Best Time to Visit Nepal

Spring and autumn are generally considered to be the best seasons to visit Nepal, since the weather tends to be moderate and stable, with clear skies. However, due to the complex nature of Nepal’s geography and climate, there's a lot more to this. An ever-increasing number of travelers visit Nepal in winter and summer, and for good reason. With the right information, travel plan, and preparation, Nepal is a great year-round destination.

Main Seasons

Winter brings cold weather at higher elevations but is a great time to visit Nepal for crystal clear skies. Treks in the lower Himalayan foothills are perfect in winter, and so are the jungles of Chitwan and Bardia in the south of Nepal.

Spring is a popular time to go trekking in Nepal, as temperatures climb steadily and the weather tends to be more stable. Trails are more crowded, however, and the skies can be a bit hazy at times. Spring features great festivals, including Holi in March and Nepalese New Year in April.

Summer is the monsoon season and brings hot, humid weather, with most trekking areas seeing cloudy skies and rain. Choose a trek in the “rain shadow” of the Himalaya at this time of year, such as Upper Mustang or Nar Phu. The Yarthung Horse Festival takes place in June in Manang.

Fall is the most popular trekking season because the weather is usually stable, temperatures are moderate, and skies tend to be clear. Since the weather conditions are at their best, the crowds are at their peak as well! Autumn has the big festivals like Dashain (October) and Tihar (November).

Weather in Nepal by Season

Before diving into the seasonal weather in Nepal, it’s worth noting that Nepal, despite being a small country (800 km / 500 miles east to west and 150 km / 100 miles north to south, which is approximately the same surface area as England and half that of Oregon), has a wide variety of elevations and climates, ranging from the world’s highest peaks in the north to subtropical jungle in the south.

This means that it’s often not accurate to make generic statements about the weather in Nepal during a certain season, as the regional differences can make temperatures and weather vary tremendously between different regions. For instance, on a given day the temperature in the South of Nepal can be over 30 Celsius / 90 Fahrenheit, while on the same day Everest Base Camp and its surrounding passes are well below freezing.

With that in mind, we’ll dive into the details of Nepal’s seasons with the goal to help you decide when to visit, where to go and how to prepare for each season.

Conclusion: What is the Best Season to Visit Nepal?

As described above, there is not a single answer to the question what is the best time to go to Nepal. While there is some truth to the conventional wisdom that spring and fall are great for trekking, winter and summer have distinct advantages as well. Increasingly travelers visit Nepal in every season and armed with the right trip plan Nepal is a great year-round destination.