Optimal Trekking Season in Nepal
Autumn Season
(Late September to November)
With the end of monsoon, the most awaited season for trekkers begin in Nepal. Clear skies, higher visibility of mountains and a good weather invites not just trekkers but also every Nepali to enjoy this weather with festivity in its air. During the time in October- November, we celebrate the major festivals such as Dashain, Tihar and Chhath.
Dashain is celebrated by receiving tika on our forehead and jamara on our heads. Every elders we put tika from give blessings to the younger ones. This time is celebrated for the victory of good over evil and also the divinity of feminine energy that sustains and runs the cosmos. It is celebrated for fifteen days but the major days celebrated is from the seventh to tenth day of the festival.
Tihar is the festival of lights. By lighting diyos( traditional oil lamp), we make a gesture of warmth, reverence and believe that this light lighted in every Nepali household on new moon day guides us from darkness to light. Just as how a single light is enough to brighten the space around it, we believe this small clay filled with oil with cotton wick literally and figuratively helps us invite knowledge and peace in our lives. This festival is also for the sake of strong sibling bondage between brothers and sisters. Fun fact: Do you know that we also worship the consulars and ambassadors of death?? On the first and second day, we worship Crow and Dogs who are believed to be the messengers of death. On other days, we worship cows, bulls and tihar ends with celebration of siblinghood in any family.
Chhath is celebrated throughout the country and you can see the women in Kathmandu taking dips in ponds of Kathmandu. This day is dedicated to the Sun who sustains life, which is the source of life, energy, health and prosperity. Devotees offer prayers and water offering to the rising and setting sun to express the gratitude for this life.
Best trekking destination during this autumn:
October to November is the best time to trek in any corners of Nepal. From Everest to Manaslu to Annapurna to the Langtang ranges, you can pick any trekking destination without any consideration and worry. High altitudes trek and peak climbing are major attraction of autumn. But here are some of my top picks for this time period:
Manaslu Circuit Trek
Annapurna Circuit Trek
Everest Base Camp
Island Peak Climbing
Meera Peak Climbing
Everest Three Pass
Langtang Trek
Note: Do not forget that mountain weather is always unpredictable and is not in our control but on most days, the weather is clear with blue skies, less cold offering better visibility.
Winter Season
(December- February)
While we say, “ Winter is coming!”, Most people like to stay inside the room or stay sunbasking, eating oranges and avoiding higher altitude’s cold. While the people of higher altitude migrate to lower altitude to avoid the harsh cold weather, high passes treks are closed due to heavy snowfall meanwhile lower altitude treks less than 4,500m meters are accessible and breathtaking. With warm sunshine and peaceful hikes, staying at teahouses embracing warm cultural beauty, excluding higher altitude treks, you can blend the joyous celebration like Maghe Sakranti, Lhosar and Christmas to the quiet mornings in the Himalayas so that you can enhance your experience in Nepal.
Maghe Sakranti is celebrated during early/mid January to mark the northward journey of sun. Eating traditional foods like chaaku and laddu are made of jaggery, ghee, coconut and sesame seeds and are eaten together.
Lhosar is another lunar New Year festival celebrated by the Sherpas and himalayan origin people of Nepal. Prayer flags are changed, butter lamps are lighted. By cleaning the past year, they light the lamps and welcome New Year. The homes and monasteries are decorated with enthusiasm and love. It falls during December/January and February month.
Don’t just make your trekking experience a hustle and a tick list but a living heritage to experience. Therefore, for the winter season, I bring you some unmatched beauty trekking areas:
Helambu Trek
Ghorepani- Poonhill trek
Spring Season
(March- April)
Snow slowly starts to melt, and the path starts getting clear on the trekking trails. The temperature is mild, and high passes are now open for trekkers. This is the 2nd most popular season for trekking in Nepal. Rhododendrons start to decorate the forests of Annapurna, Langtang, and Everest regions. With warm temperatures, mountain weather is moderate in nature.
Shivaratri is one of the holiest festivals dedicated to the day of marriage between Shiva and Parvati. Thousands of devotees gather this day in Pashupatinath temple and offer cotton lights, flowers, and prayers, creating the vibe of devotion and faith.
The festival of colors: Holi falls during March/ April, where the streets of Kathmandu and Pokhara are decorated in the canvas of music, dance, and vibrant hues. Apply colors on each other, dance along with the people, and get soaked in the happiness and enthusiastic vibe of the people.
Bisket Jatra marks the beginning of the Nepali New Year (mid-April) in Bhaktapur( 20 km from Ktm) district of Nepal. Participate or witness the ancient chariot processions, tug of war rituals and celebration among the people where you can find yourself between the mythology and the community work of the local filling every narrow street with high spirit and new energy.
Buddha Purnima is dedicated to the birth, enlightenment and his mahaparinirvana of Sakyamuni Gautam Buddha. This day is remembered throughout the country to celebrate his teachings and his life in itself.
After you witness and experience such grand festivals of Nepal in a day, you can set out for your trekking destination. Any route is highly favorable during this season. But here’s our top pick for the spring trek in Nepal:
Mardi Himal Base Camp Trek
Annapurna Sanctuary Trek
Manaslu Circuit Trek
Kyangin- Ri Trek
Gokyo Valley Trek
Pikey Peak
Khopra Trek
Summer Season
(May- June)
The pre-monsoon enters through the eastern part in Nepal which is originated from the Bay of Bangal of India. It enters gradually from eastern to western Nepal. Wait, wait!! It’s the pre-monsoon that you might be expecting. It rains lightly and meadows and wildflowers bloom beautifully during this time. Lush of green forests, waterfalls, meadows and less number of trekkers is the major highlight of this season.Before you hop into the western Nepal, experience the grand festival of chariot pull of Rato Machhindranath (also known as Avaloketeswor or Karunamaya) that falls during this pre-monsoon time to invite rainfall into the city.
Considering the weather pattern in June, you can opt out to some beautiful trails in Nepal such as:
Annapurna Base Camp
Lupra Trek
Rara Lake Trek
Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek
Upper Mustang Trek
Mardi Himal Trek
Ghorepani-Poonhill Trek
Monsoon Season
(July-September)
Most of the travelers and trekkers just set their path to high altitude terrains underestimating the impact of monsoon, slippery path, swollen rivers and the unpredictable weather. The lush of greenery is tempting but without proper guidance and knowledge, trekking in any higher altitude is risky.The festivals during rainy season is a celebration of both culture and nature.
Ropai Jatra: Celebrated during mid July, this is the day to celebrate the symbiotic relationship between farmers, nature and creatures. By planting saplings in the warm mud, this day represents the start of Nepal’s rice planting season.
Teej is another joyous and vibrant festival for Hindu women of Nepal where they adorn themselves in red attire, dance in the local folklores and stay devoted towards Shiva, celebrating the love, strength and spirit of femineity.
Tiji festival is the major reason why people go to Upper Mustang ( known as forbidden kingdom as well). It is the Buddhist festival celebrated for major three days celebrating the victory of good over evil through ancient cultural masked dances, prayers and rituals completed in the old traditional way. During major monsoon in Nepal, this part of Nepal receives minimal to lowest rainfall making it a perfect place for monsoon trekkers.
Janaipurnima also falls during this season where people bind sacred threads around their wrist to protect them spiritually. it is seen as a form of connection to the divine.
Not all treks are meant for monsoon but certain selected trails and areas shine during this time due to less to no amount of rainfall that falls in some parts. These are some safe adventure we highly recommend:
Upper Mustang Trek
Kailash Mansarovar Trek
Nepal is not just ideal to trek for only two seasons: Autumn and Spring. It is favorable to trek every season but one has to be mindful of the weather, season and the trekking destination. Before you set out to trek, it is better and highly advisable to connect to a locally operated trekking company as they are highly aware of the seasons, festivals and routes of any trekking areas of Nepal so that your planned adventure operates smoothly. Global Eco Trails is always ready to guide you to the best destination of your desire and helps you blend the culture, festival and trails like no other. For further queries and booking procedures, contact us on our Whatsapp, Instagram, Facebook or email address.
