Trekking Seasons

The Summer Monsoon: The monsoon rains last from mid-June until mid- September. Clouds, Slippery trails, humid heat at lower altitudes and an abundance of leeches characterize the three months of the rainy season. Although rainfall is not continuous, it does obscure views of the mountains so the rainy season is not the best time to be on foot in Nepal.

Autumn: The monsoon which normally ends around the second week of September is followed by a period of clearing skies with some rain or showers which can extend into October. The weather gradually settles offering good conditions for all types of trekking including high pass crossings and climbing treks. Some guide books have led people to believe the period to mid- November is possibly the best time for trekking in Nepal so the more popular routes can be over-crowed at this time. In fact, Autumn in Nepal extends until the middle of December by which time the weather tends to be settled.

Winter: Winter usually starts late December. Even then, periods of bad weather rarely persist for more than a day or two and late season treks offer pleasant sunny days (short sleeves) clear skies and good mountain views. Whilst high pass crossings are off-limits at this time, it is still possible to trek above 3000m in the Khumbhu (Everest) or Manang areas but there will often be snow underfoot and night time temperatures require thermals and warm jackets. Winter has the advantage of fewer trekkers being around even in the busier areas such as the Annapurna foothills and the Kali Gandaki valley.

Early Spring: February and March mark, according to the altitude, the coming of Spring. Rhododendrons begin to bloom above 1800m. If you want to beat the rush then it is best to trek before mid-March.

Late Spring: April and May are excellent months at high altitude. Many believe it to be the best time of the year for mountaineering. At this time, we recommend that you choose a trek that takes you quickly to the higher, cooler air. If you wish to visit very high altitudes or cross high passes starting at this time is necessary. Any earlier and the winter snows will not have melted (Everest was first climbed in late May 1953). Clouds tend to build up later in the day and afternoon rain showers are fairly common but the storms can sometimes be spectacular and help to clear the air.