Best Time to Trek in Nepal: The 6 Seasons Explained (2026)

Best Time to Trek in Nepal: A Local Guide’s Guide to the Six Seasons

“When should I come?” After “Do I need a guide?”, it’s the question I’m asked most. The honest answer is that there’s a good trek in Nepal in every month of the year. What changes is which trek.

Most travel websites divide Nepal’s year into four seasons. But here in Nepal we traditionally count six seasons, called ritu, each lasting about two Nepali months. They describe life on the trails much more accurately, so that’s how I’ll explain them here.

I’m Rujan, a licensed trekking guide since 2018. I’ve walked these trails in clear autumn skies, in spring rhododendron forests, in winter snow and through monsoon clouds. In this guide I’ll explain what each of Nepal’s six seasons is really like on the trail, which treks suit which months, and how to choose the right time for you.

Quick Answer: The Best Months to Trek in Nepal

• Best overall: Sharad (mid-September to mid-November), with clear skies, stable weather and the best mountain views.
• Second best: Basanta (mid-March to mid-May), with warmer days and rhododendrons in bloom.
• Quiet and clear: Hemanta and Shishir (mid-November to mid-March). They’re cold up high, so choose lower treks or be ready for snow on high passes.
• Wettest: Grishma and Barsha (mid-May to mid-September), the monsoon months. This is the best time for rain-shadow treks like Upper Mustang and Dolpo.

Nepal’s Six Seasons at a Glance

Nepali months begin around the middle of Western months, so the dates below are approximate.

1. Basanta Ritu (Spring): Rhododendrons and Everest Season

Chaitra–Baisakh · mid-March to mid-May

Basanta is Nepal’s second peak trekking season, and many trekkers say it’s their favorite. The days are warmer, the forests come alive, and the mountains are busy with climbing expeditions.

What to expect:

• Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April): Mornings are still cold up high, but it warms up quickly. Snow on the high passes melts, and the rhododendron forests start to bloom.
• Baisakh (mid-April to mid-May): Rhododendrons, Nepal’s national flower, are in full bloom on the middle hills, painting whole hillsides red, pink and white. This is the Everest climbing season, so Everest Base Camp is full of expedition tents. Nepali New Year also falls at the start of Baisakh.
• Haze and afternoon clouds build as the season goes on, especially at lower altitudes.

Best Basanta treks: Everest Base Camp (read my guide to the best time to trek Everest Base Camp), the Everest Three Passes, the Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp, Ghorepani Poon Hill for rhododendrons, the Langtang Valley and Manaslu.

My tip: Spring views are clearest in the early morning. Start walking early, and get to viewpoints before the afternoon clouds rise.

2. Grishma Ritu (Summer): Heat, Haze and the Monsoon’s Arrival

Jestha–Asar · mid-May to mid-July

Grishma is the hottest time of year in Nepal’s lowlands and valleys. It’s a season of change on the trails: the first weeks can still be good for high treks, and then the monsoon arrives.

What to expect:

• Jestha (mid-May to mid-June): It’s warm, with more haze and pre-monsoon showers, often in the afternoon. The high mountains can still offer good trekking early in Jestha.
• Asar (mid-June to mid-July): The monsoon usually arrives in June. Expect rain most days, clouds over the mountains, and wet trails. Asar is also rice-planting season, and you’ll see farmers working the terraces in the lower valleys.

Festival: The Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang, Upper Mustang, usually takes place in May.

Best Grishma treks: high treks early in the season, and then the rain-shadow regions: Upper Mustang, Nar Phu Valley and Dolpo.

My tip: If you’re travelling in late May, plan high treks with extra days. The weather becomes less predictable as the monsoon gets closer.

3. Barsha Ritu (Monsoon): Rain, Green Valleys and Rain-Shadow Treks

Shrawan–Bhadra · mid-July to mid-September

Barsha is the heart of the monsoon. Most trekkers avoid it, and for many routes that’s the right choice. But it isn’t a closed season. You just need the right trek.

What to expect:

• Rain: It rains most days, often in the afternoon and at night, and clouds hide the mountains much of the time.
• Leeches and slippery trails in lower forests.
• Landslides and road damage: These can close roads and trails for days. Always keep buffer days in your plan.
• Flight delays, especially to Lukla, where bad weather often stops flights.
• Beautiful green valleys, waterfalls and quiet trails, with few other trekkers.

Best Barsha treks: the rain-shadow regions behind the Himalaya, where much less rain falls:

• Upper Mustang: dry, desert-like landscapes and ancient Tibetan culture
• Dolpo: remote, wild, and one of Nepal’s least visited regions
• Nar Phu Valley and the Manang side of the Annapurna Circuit

These are restricted areas that need special permits. Since March 2026, solo trekkers can get these permits with a licensed guide. I explain how in my guide to the Nepal mandatory guide rule, and you can see which areas are restricted in my guide to restricted and non-restricted zones in Nepal.

My tip: If you can only travel in summer, don’t cancel your Nepal dream. A monsoon trek to Upper Mustang is one of the most special trips I guide.

4. Sharad Ritu (Autumn): Nepal’s Peak Trekking Season

Ashwin–Kartik · mid-September to mid-November

Sharad is the most popular time to trek in Nepal, and it deserves its reputation. The monsoon rains wash the dust out of the air, and the sky is often perfectly clear. These are the months for the sharp mountain views you see in photos.

What to expect:

• Ashwin (mid-September to mid-October): The monsoon is usually ending. Early Ashwin can still bring showers, clouds and muddy lower trails, and some years the rain lasts into early October. By the end of Ashwin, the skies are usually clear.
• Kartik (mid-October to mid-November): This is the best time for most treks, with dry trails, stable weather and clear views. It’s also the busiest, so teahouses and flights fill up.

Festivals: Sharad is festival season. Dashain, Nepal’s biggest festival, falls in Ashwin, and Tihar, the festival of lights, falls in Kartik. Mani Rimdu is celebrated at Tengboche Monastery in the Everest region around Kartik and Mangsir. Dates follow the lunar calendar, so check them for your year.

Best Sharad treks: almost everything, including Everest Base Camp, the Everest Three Passes, the Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp, Manaslu, Langtang and Kanchenjunga.

My tip: Book early for Kartik, especially flights to Lukla. If you want Sharad weather with fewer people, look at the start of Hemanta instead.

5. Hemanta Ritu (Pre-Winter): Clear Skies, Fewer Crowds

Mangsir–Poush · mid-November to mid-January

Hemanta is one of the most underrated trekking seasons in Nepal. The clear autumn weather usually continues into Mangsir, but the crowds thin out. It’s also harvest time in the villages.

What to expect:

• Mangsir (mid-November to mid-December): It’s clear, dry and quiet, with excellent mountain views. Nights above 4,000 m are well below freezing, but the days are often sunny and calm. For experienced trekkers with good gear, this is one of my favorite times on the trail.
• Poush (mid-December to mid-January): It’s colder, and snow becomes more likely on high passes. Some teahouses in the highest villages start to close for the winter.

Best Hemanta treks: In Mangsir, most treks, including Everest Base Camp, the Annapurna Circuit and Manaslu, with warm gear. In Poush, lower and mid-altitude treks such as Ghorepani Poon Hill, Ghandruk and Mardi Himal.

My tip: Mangsir gives you nearly the same views as Kartik with far fewer trekkers. Just pack a warmer sleeping bag.

6. Shishir Ritu (Winter): Quiet, Cold and Clear

Magh–Falgun · mid-January to mid-March

Shishir is Nepal’s coldest season and its hidden trekking season. The skies are often very clear, and the trails are wonderfully quiet. You may have a viewpoint or a teahouse dining room almost to yourself.

What to expect:

• Cold nights at altitude: Above 4,000 m, nights are far below freezing. You need a warm sleeping bag and good layers.
• Snow on high passes: Passes such as Thorong La on the Annapurna Circuit, Larke La on the Manaslu Circuit and the high passes in the Everest region can be blocked by snow. Some treks become impossible for days or weeks.
• Some high teahouses close: In the highest villages on some routes, lodge owners go down to lower valleys for the coldest months.
• Mild lower valleys: Days in Kathmandu, Pokhara and lower trails are pleasant and sunny, and by Falgun it’s warming up again.

Festival: Lhosar, the New Year of the Tamang, Sherpa and Tibetan communities, is celebrated in Magh and Falgun.

Best Shishir treks: lower and mid-altitude routes such as Ghorepani Poon Hill, Ghandruk, Mardi Himal (with care near high camp), and shorter Everest region treks below the high passes. Shishir is also a great time to combine a short trek with a Chitwan safari or a Kathmandu city tour.

My tip: Winter trekking can be beautiful, but plan it with a guide who knows current snow conditions and which lodges are open. I always keep a backup route ready in case a pass closes.

Month-by-Month Guide to Trekking in Nepal

Best Time for Each Trekking Region

Photography: The Best Light in Every Season

As a photographer as well as a guide, I choose seasons for their light as much as their weather:

• Basanta: rhododendron forests in the foreground, soft light, and expedition life at Everest Base Camp.
• Grishma: dramatic building clouds, farmers planting rice on the terraces, and the dry landscapes of Upper Mustang.
• Barsha: waterfalls, mist, and the vivid green terraces of the lower valleys. In Upper Mustang, huge skies over red and ochre cliffs.
• Sharad: the sharpest mountain views and deep blue skies. Perfect for classic Himalayan landscapes, plus festival colors.
• Hemanta: crystal-clear air, golden harvest fields, and quiet viewpoints.
• Shishir: crisp air, low golden light all day, and fresh snow on the peaks.

How to Choose the Right Time for Your Trek

1. Start with your trek. If you’ve set your heart on a high pass like Thorong La or the Everest Three Passes, choose Sharad, Basanta or early Hemanta.
2. Then think about crowds. If you prefer quiet trails, go in Mangsir, early Chaitra, or late Baisakh.
3. Check festivals. Seeing Dashain, Tihar, Mani Rimdu, Lhosar or Tiji can be a highlight, but flights and buses get busy around the biggest festivals. (Read my guide to Nepal trekking etiquette before joining a celebration.)
4. Always add buffer days. Weather can delay flights and close roads in any season, especially Lukla flights.
5. Pack for the season. Even in Sharad, nights above 4,000 m are below freezing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the six seasons of Nepal?
Nepal traditionally has six seasons, called ritu: Basanta (spring), Grishma (summer), Barsha (monsoon), Sharad (autumn), Hemanta (pre-winter) and Shishir (winter). Each lasts about two Nepali months.

What is the best month to trek in Nepal?
October, in Sharad, is the best month for most treks, with clear skies and dry trails. November is almost as good and less crowded. April, in Basanta, is the best spring month.

Can you trek in Nepal during the monsoon?
Yes. In Grishma and Barsha, choose rain-shadow treks like Upper Mustang, Dolpo or Nar Phu, which get much less rain. Lower treks are wet, cloudy and can be affected by landslides.

Is it too cold to trek in Nepal in winter?
Not for lower treks like Ghorepani Poon Hill, where days are sunny and pleasant. High routes are very cold in Shishir, and some passes can close with snow.

When do the rhododendrons bloom in Nepal?
In Basanta, usually from March to April, peaking in April on the middle hills. The exact timing depends on altitude and the year.

When is the best time to trek to Everest Base Camp?
Sharad and Basanta, roughly October to November and March to May. I cover it in detail in my guide to the best time to trek Everest Base Camp.

When is Nepal least crowded for trekking?
Shishir and Barsha. For good weather with fewer people, choose Mangsir (Hemanta) or early Chaitra (Basanta).

Plan Your Trek at the Right Time

The best time to trek in Nepal depends on where you want to go, what you want to see, and how you like to travel. Tell me your dates, and I’ll suggest the treks that suit them. As an independent licensed guide, I arrange your permits through my registered partner agency and walk the trail with you, in every season.

Plan your trek with me →

Have more questions? Read my trekking FAQ or browse all my Nepal travel guides.