By mid-May of the current fiscal year, the Manaslu region in northern Gorkha welcomed 12,259 foreign tourists — the highest number ever recorded — according to the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP). This figure represents 98.07 percent of MCAP’s annual target of 12,500 visitors for FY 2024/25.
MCAP Chief Santosh Sherchan attributed the rise to the gradual recovery of tourism after the pandemic. In comparison, 9,782 tourists visited the region in FY 2023/24, 7,705 in FY 2022/23, and only 2,284 in FY 2021/22. The lowest number of arrivals was during FY 2020/21, with just 194 tourists amid COVID-19 disruptions.
Sherchan noted that SAARC nationals are charged Rs 1,000 per person to enter the region, while tourists from other countries pay Rs 3,000. Fees are collected at counters in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, and Damsite, Pokhara. Those who skip these counters must pay double at MCAP checkpoints in Jagat and Samagaun.
As a government-designated restricted area, the Manaslu region requires visitors to obtain a permit from the Department of Immigration. The permit allows a one-week visit to the Chum and Nubri valleys. Entry fees for Chum Valley are USD 50 per person during peak season and USD 25 in the off-season, while Nubri Valley charges USD 70 during peak season and USD 35 off-season. Additional charges apply for extended stays.
Seven wards of Chumnubri Rural Municipality fall under the Manaslu Conservation Area, covering the former VDCs of Sirdibas, Lho, Prok, Bihi, Samagaun, Chumchet, and Chekampar. Samagaun, Lho, Prok, and Bihi comprise Nubri Valley, while Chumchet and Chekampar make up Chum Valley. The region has been open to tourists since 1995.
