Best Season for Trekking in Nepal

Best Season for Trekking in Nepal

Nepal is one of the surprisingly beautiful countries throughout the world. It is the place where Lord Buddha was born. It is country where snowcapped mountain peaks touch the sky. The ever flowing Himalayan rivers, glaciers, lakes, green valleys and lovely waterfalls etc compare Nepal to heaven. Nepal is a hotspot destination for mountaineers, rock climbers and people seeking adventures. Beautiful and historically important heritages and the weather conditions are the strong attractions for tourist to visit Nepal.

For all its impressiveness and gloriousness, making a trekking plan in Nepal isn’t as difficult as you might think it is. Nepalese are playing a role of excellent host in trekking tourism from some of a few decades ago. There are more than hundreds of quality guiding companies and lodges bringing an exclusively new level to the back country like Nepal. Trekking in Nepal is likely to be affordable, accessible and wonderful experiences for even to those groups with little backpacking experience.

Understanding Nepal’s Seasons

Nepal has four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The climate, trail conditions, and trekking in the various parts of the country are determined by the seasons. Below is a brief overview of every season:

1. Summer (June to August)
2. Autumn (September to November)
3. Winter (December to February)
4. Spring (March to May)

Each season offers something unique, and trekking in Nepal can be very different depending on the time of year. Let us delve into the details of each season so that you are well-informed.

Best Season to Trek

Nepal is an all year- round destination, to hike as the weather varies throughout the year. It offers all year destination as the country fascinates wide range of climatic diversity in its tiny territory.  It attracts you, with a variety of climates with its favorable temperatures. From the sweltering heat of Terai plains to the freezing cold of the Himalayas and the very pleasant temperature of hills and valleys, you can plan your trip and what you wish to do in Nepal. It also depends on where you choose to go and decide the best season can be for your travel in Nepal. But most of the trekkers choose between the peak hiking season of autumn and spring. Whereas some also choose winter and Summer for better discovering city sights.

The best season to visit Nepal is biased and depends on your choice of activities in Nepal. There are mainly four seasons in Nepal: Spring (March-May), Summer (June-August), Autumn (Late September-November), and Winter (December-February). You can have great plan your visit after a brief study on the different seasons of Nepal.

Summer in Nepal

The summer season lasts from June to September. Summer is a good time to explore the cities. It is the hottest season of Nepal. Hot but dry days are more comfortable than those of Monsoon days which are hot and humid. Autumn begins with the end of Monsoon. Summer is the monsoon season and brings hot, humid weather, with most trekking areas seeing cloudy skies and rain. Summer / Monsoon is the most anticipated season in Nepal with the mass of the population who are involved in agriculture. The season is best for planting rice in the Nepalese farms and the farmers sing, play and work together while planting paddy seedlings. This may be a great season if you are planning to enjoy the rainy days in the Nepalese farms.

Traveling in the country may be upsetting as due to the cloudy skies, landslides, which is common during the period. But with proper preparation and guts, you can choose this month for trekking as well. But, the region like Mustang and Simikot are still good for trekking during this time as the region falls in Rainshadow area and do not receive the monsoon rain.

Weather:

Summer is hot and humid, particularly in the lower regions. Summer monsoon showers are heavy and can make it slippery and slippery to walk through the trails. The mountain sections, particularly the ones above 3,000 meters, experience less of the monsoon effect and are in general less rainy.

Advantages of Summer Trekking:

• Fewer Crowds: Since the monsoon season is not ideal for trekking, fewer tourists visit, meaning that it is a quieter and less crowded trek.
• Luxuriant Vegetation: The monsoon showers make the landscapes very green and dense. Forests, terraced fields, and hill slopes become overgrown with lush vegetation, offering a picturesque and new trekking experience.

Autumn in Nepal

Autumn is the most popular trekking season in Nepal which starts from September to November, the whole country welcomes autumn. The weather is hot and wet at the times. It rains almost every day with occasional thunderstorms in the evening. During this time you’ll have the best chance for clear mountain views, sunny skies, and mild temperatures. Thousands of people visit Nepal to hit the trails in the famous Everest and Annapurna regions.This is the best tourist season in Nepal with the summer gone by and the winter to set in. Since the weather conditions are at their best, the crowds are at their peak as well. Autumn is also a great time to visit Terai as the temperature is still cooler. This is also a festive season in Nepal as the popular festivals like Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath falling in this period.

The Monsoon season brings a constant high pressure, giving clear skies, sunshine, warm days and cool nights. The skies are clear so we can have the great viewing the beauty of these magnificent mountains. The rain spreads the pleasantness around with lush green vegetation. Thus, This season is the best season to travel to Nepal. Most of the travelers to Nepal do not want to miss such well-liked trekking and mountain views. And autumn is the time for these.

Weather:

Autumn has good temperatures with cooler conditions at higher elevations. Monsoon rains are over by September, and there is clear weather and fresh air left behind. This is the most stable and comfortable weather in Nepal for trekking.

Advantages of Trekking during Autumn:

1. Optimum Weather: It is optimum weather for trekking with sunny days and chilly nights. The climate is ideal for high-altitude treks like the Annapurna Circuit, Everest Base Camp, or the Three Passes Trek.
2. Clear Views: The climate is clear, and the trekkers enjoy unlimited views of the giant Himalayas.
3. Festivals: Autumn also coincides with the major Hindu festivals of Dashain and Tihar. It is the best time to observe the Nepalese culture and traditions.
4. Best Trekking Conditions: The trails are dry and in good condition, making it easier to walk through and experience the trek.

Winter in Nepal

The winter in Nepal begins from December to February. In this month it tends to be mild in the daytime but becomes very cold at night. January is the coldest month of the year. The snow falls sometimes in the mid of the month. The Snowfall is common in the Himalayan and upper hilly region of the country. The Nepali winter witness high pressure bringing clear skies and dry weather. The nights can be freezing cold as the temperature falls low after the sunset. Treks in the lower Himalayan foothills are perfect in winter. But many of the High passes like Thorung La and Laurabina remain closed during the peak winter season.

Terai may be a great destination to visit to avoid the extreme winters of the Himalayas and hills. The Chitwan and Bardia National Parks in Terai host variety of wandering birds during winter.  This is the best time for bird watching also. Thus, this is the best time to enjoy the much-talked-about the loneliness of the Himalayan trails.  And, raise the roof in the natural beauty for miles and miles with few souls around to disturb your daydream.

Weather:

Winter is marked by cold conditions, especially at high altitudes. The temperatures drop below the freezing point in regions above 3,000 meters, while snowfall becomes a common occurrence. The climate in the lower regions is also chilly but very bearable. Snow, however, impacts some of the trekking routes, especially those above 4,000 meters, so that trekking becomes difficult.

• Less Tourism: The quietest season is winter, during which the trail is less frequented.
• Cost-Effective: Since it’s off-season, trekking fees, encompassing permits and accommodations, tend to be lower.
• Clear Skies: Although it is cold, the sky usually remains clear with stunning vistas of the Himalayan peaks, especially early morning.

Spring Season

Spring season is the second-best season for trekking in Nepal after autumn season which begins from March to May. This season is popular for trekking in Nepal, as temperatures climb steadily and the weather tends to be more stable. The snowcapped mountains peaks melt and rhododendron trees bloom all around hillsides areas during this time. Trails are more crowded, however, the skies are hazy at this time. Spring brings great festivals like Holi in March and Nepalese New year in April. It is also a wonderful time of year to spot wildlife and forest start to spread its greenery along the trekking path making spring season-best time to visit for nature lover trekkers.

In this season the birds start to sing and the flowers also blossoms. Spring, without a doubt, is the most beautiful season when nature releases its wings and dances. Rhododendron, in the hills of Nepal blankets themselves. The wild birds and animals come out to appreciate the pleasurable spring. This is the best time to view wildlife in Terai. Thus, Spring marks itself the second best season for trekking in Nepal. The joyful temperature and the beautiful nature make the trekking in the hills a joyful experience.

Weather:

Spring is marked by moderate temperatures and clear weather, especially in the higher regions. The weather is warm during the day but cold at night, particularly at higher altitudes. Temperatures are pleasant in the lowlands and stable in the mountain regions. It is largely dry with occasional light showers towards the latter end of the season.

Benefits of Spring Trekking:

1. Delightful Weather: The weather in spring is ideal for trekking, especially for longer treks like Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Circuit.
2. Clear Skies: The weather is normally clear, and the trekkers get magnificent views of the Himalayan ranges, including Mount Everest, Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri.
3. Flower Bloom: Spring season is ideal when wildflowers like rhododendrons are in bloom along the trails of trekking, adding colors to the trails.
4. Festivals: Grand festivals such as Holi and Buddha Jayanti occur during spring season, when an opportunity is also provided to experience the culturally rich heritage of Nepal.

Conclusion: Choosing the Ideal Season for Your Trek

In general, the best season to trek in Nepal will highly vary based on the type of your trek, your preferences, and your tolerance level for various types of weather. Here is a brief overview:

• Spring (March to May): Ideal for the majority of trekkers, with pleasant weather, clear views, and beautiful landscapes.
• Summer (June to August): Suitable for trekkers who desire fewer people and trekking to rain-shadow areas like Upper Mustang or Dolpo.
• Autumn (September to November): The most favorable and popular season for trekking, with perfect weather and clear views of the mountains.
• Winter (December to February): Suitable for experienced trekkers who prefer fewer tourists and are prepared for the cold and snowy conditions.