For most trekkers and traveling enthusiasts, trekking in Nepal is a dream comes true. It is one of the most affordable places to trek that has 8 of the 10 highest mountains in the world.
Nepal has something for everyone. – Adventure sports like rock climbing, trekking, mountain peak climbing, mountain cycling. Plus, cultural and natural exploration.
To add to the beauty and excitement of your travel and treks, Nepal has different cultures and traditions. They are long preserved for generations and are open to all.
Trekking in Nepal is possible and doable throughout the year. The month of August falls in mid-monsoon through most parts of Nepal.
But, due to the diverse landscape, there are many areas in the Himalayas that fall in the rain-shadow area in Nepal.
These regions see very less to no rainfall and hence are not affected by the monsoon weather conditions. August is thus perfect to do trekking in these regions.
Weather condition in August
Nepal has a diverse landscape. The weather conditions and temperatures do vary from place to place. Hence, the place you trek determines the weather condition and temperature in Nepal.
The average temperature ranges from 18 to 27 degrees Celsius in Kathmandu. While it decreases gradually as you go higher.
The wet, cloudy days and nights are much colder. August is the second wettest months in the most parts of Nepal.
Places like Upper Mustang (falls in the rain-shadow region of Annapurna) sees dry and clear weather conditions. And average temperatures of 20 to 33 degrees Celsius makes treks to these regions comfortable and beautiful.
Trekking trails to undertake in August
All the trekking trails remain open in August unless there are extreme weather conditions. You can choose from a range of short to long-distance treks.
Some of the most recommended trails in Nepal in August lies in the rain shadow area of Nepal such as treks to Rara lake, Jomsom trek, treks to Upper Mustang, Manang.
It is also advisable to undertake short treks during this season. The short trek offers a glimpse into the diverse natural and cultural beauty of Nepal. It is ideal for those who are short on time and yet want to experience the trekking in Nepal.
The more popular trails in the Annapurna and Everest region are open and less crowded during this month. They can be a great option for trekkers looking for a bit more adventure, challenge, and quieter trails.
Solo or Group Treks in August
Both solo and group treks can be undertaken in Nepal in August.
You can choose from a range of trails and trekking destinations available in Nepal. Solo treks in many of the trekking trails in Nepal is possible. But, be sure to inquire, because there are still a lot of trekking trails that do not allow solo trekkers.
It is always recommended to travel with at least a porter or a guide.
It is good to let someone, you trust, know about your daily whereabouts. Group treks in August or any other season is possible, cheaper and safer.
Types of Trekking
Many of the trekking agencies offer two types of treks.
Teahouse trekking
In this type of trekking, you trek towards your destination (the next tea house) along the trekking trails. The tea houses not only provide food and water but also lodging with all the basic amenities.
Camp trekking
In Camp trekking, you will be making camps on your destinations along the trail of your trek. The porters from trekking agency carry all the cooking, cleaning equipment. These types of treks are suitable for remote areas where there are no tea houses available.
In comparison, the camp trekking is less affordable. And offers more adventure and wilderness exploration than the tea house trekking. While the latter is a bit more relaxed one.
Short/ Long Duration Treks
All the trekking trails in the country are open during August. But, on arrival, do get updates about the conditions of the trail as some of the trails during monsoon are vulnerable.
To avoid rain, you can trek to the rain shadow areas of Nepal. It includes Lower Dolpo trek, treks to upper Mustang, and Manang.
You can choose to do short hikes within Kathmandu such as Kathmandu Rim Valley trek, Nagarkot trek.
These short hikes are perfect for trekkers who don’t have much time, yet want to enjoy trekking in Nepal.
Treks in the rain shadow area allow you to have the full experience of trekking in Nepal without having to deal with some of the shortcomings of the monsoon like slippery and muddy trails, leech infestations and so on.
With/ without a guide and porter
You can choose to do treks in Nepal with or without a guide and porter in most of the popular trekking trails.
Trekking with a guide and porter is always the safer option so that you do not lose your way. August demands an experienced guide as the weather condition can be quite unpredictable.
They know the trails well and know about the whereabouts in case of an unavoidable situation.
They can provide you with in-depth information about the trails, its physical infrastructure, weather, flowers, and fauna. Along with recommendations of the best trails to take, tea houses to stay at and the amount of time to rest during your daily treks.
They can also be helpful to increase your interaction with the locals of the region. So, you get better knowledge and collect best experiences of the trek.
But, you can do a solo trek to most of the popular trails in Nepal which are not affected by the monsoon in August.
If you decide to go with a guide and porter, do hire them from a licensed agency. Also, do check their credentials for your safety.
Accommodations
Although August is a challenging and adventurous month for trekking in Nepal. Almost all the tea houses, restaurants on the trekking trails to stay open during this month.
Restaurants in the Upper Mustang trek, Jomsom trek, trek to Manang, Dolpa will be open too.
However, we recommend you to pre-book a hotel or tea house for easy and safe accommodation. It is always safer to pre-book your trip so that you get proper services with the best value for your money.
Water and Food
Except for the months of December and January, almost all the tea houses, restaurants along the trails are open for business.
Unlike the popular trekking months, you will not have to compete for rooms and food. Less number of trekkers means you get your pick of the tea houses and restaurants.
As for water, we recommend you to bring your own water purifiers to be safe from water contamination due to rain, flood, and landslide. Water is available throughout the trails through taps, bottled water, hot water and so on.
Trekking Permits
Trekkers from all over the world need to get certain permits to trek in Nepal. The first one is the TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System) which is a must for all treks. The other one belongs to the conservation area or national park that you may cross while you are trekking.
You can get these permits from Kathmandu or Pokhara. You also can obtain them at the beginning of the trails; but, they could be expensive.
Some trekking trails require special permits or restricted area permits if you trek on a restricted area.
There are many checkpoints on the trekking trails where you will need to disclose these permits. You may have to pay fines if found without the right permits. Usually, the cost of permits is less for a group and anyone below the age of 10 doesn’t require permits except for TIMS.
Fitness or Experience
Nepal has a wide range of trekking trails that can accommodate anyone- beginners, experienced, solo, group, family and so on.
As for the fitness, anyone who can walk uphill/downhill for a few hours each day can definitely find a suitable trekking trail here in Nepal.
You must prepare yourself mentally and physically after you make the choice of going on a trek.
The longer duration treks and the higher altitude treks do require more endurance and some alpine trekking experience.
Supplies and Equipment
You can choose from a range of options for your trekking supplies and equipment. If you are a seasoned trekker, you can bring your regular trekking equipment and supplies.
If not, trekking equipment necessary for trekking in Nepal is available at affordable prices in Kathmandu and Pokhara. It is possible to get these supplies and equipment for both rent and sale.
Some of the basic supplies are available at trekking trails that are a lot popular. However, due to the lack of transportation and altitude, cost of any of these basic supplies will be more expensive than their counterparts in the lower regions.
Trekking Clothing
Trekking in Nepal in August requires some additions to your regular, required trekking clothes. You must make sure to include a good pair of waterproof hiking boots with ankle support along with rain jacket, pants, easy to dry socks and backpack cover.
It is also recommended to bring an insulating jacket, a pair of fleece pants and shirts for the colder, rainy nights and mornings.
A sleeping bag with liner is also a great addition for the cold nights and early mornings.
Insurance
It is strongly recommended to get insurance before traveling or trekking to any parts of the world. As accidents can and do happen even on the safest of trails.
Some trekking companies do not accommodate you if you don’t have the right insurance necessary for the trek. If you already have insurance, make sure it covers all trekking activities and conditions that you plan to undertake.
You need to ensure yourself from your home country.
Altitude Sickness
You need to be as familiar as you can about Altitude Sickness including its preventive measures. If you notice any of the symptoms, stop everything you are doing, take rest and then descend.
Do consult your physician before embarking on a high altitude trek and take the necessary medicines as precautions. Some trekking agencies have doctors who go along the treks with you, so consult with them immediately if any symptoms occur.
Do not ever ignore any of the symptoms of High altitude sickness during the trek. It is a matter of immediate concern and can happen to even the most experienced of trekkers.
Also, be sure not to skip on the acclimatization days to make your trips shorter. And keep yourself hydrated.
Itineraries
Detailed itineraries for any of the trekking trails are available on the internet and on our website. These itineraries include everything from the time of your arrival to the time of your departure.
Due to the weather conditions, your flight schedules may change.
Conclusion
Trekking in Nepal is possible throughout the year with the right preparation, equipment, gear, and motivation.
August is no exception.
We recommend you to trek in the rain shadow areas of Annapurna and Nilgiri regions during August as it is monsoon season in Nepal. These regions are least affected by rainfall and hence are the best places to trek during this month.
Nepal has only a few trekkers in August, so there are more choices of tea houses, trails, packages and restaurants for you to choose from.
For more details on treks to Nepal during this month and any other month, feel free to contact us.
