Best time of year to visit Nepal.
Nepal is the country of high mountains, and soft, rolling valleys. Weather in Nepal can be rather moody, so as a visitor, you need to understand the diversified climate of this beautiful country so that you know when to visit. As most guidebooks say that spring and autumn are the best times for visiting Nepal, since the weather serves to be balanced and calm, with clear skies. But, due to the heterogeneous nature of Nepal’s geography and climate, there's a lot more to this. An ever-increasing number of tourists visit Nepal in winter and summer. With the right information, travel itinerary, and arrangement, Nepal is a great year-round destination. You’ve got to visit when the country is at its beautiful best for which we have collected the best information about the climate and the best time of the year to visit Nepal.
QUICK FACTS
- High Season: March-May and September-November
- Low Season: June-August
- All Seasons: March-May, June-August, September-November, December-February
- The Fall months of September-November is one of the best times to visit Nepal, for people who wish to visit Kathmandu and who want to trek.
- Kathmandu can be dry and dusty in Spring. But, in the mountains, flowers have started to flourish which makes your trekking more beautiful.
You’d assume the home of the Himalayas to be chilly around the year, but it does have a diverse climate. October and November, or the fall season, is the best time of year to visit Nepal, as there will be sunny days, and clear skies, which is excellent for those who want to trek. Between the months of March and May, tourists can experience the best of the spring season. There will still be some chill in the air, but the flowers will burst into blossom, and the sun will keep you warm enough. This is also a great trekking season with bright skies, though, the skies may not be as clear as during October.
If you are primarily trekking in the mid-lands region, then there is pleasant weather the entire year-round to visit Nepal. Except for January / December, as it’s rather cold, but even that period is okay if you have warm enough clothes. Monsoon season in Nepal lasts from mid-June to mid-September. It’ll rain a couple of hours a day and be frequently cloudy, but still with clear skies on some days.
SEASONAL OVERVIEW
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March to May – Spring Season / Good
March-May is rather warm, and there is plenty of sunlight and also is the second-best time to visit Nepal. Long days and great distinctness make this period a great time for a trek. The nights might be slightly chilly, so remember to carry warm clothes. The valleys are astonishingly beautiful in the spring season, especially after all the ice has melted, and the flowers have blossomed. By the month of May, some rains also arise slowly, traversing up to the forthcoming monsoon season in Nepal, commencing mid-June.
Average Temperature: 46-84° F / 8-29° C (Kathmandu)
Rainfall: 10-70 mm
Highlights: Spring is always the best time of year to visit Nepal and all treks and climbs can be initiated during this period e.g. Island Peak, Mera Peak, etc. Those resembling a more culturally oriented tour will discover Bhaktapur to be a great place to visit in April. The traditional Nepali new year festival of Bisket Jatra Navavarsha is celebrated with great grandeur and brilliance in this ancient Nepali town and it is an experience you won’t witness anywhere else. Also, Spring is the most suitable season to do a jungle safari in Chitwan National Park, giving you the best opportunities for spotting Rhinos, Elephants, Tigers, Monkeys, etc. As there are only a few water holes available in the park during Spring, where most animals will visit, which makes the beautiful tigers easier to find.
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June to mid-September – Summer Season / Wet
Even though the months of June to August are not ideal for visiting Nepal as it’s quite hot, and the lower regions can get rather dusty, but it’s still entirely possible to visit. The monsoon season starts with 1-2 hours of rain per day, also clearing away the dust from mid-June. Meanwhile, on the worst days, it rains the whole day. The distinctness in the mountains is rather low, however, still with seldom clear days. Due to the everyday rain, sometimes there is a hazard of landslides in the upper regions, so it is highly advised that you avoid certain trekking areas.
Average Temperature: 63-84° F / 17-29° C (Kathmandu)
Rainfall: 129-239 mm
Highlights: Even during monsoon season, some treks are particularly good as they lie in the rain shadow. Some of these treks are Annapurna Circuit trek, Manaslu trek, Upper Mustang trek, and the Nar Phu Valley Trek. The famous Everest Base Camp trek can also be done during the monsoon season, but there can be rain throughout the first few days after which the weather will be better day-by-day. One of the advantages of having the monsoon season is crowd-free adventures. You’ll also be able to get good charges at normally busy destinations such as Chitwan, Pokhara, and Bandipur. Whereas Marsyangdi Valley and Tilicho Lake (placed along the Annapurna Circuit) are beautiful this time of the year and are known for their rich greenery and magnificent landscapes.
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Mid-September to November – Fall Season / High
The fall season is the best time of year to visit Nepal as the weather in Nepal is stunning during this period, either you want to explore Nepal’s beautiful culture or go trekking in some of the highest passes in the world. The skies are crystal clear, there is little to no rain, and the clarity is normally perfect.
Average Temperature: 45-67° F / 7-19° C (Kathmandu)
Rainfall: 7-67 mm
Highlights: During this season you can do all treks in Nepal and you witness picture-perfect landscapes. Visiting destinations such as Nagarkot, Dhulikhel, and Bandipur is also suggested as you’ll be able to observe the Himalayas from your comfortable hotel room. Nepal’s biggest festival, Dashain is also celebrated in October. Kathmandu along with the whole country and even the smaller towns get decorated up as everybody is in a celebratory spirit. You can celebrate both the wonderful culture and the great weather in Nepal, by becoming a part of these celebrations. The festival of lights, Diwali is also celebrated in Nepal later during October or November.
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December to February – Winter Season / Low
Weather in Nepal during the winter season is cloudy, misty, and rather cold. Some of the passes on the trekking routes may be closed. Such include Gokyo and Everest Base Camp, where the Cho La Pass may be closed, the Gokyo Circuit trek, where the Renjola Pass may be closed, and the Everest Base Camp Three Passes Trek, where all Three passes may be closed. There may be heavy snow on the Larke Pass on the Manaslu trek and Annapurna Base Camp could be blocked as well. Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Circuit Trek, Langtang Trek, and the Poonhill Trek are some of the recommended treks during the winter season. During winter, the temperature in the morning and night time can drastically drop but it is normal during the day time. We advise you to bring sufficiently warm clothes if you do go trekking in Nepal during this season. Any climbing in Nepal during this season is not recommended as it’s simply too dangerous and cold.
Average Temperature: 36-53° F / 2-11° C (Kathmandu)
Rainfall: 0-8 mm
Highlights: You can enjoy the above-mentioned hiking trails if you are an adventurer who craves to experience the harsh Himalayan winter. You can experience the trails without any crowds, and save quite a bit of money on accommodation and travel. Pokhara, a sunny lakeside town, is a unique destination during the winter season. Also, you can observe diverse cultural events during this period, including inter alia Saraswati Puja. The Tibetan New Year’s Celebration is celebrated in Losar in the month of January which can be an experience of a lifetime.
