Unclear about the TIMS

[chas]

I'm confused about TIMS for my upcoming ABC trek next week. Some say it mandates using guides and porters hired from Kathmandu or Pokhara. But the TIMS info on the web says nothing about that. I know an earlier version (TRC) tried to hustle independent trekkers into this, but failed. I've hired porters in Besi before, and certainly don't want or need a guide. Can I just do that again? Thanks!

[thesilvertops]

You have to get a TIMS card before you go on trek. You can get it in Kathmandu or Pokhara but not at Besi Sahar or anywhere on the trek. You will have to produce it with your ACAP permit at the checkposts. You can make your own arrangements for a porter or a guide if you want to or you can trek independently if you wish. I can't remember if you have to give details of the agency/porter/guide when you apply for the TIMS.

[Michael Sunkist]

Nameste Silvertops, I haven't been to Nepal since 2004. Back then you could just score a ACAP permit and you were good to go. What all do you need these days before you hit the trails? Is it true you now need to hire guides and (gasp!) porters? You can't trek alone like I've been doing for decades? Happy Trails.

[Escher]

Back then you could just score a ACAP permit and you were good to go. What all do you need these days before you hit the trails?

>> You need the TIMS certificate as well as the ACAP permit. Can be filled in and obtained for free at the NTB office at Damside. An agency can also get one for you but will charge a fee.

Is it true you now need to hire guides and (gasp!) porters? You can't trek alone like I've been doing for decades? Happy Trails.

>> You can still trek alone. The TAAN scheme for imposing guides and porters on independent trekkers has been scrapped.

[Lars]

You need the TIMS certificate as well as the ACAP permit.
What actually is this TIMS certificate?
Is this all new? I trekked in the Annapurnas last November, and I am quite sure
I did not have any such. ACAP sure, but nothing else.

[Escher]

I think it stands for Trekkers Information Management System and is a database the NTB has set up to collect information about trekker's trekking plans so that if something happens to someone they may have better data to help track someone down. I thought that this was brought in 18 months ago or so after the TRC was scrapped. We had to register in February for TIMS but not in April 2006 the previous time I was there. I am surprised you didn't have to register last Autumn but perhaps it wasn't necessary then and I have my dates wrong. You certainly have to get one now and you need a couple more passport photos for it (as well as a couple for the ACAP permit) and need a note of your insurance policy details to go onto the form too. Our TIMS certificates were checked at some of the checkpoints on the AC.

[Doppelwhipper]

I'm just back from the AC today and the TIMS card was checked once at Besisahar and that was it.

[vzzzbx]

I believe TIMS was introduced Jan 1st 2008.

I just found this site: http://www.timsnepal.com/

[yakshaver]

I started my trek in late December 2007 and finished it on 8 January 2008. Did not have to deal with TIMS at the time. But I suppose it may have started to get enforced if you began your trek after 1 Jan...
Anyway, I have sent Santaman an email about it. See what he has to say.

[Anyone]

Hi all,

TIMS sis what it is, however it's basically a registration to follow up who goes where.

Every trekker has to get one (!). You need 2 PP size photo and fill in a Form, wich conveniently can be done free of any cost at Nepal Tourism Board offices in Kathmandu, Pokhara and on the border points where they have offices.

Otherwise you have to do a tour if you do it with Trekking Agent in Nepal or I have heard some agents ask different amounts. TAAN apparently asks 100 RS (little more than a buck).

As I have one copy, I have made a copy of that (but's not the real original) as here pdf files can have only 19 KB and the original has 80.

You can see what is written there and what you need to fill in and that's quite self explaining. It takes just few minutes to get the TIMS at NTB without any further hassle to buy servics or to do that or this.

Be aware that many "agents" in Thamel advertise "TIMS counter" or similar just to catch you and then sell you some services. There are only NTB and TAAN offices authorized to give TIMS to individual trekkers apparently, agents have different type for organized tours, but not the individual TIMS form at hand as far as I know.

See the website http://www.timsnepal.com/

Happy trekking!

Anyone

[kiwigirl]

I'm confused about TIMS for my upcoming ABC trek next week. Some say it mandates using guides and porters hired from Kathmandu or Pokhara. But the TIMS info on the web says nothing about that. I know an earlier version (TRC) tried to hustle independent trekkers into this, but failed. I've hired porters in Besi before, and certainly don't want or need a guide. Can I just do that again? Thanks!

it only costs $5US for a TIMS and you can pay it to any travel agency. it has nothing to do with hiring guides. it is illegal to trek without a TIMS card.

[Oli]

it only costs $5US for a TIMS and you can pay it to any travel agency. it has nothing to do with hiring guides. it is illegal to trek without a TIMS card.

Or TIMS can be got from the NTB office for free. My belief is that it has a lot to do with hiring guides, whether that is the stated intention or not. Is it really "illegal" to trek without TIMS, or just "not allowed"? Did they actually pass a law?

[thesilvertops]

My belief is that it has a lot to do with hiring guides, whether that is the stated intention or not. Is it really "illegal" to trek without TIMS, or just "not allowed"? Did they actually pass a law?

They didn't when the TRC was introduced and that was why it was able to be removed so quickly. TAAN would like trekkers to have to hire guides/porters but there is a big market for independent trekking and also for non-TAAN guides and porters so the TRC was replaced with TIMS.