Nepal Month by Month: When to Visit

The best month to visit Nepal depends on what you want to do: October and November bring the clearest skies and the country's biggest festivals, March and April are the second trekking season with rhododendrons in bloom, December to February is cold but dry and quiet, and June to September is the warm, wet, bargain monsoon. This collection breaks the whole year down month by month so you can match your dates to the weather, treks, festivals and crowd levels that matter most to you. For the seasonal overview, start with our best time to visit Nepal guide.

How the year unfolds

Nepal's seasons swing hard with altitude, so the same week can be sweltering in the Terai lowlands and bitterly cold on a high pass. Winter opens the year clear and cold: read Nepal in January for the coldest, quietest month, then Nepal in February as the chill begins to lift and Losar arrives. Spring builds through Nepal in March, when Holi splashes the streets and the trekking trails reopen, into Nepal in April, arguably the finest spring month for rhododendron forests and Himalayan views, and on to Nepal in May, the warm, hazy tail of the dry season.

The monsoon then takes over: Nepal in June brings the first heavy rains, Nepal in July is the wettest, greenest month, and Nepal in August keeps the lush, low-cost mood going while Gai Jatra and Janai Purnima light up the calendar. The rains taper through Nepal in September, when Indra Jatra fills Kathmandu and Dashain begins, leading into the golden peak of Nepal in October. Autumn glory continues in Nepal in November, the clearest, most stable month of all, before Nepal in December returns the country to crisp, quiet winter.

Treks by season

The two reliable trekking seasons are autumn (October–November) and spring (March–April). Autumn delivers the sharpest mountain views and the most dependable weather, which is why classic routes like the Everest and Annapurna trails fill up. Spring is nearly as good, trading a little haze for hillsides of red and pink rhododendron. In winter you can still trek lower trails such as Ghorepani Poon Hill or the Annapurna foothills, packing for freezing nights and the chance of a snowbound high pass. In the monsoon, head for the rain-shadow north — Upper Mustang and Dolpo stay relatively dry behind the main Himalayan wall. For route planning, see our Nepal trekking guide.

Festivals and crowds

Festival timing can make or break a trip. Autumn is the festival heartland, with Indra Jatra, Dashain and Tihar in close succession; spring brings Holi and Buddha Jayanti; and the monsoon holds Gai Jatra and Janai Purnima. Dashain and Tihar empty the cities and sell out transport, so book ahead. For the full lunar calendar, browse our festival calendar of Nepal.

Using these guides

Each month's guide covers expected weather across the Terai, hills and mountains, the best treks and activities, which festivals fall, and how busy and expensive things will be. Pick your month below, or work backwards from a festival or trek you have your heart set on.