Best Time to visit Nepal:
Spring and autumn season are the best times to visit Nepal. Spring lasts from March to mid-May with warm days with warm to cool evenings and occasional rainfall. Spring is also best time to see Rhododendron flowers and trees in blossom across the Himalayan foothills.
Spring trips are best if your destination is above 7000 feet and above. Any destination lower than 7000 feet and the Terai flatlands are not desirable as pollution haze is very intense that you cannot see any views in the distance.
Fall season from September to December brings clear and ideal warm days with cool mornings and evenings. Fall is the best time to see the scenery far and wide. Also, it is the best time to see the country if you want to see the Dashain and Tihar festivals coinciding with the harvest festival that everyone is done with the harvesting and has plenty of food to enjoy. During this festival, almost every family makes new clothes for the entire family. The whole population is at their best clothes and a festive mood.
October through May is considered to be the general best months to travel in Nepal.
Autumn is the best season for trekking as you will have an excellent weather and magnificent mountain views. January and February are noted for cold weather with occasional snowfall at higher elevations and trekking involving high passes are not operated. Excellent views are plentiful. These months are popular and ideal for trekking for those who are well equipped or who remain at lower elevations below 10,000ft. Nepal has many popular trekking destinations in the foothills of the Himalaya for winter trekking that does not require special equipment or preparation.
December through January is often foggy in Kathmandu Valley and other lowland valleys that affect the flight take off and landing which could affect your trip.
Spring trips are best if your destination is above 7000 feet and above. Any destination lower than 7000 feet and the Terai flatlands are not desirable as pollution haze is very intense that you cannot see any views in the distance.
Late February brings spring in Nepal and offers exhilarating trekking for those who are interested in flowers, birds and natural grandeur. Different varieties of wild flowers, specially the rhododendrons make the hillside above 8,000ft an unforgettable paradise during this season.
April and May are the expedition season and the best time for climbing the high peaks. It is mildly warm at lower elevations but occasional haze mars beautiful view of mountains. At higher elevations over 4,000 meters (13,000ft) the mountain views are excellent and the temperature is quite moderate even at night.
Monsoon begins in mid-June and lasts until mid-September making travel wet, muddy and most difficult with slippery trails. The mountain views may not be at their best as rain clouds and haze obscure the view. These times are blessed for the keen botanist as the entire country becomes enlivened with the blossoming of flowers and lush vegetation including the higher slopes and valleys.
Rain shadow area of Nepal, a summer paradise:
While rest of the country experience monsoon with constant rainfall, the upper part of the Annapurna Region and central northwestern region such as Manang, Jomsom, Muktinath, Mustang and Upper Dolpo receive the least precipitation as these destinations fall in the rain shadow areas of the Himalaya including most of the Tibetan Plateau. June through September is the best time to travel the above destinations as the high passes are open, snow melted and valleys become alive with wildflowers and wildlife. Also the locals are in the most festive mood and organize their cultural events in these months to enjoy. So, this part of the world is open for trekking vacations in the summer.
Climate and Weather:
Nepal has 4 seasons:
Spring (Mar - May),
Summer (Jun - Aug),
Autumn (Sep - Nov),
Winter (Dec - Feb),
Nepal’s climate is varied ranging from the sub-tropical Terai to the cool dry temperate and alpine climate in the northern Himalayan ranges. In the Terai, the hottest part of the country, summer temperatures may rise as high as 40°C (104 Fahrenheit). The climate is hot and humid. In the mid mountain region, the summer climate is mild with temperatures around 25°C - 27°C (77-80.6 Fahrenheit).
The winter temperatures range from 7°C to 23°C (44.6-73.4 Fahrenheit) in the Terai and subzero to 12°C (50 Fahrenheit) in the mountain regions and valleys. The northern Himalayan region has an alpine climate. The valley of Kathmandu has a pleasant, moderate climate with average summer temperatures of 19°C - 27°C (66.2-80.6 Fahrenheit) and winter temperatures of and 2°C - 12°C (35.6-53.6 Fahrenheit).