A Time for Every Season

 

 

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Mid September to November is an ideal time to visit Nepal. The countryside is green and lush and Nepal looks its most beautiful. The air is sparkling clean, affording near perfect Himalayan vistas.  As the weather is neither too hot nor too cold, this is peak tourist season and it is also the main season for Nepalese festivals.
 

 

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December to February can be a hauntingly beautiful time of the year to trek. The climate and visibility are still good, excellent clear views are common at high altitude but it can get very cold. You need to be prepared to encounter snow on the high altitudes and the higher passes may be closed.
 

 

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 March to Mid May is the next best time to trek in Nepal. The visibility is not as clear as earlier in the dry season but Nepal’s wonderful rhododendrons and many other flowers are in bloom. Mornings are usually clear, with clouds building up during the afternoon and disappearing at night, to reveal spectacular starry skies. As the season progresses, the magnificent rhododendrons bloom at higher and higher altitudes until the flowers reach tree line. In mid-May the weather warms up and many species of plant and animal life emerge, rarely seen at other times.
 

 

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June to August is warm and wet but these months are blessed for the keen botanist as the higher valleys and meadows blossom with flowers and lush vegetation.
 

What to bring

Nepal is a mountainous tropical country, which means it experiences climatic extremes. Night and day temperature differences can vary between 10°C and 30°C (50°F to 86°F) so you need to be prepared with a variety of clothing. The key to staying comfortable on a trek is layering. Suggested items to bring include:

  • Boots - the single most important item to pack- comfortable, sturdy hiking boots
  • Sleeping bag (easy to rent in Nepal) - needed for both camping and teahouse treks as teahouses usually only provide blankets
  • Backpack for porter* to carry your belongings in (easy to rent in Nepal)
  • Lightweight shoes or sandals for changing into at night
  • Socks - 2 pairs outer socks, one pair liner socks and one pair for nighttime
  • Loose cotton trouser/Calf length skirt
  • T-shirts/long sleeved shirt
  • Cozy shirt for the evenings
  • Thermal underclothes are a necessity
  • Warm lightweight sweater/fleece
  • Hat (sun and night), Gloves or Mittens, Scarf
  • Lightweight Wind Jacket (optional)
  • Rain gear – a simple plastic poncho is adequate for most seasons
  • Down Jacket – depending on trek and season (easy to rent in Nepal)
  • Day pack
  • Sunglasses, Sunscreen, chapstick
  • Quick dry towel
  • Flash light for midnight toilet trips and powercuts (good batteries*)
  • Moisture cream for your skin, and lips
  • Water bottle with carry strap
  • Water purification – Filter/Iodine
  • First Aid Kit – essentials
  • Camera, spare batteries*, film if needed
  • 2 passport photos for the ACAP permit
*IMPORTANT Note: We look after our porters and do not believe they should be carrying heavy loads. Max. weight of your belongings to be carried by a female porter is 12kg and a male porter is 15kg.

*GREEN Note: Use rechargeable batteries whenever possible. If you must use disposable batteries, please take the used ones with you to dispose of safely in your home country.

Tip: power bars will help get you up those hills

Many of the above items can be purchased or rented in Nepal.