Nepal hits 1.16 million tourists in 2025 — what a busy year means for the trails
Arrivals rose about 1% to a post-pandemic high, led by India and the USA. Here is how it affects your trek.
Key facts
- Nepal welcomed 1,158,459 foreign tourists in 2025 — up about 1% on 2024.
- India led by far with 292,438 visitors; the USA was second with 112,316.
- Arrivals are still about 3% below the pre-pandemic 2019 peak.
- A turbulent September dented autumn but the year still closed strong.
Nepal closed 2025 with 1,158,459 international arrivals, according to the Nepal Tourism Board — roughly 1% up on 2024 and the best year since the pandemic, though still about 3% shy of the 2019 record. For the trekking trails that means one thing: it is busy again.
India alone supplied roughly a quarter of all visitors — a reminder of how central the short-haul and overland market has become. Western markets led by the United States remain the backbone of the multi-week trekking and expedition business, while China, still rebuilding its outbound travel, sat third.
What this means for trekkers
Busy is good for the lodges and guides who depend on the season — but it also means the marquee routes fill up. On the Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp trails in October–November, teahouses in the popular villages book out and Lukla flights get tight.
Our take
Want the big-season energy? Come in October — but book lodges and domestic flights weeks ahead. Prefer the mountains to yourself? The shoulder weeks (early December, late February) deliver the same views with a fraction of the crowds.
Whenever you come, a local operator smooths the pinch points — we pre-book teahouses, permits and flights so a record season does not leave you scrambling. Start with our trekking packages.
Source: Tourism Info Nepal
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