Best Season for Hiking in Nepal: When to go what to expect

Introduction

Nepal, a country where each and every corner of the places have different story to tell either it’s from the ancient time or it’s from the highest peaks. Variation of terrain, landscapes, mountain, hills and religious values is what makes Nepal so renowned among tourists. Especially mountain region captures the attention of the people all around the world. Journey from the mountains to mountains and ups to down makes every moment in Nepal unforgettable yet challenging. Each and Every corner shouts adventure from its core. This blog comes to tell you about the hiking situation and the best season to hike in Nepal.

About Nepal

Nepal is well known for its Himalayas especially the 8 highest peak that lives at the landscapes of Nepal they are Mount Everest with the altitude of 8848.86 meters along with Everest Kanchenjunga with the altitude of 8586 meters. Lhotse with 8156 meters towering at the height of 8463 meters Makalu. Cho Oyu offering you a breathe taking altitude of 8201 meters, Dhaulagiri at the height of 8167 meters, Manaslu at 8163 meters and lastly Annapurna I at 8091 meters every part of these mountain can be seen if you are willing to consider Nepal as your next hiking country.

Overview of Nepal’s Season

There are 4 different types of seasons Nepal offers you each seasons have its own weather condition and temperature demand. Here are the seasons explained with points.

Spring March – May

Basanta ritu is what spring is really called in Nepal as its name this season offers you new blooming flowers and hilly region and Himalayan region is filled with rhododendron flowers. Skies are vibrant and scenario is comparatively very clear than other seasons.

Summer or Monsoon June – August

Summer and Monsoon seasons are harsh due to heavy rainfall and high temperature at the lower elevation, terai region temperature is very high. Risk of landslides and avalanches are high. You can expect greenery.

Autumn September – November

Autumn season is best for trekking and travelling as temperature is moderate as well as offers you clear views.

Winter December – February

Winter season is harsh on mountain region, hilly region and terai region. Hiking or travelling in this season is not worth the wait.

Briefing of each season

Each season have its own highlights, they way of offering you something is very different. Experience very from seasons to seasons.

Spring March – May

Known to be the popular seasons among all the seasons to perform trekking and hiking, season that is mostly loved by trekkers all around the world. Do you want to know why this season is at its peak??

Highlights of Spring Seasons

Blooming rhododendron, crystal clear view, predictable weather condition, packing necessity is very low you won’t have to pack heavy loads, risk are low at the elevation and air condition is not very strong minimizing the risk of altitude sickness.

What to Expect?

Trekking in this season is easy ideal for the beginner trekkers as well. Risk of altitude sickness is less so expect your hiking to be 99 percent success. Heartwarming and eye tingling landscapes filled with rhododendron.  Himalayan views can be seen even from a far.

Recommended routes for hiking

Explore Mount Everest with the terrain filled with rhododendron, Everest Base Camp is very much achievable in spring season. It’s easy to acknowledge culture and variation of landscapes in Annapurna B

ase Camp. Manaslu Circuit trek an easy access route during spring season with less route traffic. Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is achievable for beginner trekkers during spring season.  These hiking routes are highly recommended.

Summer or Monsoon June – August

This seasons brings the risk of high temperature and heavy rainfall but the after environment is full of greenery where everything feels alive. Valleys becomes more clearly as the dust particles in the air will be fully cleaned expect clean and clear view.

Major Highlight of summer or Monsoon season

Rainfalls, clear environment, less risk of skin and eye damages sometimes caused through polluted air, clear view of lush valleys and route, greenery in surrounding is more vibrant.

Challenges in route

Due to rainfall routes will be slippery and hard to achieve, leech infected routes, risk of landslides and floods, covered mountain views there is very less chance that you will get the full view of mountains and lastly your trek will be delayed time to time taking more time to finish your journey.

What to Expect

Air has high amount of humidity expect sunny hot days. Quiet trekking trials due to less trekkers. Trekkers are less in the trials due to the risk that comes with rain.

Recommended routes for hiking

Upper Mustang trek is recommended for this season as this region is not influenced by rain because it lies on the mountain shadows. Even in the monsoon route in Upper Mustang remains like desert.

Autumn September to November

Followed by monsoon, autumn seasons remains the best. Monsoon sets a positive mark to autumn season leaving it will crystal clear views of mountain and crisp air. To hike or trek in Nepal autumn season remains the best for the trekkers leaving them with best view and busy trials.

Major Highlight of autumn season

Proper and clear views due to the recent monsoon. Trial condition is good no slippery or any risk. Temperature and weather conditions are one of the top tire factors offered by autumn seasons as weather is predictable and temperature is moderate chances of rain is low.

What to expect

As a well-known and popular season to trekking season of Nepal you can expect busy trails expectation of peaceful trekking should be zero. Lodges and tea houses will be packed. You can expect beauty that a place holds. Eye sight will be clear. Weather and temperature condition is predictable.

Recommended season to hike for this season

Everest Base Camp Trek, autumn is the best season to achieve Everest submit with rewards like clear mountain views.

Annapurna Base Camp autumn gives you an exposure to lush forest routes to reach snow peaks with nature blessings.

Langtang Valley trek offers you with less crowd and high cultural values.

Mansalu circuit trek offers you same as Langtang Valley trek. Trials are less crowded.

Winter December to February

This season brings cold and risk of altitude sickness since air are thin in higher elevation and lower elevation too.

Major highlight

Weather is comparatively colder if you want full on adventure then try winter season hiking.

Challenges

Extreme cold, high risk of altitude sickness and avalanches, there is high chances your trekking won’t be success. You don’t get that much of time to trek as days are very shorter than nights. Nights are even colder than day. Snowfalls are high.

What to Expect

As winter season is not on the bucket list of trekkers due to increased risk you can expect less crowd through the routes. Air are crisp and oxygen are think you may found yourself infected with altitude sickness. Staying at the lower elevation is recommended as high altitude is full of risk due to heavy snowfall.

Recommended hiking routes

Even though trekking in this season is not recommended but you still want to explore try your trekking at lower elevation area to remove risk.

Ghorepani Phoon Hill is best for trekking as temperature is mild and you can get best sunrise view.

Helambu Trek this trek is very near to Kathmandu making it easy route.

Chisapani Nagarkot trek also located near Kathmandu a short day trek and suitable for winter season.

Choosing the right season

Every season is not supposed to be good for you. Nepal have an option to every trekking places regardless of any seasons. Choosing a best season for you depends on what you are actually looking for what are the risk you are trying to take and some other factors such as

Fitness level

No matter what type of trekking you are trying your Fitness level matters. At the high elevation your fitness really does matter. High passes in Annapurna circuit and Manaslu circuit demands your physical and fitness level.

Tolerance of crowd

If you are seeking to have peaceful trek then try hiking on the seasons that are less liked by trekkers or is actually a peak seasons. Peak seasons like spring and autumn should be avoided if you are looking for peace.

Time availability

Winter and Monsoon season is where your trekking gets more delayed. Days are shorter in winter season so avoid these two seasons if you don’t want your time to go on waste. Try those season with less delay condition and better route condition.

Cultural interests

If you want to learn about Nepali culture and costume try the season highly influenced by festivals and that is autumn season with peak festival Dashain and Tihar.

Pack according to seasons

You should pack everything smartly don’t pack heavy pack according to weather condition and season demand. If you are planning your hike in spring season pack layered clothes, sun protections like sunscreen, sunglasses also pack light rain gear. For autumn season it’s same as well. Planning to trek on monsoon season? Then pack essential things like water proof jacket, bags and boot if everything you are taking is water proof than it is cherry on top. Leech repellent and long boots to protect yourself from leech attacks, quick dry clothes are also important for this season. For winter pack those kind of thing that can easily cope up with the temperature in Himalayan region pack essentials like down jacket, warm Bennie or cap, thermal, thermal coat, stocking, gloves and glasses.

Buy insurance

Himalayan region is risky regardless of seasons and weather condition insurance is the only thing that makes you feel secured you can get instant helicopter help if you get in some health related issues.

Hire local guide and porters as well as respect the culture

If you want to dive in into the culture then hiring local guide and porters will be beneficial for you as you can communicate with locals and get to know more about tradition and culture. Your agency can help you with hiring the best local porters and guide. As a tourist it is very essential to respect the culture and tradition of the people living there dress nicely. If locals invite you to celebrate certain festival feel free to join don’t hesitate.

Conclusion

Nepal offers different kind of weather condition and season. Some treks are based on seasonal trekking and some can be achieved in any season. Each season have its own major highlights to be offered to the people. Every nature condition is different in each and every seasons. Spring March – May offers you with new blooming flowers, clear mountain views and moderate crowds in the trials. Monsoon or Summer June – August offers you with greenery throughout the trials, environment cleared out with rain falls, trials not much crowded by trekkers as majority of them skips this season lastly, winter December – February offers you good routes at the lower elevation, snowfall throughout the altitude climb and very less crowd. Choosing seasons depends on you, your interest and your feasibility.

Pro Tips

Every season is different from each other here are some tips you might consider following and they are as follows:

If you are considering autumn and spring season book tea houses and lodge early and in advance as trials is filled with other trekkers.

Go with the agent which you feel trust worthy, permits, guides and porters are managed by your trekking agent or renowned travelling choose wisely look for their offers don’t rush on conclusion so fast.

Be prepared to face any kind of difficulty being physically and mentally fit is the key to make your journey success.

Plan your submit day according to weather forecaster and weather condition not through calendar or your gut feeling.

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Be with the season which you feel is more comforting to you. Let this blog choose your next season trip.