The Best Time to Visit Nepal for Activities

When is the best time to visit Nepal? The answer to this question can be discovered with the help of another simple question – What is it about Nepal that interests you?

Some praise Nepal for its natural beauty, whereas others praise the country for its unique culture and a long list of festivals that do not spare a single day of the year. Meanwhile, some praise it for the adventure it offers.

So, when you should visit Nepal depends on what you want to do once you are here. Nepal offers such a diversity of activities fitting different seasons that there is not a single day in a year when Nepal is not fit to visit. From expeditions in Autumn and Spring to festivals throughout the year, Nepal has a lot to offer.

There is a myth that the Monsoon (July-August) is the most unfavorable time to visit Nepal because of incessant rainfall. Yet, it is not true since Monsoon does not mean rain all the time. The truth is, you can visit Nepal any time of the year depending on your interests.

You may also have other preferences like the visibility of the sky which affects flight safety and temperature especially if you are doing the Everest helicopter Tour.

Some seasons may favor your preferences whereas others may not. Therefore, first and foremost, let’s learn about the different seasons in Nepal.

Seasons in Nepal

How many seasons are there? Four. That would be your answer if you are a Westerner. If you are from a place where there are not just four seasons, you will not be surprised that there are broadly five seasons in Nepal. They are spring, summer, monsoon, autumn, and winter. You need to know what these seasons mean for you in Nepal before you decide which season is favorable for you. So for your best time to visit Nepal? Here we go:

Spring

This season runs from early May to late May. The end of cold winter marks the beginning of this season whereas the season ends paving the way for hot summer. The season is the time of vegetation. Blooming flowers, shining green trees, and thick bushes are the attractions of this season. You can expect a mild climate during this season. The sky is clear with visibility favorable for flights. The season, being a transition from cold to hot is pleasant and fit for tourists since most of the activities expected by tourists are viable during this season. The season is popular for the expedition to Mount Everest and other mountains of the Himalayas. Not just expeditions, but also trekking, sightseeing, observing culture and festivals along with adventure activities like paragliding, bungee jumping, rafting, and canyoning, among others, are feasible during this time of year.

Summer/Pre-monsoon

This season runs from June to July. The season is marked by a hot and humid climate. Rainfall can be expected during this season since the clouds from the Bay of Bengal which causes Monsoon rain in Nepal start arriving in Nepal’s sky during this season. The sky is visible most of the time, except during the occasional rainfall. A lot of activities can be pursued during this season, including but not limited to trekking and sightseeing. Trekking in the rainshadow zone is popular during this season. The rainshadow zone is the zone that does not receive rainfall caused by the Monsoon clouds. For that reason, the Upper Mustang trek and Upper Dolpo trek along with other short treks like Langtang trek, Poon Hill trek, and Kathmandu Valley trek, among others, are possible during this season. Short hikes around Kathmandu and Pokhara are also common during this season.

Monsoon

Monsoon is a unique season on the list. It runs from July to August. Actually, summer and Monsoon are so blended with each other that a person cannot distinguish one from the other. Rainfall caused by the clouds from the Bay of Bengal is the characteristic feature of this season. Flooding and landslides are possible hazards during this season. Visibility is poor during this time period of the year. However, it does not rain all the time during Summer as well as Monsoon, contrary to the common belief that these seasons are unfit because of the rain. Treks in the rainshadow region, short treks, and short hikes which are possible in Summer are also possible in Monsoon.

Autumn

Autumn is the season that follows the monsoon. It starts in early September and ends in late November. The air is dry during this season. So the visibility is strong. Especially, it is the season of festivals. Three major Nepali festivals, Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath, are celebrated in this season. Most of the tourist activities are viable during this season, including expeditions, trekking, hiking, sightseeing, observing festivals, and adventure activities. Autumn is as favorable as Spring for a diverse set of tourist activities. If you are a tourist with multiple interests, these seasons are for you.

Winter

Early December brings winter to Nepal which continues until late April. Snowfall is common in the Himalayas and mountains reason of this season. Visibility may not be always clear because of dense fog in various places of the country. However, fog is not a problem in many places like Kathmandu since the days are sunny and visibility is strong most of the time. Hence, short treks are possible during this season. Such short treks include the Langtang trek and the Poon Hill trek.

Activities and Seasons Favoring Them

After explaining the seasons in Nepal, now I will familiarize you with the kinds of activities that you can pursue during different seasons. Please note that not all activities are fit for all seasons. So, it is ultimately your interest that decides your time on the trip to Nepal.

Expedition

The expedition is possibly the most popular tourism product of Nepal (but not the only one). 8,848 meters tall Mount Everest, the tallest peak in the world, has long been associated with the identity of the country. Additionally, Nepal has 8 out of 14 peaks in the world that range above 8,000 meters. They are Mt Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Cho Oyu, and Annapurna respectively from the tallest to shortest.

Spring is the most favorable season for an expedition in Nepal. Favorable weather conditions due to lack of snowfall and lower temperatures contribute to the safety of expeditions in these seasons. Strong visibility during these seasons also favors the climbers in getting views of the mountains to make their expedition worthwhile.

Summer and Monsoon affect visibility whereas winter is the time for snowfall which can pose threats to the mountaineer. However, the month of May which falls in the category of the Summer season is also ideal for the expedition. Summer is just arriving at that time. 

Trekking

Trekking is for people who are passionate about enjoying nature with a detailed acquaintance. The beautiful vegetation, peaks, lakes, springs, and landscapes of Nepal are sure to be the recipe for enjoyment for a trekker in Nepal.

Spring and Autumn are the best time to visit Nepal for trekking. With the departure of the monsoon, visibility is strong and through the clear space, you can enjoy the beauty of Nepal throughout their trek. Moreover, the moderate temperatures of Autumn are bound to provide a relaxing experience if you choose to trek in Autumn. Some famous treks are the Great Himalayan Trail and Treks in Everest Region, Annapurna Region, Langtang Region, and Kanchenjunga Region, among others. Short treks are like the Poon Hill Trek and treks around Kathmandu Valley can also be of your choice.

Sightseeing

The time for sightseeing is not much different from the time for trekking. Monsoon and Summer are two seasons that a sightseer should try to avoid since the visibility is poor and rainfall is frequent. However, it is not true that sightseeing is impossible in these two seasons. It is just that the other seasons are better. Indeed, Autumn and Spring are the best for sightseeing since the air is clean, and the views are clear in these seasons in comparison to others. Winter too is not a bad time, but in places, fog can disturb sightseeing during this season. Whether it is Jungle Safari in Chitwan National Park or just a casual visit to any place, you need to be conscious of the daily weather before you set out for sightseeing. Any day can be a bad day.

Observing Culture and Festival

Nepali Culture

Nepali culture is the evergreen identity of the Nepali people. People from 125 castes who live in Nepal speak over 123 languages live in Nepal, according to the 2011 census conducted by the Nepal Bureau of Statistics. People with varying lifestyles can be found in Nepal due to the diversity in culture even within a small area. Nepali art and architecture have remained the keepsake of Nepali culture for hundreds of years.

Pagoda-style temples, which are characterized by multiple layers of roofs, are commonplaces in Nepal and can be visited at any time of the year. Also, Buddhist shrines like Swayambhunath and Boudhanath of Kathmandu Valley – which have also been listed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO – can also be visited in any season. Durbar Squares (Palace Squares) of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan are also always open for a visit. These squares were harmed by the earthquake of 2015 in Nepal and are in the process of reconstruction. Nevertheless, they are open to visitors. So, no need to worry!

Hindu Festival

It might sound crazy, but it is true that we have festivals all over the year. Hinduism, the major religion in the country, is diverse with people following different gods and deities. Thus, the festivals, which are generally the worship of such deities, vary to a great extent throughout the country. Below are a few major festivals you can observe in Nepal along with their time of celebration and significance:

In Jan, Feb, or Mar

• You can observe Maghe Sankranti, the festival marking the end of winter, in mid-January.
• Maha Shivaratri falls in February or March. Lord Shiva, a major deity in Hinduism, is worshipped during this festival. Hundreds of thousands of people from across the globe observe this festival at Pashupatinath Temple of Kathmandu.
• Fagu Purnima, also known as Holi, is getting popular in Western Culture as well. It is the festival of colors and happiness and is observed in late February or early March.

In Apr, May, or Jun

• Buddha Jayanti, the birthday of Lord Budhha, is observed in May or June.

In Jul, Aug, or Sep

• Janai Purnima, the festival of changing sacred thread worn by Hindus across their body is celebrated in August.
• Indra Jatra falls in August or September. Indra, the king of gods, is worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists of Kathmandu during this festival.

In Oct, Nov, or Dec

• Dashain is the main festival of Hindus in Nepal in which people receive blessings from their seniors. It falls at the beginning of the autumn season, October or November generally depending on the Vedic Lunar Calendar. Dashain is a family festival that people celebrate in close family circles, so there is not much to see in the streets. However, you can expect to visit the temples of Durga, a Hindu goddess to whom the festival is dedicated, during this period of time.
• Tihar is another major Hindu festival that is celebrated in the fortnight of Dashain. In Tihar, crows, dogs, cows, and oxen are worshipped for their roles in human life. Newari people (the indigenous of Kathmandu valley) worship themselves as well during Tihar; such worship is called ‘Mha Pooja’, meaning self-worship. Tihar is also the festival of brightness. You can see the streets and houses decorated with lights, flowers, and colorful paperwork. You can definitely witness people singing Deusi-Bhailo in the streets-typical Nepali folklore. Also, sisters wish for the long life of their brothers on the last day of the five-day-long festival.
• Chhath is a major festival of the Terai (Plains) of Nepal. You will not be able to observe this festival in the Hilly and Himalayan regions of Nepal. Sun god is worshipped at this festival. This festival is celebrated within a week of Tihar.

There are numerous other festivals that you can observe in Nepal in order to get a real-time experience of the Nepali way of life. Anyway, you will observe one festival or another whenever you come to Nepal.

Adventure

What sort of adventure you are interested in? Paragliding, micro-flights, rafting, canyoning, and bungee jumping, among others, are popular adventure activities in Nepal. Most of the adventure activities are fit for any time of year except a few that involve mountain flights and rivers (paragliding, micro-flights, and rafting). They do not fit with Monsoon and Summer seasons since the visibility is poor and rivers are flooded due to heavy rainfall. On the other hand, Autumn and Spring are the seasons that favor all sorts of adventure activities.

Rafting is not safe in Winter as well since water levels can be way too shallow. The beginning of Spring is the fittest for rafting since it begins with light rainfall increasing the water level in rivers.

So, when is the best time to visit Nepal? You might have figured out your answer.

---

Hey, I Have Travel Planning Resources Here to Help You Easily Plan Your Trip
Essential Items
Don't forget to bring the Travel Medicines, as well as your necessary Travel Kit. 
If Your Next Destination Requires a Visa
IVISA will help you with their speed, simple, and secured services with just a minimal chance of being rejected.
Find Your Flight and Transportation to The Destinations  
You can read my travel tips to Find Cheap Flights.
You can also use 12Go to book buses, trains, ferries, or any transportation to places.
Book An Accommodation
I mostly use Booking.com to find a place for my trip. Sometimes I try to Get Free Credits on Airbnb to book homestays. 
Driving Yourself Will be More Enjoyable   
You can easily compare prices and find great deals on Discover Cars.
Protect Yourself and Your Trip
Travel Insurance is Important, especially after COVID-19, there are more possible health issues and pandemics. Please don't forget to have a shield for yourself and your trips!

---

HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR BEST TIME TO VISIT NEPAL?, PIN THIS POST NOW TO SAVE THE INFO!

---

READ MORE POSTS ON ASIAN COUNTRIES

I hope this post gives you enough info to plan your best trip to Nepal. If you love the land of Asia, here are some interesting posts about other Asian countries that I believe you would love reading and learning too:

• Travel to Vietnam
• Travel to Singapore
• Enjoy Traveling to Thailand
• Travel to Malaysia
• Travel to Japan