Nepal Logs 132,814 International Arrivals in October 2026, Strongest Month of the Year

Nepal recorded 132,814 international tourist arrivals in October 2026, according to figures released this week by the Nepal Tourism Board and reported by the government-owned Rising Nepal Daily. The number represents a 3.4% increase over October 2025 and marks the highest single-month total of the current year, surpassing the 107,934 arrivals seen in April.

The October data extends a pattern of steady year-on-year growth through the autumn season. September, previously reported, brought 88,248 visitors, a 12.1% rise over the same month last year. Cumulative arrivals for January through October now stand at 998,734, up 5.83% compared with the first ten months of 2025, according to Nepal Tourism Board monthly data compiled by industry trackers.

For operators on the ground, the October peak confirms what advance bookings have suggested since midsummer: the autumn trekking window remains the primary demand driver, and capacity across hotels, domestic flights and helicopter charters has been absorbing near-full loads since late September.

What the numbers show

The monthly breakdown published by Rising Nepal Daily illustrates the seasonal shape of 2026:

- January: 72,412 - February: 78,931 - March: 94,567 - April: 107,934 - May: 102,626 - June: 91,363 - July: 71,775 - August: 85,444 - September: 88,248 - October: 132,814

The dip from June through August reflects the monsoon shoulder, while the sharp climb in September and October mirrors the classic Himalayan trekking calendar. April's spring peak, traditionally strong for Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit expeditions, was exceeded by October's autumn surge — a pattern last seen in the pre-pandemic record year of 2019.

Implications for the current season

With the core autumn window now closing, the focus shifts to the November–December shoulder period. Historically, late autumn sees a drop-off after the first week of November as high passes such as Thorong La (5,416 m) on the Annapurna Circuit and the Three Passes route in the Everest region become less predictable. However, the strong October throughput means many teahouses and lodges in lower-altitude sections — Ghorepani, Chhomrong, Namche Bazaar, Lukla — remain well-staffed and stocked into November.

For guests still deciding on late-autumn travel, the data suggests two practical takeaways. First, availability in Kathmandu and Pokhara hotels remains tighter than in previous shoulder seasons; the Sheraton Kathmandu's October opening added inventory but has been running high occupancy. Second, helicopter charter slots for Everest Base Camp day trips and Annapurna sightseeing flights are booking further out than in 2025, reflecting both the arrival volume and the monsoon safety directive that requires two pilots on all helicopter flights from June through October.

Forward bookings and the 2027 outlook

The January–October total of 998,734 puts Nepal on track to exceed the 2025 full-year figure of 1,158,459, which itself recovered to roughly 97% of the 2019 record (1,197,191). If November and December follow the average of the past three years — approximately 70,000–80,000 combined — 2026 could close near 1.15 million arrivals, effectively matching the pre-pandemic high.

That trajectory is already shaping 2027 planning. Trekking agencies are opening Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit departures for spring 2027 earlier than usual, and several have confirmed Kailash Manasarovar slots for May–June 2027 contingent on the Kerung–Rasuwa border corridor repairs reaching the March 2027 target. Helicopter operators, including our own Skyscape division, are scheduling fleet maintenance windows around the projected spring 2027 demand curve.

On the ground in Thamel and Bhaisepati

At our family-run hotel in Thamel and the serviced apartments in Bhaisepati, October occupancy ran above 90% for the full month, with the last two weeks effectively sold out. Walk-in enquiries for November rooms have been steady, particularly from travellers extending stays after completing treks. The online visa extension portal launched in late October has reduced the administrative friction for those extensions, cutting processing from days to hours — a small but meaningful operational improvement for long-stay guests.

The arrival data is not an abstract metric. It translates directly into the number of porters on the trail, the queue at Lukla's flight desk, the availability of a helicopter for an emergency evacuation, and the lead time a guest needs to secure a room with a mountain view. October 2026 confirmed that the recovery is not just holding — it is deepening into the shoulder seasons.