Hotels and homestays in the popular tourist villages of Ghandruk, Sikles, and Lwang in Kaski district are fully booked, with thousands of tourists arriving daily during the Tihar and Chhath holidays. Many tourists who did not book in advance are struggling to find accommodation.Ghandruk, located in Annapurna Rural Municipality-10 and 11, has seen a significant increase in visitors since the day after Tihar. According to Vikram Gurung, chairman of the Ghandruk Tourism Management Committee, between 3,400 and 3,500 tourists are arriving daily. The committee has urged visitors to book accommodation in advance due to the high demand. Ghandruk currently operates 80 hotels, including resorts, and 35 homestays.Sikles village in Madi Rural Municipality-1 is experiencing similar crowds. The Tourist Information Centre reported that 1,324 tourists arrived in Sikles the day after Tihar. Local business owners have expressed difficulties in managing the large influx of visitors. Jharna Gurung, operator of Namaste Guest House, stated that her guest house is fully booked until Sunday. Devi Jang Gurung, ward chairman of Madi Rural Municipality-1, said that 3,146 tourists visited Sikles between November 1 and 6, averaging 524 visitors per day.Lwang village in Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality-8, adjacent to Pokhara Metropolitan City, has also seen a surge in tourists. Manju Gurung, former chairperson of the Lwang Community Homestay Management Committee, reported that hotels and homestays have been full since the day after Tihar. The homestay business in Lwang, which started with seven houses in 2067 BS, has expanded to 26 houses and can accommodate up to 400 guests per night.Local tourism entrepreneurs attribute the increased domestic tourist arrivals to improved road access from Pokhara to Ghandruk, Sikles, and Lwang, as well as the long holidays provided by festivals like Tihar and Chhath. This surge has revitalized local tourism businesses.Nepal has also seen an increase in international tourist arrivals this year. From January to October 2026, 998,734 international tourists visited Nepal, a 5.83% increase compared to the same period in 2025. In October 2026 alone, 132,814 tourists arrived in Nepal.
Background
- Ghandruk is a major destination on the Annapurna Circuit Trek and lies on the Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill-Ghorepani trekking routes.
- Tourism in Sikles began with community homestays two decades ago.
What happens next
Nepal Tourism Board is expected to publish tourist arrival statistics for November in early December, and full-year statistics for 2026 in January.
