Published
Nepal has two clear trekking windows, and picking the right one matters more than almost any other planning decision. Spring (March–May) brings warming days, rhododendron forests in full bloom, and reliably clear morning views before afternoon cloud builds. Autumn (October–November) is the classic choice — crisp air, the most stable weather of the year, and the sharpest mountain panoramas you'll find in any season.
Winter (December–February) is quieter and colder, with snow closing some high passes, but lower routes like Annapurna Base Camp or Mardi Himal stay open and blissfully uncrowded. Summer monsoon (June–September) floods the southern trails with rain and leeches, but it's exactly when the rain-shadow desert of Upper Mustang comes into its own — one of the few places in Nepal that's better trekked in the wet season than around it.
If crowds bother you more than a slightly less perfect sky, shoulder weeks — early March, late May, or early December — offer a good compromise: thinner teahouse bookings, lower permit queues, and weather that's still very workable.
Whichever season you're drawn to, book your guide and permits at least a month ahead for peak autumn dates — the popular teahouses on Everest and Annapurna routes do fill up.
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