Nepal is the roof of the world; however the lowest altitude in Nepal is only 60 meters. Due to diversity in topography, we can see differences in various aspects like climate and weather patterns, flora and fauna, people and lifestyle, clothes and cuisines, festivals and values, wind direction and rainfall. This unique feature of topographical difference makes Nepal a dream destination for many travelers to spend their holiday and leisure throughout the year. Just in case people like to travel to Nepal, the climatic condition of Nepal offers different options for travelers in any season. However due to other circumstances we generalize the seasons into the following category.
- High Season: March to May and September to November
- Low Season: December to February
- Moderate Season: June to August
- All Seasons: March to May, June to August, September to November, December to February
March to May: (Spring Season) Temperature: 16 to 23 degree Celsius in KTM
March to May is considered as one of the peak seasons to travel in Nepal. The temperature in spring ranges from 16 degrees to 23 degrees in Kathmandu. We often have rain showers and windy weather. During this season, we can see nature changing its color from drought to greenery. This season is best to explore the culture and off beaten trails in the mountains. The average rainfall ranges from 29 mm to 83 mm from March to May accordingly. We can observe different festivals like Holi, Bisket Jatra, Nepali New Year, Tiji, Ghode jatra and many more. Different flowers like rhododendron and magnolia bloom in this season making the surrounding hypnotizing
What to do in spring:
- Everest, Island and Mera peak climbing
- Trekking to Manaslu circuit, Annapurna circuit, Gokyo RI, Kongma La, Kala paththar and upper Mustang
- Experience festivals like Holi, Bisket Jatra, Nepali New Year, Tiji, Ghode jatra
- Jungle safari in Chitwan and Bardiya national park, hiking around Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Yoga and spiritual tourism, eco and organic treks
- Cultural tour in Kathmandu, upper mustang, Ghale gaun, Sirubari, Bandipur and Sauraha
- Bird watching in Chitwan National park, Shivapuri Nagarjun National park and Koshi Tappu wildlife reserve
- Skydiving in Kala Paththar and Pokhara
- Paragliding, ultra-light aircraft and Para hawking in Pokhara
- Bungee jumping in Bhotekoshi, 220m bungee jumping in Kushma, Parbat, and tower jump in Pokhara
- Rafting and kayaking in Bhotekoshi, Sunkoshi, Karnali, Tamor, Kaligandaki, Marsyangdi, Trishuli
- Cycling around hill station and mountain biking
Tips for Travelers traveling in spring:
- Holi, the festival of colors, falls in March and Nepali New Year falls in April.
- The upper hilly region and lower Himalaya region is fully covered with different types of rhododendron throughout the season. [rhododendron is the national flower of Nepal]
- Sometimes due to windy weather, the visibility could be hazy obstructing the distant views. So mornings are better for having a distant view.
- Kathmandu is full of diverse cultures, so Kathmandu offers information about multicultural society in Nepal.
September to November: (Autumn Season) Temperature: 15 to 24 degree Celsius in KTM
Autumn is regarded as the best time to visit Nepal. During autumn we can see colorful nature with the clear sky without any obstruction of the scenery. It is the best time for different adventurous activities like peak climbing, skiing, trekking and mountain biking. However this season offers numerous options for adventure and cultural tours. Different festivals like Dashain, Tihar and Indra Jatra are celebrated with full enthusiasm and vibes during this season.
Popular adventure in Autumn Season:
- Climbing to different peaks. Till date 238 peaks have been opened for climbing.
- Trekking to Manaslu circuit, Annapurna circuit, Gokyo RI, Kongma La, Kala paththar and upper Mustang, Rara lake, Langtang valley, Kanchanjunga, Api Base camp, Shey Phoksundi Lake, Dhorpatan, Makalu Barun, Manaslu and other hidden valleys, base camps and lakes in Himalayan region of Nepal.
- Experience festivals like Dashain, Tihar, Indra Jatra, Mani Rimdu.
- Jungle safari in Chitwan and Bardiya national park, hiking around Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Yoga and spiritual tourism, eco and organic treks
- Cultural tour in Kathmandu, upper mustang, Ghale gaun, Sirubari, Bandipur and Sauraha
- Bird watching in Chitwan National park, Shivapuri Nagarjun National park and Koshi Tappu wildlife reserve, Kaligandaki river bank
- Skydiving in Kala Paththar and Pokhara
- Paragliding, ultra-light aircraft and Para hawking in Pokhara
- Bungee jumping in Bhotekoshi (169m) and tower jump (50m) in Pokhara
- Rafting and kayaking in Bhotekoshi, Sunkoshi, Karnali, Tamor, Kaligandaki, Marsyangdi, Trishuli
- Cycling around hill station and biking in mountains
Tips for travellers in autumn season
- Autumn is regarded as the best season for trekking.
- Dashain is the main festival of Hindu people. Mani Rimdu is another festival celebrated in Himalayan region by the Sherpa community. Travelers can enjoy the Mani Rimdu festival while trekking.
December to February (winter season) Temperature: 2 to 12 degree Celsius in KTM
Winter in Nepal brings cold and dry weather with occasional snow in the mountains. The skies are usually crystal clear, making winter one of the best seasons for unobstructed, crisp views of the 8,000m mountains. There are fewer people in this season which makes booking of hotels and tickets to the travellers. Festivals like Maha Shivaratri, Lhosar, Yomori Punhi and Udhauli festivals are celebrated with sharing of joys and sorrows among people.
Popular adventure in winter season:
- Trekking to Poon hill, upper mustang, upper Dolpo, Everest panorama and Khopra Danda trek
- Mountain biking and cycling around the hill stations
- Ice climbing and rock climbing
Tips for Travellers in winter season:
- Warm clothes are most, the temperature varies from 1 degree Celsius to 12 degree Celsius in Kathmandu and is below freezing points in most of the trekking trails.
- Mountain biking is popular adventure sport in the winter season.
June to August (summer season) Temperature: 20 to 25 degree Celsius in KTM
Summer is the monsoon season which means the weather is hot and humid, and it rains most days. During this season we can have a closer look at the blooming flowers. Monsoon usually starts in early June and continues into early September. In summer it’s advisable to have some flexibility in your travel plans as flight delays and cancellations are more common due to cloudy weather. Landslides may occur, causing road and trail closures, and views are often obstructed. Also, leeches can be an annoyance.
Popular adventure in summer season:
- Trekking to Nar- Phu, upper mustang, upper Dolpa, Limi valley, Tsum valley
- Festivals like Teej, Janai purnima, rice plantation festival, Gai Jatra are celebrated inside Kathmandu valley and other parts of Nepal. Traditional agricultural practice can be seen during the rice planting ceremony.
Tips for travellers in summer season:
- Always carry an umbrella or rain cover
- Due to cloudy weather sometimes the flights and road transport do not operate in given times.
- Be aware of leeches in trekking trails, salt and timmur (natural herb) can be carried while going for hiking or trekking in summer.