October and November are the best times to visit Nepal. Pleasant weather, clear blue skies, outstanding views, and a lot of cultural events take place. Apr and May are another good time to travel, especially the hike to Everest Base Camp because most climbers try to attempt the summit during this period.
Dec to Feb is cold but the skies are super clear, the views are spectacular, and without the crowd. Good time for travel photography, low-altitude treks.
From Mar to May hiking trails start getting busier, snow starts melting, flowers bloom on the hillside and the Nepalese welcome Holi festival.
A flexible travel itinerary is a must when visiting Nepal during the summer monsoon from late Jun to the middle of Sep. Heavy rains cause flight delays and landslides can disrupt your plan. But it is the peak season for the area that sits in Himalayan shadow like Mustang and Dolpo.
Nepal’s geography & climate varies between regions, therefore planning your trip to Nepal can be done year-round with careful preparation and plan.
Keep reading to see lot more tips
Climate in Nepal
The country temperature is different between regions, a great chance you need to pack for all seasons. That is due to the fact the country’s climate varies from the sea level of the south to the top of Mt Everest.
In the Terai region such as Lumbini or Chitwan National Park: Summer can reach as high as 37°C, while winter temperatures range from 7°C to 23°C.
In the hills area around Kathmandu and Pokhara (19°C to 35°C in summer, 2°C to 12°C in winter), Pokhara is generally 3-5 degrees warmer than Kathmandu.
When you’re trekking on the mountain, simply subtract 5°C from the temperature each time you climb 1,000 meters.
Tips!
- Check out the temperatures of major cities in Nepal from the Nepal Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.
- In addition to displaying the conditions of the weather and temperature, Weather Underground shows the Air Quality index (Air Quality) and UV index. Because of the dust, Kathmandu’s air pollution index is high (>145) and you’ll need a decent mask. This website offers a map with information on the wind, as it can aid in paragliding flight planning.
Nepal Season
Mar-May (Spring)
Overview
In Mar, the snow dissipated brings warm weather and rhododendron flowers are in bloom at altitudes above 2,400m. Good time for trekking activities and discovering nature. However, from late May the weather gets hot and hazier. Clouds begin to loom, showers begin to fall in the late afternoon so expect not good visibility of mountain in lower elevation.
Where to go
- Spring is the best time to set out on a hiking trail to watch the rhododendron flowers.
- Everest Base Camp and Annapurna treks are packed during April so if you don’t like the crowds take fewer visit treks such as the Manaslu Circuit, Gokyo Trek.
- Good time to spot a tiger in Bardia National Park, Chitwan national park
Event & Festival
- Holi (the festival of color in March).
- Nepalese New Year (April) public event takes place in Bhaktapur Durbar Square
- Maha Shivaratri (night of the shiva) is celebrated in the Pashupatinath temple, only time allowed to smoke weed.
- Buddha Jayanti celebrates all over Buddhist pilgrimage sites.
Tips
- The temperatures get hot in the day but get colder at night so pack in layers.
- Unexpectedly heavy snowfalls limit travel on high passes so plan extra days.
Jun – Aug (Monsoon)
Overview
From Jun to Aug is the summer monsoon season, it rains almost every day for a few hours. The rain washes away dust, the air is oxygen-rich and many of the flora species are in bloom, but the clouds obscure the views. Recently the number of travelers coming to Nepal even in the Monsoon has been increasing. Especially in the trans-Himalayan regions, the shepherds pasture their animals in the high-altitude country, and mustard fields paint the yellow color of farmlands.
Another trekking area is difficult during this time because unexpected landslides, muddy trails, and leeches are common.
Where to go
- Best time to travel to Upper Mustang, Upper Dolpo
Event & Festival
- During The Teeji festival in August, women dress in red, sing and dance. Pashupatinath Temple is a good place to see.
- In the August full moon (Janai Purnima festival), thousands of pilgrims visit the Gosaikunda Lake or Muktinath. You can see the dancing Shaman.
- Yartung festival horse racing festival in Mustang (Muktinath, Lo Manthang)
Tips
- Schedule a few backup days in case of flight delay or road closure because of heavy rains and landslides.
- Waterproof cover for your pack, breathable waterproof jacket, long hiking pants, and gaiter are recommended
Sep – Nov (Fall)
Overview
Fall (Sep to Nov) offers excellent conditions for trekking in Nepal. When the monsoon rains wash away dust leaves the sky crystal clear, the weather is warm during the day with only nightfall below freezing in high mountains.
This is the busiest season when thousands of trekkers hit the trail in the Annapurna or Everest region. You may get a feel of traffic jams in the mountain because such comfort brings the crowds.
Where to go
- Best time for top Nepal’s Himalayan trek
- Check out off-the-beaten-path trails if you are seeking solitude such as Manaslu Circuit, Nar Phu Valley treks.
- Other kinds of activities such as paragliding, rafting the river, jungle safari, mountain flight.
Event & Festival
- Dashain (October), visit your local guides or stay in homestay communities to see how the locals celebrate the biggest festival.
- Tihar (November), one of the most interesting festivals of the year.
- The public Mani Rimdu festival in Tengboche in the Everest region (November)
- Indra Jatra public festival in Durbar Square. Chance to see Kumari (Nepal living goddess) on the street.
Tips
- The weather in the past few years changes with rain continuing throughout September, so plan ahead.
Dec – Feb (Winter)
Overview
Dec to Feb is the coldest time to visit Nepal, however, the skies are super clear, the views are excellent and the trails are quieter.
Trekking is doable but the challenging high-altitude treks can be dangerous with extremely cold and snowy trails. In remote areas, tea house owners heading to low land for the winter leave the lodges closed during the cold winter.
Where to go
- Good time for low altitude trekking such as Ghorepani Poon Hill or Khopra ridge.
- Annapurna Base Camp Trek (4,130m) with amazing mountain views and a lot of snow but there can be landslides
- Travel around Pokhara
- Best for discovery nature, see bird migration in Chitwan or Bardia National Park
- High pass crossing may not be possible because passes are often closed so avoid these or plan carefully.
Event & Festival
- Lhosa festival, Tibetan New year
Tips
- Down jacket, fleece jacket, sleeping bag, and trekking journey gloves with below zero features are recommended if you go trekking.
Q/A
What is the hottest month in Nepal?
June is the hottest month in Nepal, with the highest temperature in Chitwan National Park being 30 celsius.
Which is the coldest month in Nepal?
January is the coldest month in Nepal, the temperature in Namche Bazaar is from -4 to -14 celsius
Which is the best month to visit Kathmandu?
The best time to visit Kathmandu is from September to December. The weather is dry, the sky is clear, and there are plenty of cultural festivals.
Which is the best month to visit Pokhara?
Sep to Nov is the best time to visit Pokhara. March to May is another good time. Lots of tourists love Pokhara in the winter
Which is the best month to visit Chitwan National Park?
The best time to visit Chitwan National Park is from October to February. The weather is pleasant with temperatures from 20 to 25 celsius. In February when bird migration is an interesting time to go.
What is the best time to visit Nepal for snow?
The best time to visit Nepal for snow is winter from Dec to Feb. Snowfall is occasionally in the mountains, you can see snow on low altitude treks.
Conclusion
With the information described above, you can plan your visit to Nepal any time of the year depending on your schedule and interest.
To find more information on where to go check out other articles: Places to visit in Nepal
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