Best Time To Visit Nepal

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  • JanAvg Daily: 19 ° CAvg Nightly: 2 ° C
  • FebAvg Daily: 21 ° CAvg Nightly: 5 ° C
  • MarAvg Daily: 25 ° CAvg Nightly: 8 ° C
  • AprAvg Daily: 28 ° CAvg Nightly: 12 ° C
  • MayAvg Daily: 29 ° CAvg Nightly: 16 ° C
  • JunAvg Daily: 29 ° CAvg Nightly: 19 ° C
  • JulAvg Daily: 28 ° CAvg Nightly: 20 ° C
  • AugAvg Daily: 29 ° CAvg Nightly: 20 ° C
  • SepAvg Daily: 28 ° CAvg Nightly: 19 ° C
  • OctAvg Daily: 27 ° CAvg Nightly: 13 ° C
  • NovAvg Daily: 24 ° CAvg Nightly: 8 ° C
  • DecAvg Daily: 20 ° CAvg Nightly: 4 ° C
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If you are looking for the best time to visit Nepal, you need to factor in things like weather, trekking seasons, national festivals, and more. The fall season, between mid-September to November, is the most popular time to visit Nepal when the conditions are cool and dry. The time is ideal for a trekking adventure in the Annapurna Circuit or the famous Everest Base Camp trek. These periods offer the driest conditions, and the winter snows that make the trails perilous have not kicked in yet. The fall season is also a perfect time to go whitewater rafting and canyoning in the monsoon-fed rivers and waterfalls.

Plan your Nepal trip from March to May or September to November to visit national parks in the southern plains. You can book a safari tour in Chitwan National Park to spot various animal and bird species, including the one-horned rhinoceros and Bengal tiger. The summer months of May to September see lots of rainfall in Nepal, making it the least ideal time to visit. The weather in the chart is based on Kathmandu.

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Quick Facts

All seasons March to May (Spring), June to August (Summer), September to November (Fall), December to February (Winter)
High season March to May and September to November
Low season June to August
Best season September to November
Trekking season March to May and September to November

Seasonal Overview

The seasons in Nepal are split into rainy and dry. But the country does experience all four traditional seasons.

Mid-September to November – Fall / High Season

Fall is the best time to visit Nepal and follow the trekking routes in the Himalayas.
The fall season is the best time to go trekking in Nepal.

Fall is undoubtedly the best time to visit Nepal, with October being the most popular month. The weather conditions are stunning during this period. The skies are clear, and there is little to no rain. Pretty much all the trekking trails are open for business, including Everest Base Camp. Fall is also the best time to explore the historical and cultural neighborhoods of Kathmandu Valley. But this is the peak season in Nepal, so expect higher rates and heavy tourist footfall.

Avg. temperature 13°C (55°F) – 27°C (81°F) (in Kathmandu)
Avg. rainfall 86 mm
Is Fall a good time to go to Nepal?  Yes. The weather is perfect for trekking and sightseeing.

Highlights:

  • Trails in Annapurna, Everest, Langtang and Manaslu regions are adorned with blooming rhododendron forests and alpine meadows.
  • Visit hill stations close to Kathmandu, including Nargakot and Dhulikhel, to see the Himalayas from your comfy hotel room.
  • Two of Nepal's biggest festivals, Dashain and Tihar, are celebrated back to back in October. This is a great time to join in the festive spirit and learn more about the culture.

Tips:

  • Book all your accommodation way in advance, including tea houses if you are going trekking.
  • To avoid crowds, choose the least visited trekking destinations like Makalu Base Camp, Nar Phu Valley trek, or Rara Lake.
  • Fall offers the best conditions for white water rafting in Nepal, especially near the start of the season.

In-depth month-wise guides:
Nepal in September
Nepal in October
Nepal in November

March to May – Spring / Good Season

Spring is one of the best times to visit Nepal to see rhinoceros in Chitwan.
The jungles of Chitwan National Park await you with wildlife experiences like no other.

Spring, which lasts from March to May, is the second-best season to visit Nepal after the peak fall season. This period sees rather warm temperatures all across the country. If you are thinking about trekking in Nepal without the high-season crowds, this is your best bet. Check out off-the-beaten destinations such as Upper Dolpa in the north, where the landscape is coming back to life after the winter season. If you are planning to stay in the city itself, make sure to attend Bisket Jatra, a new year’s festival celebrated by the indigenous Newar people of Bhaktapur.

Avg. temperature 12°C (54°F) – 26°C (79°F) (in Kathmandu)
Avg. rainfall 73 mm
Is Spring a good time to go to Nepal?  Yes. The days are long, and the visibility is great.

Highlights:

  • All treks can be undertaken during this period. You can even climb the Island Peak and Mera Peak.
  • Spring is a great time for a sightseeing tour in Kathmandu. Discover cultural and religious sites such as Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath and Hanuman Dhoka.
  • The weather is perfect for adventure sports like paragliding, bungee jumping and zip lining in the tourist city of Pokhara.

Tips:

  • As the second most popular season, remember to book all your trekking accommodation in advance, especially on busier paths like the Annapurna Circuit.
  • If you want to explore more high-altitude passes and regions, avoid March, as the snow and ice might not have cleared yet.
  • If you want to avoid hiking crowds in the fall, opt to join a trekking tour in spring.

In-depth month-wise guides:
Nepal in March
Nepal in April
Nepal in May

December to February – Winter / Low Season

View of Mount Annapurna from Annapurna Base Camp.
You can go on shorter treks in Nepal during winter.

Winter in Nepal is not for the faint of heart. The season, which typically lasts from December to February, is characterized by biting cold in most parts of the country, foggy conditions in the southern plains, and heavy snowfall in the mountain region. As expected, winter is not considered among the best times to visit Nepal. Trekking in the Himalayas, the country’s top tourist draw is essentially off the menu—unless you are a highly skilled trekker or a mountaineer. It is best to limit your holiday activities to sightseeing and cultural tours. If you still want to have a trekking experience in Nepal, you can choose short hikes around Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara, where snowfall won’t be an issue.

Avg. temperature 4°C (39°F) – 20°C (68°F) (in Kathmandu)
Avg. rainfall 15 mm
Is Winter a good time to go to Nepal? Yes, if you are a budget traveler. The low season in Nepal means better rates on transportation and accommodation.

Highlights:

  • Popular tourist sites are less crowded and accommodations are cheaper during the low season.
  • Nepal celebrates several events and festivals during winter, including the Tibetan New Year or Losar, Mahashivaratri and Saraswati Puja.
  • Popular hill stations like Nagarkot and Dhulikhel are less busy during the winter months.

Tips:

  • Even though some major areas, like Everest Base Camp, are open, make sure to check specific routes. popular trails like the Everest Base Camp three Passes trek will not be open in the winter months.
  • Wrap up warm and check out the cultural highlights of Kathmandu, such as the Buddha Stupa and Pashupatinath Temple.
  • Check out the Lakeside Pokhara Street Festival held every December. The event, featuring street food and music, draws tons of locals and foreigners to the lake city.

Other related articles:
Nepal in December
Nepal in January
Nepal in February

June to mid-September – Summer / Wet Season

Sunset view above Bandipur village in Nepal.
You should try more indoor activities in Nepal during the monsoon season.

The rainy season in Nepal, which typically runs from June to mid-September, is probably the worst time to visit the country. There are a couple of hours of heavy, intense rain almost every day and the hiking trails are often muddy with poor visibility. This is with the exception of the trek in the Upper Mustang region up in the north of Nepal, which is still relatively dry. If you want to save some money on low-season flights and hike in the north, this might be an option for you.

Avg. temperature 20°C (68°F) – 27°C (81°F) (in Kathmandu)
Avg. rainfall 310 mm
Is Monsoon a good time to go to Nepal? No. There is a lot of rainfall that hinder both trekking and sightseeing plans.

Highlights:

  • An advantage of having the monsoon season is crowd-free experiences. You will also be able to get good rates at normally busy destinations such as Chitwan, Pokhara, and Bandipur.
  • Marsyangdi Valley and Tilicho Lake (placed along the Annapurna Circuit) are absolutely beautiful this time of year and are known for their lush greenery and great views.
  • Since this is the low season, you can get great deals on accommodation and transportation.

Tips:

  • Check out the museums around Kathmandu to avoid the rain, such as the Museum of Nepali Art.
  • If you are planning on traveling around Nepal, double-check your transport options, as floods and landslides can block routes.
  • The further north you go, the less likely your trip is going to be impacted by monsoon rains.

Weather in Nepal- Rainfall and Temperatures

  JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Avg Daily (°C) 19 21 25 28 29 29 28 29 28 27 24 20
Avg Nightly (°C) 2 5 8 12 16 19 20 20 19 13 8 4
Avg Daily (°F) 66 70 77 82 84 84 82 84 82 81 75 68
Avg Nightly (°F) 36 41 46 54 61 66 68 68 66 55 46 39
Avg Rainfall (mm) 14 19 34 61 124 236 363 331 200 51 8 13

In-depth month-wise guides:
Nepal in June
Nepal in July
Nepal in August
Summer in Nepal

Weather in Nepal can be rather moody, so as a visitor, it is important to understand the varied climate of this beautiful country. Once you have decided what season suits you best, you should consider the length of your stay. Bookmundi recommends spending at least two weeks in Nepal. But if you want to come up with your own itinerary, contact our travel experts and book a customized trip to Nepal.

Published by Erik Jensen, updated on August 18, 2023

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2 COMMENTSWe welcome your questions or comments to this article. Our travel experts will respond within 48 hours.
  1. D
    Dolma ToursSep 14 2022REPLY
    Thanks for sharing very well-written and worth reading this article. Wish to see more in the coming days.
  2. H
    Himalayan Trekking and Tours (P) LtdJun 07 2019REPLY
    Currently, The trekking in Nepal doable in January as well. The weather and temperature has been changing due to global warming. The snowing and raining season is changing slightly so one can plan their trekking holidays in January as well.