Trip tool 03
Permits, land by land
Rules change, sometimes mid-season. We apply for the permits a registered agent can arrange and confirm the rest when we quote. Check current status before you travel.
Nepal
Indian nationals need no visa, only a valid passport or voter ID. Most other nationalities can buy a visa on arrival in Kathmandu: 15 days for USD 30, 30 days for USD 50 and 90 days for USD 125. National parks charge daily or per-visit entry fees, and trekking areas need their own permits: ACAP for the Annapurnas, Sagarmatha National Park and the Khumbu municipality fee for Everest, and a restricted-area permit of USD 500 for 10 days for Upper Mustang. Since 2023 most foreign trekkers must walk with a licensed guide. We arrange all of these; check current status before you travel.
Rajasthan
No special permit is needed to visit Rajasthan for Indian or foreign travellers holding a valid Indian visa. Tiger safaris in Ranthambore need a permit issued by the Rajasthan forest department for a specific zone and time, booked online and tied to each passenger's ID; we apply as soon as dates are fixed. Areas close to the Pakistan border beyond Jaisalmer, such as Longewala and Tanot, have rules for foreign nationals that change. Check current status before you travel.
Ladakh
Indian nationals have needed an Inner Line Permit or online registration with fees for Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri, Hanle and Turtuk; the rules were changed in 2021 and have been revised since. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit, issued through a registered travel agent in Leh. Everyone pays an environmental fee and a Red Cross contribution, plus wildlife fees where they apply. Foreigners' access to Hanle and to some routes near the border has varied. We arrange all permits in Leh and carry copies for checkposts. Check current status before you travel.
North East India
Indian citizens need an Inner Line Permit for Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur, applied for online on each state's portal; Arunachal's tourist eILP costs roughly ₹300–500 and Nagaland's ₹200 for 30 days. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for Arunachal, and since December 2024 for Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur too, arranged through a registered operator. Sikkim needs a Restricted Area Permit for foreigners and extra permits for North Sikkim, Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La. Meghalaya and Assam need none. Check current status before you travel.
Kerala
No special permits are needed to travel anywhere in Kerala, for Indian or foreign nationals. Most foreign visitors arrive on an e-Visa, which Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode airports accept. Wildlife areas such as Periyar, Eravikulam and Muthanga sell entry tickets and activity slots through the forest department, often online and in limited numbers; we book these for you. Many major temples, including Padmanabhaswamy, Guruvayur and Vadakkunnathan, admit only Hindus to the inner areas and enforce a dress code. Rules and ticket systems change, so check current status before you travel.
Goa · no special permits
No special permits are needed for the usual routes. Carry photo ID; foreign nationals carry their passport and visa.
UP & Bihar · no special permits
No special permits are needed for the usual routes. Carry photo ID; foreign nationals carry their passport and visa.