When is the best time for trekking holidays in Nepal?

The weather can change often in the mountains. What time of the year has the best weather to travel to Nepal and trek the Himalayas?

Answer: Trekking in Nepal can take place nearly all-year round so it's tricky to recommend a season to trek the Himalayas. Nepal has two main seasons for trekking: before the monsoon and after the monsoon. The pre-monsoon season goes from around the end of February for three months until the end of May. The earlier, the colder, especially at high altitude so if you fear the cold, wait until later in the season. Don't wait too long, though, or you'll end up trekking in the heat and haze.

Altitude is also a factor if you're heading into the higher peaks, because early in the season passes may still be snowed in. By April or May, a lot of the snow will be gone. The nice thing about this season is the clarity and light in the morning (though the clouds will then usually roll in).

If this season doesn't work for you, you could try the post-monsoon season in October and November, although that's when the Mount Everest trek and other treks are the most popular - and that's when tickets to Nepal are the cheapest. It's popular because of the day-long sunshine (no afternoon clouds!) The season goes on into December but you may find it gets too cold for you, and it could also snow.

When not to go? In most of the region, during the monsoons, from July to September. It's rainy, the rain can cause landslides and avalanches, and trekking routes may well be closed off. Another 'off' season is winter, unless you're an expert trekker, because of the cold.

A popular book on the Annapurna Circuit is Bryn Thomas's Trekking in the Annapurna Region. Another classic is Lonely Planet's Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya (Walking).

Photo credit: Cotaro70s via Flickr

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