Nepal is one of the most favorite destinations to travel. The best time to visit Nepal often depends on what your interests are and the season of year.
Nepal primarily has four seasons: Spring (March-May), Summer (June-August), Autumn (September-November) and Winter (Dec-February). Spring and Autumn are usually considered the best time to travel Nepal as these periods are defined by clear mountain views, cool weather, sunny skies and greenery. In summer, Nepal experiences heavy rainfall, floods and landslides and during winter the mountains receive snowfall and weather becomes quite cold.
So trekking, climbing, rafting, jungle safari are best in Spring and Autumn. For Cultural sightseeing and tours, you can visit Nepal round the year.
Best Time to Visit Popular tourist destinations in Nepal
There are many popular tourist destinations in Nepal. Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Dolpo, Kanchejunga etc are famous destinations for trekking and other adventure activities. Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, Bandipur, Nagarkot, Palpa are famous cultural sites in Nepal. Likewise, Chitwan, Bardia, Koshi Tappu, Rara are popular for jungle safari and other nature-based activities. The best to visit popular destinations in Nepal is Spring and Autumn though cultural and sightseeing tours are possible round the year.
Best Time to Visit Kathmandu
The best time to visit Kathmandu is in Spring and Autumn. Travellers will experience warm weather, sunny skies and clear visibility then. It is also the time when Nepalese celebrate multiple festivals including Dashain, Tihar, Chhath, Indra Jatra etc. Nevertheless, Kathmandu can be visited anytime of the year.
Best Time to Visit Pokhara
The best time to visit Pokhara is from October to March, which is considered a dry season. Expect clear mountain visibility, blue skies and warm weather mountain peaks over the period. You can also go for short hiking or trekking from Pokhara. Cultural tours and sightseeing around Pokhara is possible round the year.
Best Time to Visit Lumbini
The best time to visit Lumbini is Spring and Autumn when the weather is warm, skies are blue and sunny and clear visibility of snow-capped mountains. Winter is also a great time to visit Lumbini though you should expect mildly cold weather. Though Lumbini can be visited in Summer, it might get too hot to travel during the day.
Best Time to Visit Chitwan National Park
The best time to visit Chitwan National Park is Spring and Autumn. This is a period when the weather is dry and cool and wildlife activity increases making the sighting of wild animals possible such as Elephants, Rhinoceros, Tigers, Bengal tiger, mugger crocodile etc.
Best Time to Visit Bardiya National Park
The best time to visit Bardiya National Park is Spring and Autumn. This is a period when the weather is dry and cool and wildlife activity increases making the sighting of wild animals possible such as Elephants, Rhinoceros, Tigers, Bengal tiger etc.
Best Time to Trek in Nepal
The best time to trek in Nepal is Spring and Autumn. During these two seasons, travelers will enjoy clear visibility of mountains, sunny skies, fresh air and greenery in trekking areas such as Annapurna, Everest, Langtang, Kanchejunga, Dolpo etc.
Trekking in winter season (December to February) is not advisable in the mountains due to extreme cold temperature. However, short hiking is possible from Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Monsoon season, between June to September, is also not a good time for trekking in most areas of Nepal because of heavy rainfall, flood and landslides. Nevertheless, trekking is possible in trans-Himalayan region such as Dolpo and Tsum Valley.
Best Time to Visit Nepal for Photography
Nepal is an ideal destination for those who enjoy photography. The best time to travel Nepal for photography is during Spring and Autumn when the weather is warm, skies are blue and sunny and clear visibility of snow-capped mountains. Visiting national parks and wild reserves to photo shoot wild animals and beautiful flowers is also a perfect. You can also capture Nepali people celebrating culture and festival.
Best Time to Experience Festivals in Nepal | Best time to visit Nepal
Nepalese celebrate festivals all year round. These festivals occur at different times of the year but most festivals and cultural events took place in Spring and Autumns seasons. So the best time to experience festivals in Nepal is from March till October. Travellers will enjoy warm weather, clear mountain views and greenery.
Holi Festival (Between February and March, 2 Days)
Also called the festival of colors, Holi is a festival observed by Hindu community in Nepal. It occurs in the month of February and celebrated for two days. People engage in splashing water and colorful powder at each other and drinking bhang.
Ghode Jatra (between March and April)
Ghode Jatra is a one-day festival that occurs in Spring season. This festival is celebrated with a horse parade conducted by the Nepalese Army in Tundikhel, Kathmandu.
Buddha Jayanti (May)
Buddha Jayanti is observed every year to celebrate Buddha’s Birthday. People visit Buddhist monasteries and temples to pay respect to Buddha.
Teej (between August and September, 5 Days)
Teej is a festival celebrated by women of Hindu community. Women get dressed in red Sari and observe fasting for the health of their family members. They also visit religious sites like Pashupatinath temple and offer their prayers to Lord Shiva.
Dashain Festival (Late September and early October, 15 Days)
Dashain is the grandest and longest festival in Nepal that occurs in Spring season. The festival lasts for 15 days during which special tika ceremony is organized in every home. Wearing new clothes, eating delicious food, sacrificing goats in temples and playing cards are carried out during the festival.
Tihar (between October and November, 5 Days)
Tihar is the second-largest festival after Dashain and is observed for 5 days. Also called festival of lights, people offer worship to Laxmi, the Goddess of Wealth, make Selroti and illuminate their homes with lights. Especially children often engage in playing Deusi Bhailo.
Shiva Ratri (Between March and April)
Shiva Ratri is a festival celebrated in honor of Lord Shiva. On this day people visit Shiva temples to pay their respects to supreme Lord Shiva. Thousands of devotees including sadhus and sanyasis visit Pashupatinath Temple, dance and sing and smoke marihuana.
Bisket Jatra(April)
Bisket Jatra is a unique cultural festival of Nepal celebrated by Newar Community of Nepal. The festival occurs in the month of April coinciding with Nepali New Year. The event takes place for nine days, especially in and around Bhaktapur Durbar Square, which is a world heritage site. The main attraction involves pulling a chariot of Lord Bhairav from Taumadhi Square to different parts of Bhaktapur city followed by a tug-of-war. The ritual of ‘tongue piercing’ is a peculiar attraction of this festival.
Best month to visit Nepal
Autumn (September, October and November) and Spring (March, April and May) are regarded as the best months/periods to visit Nepal. This is because during these periods, you will have clear visibility of snow-capped mountains, warm and predictable weather, fresh air and cool temperatures and great natural views.
Visiting Nepal in January
While January signifies the start of a New Year, it is also the middle of Winter season in Nepal. The mountain regions in this month experience snowfall and extreme cold weater. Even valleys like Kathmandu and Pokhara turn chillingly cold especially in the morning and evening.
Key events: Magh Sankranti
Nepal in February
February is the tail-end of the winter season in Nepal. Most Himalayan passes and trekking trails continue to be covered by snow. Hilly region and valleys like Kathmandu will by now start to warm up, making it possible for mountain flight and cultural tours.
Key events: Losar, Holi
Visit Nepal in March
By the second week of March, Nepal will have entered the Spring season. Trekking trails in the mountains open up for tourists as visibility becomes clear and the weather is sunny and warm. This is a suitable period to visit Kathmandu, Pokhara and other tourist destinations including jungle safari in national parks.
Key events: Seto Machhendranath Festival (can also fall in April), Maha Shivaratri (can also fall in February)
April in Nepal
April is a perfect and peak tourist season in Nepal. By now, Spring season will be fully on. The climate is warm and sunny and mountain visibility is crystal clear. All adventure activities such as trekking, climbing, rafting, bungee jumping, jungle safari are in full swing.
Key events: Bisket Jatra, Balkumari Jatra, Balaju Jatra
Visiting Nepal in May
May carries on the sweetness and coolness of Spring season. This is a special month especially for mountaineers who are attempting to climb Mt. Everest. Tourists can be seen visiting the nooks and corners of the country.
Key events: Rato Machhendranath Festival (can also fall in April), Buddha Jayanti (can also fall in April)
Visiting Nepal in June
The start of June marks the beginning of Summer or monsoon season. By the middle of June, the monsoonal winds spread across the country from Bay of Bengal, creating heavy rainfall and showers. Floods and landslides are a common occurrence all over the country. All tourism activities in mountains, hills and terai region come to a halt, though valleys are still open for cultural tours.
July, rainy season of Nepal
July is the middle of monsoon season in Nepal. Expect the rainfall continue making it impossible for most tourism activities. However, trekking in trans Himalayan region like Dolpo, Upper Mustang and Tsum Valley are possible.
Visiting Nepal in August
August is a month where you can expect some let up in rainfall. The mountain regions are still inaccessible and only cultural tours in the valley are recommended.
Key events: Ghanta Karna, Naga Panchami, Janai Purnima, Gai Jatra (can fall in September), Krishna Jayanta, Teej (can fall in July)
September in Nepal
September begins with opening of skies, fresh air and sunny warm weather. Trekking trails are opened for trekkers and so are other tourism activities. Greenery returns along with wildlife activity. This is the start of autumn and tourism season.
Key events: Indra Jatra
October: Best time to visit Nepal
October signifies the middle of Autumn season and peak period for tourist arrival in Nepal. All tourism activities from hard core adventures and cultural tours to jungle activities are in full-on. This is also a time for tourists to participate in colorful local festivals such as Dashain, Tihar, etc.
Key events: Pachali Bhairab Jatra, Dasain (can also fall in September), Fulpati (Phulpati), Maha Astami, Navami, V https://www.asiahighlights.com/nepal/best-time-to-visitijaya Dashami, Kartika Purnima, Tihar (Diwali, can also fall in November), Newari New Year, Haribodhini Ekadashi
November: Best time to visit
Tourist arrival peaks in November season in Nepal. Hundreds and thousands of tourists engaged in various tourism activities such as trekking, mountain biking, rafting, paragliding and other outdoor adventures. The mountain regions come alive with festivals such as Buddhist Mani Rimdu etc.
Key events: Kartik Dances, Mani Rimdu (can also fall in October)
Visiting Nepal in December
By December the Autumn season ends and the winter season begins. The country is ready to welcome cold weather back. Slowly the mercury starts to drop and the tourism activities begin to decline.
Key events: Bala Chaturdashi, Sita Bibaha Panchami, Pokhara Street Festival
Which is the best month to visit Nepal?
In conclusion, we can say that Spring and Autumn seasons are the best period to visit Nepal. This is when the tourism peaks and millions of tourists visit Nepal for various tourism activities. Having said that, tourists can also visit Nepal in winter and summer season for specific activities such as cultural tours, trans-Himalayan trekking etc.
High season in Nepal: Best time to visit Nepal
Autumn and Spring are the best season in Nepal for tourism because of clear mountain visibility, fresh air, warm weather and easy accessibility. We highly recommend travelers to choose between Autumn or Spring to visit Nepal.
Low season in Nepal:
Summer and to some extend Winter seasons are regarded as low period season in Nepal for tourism activities.
When is the cheapest time to travel Nepal
If you want to avoid crowd and get the cheapest deals then we recommend you to visit Nepal during Summer and Winter season. Not only are there very few tourists but you would also get the best deal. The down side of visiting in Summer or winter seasons is that the weather may not favor your travel.
Conclusion
Autumn (September to November) and Spring (March to April) are the best time to visit Nepal. What is your opinion or suggestion?
