Although Nepal does not discriminate against tourists, every time of the year brings Nepal a new colour, and it is worth experiencing it. Depending on what matters the most to you, pristine mountain views, colourful festivals, blossoming valleys, or lone trails would dictate the time to visit there. The following is a map in finer details to allow you to plan your trip.
The Premier Fall: Fantasy and Spring.
These two seasons have been internationally known as the heyday of traveling in Nepal, as it portrays the best combination of favourable climate, blue skies and breathtaking landscapes.
Autumn (September - November) The King of seasons.
Weather & Conditions: Fall consists of dry weather, which is not fluctuating after monsoon. The weather is warm and sunny during the day and chilly and cool during the night, particularly in high altitude. The air is very clean with very little dust or haze.
Why It's The Best:
Unparalleled Mountain Views: It is the best season to go trekking and have panoramic views. The Himalayas, including Everest, the Annapurna’s are presented in crystal clear and jaw-dropping views. Popular opinions include Nagarkot, Sarangkot (Pokhara) and Poon hill which present memorable sunrise and sunsets view.
Major Festive Atmosphere: Nepal has the most important festivals during Autumn. Dashain and the festival of lights (Deepavali) changes the whole nation. Rituals, music, family meetings, and cultural events make villages and cities colourful. Tourists get an enormous experience of seeing and closely feeling Nepali traditions, hospitality, and spiritual lives.
Ideal in all the activities: Great conditions apply in all activities in the form of high-altitude trekking, mountain flying and jungle safari in Chitwan as well as cultural tours of UNESCO sites of Kathmandu Valley and peaceful village homestay.
The spring (March - May) - The Season of Blooms.
Weather The weather is warm or hot, particularly in the lowlands and mild in the mountainous areas. Afternoons have clouds, and in the morning, the air is usually clean and clear. The winters melt onto the surrounding that leaves the landscapes green.
Why It's The Best:
A Botanic Wonderland: Spring The most colourful season in Nepal. The valleys especially in the Annapurna and Langtang Range burst forth in an impressive bloom of rhododendron (the national flower), magnolias, and uncountable wildflowers. Pathways are turned into a stroll between gardens.
Colourful wildlife: It is a good nature watching period. The vegetation is thick, water is abundant and creatures are on the move in the national parks such as Chitwan and Bardia. This will be a rewarding season to the birdwatchers.
Extended Days and Pulsating Energies: The agreeable warmth and extended day light are refreshing to trekking and venturing out. There is the sense of a renewed spirit in the sceneries.
Winters (December - February) - When the Sun is shining and the place is all alone.
Weather/Conditions: Days sunny, cool, nights are bitterly cold, and even above 3,000 meters, the temperature goes far below the freezing point. The pleasant and sunny days are enjoyed in lower areas (Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan).
The Winter Advantage:
Crowd-Free Trails and Discounts: It is the best time to do some trekking in areas with lots of people and receive a peaceful time. You also will see fewer tourists on large locations and have possible deals with travelling.
Excellent Visibility: On clear mornings not in the fog, winter air is exceptionally clear, giving perfect clear and breathtaking mountain scenery especially in the Everest areas.
BEST: Low altitude hikes (e.g., Pokhara Valley, lower trails of Everest), cultural tours, jungle safari (animals enjoy the sun), and being a part of the local culture besides the tourists. Driving hint: In high passing places (such as Thorong La) a snow cover would often result in route closures.
Monsoon (June - August)- Tropical Gardens and Secret Pockets.
Weather Conditions, weather: Rainfall is daily, the climate is sticky and hot in the lowlands, and trails have leeches. It is not unusual to find clouds covering mountains. Nevertheless, this is the rain that sustains terraced farms and the green forests in Nepal.
The Monsoon Advantage:
The Rain Shadow Areas: The Rain Shadow Areas is the so-called secret season of travelling to the Trans-Himalayan areas of upper Mustang, Dolpo, and some parts of the Tibetan Plateau. These regions are also in a rain shadow and hence receive very low rainfall and provide a rare dry feeling of the land under a blue sky.
Unexampled Lushness: So long as you do not mind the rain the country is at its most green of all. The waterfalls are thunderous, the rivers are full and the landscape has life.
Cultural Richness & celebrations: The reduction of the number of the tourists is an added advantage since you will have the opportunity to learn more about the local culture. The Gai Jatra and Krishna Janmashtami festival has taken place during this time particularly in Kathmandu Valley.
Best When: It is raining in the rain-shadow areas, tours based on cultural and spiritual heritage (mainly indoor sites, such as monasteries, museums, temples, etc.), and observation of the agricultural cycle. Through slippery paths, landslides and low visibility makes it not advisable when ordinary trekking is in Himalayas.
