whenywhere

Country guide

Nepal

Everest and Annapurna trails, Kathmandu's temple squares and jungle safaris in Chitwan; October and November bring the classic clear skies.

Everest Base Camp (Namche Bazaar)KathmanduPokhara

Currency

NPR

Language

Nepali

English

Widely spoken

Payment

Cash preferred

Power

Type C / D / M

230 V, 50 Hz

Dialing

+977

Destinations

Nepal

Everest Base Camp (Namche Bazaar)

A fortnight on foot to the foot of Everest - no roads, no wheels, and a dawn on Kala Patthar that shows the whole mountain.

✓ best Mar-May, Oct-Nov
Nepal

Kathmandu

Three medieval royal cities, the Himalaya's front door and one of the world's great stupas, all inside one smoggy, spellbinding valley.

✓ best Feb-Apr, Oct-Nov
Nepal

Pokhara

Nepal's lakeside base camp - rowboats on Phewa, an eight-thousander skyline over the roofs, and the Annapurna trails starting an hour up the road.

✓ best Oct-Apr

The sweet-spot windows

Good weather, thinner crowds, better prices: the windows worth aiming for.

Where When Why it works Watch out for
Kathmandu Oct-Nov, Mar-Apr Post-monsoon golden months (clear peaks, festivals) or spring blooms Pre-monsoon haze builds through Apr
Trekking (Everest, Annapurna) Oct-Nov, Apr-May Clearest skies + stable trails. Oct best. Apr-May for Everest window Jun-Sep monsoon = mud + no views

Climate zones, month by month

Nepal has 3 distinct climate zones. The right month depends on where in the country you're going.

Everest Base Camp (Namche Bazaar) Khumbu →

Jan
5°
-15°
20mm
1d rain
Feb
6°
-12°
25mm
1d rain
Mar
10°
-8°
40mm
3d rain
Apr
12°
-5°
30mm
5d rain
May
15°
-2°
30mm
10d rain
Jun
16°
2°
80mm
15d rain
Jul
16°
4°
110mm
23d rain
Aug
15°
4°
100mm
24d rain
Sep
14°
2°
60mm
14d rain
Oct
12°
-3°
20mm
4d rain
Nov
10°
-8°
10mm
0d rain
Dec
7°
-12°
15mm
1d rain

✓ Best Mar-May, Oct-Nov · ✗ Avoid Jun-Aug, Jan-Feb

Conditions Jan Deep winter · Feb Cold, passes shut · Mar Trek season starts · Apr Prime trekking · May Warm + haze · Jun Monsoon, no views · Jul Cloudy & muddy · Aug Monsoon · Sep Trails reopening · Oct Clearest skies · Nov Excellent trekking · Dec Cold, routes shut

Watch for Jan extreme cold risk · all year altitude risk · Mar-Apr haze risk

Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Kathmandu →

Jan
19°
3°
15mm
2d rain
Feb
22°
5°
24mm
3d rain
Mar
26°
9°
38mm
4d rain
Apr
29°
12°
63mm
7d rain
May
29°
16°
129mm
12d rain
Jun
30°
19°
242mm
17d rain
Jul
29°
20°
384mm
23d rain
Aug
29°
20°
343mm
23d rain
Sep
29°
19°
208mm
15d rain
Oct
27°
14°
43mm
4d rain
Nov
24°
8°
6mm
0d rain
Dec
20°
4°
8mm
1d rain
July Wettest month: monsoon peak. 384mm · 23 rainy days

✓ Best Feb-Apr, Oct-Nov · ✗ Avoid Jun-Aug

Conditions Jan Cold nights · Feb Mild & dry · Mar Spring blooms · Apr Warm spring · May Hot & hazy · Jun Monsoon starts · Jul Monsoon peak · Aug Monsoon · Sep Rains easing · Oct Golden month · Nov Clear & crisp · Dec Cold & clear

Watch for Dec-Feb smog risk · Mar-Apr haze risk · Jul-Aug monsoon flooding risk

Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Pokhara Annapurna →

Jan
20°
7°
22mm
2d rain
Feb
23°
10°
35mm
4d rain
Mar
27°
13°
64mm
6d rain
Apr
30°
16°
142mm
10d rain
May
30°
19°
353mm
18d rain
Jun
31°
21°
648mm
22d rain
Jul
30°
22°
941mm
26d rain
Aug
31°
22°
839mm
24d rain
Sep
30°
21°
635mm
19d rain
Oct
28°
17°
159mm
8d rain
Nov
24°
12°
17mm
1d rain
Dec
21°
8°
12mm
1d rain
July Wettest month: wettest month. 941mm · 26 rainy days

✓ Best Oct-Apr · ✗ Avoid Jun-Aug

Conditions Jan Mild & clear · Feb Mild & dry · Mar Warm & clear · Apr Warm spring · May Pre-monsoon · Jun Monsoon · Jul Wettest month · Aug Monsoon · Sep Rains easing · Oct Clearing views · Nov Best views · Dec Dry & clear

Watch for Mar-Apr haze risk · May-Sep monsoon flooding risk

Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions