When is the best time to visit Nepal?
The best time to visit Nepal is during the months of October and November. The monsoon is over, which means magnificent, green, lush vegetation as well as clean air – the perfect time to explore the country in all its beauty, especially given the mild temperatures. This is also the time the views of the peaks of the Himalayas are nearly picture perfect.
May is considered low season and we recommend not visiting the country from June to mid September.
OVERVIEW
January is the coldest month of the year in the country with average temperatures hovering around 59°F and lows of around 37°F in Kathmandu. Lower temperatures usually mean fewer visitors. Some popular destinations could be inaccessible due to weather conditions.
WE RECOMMEND
- The mountain views are the best in winter so you could opt for a short trek at low altitudes
OVERVIEW
By mid February, the winter cold starts giving way to the warmth of spring. But remember, the temperatures vary greatly between different regions in the country depending on the altitude, so it could still be very cold in the higher Himalayan region.
WE RECOMMEND
- Visit Chitwan National Park and try and spot the big five – the one-horned rhino, the Royal Bengal tiger, the Asian elephant, leopard and the Himalayan Sloth bear
- Witness the colorful Maha Shivratri celebrations (A Hindu festival worshipping Lord Shiva) at the Pashupatinath Temple
OVERVIEW
With temperatures rising across most of the lower and middle altitude regions, March is one of the busiest times in Nepal, especially as most of the trekking routes begin to open up around this time.
WE RECOMMEND
- Head out to one of the popular trekking trails in the Everest or Annapurna. But book early as these are usually in high demand!
- Get the adrenalin flowing with a white water rafting trip
OVERVIEW
April is a sunny and dry time of the year in Nepal and is usually around the hottest time of the year in the capital city Kathmandu.
WE RECOMMEND
- Fly and get up close and personal with the Everest, as you soak in stunning aerial views of the Tibetan Plateau’s lakes and glaciers
- Enjoy the festivities around the Nepali New Year
OVERVIEW
May is usually hot and dusty and you are likely to experience some amount of rainfall towards the end of the month as the monsoon sets in.
WE RECOMMEND
- Get the adrenalin flowing with a short kayaking trip given the weather will be warm
OVERVIEW
As the rains descend on the country during this month, the number of visitors thin out considerably, especially given this isn’t ideal trekking season.
WE RECOMMEND
- Spend time at the several restaurants across Kathmandu sampling Nepalese cuisine, or participate in a cooking class at a local’s home
OVERVIEW
July is peak monsoon season in Nepal, so it is usually not the best time to visit as many of the mountain regions are inaccessible. But there is one exception – the Mustang region.
WE RECOMMEND
- As the Mustang region falls in the rain shadow area of the Himalayas, it is relatively dry during this time, which means you can trek in the upper and lower Mustang region
OVERVIEW
August is when the rains usually begin to peter out. Though the countryside is lush with green rice fields, most trekking and outdoor activities are usually ruled out due to the rain.
WE RECOMMEND
- Nepal’s rice fields will be a lush green at this time, so why not capture stunning photographs of the panoramic landscape?
OVERVIEW
While there may be sporadic rainfall, this is the month that tourists begin to flock to the country again as the trekking trails in the Himalayas and the Annapurna start opening up.
WE RECOMMEND
- Enjoy the various trekking trails around Pokhara, with its crystal clear lakes, turbulent rivers, deep gorges, and picturesque valleys
- Be part of the Dashain, the most auspicious religious celebration in the country, which usually begins end September and head into October
- Visit the small town of Nagarkot to savor panoramic views of the Himalayas and get a taste of village life
OVERVIEW
This is the best time to visit Nepal – the skies are clear, the mountain views are spectacular and the trails are all largely accessible. But this is peak tourist season as well, so remember to book well in advance!
WE RECOMMEND
- Stroll through Kathmandu’s backstreets, catching glimpses of art and daily lives
- Kathmandu Valley is a World Heritage Site so make sure you visit the Durbar Squares, Patan and Bhaktapur, the Buddhist stupas and the Hindu temples
- Attempt one of the most popular long treks (21 days), the Annapurna trek, which takes you along the edge of the Tibetan Plateau and through the Thorung La Pass (5,400 meters)
OVERVIEW
This is the last month of autumn in Nepal, so expect temperatures to start dipping. While the number of tourists gradually start reducing, treks around the Himalayas and Annapurna are still popular.
WE RECOMMEND
- To catch a glimpse of Nepali village life, stop off at the quaint Newari village of Bandipur, en route to Pokhara or the high-altitude Sherpa village of Namche Bazaar in the Everest region
- Tihar or the festival of lights is usually celebrated in Nepal in November and is the country’s second-biggest religious festival
- Visit the town of Dhulikhel with its panoramic views of the Himalayan range, enchanting temples, and exquisite local handicrafts
OVERVIEW
Winter sets in around this time in the country, so expect lows of around 40°F in Kathmandu. Higher altitudes will be even colder and several high altitude treks will become inaccessible around this time.
WE RECOMMEND
- Indulge in a spot of mountain biking
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Best Time to Visit Nepal by Season
The weather patterns are largely predictable. There are four seasons in Nepal:
- Spring from March to May
- Summer from June to August
- Autumn from September to November
- Winter from December to February. The monsoon season lasts from late June to mid-September, while it is relatively dry the rest of the year.
What to Pack for Nepal
There are largely no clothing restrictions in Nepal and you can wear what is most comfortable and weather appropriate. Choosing to be formal or casual is entirely up to you. Traveling in mountainous regions means experiencing a wide range of temperatures across 24 hours. During the day it can be quite warm, whereas at night temperatures can drop dramatically. Crossing over a pass requires an extra layer of clothing just for an hour or two. Lightweight and tropical clothes with umbrellas are advised from June to August. Between October and March, lightweight clothes with a coat for the evenings and warm clothing for the mountainous areas are recommended.
Climb every mountain: Why you need to plan a Nepal holiday
On your Nepal holiday, find spiritual bliss in the ancient temples of Kathmandu, many of them UNESCO World Heritage Sites, bathe elephants at Chitwan National Park, or challenge yourself with treks in the Himalayas.
Life after the 2015 Nepal Earthquake
The Nepal earthquake of 2015 is considered one of recent history’s worst natural disasters. Today, three months and extensive rescue efforts later, the country is slowly but steadily emerging out of the tragedy. This is our report on the situation in Nepal. The event On 25 April 2015, a devastating earthquake shook this small mountain nation.
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Enchanting Travels made planning this vacation a breeze. I didn’t stress at all during the trip, especially since there was also someone there to help with international transfers. All of our guides spoke English well and were quite accommodating.
Enchanting Travels employs people who really know how to listen to their clients and provide an exciting itinerary that is also safe and flexible. Everyone we worked with, from Brenda and Lavina to our guides Mr. Pongthep and Sangay, and our chauffeur Kengua, were professionals who seemed to really enjoy showing us their beautiful and exciting countries.
Go to Bhutan now! We don’t believe it is really going to stay this way for long. And it really is unique right now. Building laws require that dwellings be built in the traditional fashion and this makes for the most beautiful and original vistas. No one goes to Bhutan for the cuisine.
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