When to trek

Nepal is the eventual destination for trekking. Many people who are trekkers engage in longer trips through entire regions of the world, using trekking as a way of getting from place to place. There are no more inspiring places in the world that can come close to this Himalayan destination, which offers a myriad of possibilities from the short and easy walking excursions to the demanding and strenuous challenges of the snowy peaks and their foothills and deep valleys. You’ll also need to strike a balance between trekking in the best weather for the area you wish to trek in and avoiding the crowds the good weather attracts.

Basically we recommend autumn (Sept, Oct and Nov) and spring (March, April, May) as the best seasons for Trekking in Nepal. The weather is sunny and warm, but the nights are cold and can fall to freezing. Winter (Dec, Jan and Feb) is also good, only colder (obviously). Summer (Jun, Jul and Aug) is monsoon – so visibility and rain are creating some little problem in some time.

During the trekking the nights can be very cold in the mountains, but the bright sun makes for pleasant daytime temperatures up to about 30 Cº, falling to 5 Cº, at night, between 1000m and 3500m. At higher altitudes temperatures range from about 20 Cº down to -10 Cº. Mornings are usually clear, and then clouds can build up during the afternoon, disappearing at night to reveal spectacular starry skies. During winter it is about 10 Cº colder.

Because most of the precipitation in the Himalayas occurs during the summer monsoon there is less snow on the mountains and many high trails during winter. Everest itself is mostly a mass of black rock during the trekking season, becoming snow-covered only during summer. There are always exceptions to this weather pattern, so be prepared for extremes. Winter snowstorms in December and January may make an early-spring pass crossing difficult and can often present an avalanche danger, especially on the approach to the Annapurna Sanctuary.

The Middle Hill ranges are dusty and hazy in April and May, but the high country is usually clear. Trekking tapers off in the heat of May, except at high elevations. A monsoon (summer) trek can be a great experience if you don’t mind the rain, leeches and slippery trails.