Best time to go trekking in Nepal are spring and autumn. But, trekking in Nepal is possible at any time of the year. It depends on where and how high you would like to go.
Here is a guide to the country’s seasons created to help you choose the best time of the year to explore Nepal on foot.
If you are thinking of visiting Nepal for trekking or hiking. Then, you must learn about the seasons to decide the best time to go trekking in Nepal.
There are two major things you could look at when deciding what is the best time to go trekking in Nepal; crowds and weather.
The better the weather, more people visit Nepal for trekking.
Best time to go trekking in Nepal
As the matter of fact, there is no any best time to go trekking in Nepal that suits everyone. The best time will depend on how you intend to treks, your tolerance for cold and heat and how you feel about crowds.
Trekking in Nepal is possible throughout the year not on every trial but few on trails.
As every season has it’s own pros and cons. It’s all about how you balance your preferences. Here, I am going to explain more detail what each season has to offer to decide the best time to go trekking in Nepal.
Generally, there are four distinct seasons with their own attractions.
Spring (March-May)
Spring in Nepal is from March to May. Spring is characterized by longer days and warmer temperatures. It is the second popular time to travel, so you need to plan in advance.
In this season, Nepal’s landscape changes color according to altitudes from reds to pinks and white. This makes higher altitude trekking more relaxed and attractive.
The temperature in upper hill and lower mountain ranges from 16°C to 23°C.May is the warmest months of the year but also bring cloud and showers before the monsoon arrives.
It is gently warm at the lower altitude and quite moderate at the higher altitude over 4000 m. This month provides stunning and admirable mountain view.
You might also experience some occasional snow showers. The weather is most likely to be steady and arid at the end of the winter.
Due to ideal weather, almost all popular trekking trails are busy and the tea houses are at their fullest to charge.
The average temperatures in spring in Everest Base Camp is 17°C with a maximum of 25°C during sunny days and minimum -15°C in the morning and at the night above 4000 m.
Almost all popular trekking trails of Everest region and Annapurna regions are suitable for trekking during this time.
Pros
- Pleasant, warm trekking conditions during day and warmer nights
- Days are longer during March and April
- Less chance of the flight cancellations into mountain district such as Lukla
- Fewer trekkers compared to Autumn, more chance to explore the remote corner of Himalayas
- Snow that accumulated during winter melts away by April, clearing path for high mountain passes
Events and Festivals
- Nepalese New Year is celebrated in April
- Buddha Jayanti festival is celebrated in Lumbini and Kathmandu in April
- The entertaining festival Ghode Jatra is celebrated in Kathmandu in March
- Holi festival of color is celebrated across the cities and towns of Nepal every March
- Dumji festivals is celebrated in Everest region in May
- Tiji festivals in Upper Mustang is celebrated; you can enjoy the dance of monks in Mustang
Summer Season (June – August)
Summer in Nepal starts from June to August. Summer is known as the monsoon in Nepal. This season comes with high temperature, torrential downpour, and uncomfortable conditions.
High mountain regions are usually enveloped in cloud. The lower trekking routes are generally muddy and slippery. Besides this, you can still experience the glory of the Himalayan during monsoon.
Due to geographical diversity, some trekking routes of Nepal lies in rain shadow region. It is best to trek these trails during the monsoon months.
In the north of Nepal, there are greater mountains called the Himalayas. The Manang, Mustang, and Dolpo region of Nepal lies in rain shadow area. So, summer is the best time to go for trekking in these regions.
Due to Nepal’s topography, rain often occurs at night, resulting in beautiful morning scenery.
The excess rainfall can provide plenty of chances to see spectacular views of the waterfall.
Also, this time is perfect for the keen botanist or photographer. As the higher valleys blossom with flowers and lush vegetation make this time perfect to capture the all-natural beauty of Nepal.
Pros
- Low chance of altitude sickness because of summer
- Less risk of avalanches
- Less number of tourists on trail; you will get a chance for more intimacy and peace with nature
Festivals and Events
- Paddy Plantation day “Ropai Jatra” is celebrated in June in all around Nepal
- Nag Panchami and Janai Purnima festivals falls on July
- Gaijatra festival of cows is celebrated on August
- Yartung Mela in Muktinath valley on full moon day (July-August). Yartung mean end and Mela means festival, it means to end of summer.
Autumn Season (September – November)
Autumn in Nepal is from September to November. Just like spring season, the most of the trekking trails is also a very crowded. Besides this, it is one of the best time to go trekking in Nepal.
The weather is pleasant and comfortable. But sometimes temperature gets hot even at the elevation of 3,000 m. The temperature in upper hill and lower mountain ranges from 15° to 24°C.
Autumn is the best time to go trekking in Nepal because of clear days. This season afford incredible mountain views from every angle.
During this time, the average temperature is 15°C in Everest Base Camp. The temperature ranges from 20°C in the sunny days to -10°C in the morning and at night above 4000 m.
As this time of the year is considered the peak season. This means the trekking trails are full during this time. So, you can expect the prices to be slightly expensive as well. Most of the tea houses are full, which make little challenging to find a decent hotel room.
Pros
- Weather is stable and sunny
- Days tend to be warmer
- Trails are filled with greenery and are not dusty anymore
- Clear views of the sky and beautiful mountain peaks
Festivals and Events
- Teej festival of women is celebrated by Nepalese women in September
- Indra Jatra festival of living goddesses falls in September is celebrated in Kathmandu Durbar Square
- Two major festivals of Nepal- Tihar and Dashain is celebrated during September / October
- In Everest region, Mani Rimdu festival is celebrated during October / November
Winter Season (December-February)
Winter in Nepal is from December to February. The days will be shorter and there is a lot of snow. So, this season is not recommended for trekking at higher altitude.
The weather is fairly stable and dry, it is entirely possible to trek the classic route i.e. Everest Base Camp. If you are going to Everest Base Camp, then overnight temperature ranges from -20°C to -30°C.
The coolness of the weather depends upon how high you want to trek. But, if you stay down, the temperature will remain moderate.
The mountain vistas are often covered with snows offering the great opportunity for snowy scenery.
During this time, please remember that routes over any high passes are closed. As people living in the high altitude of popular trekking trails migrate to the lower altitudes in winter.
Many of the short treks are great choices for the winter season. In fact, some local experts believe that winter is the best time to treks in the lower Solu area south of Everest and other shorter treks in Annapurna Circuit.
However, this is a great time to explore the beauty of the lower altitude treks in Nepal.
If the cold doesn’t bother you and wants to avoid the crowds, then trekking at this time is perfect for you. Trekking in the winter requires more planning and gear than any other time.
If you are going for trekking over 4000 m, then you are suggested to taking the local guide. As the most of the trails are lost in the snow.
Pros
- Weather is stable and clear
- The mountain views are perfect with low humidity and precipitation
- Fewer people on the trail, so this is best time to experience the serenity in the solitude
- Enjoy the special winter discount provided by the tea houses along the trail
Festivals and Events
- Tamu Losar the greatest festival is celebrated by Gurung Community in Nepal
- Christmas and New year are celebrated across the nation
- Street Festival is celebrated in Pokhara at the end of the year around December 27
- Mageshangrati is the greatest Hindu festival celebrated in highland of Nepal
Conclusion
The good news is there is no bad time for trekking in Nepal. Yet, the different seasons bring different experiences
No matter what the weather is, the majestic beauty of Himalayas remains the same. The thing is that you might be able to see it or not due to the weather conditions.
Nevertheless, you should always plan accordingly and bring trekking gears for both cooler and warmer temperatures.
This will ensure that your adventure trip will be enjoyable.
Hope you pick the best time to go trekking in Nepal under the information provided above.
