Nepal · Best time to visit
When to go to Nepal
October and November bring the clearest mountain views of the year. Spring, from March to May, is the second season, with rhododendrons in flower on the trails.
The seasons
Four seasons, two of them for the mountains
Autumn (October and November) follows the monsoon: the air is washed clean, the peaks stand out and the trails are at their busiest. Dashain and Tihar, Nepal's biggest festivals, fall in these weeks.
Winter (December to February) is clear and cold. Days in Kathmandu and Pokhara are pleasant, nights frosty; the high passes are snowbound, but lower treks are quiet and beautiful.
Spring (March to May) is warm, with rhododendron forests in flower. A haze builds through April and May and can hide the mountains in the afternoons.
The monsoon (June to September) brings rain mostly in the afternoons and at night, cloud on the peaks, leeches on the lower trails and some landslides. Upper Mustang, in the rain shadow, is at its best.
Month by month
Where to go in each month
| Month | Season | Where to go | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Good | Kathmandu valley, Pokhara, Chitwan, lower treks | Cold nights; high passes closed |
| February | Good | Kathmandu valley, Pokhara, Chitwan | Cold at altitude |
| March | At its best | Treks in flower, Chitwan, the valley | Some haze late in the month |
| April | At its best | Treks, Everest region, Chitwan | Haze hides the peaks in the afternoon |
| May | Good | Higher treks, Upper Mustang | Hot in the lowlands; pre-monsoon showers |
| June | Some regions | Upper Mustang | Monsoon begins |
| July | Some regions | Upper Mustang | Monsoon; mountain flights often delayed |
| August | Some regions | Upper Mustang | Monsoon |
| September | Good | The valley and Pokhara late in the month | Monsoon ends late in the month |
| October | At its best | Everywhere: treks, the valley, Dashain | The busiest weeks on the main trails |
| November | At its best | Everywhere: the clearest views of the year | Cold nights at altitude |
| December | Good | The valley, Pokhara, Chitwan, lower treks | Cold; short days |
Region by region
The best months for each region
- Kathmandu valley
- October to May
- Pokhara and the Annapurnas
- October and November, March and April
- Everest region
- October and November, March to May
- Chitwan National Park
- October to March; February to April for the best wildlife sightings, once the tall grass is cut
- Upper Mustang
- May to October, including the monsoon
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