Best Time To Visit Nepal

Nepal is a relatively small country only extending 800 km across and 150 km from north to south. In spite of the area spread, because of its unique location, Nepal has a huge range of geographical features with distinct weather patterns.

The southern parts of Nepal have rich and exotic forests and the northern regions are loaded with some of the highest peaks of the world including Mt. Everest at 8849 m.

This variation in geography affects the climate of Nepal such that it can be 30˚C at the southern fringes while freezing temperatures at the foothills of the Himalayas.

To be more specific, Autumn and Spring are usually regarded as the best seasons for treks since the weather is relatively calm and the skies are mostly blue which grants you magical Himalayan views.

But in Winter, you can explore exotic forests in the hilly area such as Kathmandu & Shivapuri as well as the southern lowlands including Pokhara, Chitwan & Koshi Tappu.

Summer has a variety of other trekking trails as well as a selection of water activities such as river rafting & canoeing. Summer is also an excellent time to explore rain-shadow areas like Upper Mustang Valley and Limi Valley, to name a few.

The Himalayan Trekkers owe their origin to Nepal and so, we know the knits and grits of the country. Having real-time experience of our beautiful country, we know which places to visit and which places to avoid in Nepal during any particular season.

Irrespective of this huge difference in climatic conditions, there could be four distinct seasons in Nepal, and here’s how to enjoy them.

The Winters in Nepal

The onset of winters brings clear skies with occasional snowfall in the higher altitudes of Nepal. The temperature and climate in the greater Himalayan ranges become quite unbearable and tourism completely stops to the northern fringes of Nepal.

However, the southern regions with exotic forests are a delight to visit at such times. Nights get pretty cold in this region but the climate in the day is very pleasurable and gets pretty warm because of the lower altitude giving you a grand time.

In the winter season, you cannot go for the more strenuous adventurous treks in Nepal but smaller tours and hikes of similar nature are very refreshing. 

With less crowds on the trial, allows you to witness the beauty of Nepal in its most pristine form.

Bardia and Chitwan National Park in Nepal have a great climate during this time attracting many exotic, migratory bird species, and is a lovely time to visit this gorgeous place.

In addition to this, you can visit additional popular tourist destinations such as Pokhara and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. The winter adventures such as paragliding, zipliner, bungee jumping, etc. in southern Nepal could help you take pleasure in the cold weather. 

Besides, winter is also a great time for birding tours in and around the Kathmandu valley as well as several other national parks and wildlife reserves. Kathmandu, Phulchoki, Nargarjun, Shivapuri, etc. are amongst the ideal places fruitful for bird watchers and wildlife enthusiasts.

Things to Remember When You Visit Nepal in Winter:

• If you are planning trekking trips in Nepal, then it is recommended that you carry a sleeping bag with you since the temperatures get relatively cold.
• Warm clothes and a down jacket are also the necessary equipment to keep with you when you are visiting Nepal in winter.
• Go to the attractive viewpoints in Nepal such as Nagarkot and Poon Hill to get some of the most impressive views in Nepal.
• If you are fond of adventure sports, then it is the perfect place to do so!
• Pokhara hosts a street festival in December, somewhere around the 27th, which is a great way to witness the colorful culture of Nepal.
• Lhosar, a festival of Buddhist believers is celebrated during this time of the year.

Spring in Nepal

The spring season is one of the best times to visit Nepal. There are no extremes of scorching high temperatures and bitter cold. It may happen that the weather gets hazy at times obscuring the magnificent view of the mountains.

Since the weather mostly remains clear, it is also one of the finest times to go on the many trekking routes that Nepal has to offer. The high mountain treks are also open during this time allowing you to enjoy some of the more adventurous treks in Nepal.

It might be great for some people who enjoy the company as spring attracts lots of people. However, if you like to enjoy nature in solitude, winter is probably the best time for you!

Some of the high passes such as Larkya La, Ganja la pass, Cho La pass, Renjo La pass, Kongma La pass, and the Annapurna Circuit Trek are open to tourists and mountaineers alike.

The higher viewpoints such as Kala Patthar and Gokyo Ri are also highly accessible during this time giving you some of the most exquisite views of the Himalayas.

There are many offbeat paths to trek upon and these could be alternative options for you if you are looking to avoid the dense crowds. Kathmandu also becomes significantly crowded, especially because it offers warm and comfortable weather, as well as the tourist center in Thamel, becomes a hotspot for travelers.

In addition to this, you can also sight tigers in the Bardia National Park since it becomes pretty hot during this time.

Things to Remember When You Visit Nepal in Spring:

• One of the best features of visiting Nepal in Spring is the bright, fresh blooming of rhododendrons that line the roads and forests. The lower regions have rhododendron bloom early while the higher altitudes have flowers blooming in the late spring.
• The temperatures vary widely when you are on a longer trek such as Manaslu Circuit and thus you should carry sufficient warm layers.
• Festivals such as Holi or the Nepalese New Year are celebrated with much grandeur and are an unmissable sight.
• Maha-Shivaratri is celebrated to the full extent and the Pashupatinath Temple is visited by Hindu devotees from all around the world. Also, additional activities such as ‘Dhuni’ which represents the upcoming warmer seasons could allow you an insight into the local culture and beliefs.
• The early or late spring season or offbeat treks is a great way to avoid the crowds during this time.

The Summers in Nepal

The summer and monsoon seasons coincide which is generally not preferred. The hot and humid weather becomes unbearable at times and it also makes the mountainous roads much more dangerous. However, you can opt for several other trekking trails or any other adventurous water activities. 

A fascinating sight that welcomes you during this time is all kinds of flowers fully bloom giving you vibrant views of the green forests. Even so, in the monsoons, the skies might remain cloudy which may lead to delays or even cancellations in flights causing some disruptions in your journey.

The Himalayas area comprises a humongous mountain range and has extensive rain shadow areas. These areas are some of the best places to visit when you are traveling through Nepal in summer. These areas include the Upper Mustang valley, the Limi Valley, Naar Phu Valley, and the Upper Dolpo.

The high-altitude regions around the Everest range are also a great place to find some solace.

Also, Kathmandu becomes relatively hot and humid and the weather is less comfortable. If you travel to Nepal's lowlands, you can find that it is much hotter and more humid.

Irrespective of the heat, the summers and monsoons are the time when the entire lower region is blooming with vibrant flowers and there is also an abundance of tigers in the jungles. In addition to this, the Buddhist devotees celebrate the birth of Buddha marked as “Buddha Jayanti” in summer.

Things to Remember When You Visit Nepal in Summer:

• An umbrella or a raincoat is an essential article to have with you at all times. Mountain weather is very unpredictable and it may rain at any moment. An umbrella is preferred since the weather gets very hot and humid making it uncomfortable to use a raincoat.
• There are occasional landslides due to heavy rain and prevalent cloud cover that obstruct both road and air transport. You should be prepared for cancellations and delays if you are planning a trip to Nepal in the summer season.
• Since the forests are hot and damp, there is an abundance of leeches at some places and you should be well aware of them, carrying necessary precautions and implements.
• The rice-planting festival held in June called “Ropain”, the celebration of the full moon in August through the Dancing with the Shamans, and Kora are some of the interesting festivals of Nepal celebrated during this time. You should make it a point to attend as many as possible for you.

Autumn in Nepal

The months of Autumn are often considered to be an ideal time to visit this exquisite place of Nepal. The autumn season brings with it clear weather, and very comfortable temperatures allowing you to travel through Nepal in the best possible way.

This season also sees the celebration of so many festivals in Nepal allowing you to indulge fully in the vibrant culture of Nepal. Devotees belonging to the Hindu or the Buddhist faith flock together from all around the world around this time to celebrate the many festivals. Two major festivities of Dashain and Diwali are celebrated during this time thus you might get an insight into the cultural ambiance of Nepal.

The popularity of this time can be observed as the country is filled with tourists from all around the globe offering you a valuable chance to meet people from different cultural as well as socioeconomic backgrounds.

Apart from this, all the regions in Nepal that could be traveled are opened up and made accessible to tourists and adventure enthusiasts alike giving you a grand tour throughout Nepal.

All the trekking routes and options that you have in the spring season also apply during the autumn season in Nepal. It's a lovely time to be in such high mountains because the skies are brighter than in the spring, making for stunning panoramic views. You will also find that the forests have become more vibrant and inviting as a result of the previous monsoon.

Things to Remember When You Visit Nepal in Autumn:

• The September season sees the monsoons receding and thus there may still be rain during this time of the year.
• Some trails could be weakened due to previous monsoons during the early autumn seasons, although by the beginning of October, all of these trails and roads will be in excellent condition.
• Bear in mind that since this is a prime season, all of Nepal's famous trek routes will be filled with tourists from all over the world. If you're looking for peace and tranquility, one of the many offbeat treks accessible in the hilly regions is a great alternative.
• Dasain, Tihar, Mani Rimdu festivals in the Everest region are some of the festivals celebrated during this time giving you an insight into the lives of the Nepalese people.

Conclusion

To find the true essence of Nepal and how this is a gorgeous place to explore, The Himalayan Trekkers does a lot of research in providing the best experience. Be it a customized travel expedition or a group full of trekkers, we know how to take care of our guests. If you are looking for more answers, contact us and find the right kind of vacation for you.