Nepal Trekking Seasons – Choosing a Best Time in Nepal

Landmark Discovery Treks offers thoroughly enjoyable Nepal treks throughout the year. The following is a guide on where to trek in each best Nepal trekking season.

Spring: (mid-February to the end of the 1^st week in May) and

Autumn: (mid-September to early December)

These are our most popular trekking seasons in Nepal: Spring offers warm weather with occasional showers in often hazy air conditions while autumn offers cooler weather and clear skies washed by the monsoon rains. This applies to all trekking routes.

• The most popular routes to Everest and the Annapurnas are crowded in March-April and more so in October to the end of November.April-May is also the main peak-climbing season in Nepal as the winds tend to slacken and move north of the Himalayan range for a fairly predictable few days of calm in mid-May: when summit attempts are most feasible. Climbing expeditions and support staff add pressure on the Everest BC trail, but not much elsewhere.

• Consider the glorious and less crowded trails around Manaslu (and if time, include the Tsum Valley); Upper Mustang; Lower Dolpo or Upper Dolpo – a full camping trek; the Langtang – Gosaikunda – Helambu Circuit (or sections of it); and mighty Kangchenjunga in the far east (to the North BC, or both North and South BCs)

• Remote Nar-Phu Valley Trek (Manang District, north of the Annapurna Circuit Trail) is best in September and October: the Kang La is snowbound in January and February; and avalanches continue through spring. It is feasible as a monsoon trek; but some rain is likely and cloud can limit mountain views. The approach trek beyond Besi Sahar will ‘include’ leeches if the road to Dharapani is not negotiable by jeep!

The Monsoon summer months (mid-May to end August)

A monsoon is best described as a seasonally reversing wind system; bringing wet northeast winds carrying moisture in from the sea versus varying dry winds flowing southwest from the highlands north of the Himalayan Range during the ‘dry’ seasons. Within the mountains, local conditions can change rapidly: expect the unexpected. Rainfall gradually decreases above 2 000m. Nepal receives 80% of its rainfall during the Monsoon months (much of it at night) but the weather in the rain shadow regions behind the High Himalaya (still in Nepal and north into Tibet) is warm with wonderful displays of flowers in these arid regions. Trails are never crowded.

• Upper Mustang in the north of the Kali Gandaki Valley (Annapurna region) can be explored all year round. Flights from Pokhara to Jomsom may be delayed by cloud. Trekking from midday can be windy.
• For Upper Dolpo, (further west) monsoon rains may prevent or seriously delay flights from lowland Nepalgunj to Juphal until the end of July. Plan for the 2^nd week in August to the 1^st week in October. Snow is likely from the third week onwards.
• A fly-in Lower Dolpo Trek is also feasible at this time (rather than the wet, leech infested, trail route from Beni to Tarakot –which is a great, leech-free, trek in spring or autumn).
• In July, flowers and birds are abundant in the Langtang Valley – but cloud can limit mountain views.

• Trekking in the Everest region can be pleasant and dry as altitude increases. Flights to Lukla frequently have to be cancelled due to poor visibility. Extra days need to be included between your international flights.

• The Kangchenjunga massif straddles the Sikkim-Nepal border at right angles to the Himalayan chain 20km to the north and receives the brunt of the monsoon weather. Flights from lowland Biratnagar to the new airport at Suketar are frequently cancelled due to poor visibility; road and trail routes are often destroyed by landslides, bridges by floodwaters. We do not offer treks there during this season.

Winter (December to February)

During winter nights are cold and morning fog is possible with clear afternoons. Trekking hours are generally warm.

• Short treks on the southern side of the Annapurnas, such as the fairly easy Poon Hill treks and to Helambu north of Kathmandu can but very rewarding but cold at night. Altitudes don’t exceed 3 000m.
• The Annapurna Sanctuary (‘front’ Base Camp) and Manaslu treks are possible: but nights will be very cold at high altitudes and the high passes can be tough.

• Trekking to Everest is possible at this time, but flights to Lukla are frequently cancelled due to poor visibility; sunny days can be pleasant but at night temperatures plummet. Book for additional days between your international flights. Add on a land tour if you have extra days after your trek.

• The high trails on both the north and south Kangchenjunga routes are closed by snows during this season. Villagers move to lower regions at this time.
• The high passes on both the Upper and Lower Dolpo trails are snowbound and often impassable from November to May.

If you are interested in experiencing some of the cultural festivals in Nepal, see our separate article and contact us for the planned dates for each year. The festival dates are calculated from the Hindu or Tibetan calendars and don’t match the Gregorian calendar. Their dates also vary from region to region.

Landmark Discovery Treks can supply you with warm gear such as down jackets, walking poles, duffle bags etc. for any trek.