The short version
Nepal's monsoon runs 1 June to 30 September, October and November give the clearest skies, and temperature falls 6.5°C for every 1,000m you climb. A month-by-month table with temperatures, trekking ratings and the rain-shadow regions that stay dry when everywhere else is under water.
Almost everyone who asks about Nepal’s weather is really asking about one specific month — will it rain in August, how cold is November, is December too late. The short version: the monsoon runs 1 June to 30 September, the clearest skies of the year fall in October and November, and above all else the number that governs your trip is 6.5°C — that is how much the temperature drops for every 1,000m you climb. Kathmandu’s forecast tells you very little about the night you will spend at 4,000m. Here is the whole year, month by month, with the regions that still work when the obvious ones do not.
- October is the single best month — clear post-monsoon skies, all routes open; book 2–3 months ahead.
- Nepal has two peak seasons: autumn (Sep–Nov) and spring (Mar–May, best for rhododendrons).
- During the monsoon (Jun–Aug), only rain-shadow regions — Upper Mustang, Nar Phu, Dolpo — stay dry and trekkable.
- Temperature drops ~6.5°C per 1,000m; nights at 4,000m reach −15°C in November and −20°C in January.
Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) forecasts below-average rainfall for the 2026 monsoon (1 June–30 September), with a 55–65% chance of below-normal rain across parts of Karnali, Lumbini, Madhesh and Koshi provinces, and above-normal temperatures nationwide. For trekkers that cuts both ways: fewer total wash-outs, but a real heat and flash-flood risk — and the rains increasingly drag into mid-September, so the clear autumn window can open a little later than the calendar suggests. See our 2026 monsoon forecast report for the trail detail.
Nepal Weather Month by Month, 2026
This is the table most people arrive here looking for. The star rating is a trekking rating, not a weather rating — July scores badly for Annapurna and brilliantly for Mustang, and the difference is the point.
| Month | Season | Trekking | What to expect | Where it works best |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Winter | ★★★ | Cold, clear and quiet. Nights at 4,000m reach −20°C. Snow on passes above 4,500m. | Chitwan, Kathmandu Valley, low-altitude treks |
| February | Winter | ★★★ | Slowly warming. Lower rhododendron forests begin to bud. Trails very quiet. | Pokhara, Poon Hill, Chitwan |
| March | Spring | ★★★★ | Spring begins; lower rhododendrons in bloom. Still cold above 4,000m. | Annapurna, Everest, Langtang |
| April | Spring | ★★★★★ | Peak rhododendron at 3,000–4,000m. Busiest spring month; Everest expedition season opens. | Everest, Annapurna, Manaslu |
| May | Spring | ★★★★ | Upper forests in bloom, pre-monsoon haze building. Pokhara can reach 30°C. | High-altitude treks, Everest |
| June | Monsoon | ★★ | Monsoon arrives from 1 June. Annapurna, Everest and Langtang turn wet. | Upper Mustang, Nar Phu |
| July | Monsoon | ★★ | Full monsoon. Slippery trails, active leeches, frequent Lukla cancellations. Lowest prices of the year. | Upper Mustang, Dolpo |
| August | Monsoon | ★★ | Rain continues; landscapes at their greenest. Rato Machindranath festival in Kathmandu. | Upper Mustang, Dolpo, Nar Phu |
| September | Autumn | ★★★★ | Monsoon retreats by late month — increasingly into mid-September. Wet early, drying fast; prices rising. | Everywhere from late September |
| October | Autumn | ★★★★★ | The best month of the year. Clear skies, 10–20°C by day at teahouse altitude, all routes open. Book 2–3 months ahead. | Every region |
| November | Autumn | ★★★★★ | Views as good as October, 20–30% cooler. Nights at 4,000m −5°C to −15°C. Easier to book. | Every region; autumn colour in Langtang and Mustang |
| December | Winter | ★★★ | Cold but clear. Some high passes snow up. Trails quiet. | Chitwan, Kathmandu, Pokhara, low treks |
If your dates are already fixed, our month-by-month best-time-to-trek guide goes further into route choice for each window, and Nepal in monsoon makes the case for June–August properly.
Understanding Nepal’s Climate Zones
Nepal spans five climate zones over a horizontal distance of just 200km — from subtropical Terai plains at 70m to the arctic Himalayan peaks above 8,000m. This creates dramatic weather variation even within a single trek. Understanding the basics helps you plan the right itinerary for the right season.
Nepal’s Four Seasons
Autumn (September–November) ★★★★★ Best overall
After the monsoon clears in September, Nepal enters its golden season. October and November bring crisp, clear skies with Himalayan views rarely blocked by cloud. Rhododendrons are berried; autumn colours appear in Langtang and Mustang in November. Daytime temperatures at teahouse altitude: 10–20°C. Night temperatures at 4,000m+: −5°C to −15°C in November. Peak trekking season — book guides and accommodation early.
Spring (March–May) ★★★★★ Best for rhododendrons
Nepal’s second peak season. Rhododendron forests blaze red and pink in March–April below 4,000m. Temperatures warm compared to autumn; views generally excellent. Pre-monsoon haze can reduce Himalayan clarity in May. Everest expedition season — extra activity and buzz on the EBC route in April–May. Nights cold but less extreme than autumn: −3°C to −10°C at 4,000m. Our spring trekking guide covers March, April and May in detail.
Winter (December–February) ★★★ For low-altitude and Mustang
Cold and quiet. High-altitude passes (above 4,500m) can be snow-blocked in January–February. However, this is the best season for Chitwan wildlife safaris, Kathmandu cultural tourism, and low-altitude treks. Upper Mustang is excellent in winter — rain-shadow location and few tourists. Nights at 4,000m can reach −20°C in January. Clear skies are common.
Monsoon (June–August) ★★ Rain-shadow areas only
Nepal’s southwest monsoon brings heavy, consistent rain from 1 June to 30 September. Standard trekking routes (Annapurna, EBC, Langtang) are wet, muddy and leech-populated. However, rain-shadow areas north of the Himalayan main range — Upper Mustang, Nar Phu, Dolpo — remain dry and accessible. Lush green landscapes and waterfalls create their own beauty, and low tourist numbers mean good prices and empty trails.
How Cold Does It Actually Get?
Daytime figures mislead people. What decides whether you sleep or shiver is the overnight low at your highest lodge, and at 4,000m that swings by 17 degrees across the year. These are the figures we plan sleeping bags around.
A bag rated to −10°C is fine for a spring Poon Hill or Langtang trek. For November above 4,000m you want −15°C or better, and for January you want −20°C. Our cold-weather trekking guide covers how to actually stay warm at altitude, which is mostly about what you do at 4pm rather than what you paid for the bag.
Altitude and Weather: What Changes as You Climb
Nepal’s vertical range means the weather at your destination can be dramatically different from Kathmandu when you land. Useful rules of thumb:
- Temperature drops ~6.5°C per 1,000m of altitude gain — if Kathmandu is 22°C, Namche Bazaar (3,440m) will be around 8–12°C, and Lobuche (4,940m) will be near freezing or below
- Wind speeds increase with altitude — the Kali Gandaki valley (Mustang/Annapurna) funnels sustained 40–60km/h afternoon winds almost daily
- Precipitation types change: rain below 3,000m becomes snow above 4,000m in autumn and winter; even in October, overnight snowfall above 4,500m is possible
- Clouds build in the afternoon — summit views and high passes are best in the morning; plan to reach cols and high camps before noon
Applied to a real autumn day with Kathmandu at 22°C, that lapse rate gives you this. These are calculated from the 6.5°C rule rather than measured at each village, but they are close enough to pack from — and they explain why a T-shirt afternoon in Pokhara becomes a down-jacket afternoon four days later.
| Place | Altitude | Daytime temperature | What that feels like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pokhara | 820m | ≈ 26°C | T-shirt, sunhat |
| Kathmandu | 1,400m | 22°C (reference) | T-shirt, light layer at night |
| Ghorepani / Poon Hill | 2,870m | ≈ 12°C | Fleece by day, jacket at dusk |
| Namche Bazaar | 3,440m | ≈ 8–12°C | Fleece plus windproof |
| Annapurna Base Camp | 4,130m | ≈ 4°C | Down jacket in the shade |
| Lobuche | 4,940m | ≈ 0°C | Down jacket all day |
| Everest Base Camp | 5,364m | ≈ −4°C | Full winter kit, gloves on |
Regional Weather Differences
Annapurna (south-facing): full monsoon impact June–September. Best: Oct–Nov, Mar–May. This is the region behind the 9-day Annapurna Base Camp trek and the 14-day Circuit, both of which live or die by the autumn window.
Everest / Khumbu: similar monsoon pattern. Wind picks up in May, when expedition teams time acclimatisation windows carefully. Best: Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr. Season detail is in our EBC seasons guide.
Mustang / Nar Phu (rain shadow): viable June–August when everywhere else is wet, because the Himalayan wall wrings the rain out before it reaches them. Best: Apr–Nov. The 12-day Upper Mustang trek and the Nar Phu valley trek are the two monsoon-proof itineraries we run most.
Langtang: a shorter monsoon than Annapurna. Best: Oct–Nov, Mar–May. Winter treks to Gosaikunda are feasible Dec–Feb.
Chitwan / Bardia (Terai): opposite logic — avoid June–September, when it is both hot and wet. Best: October–March, which is exactly when the high passes shut.
Upper Mustang sits in the Himalayan rain shadow, so June to August is dry, dusty and empty while Annapurna is under water. Our 12-day Upper Mustang trek to Lo Manthang runs from $2,050 per person in a group of eight ($2,700 solo), permits and licensed guide included.
See dates & price →How to Read Nepal Weather Forecasts
Standard weather services are unreliable for high-altitude Nepal. Resources that actually work:
- mountain-forecast.com: altitude-specific forecasts for named Himalayan peaks — excellent for pass-crossing days and summit attempts
- meteoblue.com: point-on-map forecasting, adjustable by altitude; accurate 3–5 days ahead
- Windy.com (ECMWF model): wind speed and direction at altitude; the go-to for expedition guides monitoring jet stream position
- Your guide: experienced local guides read sky, cloud formation and barometric pressure changes to predict same-day weather far more accurately than any app. Listen to them on pass-crossing days.
Packing for Nepal’s Weather by Season
Autumn (October–November)
Layer system: moisture-wicking base layer, mid fleece, waterproof shell (light showers still possible), down jacket for evenings above 3,500m. Trekking trousers. Gloves and hat for pre-dawn starts. No down suit needed below 5,000m in October; essential above 5,000m and in November.
Spring (March–May)
Similar to autumn but with more afternoon cloud and occasional rain — keep your waterproof shell accessible. March can be surprisingly cold above 4,000m; May is warm at lower elevations, with Pokhara reaching 30°C. The higher you go, the colder it stays.
Winter (December–February)
Full cold-weather layering required for any trek above 2,500m. A −20°C rated sleeping bag for anything above base camp altitudes. Hand and toe warmer packets are useful. Low-altitude and cultural itineraries such as our 5-day Kathmandu and Pokhara tour are comfortable in a mid-layer fleece. Route options are in the winter trekking guide.
Monsoon (June–August)
Lightweight and quick-dry everything. Rain poncho or umbrella (local trekkers use bamboo umbrellas — practical and cultural). Accept that you will get wet on Annapurna and EBC routes. Leech socks are worth adding to your kit. For Mustang: sun protection and wind layers, because the rain-shadow effect is real.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the weather like in Nepal in August?
August sits in the middle of the monsoon, which runs 1 June to 30 September. Expect heavy, frequent rain across the Annapurna, Everest and Langtang regions, slippery trails, active leeches and regular Lukla flight cancellations. The landscape is at its greenest and prices are the lowest of the year. If you must trek in August, go north of the Himalayan crest to Upper Mustang, Nar Phu or Dolpo, which sit in the rain shadow and stay dry.
What is the weather like in Nepal in November?
November is one of the two best trekking months of the year. Skies stay clear, Himalayan views are sharp most mornings, and daytime temperatures at teahouse altitude sit around 10–20°C. It is roughly 20–30% cooler than October, with overnight lows at 4,000m between −5°C and −15°C, so bring a bag rated to −15°C. Trails and lodges are noticeably easier to book than in October.
What is the weather like in Nepal in July?
July is the wettest month of the monsoon. Standard trekking routes are wet, muddy and leech-heavy, and Lukla flights cancel often. Teahouse rates drop by 20–40%. Only the rain-shadow regions — Upper Mustang, Nar Phu and Dolpo — are genuinely good in July.
What is the weather like in Nepal in December?
December is cold, clear and quiet. Skies are often excellent and the trails are empty, but some passes above 4,500m start to snow up and nights at altitude are hard. It is a strong month for Chitwan, the Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara and low-altitude treks, and a poor one for high passes.
Is October really the best month for Nepal?
October is widely considered the best single month for trekking in Nepal. The monsoon ends in late September, trails are freshly green, skies clear to crystalline visibility, and temperatures are comfortable — warm enough to hike in a T-shirt at lower elevations but cold enough to feel alpine above 4,000m. The only downside is that it is the peak tourist month: trails, guesthouses and flights book out 2–3 months ahead. November is equally good for views but 20–30% cooler, and accommodation is easier to find.
Can I trek in Nepal during the monsoon?
Yes, with the right destination. The Annapurna, Everest and Langtang circuits are genuinely difficult June–August — wet, muddy, leech-heavy and with frequent Lukla cancellations. Upper Mustang, Nar Phu Valley and Dolpo, however, are rain-shadowed and excellent in monsoon. If your dates are fixed, these regions are a real alternative rather than a consolation prize.
Does it snow on the EBC trail?
Yes. Above 4,000m, light snowfall is possible in any month of the year, and significant snow above 5,000m is common October–April. The trail between Lobuche and Gorak Shep is frequently snow-covered in November and December. Major snowfall can temporarily close high passes such as Thorong La and Cho La — always build buffer days into any itinerary that goes above 4,000m.
What is the cheapest season to trek Nepal?
The monsoon (July–August) and deep winter (December–February), with teahouse rates dropping 20–40%. In monsoon only rain-shadow regions such as Upper Mustang are practical; in winter, stick to low-altitude treks and cultural touring. See our Nepal trekking cost guide for the seasonal price differences.
Which months have the clearest mountain views?
Late October and November have the clearest, most transparent skies of the year, with the Himalaya standing sharp and cloud-free most mornings. March–April is the second-clearest window, though pre-monsoon haze can soften visibility from late April.
Nepal’s weather is complex — the right time to go depends on which region, what altitude, and how you feel about crowds. Talk to our team and we’ll build the itinerary that matches your dates, fitness and goals. We have been running treks here since 1998.
Plan your Nepal trip →Last updated 2026. Weather guidance sourced from DHM Nepal and the Himalayan Rescue Association.
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Travel Himalaya NepalPokhara-based, NMA-certified trekking guides. We’ve led 5,000+ treks across the Annapurna and Everest regions since 1998 — every word here comes from the trail. More from this author →
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