Best Time of Year to go Trekking in Nepal

Nepal is a country that has a distinct image in the trekking world. Being the land of the mighty Himalayas and unique landscapes, Nepal holds a good scope in treks and other adventures. In simple words, the trekking trails of Nepal are more like a heaven for trekkers. If you have been to Nepal ever before, then you can relate to what I am talking about.

People from every corner of the world flourish here to Nepal with only one thing in their mind; trekking and more trekking. This trend never stops, it is all the time of the year. The only thing is that sometimes there are many trekkers and other times a few walkers. In the meantime, you might be wondering what is the best time of year to go trekking in Nepal. As for your need, we have come up with the blog related to the best time of year to go trekking in Nepal. The upcoming words will try to make you as clear as possible.

If we have to list down two most favorable times for trekking in Nepal, that would be Spring and Autumn. But that does not mean the other two seasons i.e. Monsoon and Winter are not workable at all. Trekking in Nepal is possible throughout the year, you can pick any of the treks any time of year. The only thing you have to consider is the immediate weather and temperature. If the weather seems good you are ready to pack the backpack.

Each of the four-seasons has distinct features which are very important to learn before the trek. On that account, this blog will revolve around the weather, temperature, pros, tips, and some recommended treks for each of the seasons. Let roll into it:

Autumn season in Nepal

The Autumn season is a peak trekking season in Nepal. This season i.e. Autumn is an answer for “What is the best time of year to go trekking in Nepal” without any second thought. Autumn arrives in Nepal in the month of September and stays till November. The nature lovers coming during these months can have an amazing trekking experience. The trekking arrivals are in the peak number throughout the Autumn. People are very much aware of the pleasing conditions of Autumn; unobstructed mountain views, warm temperature, and stable weather.

Sometime in the trek, you can get disappointed by the weather but not during the Autumn. Stable and pleasant weather of Autumn allows you to whisper to nature through your soul without any disturbance. Rainfall and clouds are not good things for any of the trekkers. Due to rain, the trails get slippery to walk on and most of all the mountain views get hidden. Nepal’s treks are all but famous for the mountain views and if you can’t enjoy the view, there is no sense of trekking. Hence, to see what is Nepali treks are popular for, embark during Autumn.

Days of Autumn are mostly sunny and warm so that you can enjoy the nice trekking trail. The lower regions below the elevation 3500m are warmer where the temperature ranges from 15°C to 24°C. Night and morning hours are the coldest time of the day during Autumn or any other season.

As you move up the temperature starts to drop slowly hence the higher regions(+3500m) are chilly than the lower. For instance, the average temperature in the area of Everest Base Camp ranges from 20°C to -10°C. The negative digits that you are seeing are of the morning and night times.

We almost forget one more fact about Autumn in Nepal; it is also a season of grand festivals in Nepal. Dashain and Tihar are the two most widely celebrated festivals of Nepalese people and they lie during September/ October. Isn’t it perfect that you get to learn and celebrate the Nepali festivals with locals along with trekking?

Pros of trekking in Nepal during Autumn

Stable weather and warm trekking temperature
Clear and undisturbed sights of snow-flooded mountains
Green visibility of rural landscapes
Season of two grand festivals celebration
Happiest trails and peoples
Get accompanied by trekkers from various parts of the world

Tips for Trekking in Nepal during Autumn

Early-September has some rain clouds left from the gone Monsoon season. So, plan for trek onwards from Mid-September.
Trails stay slippery during the first few weeks because of the late rainy season. Hence, we suggest you pick October over September.
Autumn is a crowd making trekking season so there can be problems while booking packages, tickets, accommodations, and food. Thus, pre-book all of the things before actually moving.
Popular trails like Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Circuit Trek hosts many trekkers and creates problems for peace lovers. In such a case, you can opt for the off the beaten path treks which are hardly crowded.
If you want to explore and enjoy the two grand festivals of Nepalese. Try to schedule your trek during October for Dashain, November for Tihar and Mani Rimdu festival.

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Some recommended treks for Autumn in Nepal

Winter season in Nepal

Winter starts to bring cold temperatures after the departure of the Autumn season in Nepal. December, January, and February are the three shades of the winter season. Along with the arrival of December, the days become shorter and higher areas receive snow. Thus, due to the snowfall Winter is considered as the off-season for trekking”. Most of the beautiful treks lie in the higher parts of Nepal and Snowfall can occur anytime during the Winter.

However, Winter also brings the driest weather which lowers the chances of rainfall. With no rain clouds, you can have as much as crystal clear mountain views. The temperature drops below during the night and morning time. If you would like to do Everest Base Camp during winter then you have to face the temperature anywhere from 18°C to -30°C. Everest Base Camp is one of the highest treks so it is obvious that it gets harshly cold during winter. December is the first month of winter and until its mid-days, the temperature is low as compared with the other months of the winter. The later you plan the colder will be the temperature.

Any region above 3500m altitude is a higher region and such region is very prone to snowfall. Late winter is not a good time at all to embark for higher region treks. On the other hand, the lower areas below 3500m are cold but such places have fewer chances of snowfall. There are various short treks and tours that lie around the lower altitudes of Nepal. Lower Solukhumbu and Annapurna region are the two places with several awesome short and low altitude treks. The trekking environment while Winter is so peaceful as most of the trekkers choose to stay at home. This season is perfect for peace lovers where they can enjoy the true nature and natives living around.

Pros of Trekking in Nepal during Winter

Dry and rainless weather
Clear skies and landscapes with no clouds to obstruct the view
Peaceful and serene trekking environment
Chances of getting discounts on the trek and tour packages, flight tickets, accommodation, etc
Celebrate the Christmas and New year in the highest part of the world

Tips for Trekking in Nepal during Winter

Pack sufficient warm clothes, gears, and winter equipment like sleeping bags, down jackets.
Don’t rush and pick the higher altitude treks they can treat you with the harsh weather. Rather do the short treks that lie in the lower altitudes
If still, you want to do the higher region treks, book an experienced guide to safeguard yourself from all of the problems.
City tours and other lower adventures are good to go for during the winter in Nepal
There are various picturesque places in the southern plainlands of Nepal like Chitwan National Park, Lumbini, etc
Go for the hikes and village tours

Some recommended treks and tours for Winter in Nepal

Spring season in Nepal

Here is another certainly the best time of year to go trekking in Nepal; Spring season. Just like the Autumn, this season is also considered as the peak trekking season in Nepal. March, April, and May are the three months of Spring season when days are much longer than usual with warm temperatures. It is also known as the period of flowers; Red-colored Rhododendrons are scattered all over the hills. You get to trek amid the blossoming flowers and towering hills towards the snow-lushed mountains.

Stable weather and warm temperature of Spring makes all of the high altitude treks easily accessible. Lately, those who were unable to do the higher treks during Winter can finally join now during the Spring. The temperature of the higher areas is cold as always but it is more bearable in Spring than the other seasons. Lower areas below 3500m have temperatures around 16°C to 23°C. May, the last month of Spring before the arrival of Monsoon in Nepal is one of the hottest months of the year. This month also brings some rain clouds and rainfall which can obstruct the vision.

Similarly, places like Everest Base Camp(above 3500m) are much cooler than the lower ones. The average temperature of higher regions in Spring seems to revolve around 17°C which is quite good temperature to trek on. If the days are sunny the maximum temperature can go up to 25°C. Morning and night hours are the coldest times when the temperature reaches -15°C.

With such a suitable temperature and weather this season allows all of the high and low altitude treks doable easily. Every Spring sees a huge number of trekking flocks coming down to Nepal to do various treks. It is as popular as the earlier Autumn season when it comes to the best time of year to go trekking in Nepal.

Pros of Trekking in Nepal during Spring

Pleasant and convenient trekking conditions
Warm temperature and ideal trekking weather
Season of flowers making it a more amazing experience
Longer days to explore the beauty of mountains and hills
Slightly less-crowded trails than the Autumn
Celebrate the festival of colors; Holi and Nepalese new year with locals
Best season to enjoy the less-battered trekking trails

Tips for Trekking in Nepal during Spring

Being the peak season for trekking in Nepal, the accommodations and tickets can get easily packed in Spring. Hence, don’t risk your bookings, book prior to the trek date.
The temperature drops when you head up towards the mountains and during morning & night hours. Thus, bring warm clothes.
Don’t hesitate for high altitude treks during Spring, you won’t get conditions like in this time in any other seasons.
Schedule the trip just around March so that you can be part of the most exciting festival of Nepalese, Holi- The festival of colors.
Popular trekking trails can be crowded with many trekkers so pick the beautiful but less-popular treks. Check the trek recommendations list below

Some recommended treks and tours for Spring in Nepal

Monsoon Or Summer Season in Nepal

Summer or Monsoon is the wettest time of a year in Nepal. Rainclouds from the south-west reach Nepal’s skies during June and stay until August. With rain clouds, it also brings hot and humid temperatures. The lower regions are the hottest of all in Monsoon and also receives a huge volume of rain. There is always a fear of rainfall and windstorm throughout these months. And, it is too difficult and risky to trek around lower and higher areas of Nepal.

But there are some places in Nepal which do not receive much rainfall due to their geographical locations. Such areas are also called a rain shadowed region also. Manang, Dolpo, Mustang, Nar Phu valley, and Upper Annapurna Circuit are some rain-shadowed areas of Nepal. You can pick any of the above places to escape the rainclouds of your home and to enjoy the crispy nature of Nepal.

Summer’s hottest of all seasons and temperature rotates near to 30°C in the lower places like Kathmandu and Pokhara. But as you head for higher altitudes, the temperature drops and becomes cooler than the lower region. Especially during the morning and night times. Therefore, you need to carry some warm clothes to wear while in higher places. Plus, rain gears like rain jackets, gaiters, etc are a must if you are picking the Monsoon season for trekking.

Monsoon is less-liked trekking time in Nepal due to its overflowing rain clouds. But, the beauty of Nepal experienceable during this season is unique and incomparable with other seasons. Mountain views after the rainfalls can take your breath away. All of the dust that the terrain holds gets washed by the poured rain. We are not highly recommending the Monsoon treks but it’s worth it to embark on rain shadowed regions with right gears and experienced guides.

Pros of Trekking in Nepal during Summer

Trekkers have low chances of getting caught by altitude sickness. The low temperature of Summer does not let that happen easily.
Empty and peaceful trekking trails.
High availability of accommodations and food facilities.
Companies provide a certain discount on the summer treks and tour packages.
No chances of shortage of flight tickets etc.
Odds of seeing the traditional rice harvesting of Nepalese farmers.

Tips for Trekking in Nepal during Summer

Don’t forget to bring the quick rain gears like Umbrella, Raincoat along with other water protecting equipment.
Hire an experienced trekking or tour guide.
Check the weather forecast and plan the outing as per the forecast
There can be leeches and other insects throughout the wet trekking trails. An insect repellent is a must kit to have
Pick the rain-shadowed areas to trek over other regions. That way the rain will not disappoint you while trekking.

Some recommended treks and tours for Summer in Nepal

Conclusion

If you have read this article about best time of year to go trekking in Nepal thoroughly. It is enough to decide or to learn about the best trekking season of Nepal. Without any doubt, Autumn and Spring are the two best trekking times in Nepal. Thousands of people prefer these two times for Nepalese adventures.

We are sure that you will also pick Autumn and Spring for coming to Nepal. There is a huge trekker’s crowd during both of the peak seasons. If you don’t like to trek on the over-battered and crowded trails, you have two options. Either go for less-known or off-the-beaten tracks or else pick the off-season like Winter and Summer to trek. Winter and Summer are not highly recommended but are safe and doable with the right guidance.

We would love to guide you in any trekking season, just remember us whenever you feel like it is time to go Nepal, Great Adventure Treks