Which month is best for trekking in Nepal? Trekking in Nepal is possible throughout the year. There are several trekking destinations that can be explored in different seasons. You can trek to the Himalayas or a hilltop as per your time, previous experience, budget, or choice.
All the months have their goodness and badness based on their weather conditions plus natural and cultural characteristics. This “Which month is best for trekking in Nepal?” is dedicated to let you know the detailed information about the major seasons and their weather conditions.
After reading this blog, we hope that you can choose “When to go trekking in Nepal?” Even though a year is divided into 6 seasons, this blog is based on the international system of season divisions.
It is not that easy to declare that a particular month is best for trekking in Nepal on your behalf. Which month you want to trek in Nepal depends upon your choice, vacation, and types of trekking you book.
For instance, low altitude trekking is good in the winter while not so in the summer or the monsoon. The winter trekking in Nepal is not recommended for those desiring to do high altitude trekking.
The high altitude trekking such as Everest Base Camp Cho La Pass Trek or Thorung La Pass Trek might be blocked due to heavy snowfall in the winter. Additionally, low altitude treks such as Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Sunrise View Trek, Helambu Circuit Trek, etc. can be disturbed by floods and landslides in the monsoon.
Let’s discuss on each of seasons to assist you further to decide on “Which month is best for trekking in Nepal?”
Spring (March – May)
Nepal’s spring season is famous for blooming flowers throughout the country. It is warm in lower altitude regions, temperate in between 800m and 4,000m, and above 4,000m chilling cold as usual.
Spring months are the best for trekking in Nepal. In this season, the weather remains stable and pleasant throughout the days. So, the views of new-leaved trees and the dazzling snowcapped mountains entertain you a lot.
Cuckoo singing from behind the green leaf and colorful rhododendron flowers beautifying the whole region are perhaps the best experience of spring trekking in Nepal.
Besides trekking, the spring is two of the best seasons for hiking, mountaineering, and peak climbing in Nepal.
Summer (June – August)
Summer trekking in Nepal lasts from late May to almost mid September. On the basis of the best month for trekking, summer months are not as favorable as that of spring months.
During the summer months, the tropical and sub-tropical regions are hotter than higher altitude places. Due to the global warming, even the Himalayas are melting in this season.
As the monsoon season falls in this season, trekking to the regions under its influence might not be more appropriate. The lightning and thunderstorm make the weather unpredictable. Domestic flights can be obstructed due to disturbance of the weather conditions.
But don’t be much pessimistic! There are few of the popular destinations recommended and recognized for monsoon trekking in Nepal. We shall mention these destinations in another section of this blog.
Autumn (September – November)
The autumn season is one of the best times for tour, hiking, Nepal Mountaineering, peak climbing, and trekking in Nepal. It is two of the peak seasons for experiencing the Himalayas country.
Due to the stable weather, days are fine with clear skies. Cloudless days mean a guarantee for 360 degree panoramas of the snowcapped mountains, lush valleys, and green forests. Moreover, autumn trekking is famous for festival treks in Nepal.
Additionally, the autumn is harvest time and appropriate for fruit production. Autumn trekking in Nepal lets you observe or participate in festivals and feasts. Besides, you can taste organic fruits while in a lifelong experience.
Winter (December – February)
Nepal’s winter season ranges from December to February although the extension comes to be either earlier or later some times. Winter trekking in Nepal gives you a different experience from that of other seasons.
The winter weather is full of mists and fogs in the morning, evening, and night. But the days are warm and clear if not the cloudy! Sometimes, the temperature goes far below zero!
Thus, high altitude treks such as Everest Three High Passes Trek, Thorung La Pass Trek, Larkya La Pass Trek, Kalapatthar Trek, Upper Dolpo Trek, etc. are not recommended as the winter treks in Nepal.
The best part of trekking in Nepal in the winter is that you get to traverse to the Himalayas devoid of the crowds.
Monsoon Trekking in Nepal
Summer season in Nepal is also known as the monsoon in which it rains cats and dogs in most of the regions. During season, high altitude trekking destinations have wet and slippery trails, poor visibility, cancellations of domestic flights, and fear of leeches and bugs.
However, monsoon trekking in Nepal is possible to some of the world’s best tourist destinations. Especially, the rain shadow areas of the Trans-Himalayan Region conjoining with the Tibetan Plateau receive low or no rain at all.
So, the northern Himalayan Regions best for Nepal trekking destinations in the monsoon. While the rest of the country is wet and slippery as well as suffering from water-caused calamities, this region remains unaffected.
We recommend you some of the best monsoon treks in Nepal as follows:
- Upper Mustang Trek
- Upper Dolpo Trek
- Lower Dolpo Trek
- Nar Phu Valley Trek
- Phoksundo Lake Trek
- Manslu Circuit Tsum valley Trek
- Limi Valley Circuit Trek
All of these trekking destinations of Nepal remain in the rain shadow areas of the Annapurna (8,091m) and Dhaulagiri (8,167m) Massifs. While doing these treks in the monsoon, you experience nature and culture unaffected by downpours.
Book any of the best monsoon treks in Nepal to experience something different from other seasons’ trekkers. This season is really worth of a lifetime experience in Nepal!
Spring Trekking vs Autumn Trekking in Nepal
The weather in spring months remains unpredictable as it is pre-monsoon phenomenon. From March to May, it might rain and result in the thundering and lightning. Yes, you get to see the forest areas in the most beautiful appearance because of flowering plants, especially, rhododendrons.
Contrarily, the autumn season is the best time for trekking in Nepal. This season comes only after the rainy months’ end. As soon as the monsoon rains comes to a halt, you get to do the autumn trekking.
Autumn trekking in Nepal is recognized for festivals and organic fruit production. Above all, the scenery of the Himalayas and landscapes variation unveils in their best appearance.
Nevertheless, the best time to trek in Nepal depends upon whether you love festivals or flowering plants. Similarly, it’s up to you whether you love experience nature or culture, too!
Conclusion: Which Month is Best for Trekking in Nepal?
Which month is best for trekking in Nepal? It depends upon the weather condition that differs from one region and season to the others. More than this, different month has their beauty and ugliness at the same time. It is all up to you what side of the coin you prefer, right?
Likewise, whether you are an experienced trekker of a beginner one also plays a vital role in choosing the right trip. This blog is written on the basis of common phenomena of the weather conditions in Nepal.
If you love the scenery above the fog line, the winter trekking in Nepal is recommended. Just navigate on the clouds that cover hills, villages, and cities under them. If you love witnessing the crystal clear environment after the rainfall, trek in Nepal in the monsoon season.
If you love to witness the forests wrapped up with the colorful flowers, especially rhododendrons, visit Nepal in the spring. Similarly, book a package of autumn trekking in Nepal if you are fond of observing festivals and tasting organic fruits.
Trekking in Nepal is for people of all ages and tastes all times of the year! Hurry up to get a lifetime experience in Nepal!