Nepal’s September visitors rose 12%, but the trekking markets stayed home

Nepal received 88,248 international visitors in September 2026, 12.1% more than in September 2025, but the growth came almost entirely from Asia. Arrivals from the United States fell 14.3%, from the United Kingdom 25.2% and from Australia 29%, according to Nepal Tourism Board figures published on 1 October. Those are the countries that fill Nepal’s autumn trekking trails, and September is when their travellers arrive for the start of the season.

Who drove the rise

Asia, led by China, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Chinese arrivals reached 11,212, up 114.1%, which continues the recovery we reported when Chinese visitors passed their pre-pandemic level in July. Sri Lanka sent 7,108 people (up 54%) and Bangladesh 3,964 (up 31.5%). India stayed the largest single market, with 17,425 visitors and growth of 12%, a turnaround from August, when Indian arrivals fell by a quarter.

Together, South Asia accounted for 34.1% of all arrivals and the rest of Asia for 22.5%, which makes Asia well over half of everyone who came.

Who stayed away

The long-haul markets, all of them. Europe as a whole sent 15,148 visitors, down 8.7%, and the Americas 10,107, down 12.3%. Within those totals, the United States fell 14.3%, the United Kingdom 25.2% and Australia 29%. In August the Americas and Oceania had still grown slightly, so September is the first month this autumn in which the long-haul markets went clearly backwards.

Was it the flood?

It is the obvious suspect, but one month of figures cannot prove it. The Nepal Tourism Board gives no reason for the fall. The Bhote Koshi flood of 26 August was reported worldwide, and many travellers who saw the coverage would not know it was confined to one valley. Within days, tourism minister Khadak Raj Paudel launched the #NepalCalling campaign to counter cancellations. A Western traveller arriving in September would usually have booked months earlier, which points to cancellations rather than lost bookings. October will be the better test, because it is the peak month for exactly these markets.

Some of the fall may have nothing to do with Nepal. Long-haul air fares and the conflict in the Middle East were blamed for April’s dip, and those pressures have not gone away. We will report October’s figures when the board publishes them in early November.

What this means if you are planning a trek

What this means for you

Fewer Western trekkers in September changes very little on the trail, and it may mean more space at teahouses early in the season. The Everest and Annapurna regions were not touched by the flood. The disruption that matters is on the roads and in the weather: the monsoon had still not withdrawn on 2 October, and late-September rain cut the roads to Manang and Mustang, as we report in is the Kathmandu–Pokhara road open. Langtang, Gosainkunda and Helambu were closed or restricted after the flood.

Is Nepal still getting more visitors in 2026 than in 2025?

Yes. From January to September 2026 Nepal received 865,920 international visitors, against 815,273 in the same months of 2025, an increase of 6.21%. The tourism board says the country is “well on track to break previous tourist records in 2026”. The record is 1,197,191 arrivals, set in 2019.

Which country sent Nepal the most visitors in September?

India, with 17,425 of the 88,248, or just under a fifth. China was second with 11,212 and the United States third with 8,299.

For the month before, see how August’s arrivals fell 3.6%.

Sources: Nepal Tourism Board figures as reported by The Himalayan Times (1 October 2026), Ratopati (1 October 2026) and HimalPress (January–September totals and the board’s statement). The 2019 record is from the Nepal Tourism Board. Photos via Pexels: Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz (cover), Roman Saienko, Jeffry Surianto, Yohantha Gunawarna.