Gandaki. A total of 246,575 foreign tourists have visited Annapurna Conservation Area from January to October. A total of 146,968 tourists from South Asian countries and 99,607 tourists from other countries visited the region during the period.

According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), the highest number of tourists visiting the region was 44,763 in April while the lowest number of tourists visited the region was 9,359 in January. A total of 244,045 tourists visited this area in 2024 and this number has crossed this number in 10 months of 2025.

According to Dr Rabin Kadariya, chief of the project, although the number of tourists visiting the airport in September was slightly less in September as compared to the previous year, this year the number of tourists increased by 1,557. He said tourists have arrived in all the months except May and September as compared to the last year. According to Kadariya, tourist arrivals will gradually decline after November and increase again after March.

The number of foreign tourists visiting Annapurna is on the rise from September to November and March to May. The number of tourists visiting various tourist destinations in the region via road also increases during this season. Though most of the Indian tourists going to destinations like Muktinath use roadways, tourists from other countries prefer trekking.

ACAP has been keeping data only of foreign tourists visiting Annapurna region. Project Chief Dr Kadariya said the number of domestic tourists reaching destinations including Mustang via road is increasing every year. He said the Annapurna circuit trekking route has been the preferred destination for tourists from all over the world. According to ACAP statistics, 191,666 foreign tourists visited this region in 2023.

A total of 18,836 tourists visited Nepal in 2020 and the number of tourists visiting the project has been increasing every year since then, said Project Chief Dr Kadariya. Annually, millions of domestic and foreign tourists visit Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal of Kaski, Lwang, Ghandruk village, Tilicho Lake of Manang, Thorangla Bhanjyang, Upper Mustang, Muktinath area, Ghodepani of Myagdi, Pun Hill among other destinations along the Annapurna circuit trekking route.

Annapurna region is preferred by domestic and foreign tourists due to its natural beauty, biodiversity, mountain life, wildlife, culture, etc. According to ACAP, short, medium and long route trekking can be done in Annapurna region from Kaski, Lamjung, Manang, Myagdi and other routes.