The Nepal Eco Trekking Market is estimated to grow from USD 423.6 million (USD 0.42 billion) in 2025 to around USD 1.14 billion by the year 2035 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3%. This expansion is fueled by a rising need for sustainable travel options that merge nature preservation with cultural interaction.
From 2020 to 2024, the eco trekking segment's year-on-year growth surpassed that of the traditional trekking as travelers began to show a preference for regenerative tourism. There has been a significant increase in treks focused on permaculture, forest conservation and community-managed ecotourism. Routes in Annapurna, Langtang, and Manaslu especially have seen a surge in bookings for such eco-centric itineraries, aided by partnerships between local cooperatives and specialized operators.
Finally, the growth of the industry has been turbocharged by the support of government and NGOs and measured in funding for infrastructure improvements, trail rehabilitation and sustainability certification for eco lodges. By 2025, more than 35% of new trekking policies included sustainability components of carbon offsetting, waste minimization, and ecological education.
Demand from overseas markets continues to be firm, with Germany, the United States, South Korea and the Netherlands being key source markets. Independent tourism is booming as well, with younger Nepali travelers increasingly keen on conservation-linked travel. The industry's positive prospects are supported by regulatory support, increased operator specialization, and alignment with global trends in responsible tourism.
Market Overview
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated Market Size (2025E) | USD 423.6 million |
| Projected Value (2035F) | USD 1.14 billion |
| Value-based CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 10.3% |
Trekkers seek immersive, sustainable journeys. In Dolpo, hikers stay with Tibetan families who teach them to bake tsampa over dried juniper fires. In Mustang, travelers plant high-altitude herbs alongside locals in terraced fields above the Kali Gandaki Gorge.
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CAGR Values for Nepal Eco Trekking (2024 to 2025)
The industry posted a CAGR of 9.8% in H1 2024, climbing to 10.1% by year-end. The forecast for 2025 indicates a rise to 9.9%, propelled by sacred nature retreats, regenerative farming treks, and educational bio-conservation tours in regions such as Humla, Rukum, and Solukhumbu.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Market Value | USD 386.2 million in 2024 |
| Domestic Market Share | 58%; locals explore Buddhist ecology trails in Lumbini , honey-harvesting treks in Sankhuwasabha , and forest meditations in Shivapuri |
| International Market Share | 42%; key arrivals from Germany, Japan, USA, Australia, and South Korea |
| Key Destinations | Annapurna, Langtang , Manaslu , Khaptad , Kanchenjunga |
| Economic Impact | Supports 1.3 million jobs in porter services, eco-lodge cooperatives, herbal tea enterprises, and trail maintenance collectives |
| Key Trends | Rise in zero-waste trekking circuits, Buddhist-nature interpretation walks, and youth eco-volunteering treks |
| Top Travel Seasons | March-May and September-November; off-season (December-February) now sees winter birdwatching treks and fire-circle storytelling camps in lower altitudes |
Eco trekking helped revive indigenous plant knowledge and reforest degraded hillsides by 2024. Domestic tourists embraced tree-planting circuits and eco-youth camps, while foreign visitors joined hands-on biofencing workshops and community seed bank tours.
| Date | Development & Details |
|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | Rukum Eco Trail Opens: Guests co-plant forest corridors with locals and track leopard scat as part of conservation walks |
| Dec 2024 | Langtang Launches Cultural Ecology Hikes: Homestays offer chants in Tamang dialect, mixed with guided tours of rewilded lands |
| Nov 2024 | Solukhumbu Hosts Yak Wool Weaving Treks: Visitors spin wool and camp with yak herders under plastic-free protocols |
| Oct 2024 | Rolwaling Valley Unveils Glacial Listening Treks: Tourists track melt rhythms and document folk myths around glacier spirits |
| Sept 2024 | Khaptad Introduces Herbalist Pilgrimage Trails: Guests learn from shamans and collect stories of plant medicine in altars and alpine meadows |
Permaculture Village Routes has been a game changer in Nepal’s eco trekking scene and has been responsible for more than 28% of all activity-based bookings in 2024. More travelers are opting for these routes in order to move beyond sights and into action on environmental restoration and community resilience.
Trekkers help build contour bunds, compost kitchen waste, plant nitrogen-fixing crops like millet and soybean in the villages of Sikles and Bhujung. These treks are not just moving through nature; they are practical (and hands-on) education on how to live sustainably at high altitudes.
Operators such as EcoTrail Nepal and Rooted Trails report a 35% rise in demand for itineraries that include permaculture sessions, seed-saving tutorials, and organic kitchen stays. Many travelers extend their stay to help establish greywater recycling systems or assist in rooftop gardening projects.
International trekkers-particularly from the Netherlands, Canada, and South Korea-are driving this growth. Domestic tourists, especially young Nepali professionals from Kathmandu and Pokhara, are also turning to permaculture treks as a form of ethical escape.
These village routes have become critical nodes of eco-literacy, reversing outmigration trends while promoting food sovereignty and soil restoration. The segment’s continued expansion signals a deepening shift from adventure-seeking to regeneration-led trekking.
Custom travel has become the primary growth engine for Nepal’s eco trekking industry, accounting for more than 70% of all bookings in 2024. Travelers now demand journeys tailored to their values-whether they prioritize biodiversity, spiritual reflection, or cultural immersion. Trekking operators are responding by co-creating deeply personalized experiences that blend ecological awareness with individual interest.
In the Solu region, visitors stay in nunneries and practice mindfulness beside glacier-fed streams, guided by female monastics trained in eco-dharma. In the forests of Rasuwa, young travelers request birdwatching treks that double as conservation workshops, logging species data for local NGOs. These experiences don’t just happen to travelers-they involve them.
Operators like Sacred Steps Trek and Trek the Change now offer build-your-own itineraries, where guests select from a menu of low-impact experiences: from seed library visits in Khotang to herbal distillation with Tamang healers in Sindhupalchok. This flexibility attracts solo adventurers, academic groups, and families alike.Luxury-minded travelers opt for customized eco-retreats in Mustang, where biodegradable hot tubs and locally sourced meals meet astrophotography and yak pasture meditation.
By inviting travelers to shape their own regenerative paths, Nepal’s eco trekking industry has turned the guest into an active participant-someone who doesn’t just witness landscapes, but helps preserve them.
Nepal’s eco trekking scene mixes legacy outfitters with up-and-coming green innovators. Big players like Explore Himalaya and Himalayan Glacier offer safety and scale, but smaller boutique operators like EcoTrail Nepal and Sacred Steps Trek are setting the standard for immersive, sustainability-focused experiences.
WildFoot Nepal runs custom wildlife ecology treks through the buffer zones of Chitwan and Bardiya, linking guests to rhino conservationists and plant experts. Rooted Trails operates with women-led trekking teams in the mid-hills, complemented by permaculture homestays and seed preservation.
Sacred Steps Trek curates pilgrimage-style treks with stops at bio-spiritual centers, while Trek the Change partners with local schools to pair tourists with eco-literacy projects and forest classroom visits.Meanwhile, luxury retreats like Yeti Eco Escapes now blend high-comfort lodging with carbon-offset itineraries and locally sourced mountain cuisine.
By 2025, niche eco trekking operators are gradually taking market share by providing more immersive, locally-rooted experiences often missed by large tour companies. EcoTrail Nepal dominates much of the regenerative trek circuit market within the Annapurna foothills. Working with permaculture villages and women-led cooperatives, the company has appealed to eco-conscious travellers from Europe and North America prioritizing low-carbon, high-impact travel.
Sacred Steps Trek has carved out a strong niche among spiritual eco trekkers, especially from Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Their itineraries blend Buddhist pilgrimage sites with forest conservation efforts, offering guests a chance to plant saplings, clean trails, and meditate with monastics in highland retreats.
WildFoot Nepal dominates the wildlife-oriented segment, drawing adventurers from Australia and Germany interested in silent treks through Bardiya and Chitwan’s buffer zones. Their conservation-first model, which involves trackers and botanists from local communities, has become a benchmark for ethical nature tourism.
Meanwhile, Rooted Trails and Trek the Change are rapidly gaining traction among younger travelers. Their grassroots approach-focusing on cultural exchange, agro-education, and volunteer trail restoration-has made them favorites among Gen Z tourists and university field-study programs.These players are reshaping Nepal’s trekking narrative-one rooted in care, contribution, and connection.
Nepal’s eco trekking market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.3% from 2025 to 2035.
The market is forecasted to reach USD 1.14 billion by 2035.
A rise in immersive, regenerative travel; demand for local ecological knowledge; and an increasing interest in meaningful, low-impact journeys.
Major players include Eco Trail Nepal, Sacred Steps Trek, Wild Foot Nepal, Rooted Trails, and Trek the Change.
Altitude-Aware Trails, Permaculture Village Routes, Glacier View Treks, Forest Bathing Walks, Wildlife Corridor Treks
Under 20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50, Over 50
Men, Women
Domestic, International
Individual, Group, Custom Travel
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Nepal Eco Trekking Market
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