Ice Cap Adventure on November 21, 2019
If a traveler vacations in Nepal, he/she can throw caution to the wind, because there’s no such thing as the best time to visit Nepal. Nepal experiences four major seasons, namely, spring, summer/monsoon, autumn, and winter. All of these seasons offer unique weather and climatic conditions to travel to Nepal.
In terms of geography, Nepal stretches from the snowy Himalayas to subtropical jungles. To the south, it is home to the voracious Bengal tigers, while and to the north, it is the playground of the untamed snow leopards. This seemingly small country offers countless adventures and experiences. The best time to visit Nepal depends on the trek you are interested in or want to experience. Whether it trekking into the heart of Himalayas, hiking to the hilltops, rafting in the white-water rivers or gliding through the sky, they can undertake all or most of it during all seasons, throughout the year.
Although all seasons come with their own set of perks and specialties, autumn is the peak tourist season in Nepal and receives the highest number of tourists. Stretching from September to November, cloudless skies and excellent visibility characterize autumn. The temperature at higher elevations ranges from 20°C to -10°C. Similarly, at lower elevations, the temperature clocks in between 28°C to 14°C. It’s the best time to experience Nepal’s all kinds of adventurous activities, ranging from mountain biking to peak climbing. Tourists can also experience popular Hindu festivals of Dashain and Tihar, besides Buddhist festivals like Mani Rimdu and Saga Dawa during autumn.
Only spring, which lasts from March to May, can rival autumn’s popularity. Everything that perished in winter revives with brighter colors in spring. Clear weather, high visibility, and longer days mark its arrival. The temperature at higher elevation peaks to 22°C during the day and lowers to approximately -15°C at night. At lower elevations, the temperature fluctuates between 25°C to 16°C. Thus, the environment in spring is immaculate for travelers to complete all of their adventure quests. Spring festivals like Holi, Buddha Purnima, and Bisket Jatra offer an insight into the festive lifestyle in Nepal.
Constant rain and dark skies give monsoon a bad name. But that doesn’t have to be the case in Nepal. There are still plenty of activities travelers can accomplish in the monsoon, which lasts from late-June to early-August. The temperature during the monsoon at high elevation range between 25°C to -15°C, while lower elevations sway between 28°C to 18°C. Trekking regions that lie in the rain shadow areas like Upper Dolpo and Upper Mustang and lower elevation can easily be explored. Besides, travelers can enjoy adventure sports like white-water rafting and zip lining to the fullest. Gai Jatra, Indra Jatra, and Ropai Jatra are some monsoon festivals that give glimpses of the cultural aspect of Nepal.
Travelers often frown upon winter which lasts from late-November to February in Nepal. In low to the mid-elevation area, temperature varies between 18°C to 0°C, while the mountainous region experiences temperature between 4°C to -20°C. With winter trekking, the temperature is colder, but the views are often better. Trekkers can embark on short, mid-altitude treks in and around the Himalayans. Shivaratri, Lhosar, and Udhauli are some enjoyable, indigenous festivals travelers can observe during winter.
Experiences in Nepal are boundless irrespective of seasons, weather, and time of the year. Tourists are in for a treat during their visit to Nepal, as they don’t have to worry about the weather coming between them and all the fun activities they plan to do.
