October, November, March and April are the best months to trek in Nepal. This month-by-month guide covers weather, mountain visibility, temperatures at altitude, crowds and festivals, and which of our treks suit each month, including monsoon and winter options.
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The best time to trek in Nepal is October and November, followed by March and April. Autumn brings the clearest skies of the year, dry trails and comfortable days; spring is a little hazier but warmer, with rhododendrons in flower. Almost every trek we run is at its best in those four months.
The rest of the year is not closed. December is clear and cold and good for lower treks. May and September are shoulder months. From mid-June to September the monsoon soaks most of the country, but Upper Mustang, in the rain shadow behind the Himalaya, is at its best. Below we answer the questions trekkers ask about timing, then go month by month.
October is the best single month to trek in Nepal. The monsoon has usually gone by the first or second week, the air is washed clean, the mountains are clear from dawn to dusk on most days and temperatures are comfortable at every trekking height. November is almost as good, a little colder and quieter.
In spring, April is the best month: warm, mostly dry, with rhododendrons in flower in the Annapurna foothills. March is close behind. The table shows how the four seasons compare.
Season | Months | Weather | Views | Crowds | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Autumn | October–November | Dry, stable, cool nights | Clearest of the year | Busiest | Every trek |
Winter | December–February | Dry, cold, snow on high passes |
The monsoon normally arrives on about 13 June and leaves on about 2 October. Those are the normal dates used by Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, and actual dates vary. The rains reach the east first and the west last, and in some years they linger well into October.
In 2025, for example, the monsoon reached eastern Nepal on 29 May and did not finish withdrawing from the whole country until 14 October, twelve days late. So the first week or two of October can still bring rain, and we watch the forecasts closely before early-October departures.
Temperatures fall by roughly 6 °C for every 1,000 m you climb. At Namche Bazaar (3,440 m), average nights range from about −9 °C in January to 8 °C in July. Above 4,000 m, nights are below freezing most of the year and well below freezing from November to March.
Long-term averages give a sense of the range:
Place | Altitude | January (day / night) | April (day / night) | July (day / night) | October (day / night) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pokhara | 822 m | 20 °C / 7 °C | 30 °C / 16 °C | 30 °C / 22 °C | 28 °C / 17 °C |
Jomsom | 2,740 m | 10 °C / −2 °C |
The sun is strong at altitude, and on a clear, still day you will often walk in a T-shirt even when the night was freezing. Layers matter more than one heavy jacket.
Peak season is October and November, with a second peak in March and April. October 2025 was Nepal's busiest month for international arrivals, at around 128,000, followed by March and November. On the popular routes, lodges at the main stops fill up in these months.
Expect the busiest lodges at Ghorepani, Machhapuchhre Base Camp, Mardi Himal High Camp and along the Everest Base Camp trail. Domestic tourists also travel in large numbers during the Dashain holidays. Quieter alternatives in peak season include Mohare Danda, Khopra Danda and the Tamang Heritage Trail.
Yes, if you go north of the main Himalayan range. Upper Mustang, Dolpo and Nar Phu lie in the rain shadow and stay dry while the south is soaked. Pokhara gets around 3,900 mm of rain a year; Jomsom, two days' walk north, gets under 300 mm.
South of the range, June to September means rain most days, cloud over the peaks, muddy trails, leeches below about 3,000 m and landslides on the roads. It is not impossible, and the views between storms can be superb, but it is not the trek most people imagine.
Upper Mustang is the best monsoon trek in Nepal, and Dolpo is good in June and September. We run Upper Mustang from March to November, including June, July and August. Our 12-day itinerary flies from Pokhara to Jomsom and walks north from Kagbeni to the walled town of Lo Manthang.
Upper Dolpo: best in May, June, September and October. A 25-day camping expedition over the 5,360 m Kang La to Shey Gompa, for experienced trekkers.
Lower Dolpo: April to June and September to November, over the Numa La and Baga La to Phoksundo Lake.
Nar Phu: September to November and March to May. The valley is dry in summer, but the road up the Marsyangdi to Koto is landslide-prone in July and August.
The monsoon risk on these treks is access rather than the valleys themselves: flights to Jomsom and to Juphal in Dolpo can be grounded by cloud on the southern side. We build spare days into all of them. All are restricted areas that need a special permit; see our Nepal trekking permits guide.
Winter (December to February) is good for low and mid-altitude treks and poor for high passes. Skies are often the clearest of the year and the trails are quiet, but nights are very cold, days are short, some higher lodges close and snow can block passes for days.
Good in winter: Ghorepani Poon Hill, Mohare Danda, Australian Camp and Dhampus, Ghandruk and Chisapani to Nagarkot. All stay mostly below 3,300 m.
Possible with care in early winter: Mardi Himal, Annapurna Base Camp, Langtang Valley and Everest View. On Mardi Himal, your guide will not take the group above High Camp in fresh snow or high wind. Between Deurali and Machhapuchhre Base Camp on the ABC trail, there is a history of avalanches after heavy snow, and guides check conditions daily.
Avoid in mid-winter: Thorong La, Larkya La, the Everest Three Passes, the Kang La and remote treks such as Dolpo and Kanchenjunga.
Late October and November usually have the clearest views of the year, followed by December. After the monsoon the air is clean and dry, and haze is low. Spring views are good early in the morning but haze from lowland heat and smoke builds through March, April and May.
Usually from March to April in the Annapurna foothills. The forests between Ulleri, Ghorepani and Tadapani turn red, pink and white, as do the ridges on the way to Mohare Danda and Khopra. Lower forests flower first, higher ones later, and the timing shifts a little each year.
Each month below covers weather and views, temperatures, crowds, festivals and which of our treks suit it. The treks listed are the ones whose best months include that month.
January is dry, clear and cold, and best for low treks. Mornings are often very clear. Snow can fall above about 3,000 m and close high passes for days. Namche averages about 7 °C by day and −9 °C at night, and some higher lodges close.
Crowds: Very quiet.
Festivals: Maghe Sankranti, in mid-January.
Treks: Australian Camp and Dhampus, Ghandruk, Chisapani to Nagarkot. Ghorepani Poon Hill if you are happy with cold mornings and possible snow at Ghorepani.
February is still cold but warming, with longer days and occasional heavy snowstorms. Late-winter storms can close trails above 3,500 m for a few days. Visibility is generally good, and the trails are quiet.
Festivals: Sonam Lhosar, the Tamang new year, falls in late January or February; in 2027 it is expected on 7 February. It is celebrated in Tamang villages north of Kathmandu, including along the Tamang Heritage Trail and in Helambu.
Treks: The same low treks as January. By late February, the Annapurna foothill treks start to come back into condition.
March is the start of spring: clear mornings, more afternoon cloud and rising haze. Namche averages about 10 °C by day and −3 °C at night, and snow can linger on high passes early in the month. Trails get busy in the second half.
Festivals: Gyalpo Lhosar, the Sherpa and Tibetan new year, falls in late February or early March; in 2027 it is expected in early March. You see it in Sherpa villages in the Khumbu and around Boudhanath in Kathmandu.
Treks: Almost all our teahouse treks, including Ghorepani Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, Annapurna Base Camp, Langtang Valley, Everest Base Camp, Manaslu Circuit and Upper Mustang. The Everest Three Passes and Dhaulagiri Circuit are better from April.
April is the best month of spring: warm, mostly dry, with clear mornings and rhododendrons in flower. Haze can soften distant views in the lower valleys, but above 3,000 m the air is usually sharp. Namche averages about 13 °C by day and just above freezing at night.
Crowds: Busy, especially on the Everest Base Camp trail, which fills with climbing expeditions as well as trekkers.
Festivals: Nepali New Year (1 Baisakh), around 14 April.
Treks: Every trek we run, including the high passes: the Everest Three Passes, Annapurna Circuit, Dhaulagiri Circuit and Lower Dolpo. For flowers, Mohare Danda or Khopra Danda.
May is warm and increasingly hazy, with afternoon thunderstorms in the second half of the month. It is the warmest month for high trekking before the monsoon: Namche averages about 14 °C by day and 4 °C at night. The lowlands are hot.
Crowds: Busy early, quieter later. Everest summit season peaks, so Everest Base Camp is lively.
Festivals: Tiji, three days of masked dances in Lo Manthang, falls in the third Tibetan month, usually May and sometimes early June. The 2027 dates had not been fixed when we wrote this; the monastery announces them early in the year. Buddha Jayanti usually falls in May too.
Treks: Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal, Langtang Valley, Upper Mustang, Upper Dolpo and Lower Dolpo. Avoid the low foothill treks late in the month: hot, hazy and leech-prone.
June is when the monsoon arrives, normally in mid-June, earlier in the east. South of the Himalaya expect rain most days, heaviest in the afternoon and at night, and cloud hiding the peaks. Trails turn muddy and roads are hit by landslides. The trails are very quiet.
Treks: Upper Mustang, and June is one of the best months for Upper Dolpo and Lower Dolpo, when the pastures are green and the passes clear of snow.
July and August are the height of the monsoon: Pokhara gets more than 800 mm of rain in each month. Mountain views come in short gaps, often at dawn. Landslides are common and flights to mountain airstrips are often cancelled. Namche averages about 16 °C by day and 8 °C at night.
Crowds: The quietest months of the year.
Festivals: Janai Purnima, in July or August, brings pilgrims to Gosaikunda, though we do not run the Gosaikunda trek in the monsoon.
Treks: Upper Mustang. Jomsom gets under 50 mm of rain in July, and the country north of Kagbeni is dry and warm. The flight between Pokhara and Jomsom is the usual weak point, so we build in flexibility.
September is the end of the monsoon: wet early on, with clearer mornings and afternoon showers by the end. Late storms can bring heavy snow to high ground. In late September 2026, heavy snowfall in upper Manang led the local administration to suspend trekking to Thorong La and Tilicho for several days.
Crowds: Quiet early, building fast at the end of the month.
Treks: Everest View, Manaslu Circuit, Tsum Valley, Nar Phu, Rara Lake, the Tamang Heritage Trail, Upper Mustang, Upper Dolpo and Lower Dolpo. For the classic Annapurna and Everest treks, we prefer an October start.
October is the best trekking month in Nepal: clear, dry and comfortable, and the busiest of the year. Rain is rare after the first week or two, though a late storm can still bring snow to the passes. Namche averages about 13 °C by day and just above freezing at night.
Festivals: Dashain, Nepal's biggest festival, falls in late September or October. In 2026 the main tika day, Vijaya Dashami, is on 21 October, and the government holiday runs from 17 to 23 October. Buses and flights fill as people travel home. Mani Rimdu, the masked-dance festival at Tengboche Monastery, falls in October or November depending on the Tibetan calendar; in 2026 most published dates put the public days at 26 to 28 October.
Treks: Every trek we run. It is the best month for Everest Base Camp, the Everest Three Passes, Annapurna Base Camp, the Annapurna Circuit, Manaslu, Langtang, Kanchenjunga and Makalu.
November is stable, dry and often even clearer than October, with colder nights and fewer people after mid-month. Namche averages about 9 °C by day and −4 °C at night. Above 4,500 m expect hard frost nightly, and some lodges start closing by late November or early December.
Festivals: Tihar, the five-day festival of lights, runs from about 7 to 11 November in 2026, with Lakshmi Puja on 8 November and Bhai Tika on the last day. Villages and lodges are lit with oil lamps and children sing door to door.
Treks: All our treks list November as a best month apart from Upper Dolpo, where cold sets in early. A very good month for the high passes before winter.
December is dry, clear and cold, with some of the best views of the year and quiet trails. Namche averages about 8 °C by day and −7 °C at night. Snow is possible on the passes, especially late in the month.
Crowds: Quiet, apart from a Christmas and New Year bump on short treks.
Festivals: Tamu Lhosar, the Gurung new year, falls on 15 Poush, around 30 December, and is celebrated in Gurung villages across the Annapurna foothills, including Ghandruk.
Treks: Ghorepani Poon Hill and Mohare Danda both list December as a best month, and the low treks to Australian Camp, Ghandruk and Chisapani to Nagarkot are good too. Early December is possible for Everest View, Annapurna Base Camp or Langtang if you are ready for very cold nights.
Dashain and Tihar in October and November, Mani Rimdu at Tengboche in October or November, Tiji in Lo Manthang in May, and the three Lhosar new years in winter. Dates follow lunar calendars and change each year, so check before you book flights.
Festival | Where to see it | Usual timing | 2026–2027 dates |
|---|---|---|---|
Dashain | Everywhere | Late September or October | Tika on 21 October 2026 |
Tihar | Everywhere | October or November | About 7–11 November 2026 |
Mani Rimdu | Tengboche, Everest region | October or November |
Choose mid-October to late November for the best views, late March to April for flowers, December for quiet trails on lower treks, and June to August for Upper Mustang.
Best views and weather: mid-October to late November.
Flowers and warmer nights: late March to April.
Fewer people with good views: December, or early March.
Summer holidays: Upper Mustang.
Short trip in winter: Poon Hill, Mohare Danda or a two-day valley-rim walk.
If you are planning your first trek, read Best treks in Nepal for beginners. Our Everest Base Camp trek guide and Annapurna Base Camp trek guide cover the seasons for those routes in more detail, and Altitude sickness in Nepal applies in every month.
October and November, then March to May. Autumn has the clearest views of Everest from Kala Patthar; spring is warmer and coincides with the climbing season at base camp. Mid-winter is very cold at Gorak Shep and some lodges close.
October and November, then March to May. Our Annapurna Base Camp treks list those five months as the best. In winter, snow can make the section between Deurali and Machhapuchhre Base Camp dangerous after heavy falls.
It can be. The monsoon normally withdraws around 2 October but sometimes lasts into mid-October. Late September often brings clear mornings, afternoon showers and occasional heavy snow on the passes. For Poon Hill, Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp, we prefer an October start.
Yes. Treks run normally and the festivals add a lot: swings and kites in villages during Dashain, oil lamps and singing during Tihar. Expect busier buses and domestic flights, and some shops and offices in Kathmandu closed on the main days.
In the monsoon, yes, in forests below about 3,000 m on the southern side of the Himalaya. They are harmless but unpleasant. They are rare from October to May and absent in the dry rain-shadow valleys such as Upper Mustang.
Seasonal guides
Plan travel around Nepal’s festivals in 2027 with practical advice on lunar-calendar dates, crowds, respectful participation and checking local schedules.
Often very clear
Quiet |
Low and mid-altitude treks |
Spring | March–May | Warm, hazier, afternoon cloud | Good mornings, hazier afternoons | Busy in April | Every trek; rhododendrons |
Monsoon | June–September | Wet south of the Himalaya, dry behind it | Often cloudy | Very quiet | Upper Mustang, Dolpo |
19 °C / 4 °C
23 °C / 14 °C |
18 °C / 6 °C |
Namche Bazaar | 3,440 m | 7 °C / −9 °C | 13 °C / 1 °C | 16 °C / 8 °C | 13 °C / 1 °C |
Most sources: 26–28 October 2026
Tamu Lhosar | Gurung villages, Annapurna foothills | 15 Poush, around 30 December | Around 30 December 2026 |
Sonam Lhosar | Tamang villages, Langtang and Helambu | Late January or February | Expected 7 February 2027 |
Gyalpo Lhosar | Sherpa villages, Khumbu; Boudhanath | February or March | Expected early March 2027 |
Tiji | Lo Manthang, Upper Mustang | Usually May | Not yet confirmed for 2027 |
Often, especially in cloudy or windy weather and in the monsoon. Even in October and November, morning cloud can delay flights for a day or more. Our Everest itineraries include a spare day in Kathmandu for this reason.
Autumn has clearer, more reliable views; spring is warmer and has rhododendrons. If photographs of the peaks matter most, choose October or November. If you prefer warmer nights and flowers, choose late March or April.
The monsoon and mid-winter are the quietest months, so lodges have space and flights are easier to book. Ask us for a quote for your dates through our Plan your trip page.
It can be. Smog and dust build up in the Kathmandu Valley in winter and before the monsoon, and haze from lowland fires affects views in April and May. The air in the mountains is far cleaner, and Pokhara is usually clearer than Kathmandu.
It is possible for experienced, well-equipped trekkers, with clear skies and empty trails. Nights at Gorak Shep are severely cold, some lodges close and snow can delay you. We recommend autumn or spring for a first visit.