When to trek in Nepal, month by month: which of 34 routes are at their best each month, the monsoon dates, the rain-shadow treks for summer and the busy weeks to avoid.
October is the best month to trek in Nepal, and the best months for every trek we list include it. April and May come next, then March and November. But "best" depends on the route. The rain-shadow treks in Mustang and Dolpo are at their best in the summer monsoon, when most of the country is wet. A few low routes stay good into December.
This guide is built from the recommended months on each of our 34 trek pages, so it shows how many routes are in season each month, not just a general rule. The weather facts come from Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and from national news reports.
Nepal's seasons in brief
Nepal has a summer monsoon. By the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology's long-term normals, it arrives in eastern Nepal around 13 June and withdraws around 2 October. Recent years have run late: the monsoon withdrew between 10 and 15 October in 2023, 2024 and 2025. About 80% of the country's annual rain falls in June to September.
That gives trekkers four seasons:
- Autumn (October–November): the clearest skies of the year after the monsoon, and the busiest trekking season. October has the most foreign visitor arrivals of any month.
- Winter (December–February): dry and often clear, but cold at altitude. Snow can close the high passes.
- Spring (March–May): warmer, with rhododendron (lali gurans, Nepal's national flower) in bloom in March and April. Afternoon cloud and thunderstorms build as the monsoon approaches.
- Monsoon (June–September): rain, cloud and leeches on most trails, except in the rain shadow north of the main range.
How many of our treks are in season each month
| Month | Treks in season | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0 of 34 | Cold; no trek page lists it |
| February | 1 | Arun Valley only |
| March | 27 | Spring opens; rhododendrons |
| April | 31 | Peak spring |
| May | 32 | Warmest; clouds build late in the month |
| June | 5 | Mustang and Dolpo routes only |
| July | 4 | Rain-shadow routes only |
| August | 4 | Rain-shadow routes only |
| September | 7 | Rain shadow, plus Jomsom Muktinath and Tsum Valley |
| October | 34 | Every trek we list |
| November | 29 | Clear and cold; Mustang and Dolpo close |
| December | 4 | Low routes only |
Month by month
January and February
Mid-winter is the quietest time on the trails. None of our trek pages recommends January. In February only the Arun Valley is recommended: it stays low in eastern Nepal, below 3,400 m. Heavy snow can close high passes such as Thorong La on the Annapurna Circuit and the Larkya La on the Manaslu Circuit. If you go in winter, pick a lower route and be ready for nights well below freezing.
March
Spring arrives, and 27 of our 34 treks are in season. The rhododendron forests of the Annapurna foothills, such as those on the Ghorepani Poon Hill and Mardi Himal routes, start to flower. Higher up, early March can still bring snow on the passes.
April
April is the peak of spring, with 31 treks in season. It is also when Everest climbing teams move into base camp, from about mid-April. If you are walking to Everest Base Camp, expect a busy tent city, and book Lukla flights and lodges early.
May
May is the warmest trekking month: 32 of our treks are in season, and it is a good time for the highest routes, such as the Everest Three Passes. Pre-monsoon cloud and afternoon thunderstorms become more frequent, so walk early in the day for the clearest views. Upper Mustang's season starts in April and runs right through the summer.
June to August: the monsoon
Most trails are wet, cloudy and leech-ridden, and landslides can block roads to the trailheads. Low cloud can also ground Lukla flights for days, though the longest recent groundings have come in autumn. Our pages recommend only the treks that lie mostly north of the main Himalayan range, in its rain shadow:
- Upper Mustang, all summer
- Upper Dolpo, Lower Dolpa (Phoksundo Lake) and Dolpo and Mustang, all summer
- Rara Lake and Dolpo, in June
Jomsom, at the gateway to Upper Mustang, gets under 300 mm of rain a year, while Pokhara, on the other side of the Annapurna range, gets over 3,000 mm. Upper Mustang is drier still. Getting there can still be disrupted: flights to Jomsom and Juphal depend on the weather.
September
The monsoon is usually still going in September, and it has been ending later in recent years. Seven of our treks are recommended: the rain-shadow routes, the Jomsom Muktinath trek and the Tsum Valley. Late September can be a quiet time to start a trek and arrive at the high points as the skies clear, but leave room in your plans for rain.
October
October is the best month in Nepal: every one of our 34 treks is in season. The skies are clearest after the monsoon, and the views are at their sharpest. It is also the busiest month, and the Dashain festival falls in October too. In 2026, Dashain's main Tika day falls on 21 October, and many Nepalis travel home around then. Expect full buses and flights that week, and book early.
November
November is clear, dry and colder, with 29 treks in season. The Tihar festival comes early in the month: Laxmi Puja falls on 8 November in 2026. The Mustang and Dolpo routes fall out of season as winter closes in on the high, dry valleys.
December
Early winter is cold but often very clear. Four lower treks are still recommended: Ghorepani Poon Hill, Pikey Peak, Helambu and the Arun Valley. The high passes can be crossed in early December in a dry year, but snow can close them at short notice.
Best months for every trek we list
Each trek's months come from its own page, which also shows a 12-month calendar and day-by-day altitudes.
| Trek | Region | Highest point | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everest Base Camp | Everest | 5,644 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Everest Three Passes | Everest | 5,644 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Everest View | Everest | 3,880 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Gokyo Ri | Everest | 5,357 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Pikey Peak | Everest | 4,065 m | Mar–May, Oct–Dec |
| Tashi Lapcha Pass | Everest | 5,755 m | Apr–May, Oct–Nov |
| Annapurna Base Camp | Annapurna | 4,130 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Annapurna Circuit | Annapurna | 5,416 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Ghorepani Poon Hill | Annapurna | 3,210 m | Mar–Apr, Oct–Dec |
| Jomsom Muktinath | Annapurna | 3,800 m | Mar–May, Sep–Nov |
| Mardi Himal | Annapurna | 4,500 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Sikles | Annapurna | 2,546 m | Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov |
| Tilicho Lake | Annapurna | 5,416 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Upper Mustang | Annapurna | 4,230 m | Apr–Oct |
| Gosainkunda Lake | Langtang | 4,610 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Helambu | Langtang | 3,640 m | Mar–May, Oct–Dec |
| Langtang Valley | Langtang | 4,773 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Langtang Valley and Gosainkunda Lake | Langtang | 4,773 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Langtang Valley with Tserko Ri | Langtang | 4,984 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Lauribina Pass | Langtang | 4,610 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Tamang Heritage Trail | Langtang | 3,165 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Ganesh Himal | Manaslu | 3,842 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Manaslu Circuit | Manaslu | 5,106 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Manaslu Circuit Trek with Tsum Valley | Manaslu | 5,106 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Tsum Valley | Manaslu | 3,700 m | Mar–May, Sep–Nov |
| Dolpo and Mustang | Dolpa | 5,350 m | May–Oct |
| Lower Dolpa (Phoksundo Lake) | Dolpa | 5,190 m | May–Oct |
| Rara Lake and Dolpo | Dolpa | 5,115 m | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct |
| Upper Dolpo | Dolpa | 5,350 m | May–Oct |
| Arun Valley | Makalu | 3,350 m | Feb–May, Oct–Dec |
| Makalu Base Camp | Makalu | 4,870 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Makalu to Kanchenjunga | Makalu | 5,159 m | Apr–May, Oct–Nov |
| Kanchenjunga Circuit | Kangchenjunga | 5,143 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
| Kangchenjunga Base Camp | Kangchenjunga | 5,143 m | Mar–May, Oct–Nov |
Planning around the season
- Leave spare days. Mountain flights to Lukla, Jomsom, Juphal and Tumlingtar are cancelled in poor weather, in any season.
- Check permits for your dates. Some restricted-area permits cost more in the peak autumn months; our Nepal trekking permits guide lists the rates.
- Ask a guide who knows the route. Conditions vary from year to year. A licensed guide who works the route can tell you how the season is shaping up. You can find guides by region and contact them directly. On most routes a guide is required anyway: see do you need a guide to trek in Nepal?
Sources
- Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Nepal: monsoon season summary 2023 (onset and withdrawal normals)
- Kathmandu Post: monsoon enters the country (share of annual rainfall)
- The Himalayan Times: bad weather disrupts air travel
- Pradhan & Associates: Nepal public holidays 2083 (2026/27)
- Best months for each trek: the trek pages on xTrekka, linked in the table above
Last checked 9 October 2026.