When to Go?
Seasons in Nepal
Nepal has 4 seasons: spring, from March to May, is warm and quite dusty with few rain showers. Summer, from June to August, is the monsoon season, and it normally rains a lot during these months. Autumn, from September to November, is cooler with clear skies; this is the most popular trekking season. In winter, from December to February, it is cold at night and it can be foggy in the early morning. The afternoons are usually clear and pleasant at lower altitudes, though in the mountains it is quite cold.
1) (Spring Season) Perfect season for Everest expedition, peak climbing and trekking.
March, April and May is the Everest climbing season and a good time for trekking too.
The snow conditions on Mt. Everest will be quite stable at this time of the year with the May month offering best summit windows. The sky is a bit dustier, but you normally get good views in the mountains. April and early May is a good time to see the hedgerows and trees bursting into bloom, with Rhododendrons, in particular, adding a spectacular splash of color to the landscape.
May is also rather good for trekking and peak climbing, although it can get quite hot in lower altitudes and there is a higher chance of rain.
2) (Monsoon Season) Suitable season for trekking in the North-Western part of Nepal
During the monsoon from June to August, trekking is not very popular due to the heavy and frequent rain showers. However, the vegetation becomes very green and lush, which makes for beautiful sceneries. In Upper Mustang, Humla and Dolpa, summer is an excellent time for trekking! These areas lie in the rain shadow of the main Himalayan range and are therefore not affected by the monsoon. Getting there might be a challenge though due to unpredictable weather conditions in the Lowlands, which generally affect flight schedules.
3) (Autumn Season) Best Season for Trekking and Peak climbing
Mid September till the end of November are the most popular trekking and peak climbing months in Nepal. It is the perfect season for some 8000 meters peak for instance, Mt. Cho-Oyu, Mt. Shishapangma, Mt. Manaslu etc. and for the peaks below the height of 8000 meters.
During this time, chances are high for clear skies and great mountain views. The nights are usually cold in the mountains, but the bright sun makes for pleasant day temperatures (above 20° C, falling to 5° C at night between 1,000m and 3,500m). At higher altitudes temperatures range from about 15 ° C- 20° C during day time to -10° C at night. Mornings are usually clear with clouds building up during the afternoon, disappearing at night to reveal spectacular starry skies.
4) (Winter Season) This season is not quite recommended for peak climbing and Expeditions.
December, January and February are good for trekking as long as you stay below 3,000 m. Above 3,000 meters, it gets very cold and trails are often covered with snow. It is usually about 10 degrees colder than in autumn. High passes (above 4,000 m) are generally closed from Mid-November to Mid-March.
