Permit.
- KCAP: Kanchanjunga Conservation Area Permit.
Why Manaslu needs three permits
The standard Manaslu route exits through Dharapani, which is inside the Annapurna Conservation Area. That is why an ACAP is required for the final two days, in addition to the RAP and the MCAP for the Manaslu Conservation Area itself. The Dharapani checkpoint is where the ACAP is checked, and it closes out the trek’s paperwork.
Why Makalu is a park fee instead
Makalu is managed as a national park, not as a community-managed conservation area like Manaslu or Kanchanjunga. So instead of a conservation-area permit, you pay Makalu-Barun National Park entry alongside the Makalu RAP.
Where the permits are checked on the trail
| Route | Checkpoints |
|---|---|
| Manaslu Circuit | RAP logged at Jagat (Day 3). MCAP checked at Jagat and again at Namrung. ACAP checked at Dharapani. |
| Kanchanjunga | RAP logged at Sekathum (Day 5). KCAP checked again at Ghunsa. |
| Makalu Base Camp | RAP logged at Seduwa (Day 4). Makalu-Barun National Park entry fee, a park fee rather than a conservation-area permit. |
At each RAP checkpoint, officials log your paperwork before you continue deeper into the region. That is why we file everything before you land in Kathmandu.
What we handle and what you bring
We apply for and file every permit for your group. You bring a passport with at least six months’ validity and passport-sized photos for the permit applications. Your trip briefing in Kathmandu covers the paperwork we have already filed.
Before you book
Permit fees and the dates the RAP is issued both depend on the Nepal government, so treat any figure you read online, including our trek-page estimates, as unconfirmed until you have a firm quote from us.
Frequently asked
Can I get a Restricted Area Permit myself?
No. The Restricted Area Permit is issued only through a licensed trekking agency, for a group of at least two trekkers travelling with a licensed guide.
Which permits do I need for the Manaslu Circuit?
A Restricted Area Permit (RAP) for Manaslu, the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP), and the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), because the standard route exits through Dharapani inside the Annapurna Conservation Area.
What permits does Makalu Base Camp need?
A Restricted Area Permit for Makalu plus Makalu-Barun National Park entry. That is a park fee rather than a conservation-area permit, because the region is managed as a national park.
Do permit fees change?
Yes. The Nepal government sets the fees and changes them periodically, so fees are reconfirmed at booking.