When Should I Go Trekking In Nepal?

 

Looking to go on a vacation that would ease up the hard touch of work? Do you find hiking a thing of interest? Or are you just the type that likes to trek for the fun of it? Then believe when we say there’s really no place that can match the adventure atmosphere of Nepal. Housing the Himalayas and so many more of the mightiest mountains in the world, we’re talking about an annual attraction of about 200,000 trekkers according to statistics and proven facts. This is just incredible.

Nepal, which sits comfortably in the Southern Asian region, and is a home to about 26.4 million people is known to be one of the greatest tourist centers in the world. As populous as it is, it remains an interesting fact that Trekking ranks as the most popular activity there. The streets of Nepal are always littered with travelers, some of who are there to sell or rent gears, some who are there for the treks and many others every time of the year. The travels of Nepal cuts through;

• the the beautiful Teahouses and shrines in Kathmandu which allows space for rest and recovery from the rigors of the treks,

• The Annapurna Massif, Circuit & Sanctuary

• The Negarkot village

• The Mount Everest

• Chitwan National Park

• Lukla

• Chame

• Singalila National Park

• Jiri

• The Lakes & Mountains of Gokyo

• The Rara Lake

• The Mountains of Lobuche; to mention but a few.

If you enjoy the views of towering white peaks, an amazing culture, and a mind blowing adventure which is totally affordable, then you’ll definitely have Nepal ringing in your brain.

Now, haven read through why the country stands out amongst all with its redeeming qualities, I am sure the disturbing question you’re dying to ask is ‘When Should I Go Trekking In Nepal?’. Worry not! We will take you through the best seasons for each treks and how you can backpack and prepare for them.

When Should I Go Trekking In Nepal?

Trekking in Nepal has grown into a culture over the years and cleverly, the Nepalis have turned this around for the good of the country. There are various treks in Nepal at different seasons of the year. The treks have no limitations to age or size, ethnicity or group. The country offers the treks based on the number of days meant to be spent, the difficulty level and the season of choice. Some treks require proper physical fitness as they might involve walking up the hills or climbing for hours & crossing high passes into deeper parts. Which ever factor has brought you to Nepal, there is only one sure thing, your satisfaction is guaranteed.

Now, to answer the big question ‘When Should I Go Trekking In Nepal?’ Actually, this depends on your personal choice. There is no season in Nepal that doesn’t encourage trekking, so the decision on when you should go for it depends solely on your choice. However, such decisions should be made before travelling to Nepal as a lot of Trekking agencies and travel guides with low experience might convince you at all cost to sign up for their treks which might turn out to be a terrible experience for you, that is if you are plan on making the decision when you are in Nepal already.

 

Each season in Nepal gives you a different view, atmosphere and adventure. Therefore, proper preparation is needed depending on the season of your choice. There are cases of unexpected blizzards and climate issues yearly, so you might want to read a little bit more about the seasons below before taking off.

There are two major times when you can get a never forgetting experience, the two peak seasons of the year. The first is the

Spring season –  The spring season in Nepal which is the very first peak season of the year runs from mid February through April. The spring is the end of the dry winter season and is preferable for clearer views of the mountains as there is less snow dust in the air.

The second division is the

Autumn Season – The Autumn season is the second peak season of the year in Nepal. Autumn in Nepal kicks off in the month of September and sees late November as its end. The Autumn is currently the best season to go trekking in Nepal. With an enjoyable weather, a sky cleared of dust, and fresh vegetation, you are sure to get to the orgasmic level of satisfaction of your adventure.

Apart from the seasons listed above, there are other seasons of the year when you can also go trekking in Nepal. Some people are not really fans of these seasons because of some extreme weather conditions that may cause great disturbances to hikes and treks. Others have agreed that with proper precautions taken, you can as well enjoy these season. In no particular order, these seasons are;

The Monsoon Season – This is also called the rainy season. The summer season comes with the monsoon rain. Its runs from the periods of July to the late Augusts. Due to the downpour, it is not selected as the best condition for trekking as the paths may get slippery.

The Summer season – The summer season in Nepal is referred to as the hot season. It usually occurs between May & June. During this season, the country gets very warm and there’s a spark of dust in the air.

The Winter Season – The winter season is another one of the seasons in Nepal. This season ushers in a lot of snow which obscures the view of the trekkers and enhances blockage of trek paths.

Trekking In Nepal In The Winter Season

The Winter season as stated above is the season of snow in Nepal. The temperature in the cities is always cool. It ranges from 9° to 12°C in the mornings, thus bringing about a foggy morning. In the afternoon, be sure to have a very cool temperature as well, plus a very clear sky. If you are the type that can withstand enough cold when you put on warm clothes, then Trekking around this period is quite recommendable. There are really not much people compared to the Autumn and this gives space for a more enjoyable adventure. Visiting the Annapurna Circuit trek isn’t a bad idea during this season. The mountains remain snowy, therefore high passes are always not free to access. White-top-mountains are also sight to behold. This is usually between December to February.

 

Trekking In Nepal In The Spring Season

The late Februarys to April is known vastly to be Spring season for Nepal. It is proven to be the second best Trekking season. During a time like this, you can expect a perfect temperature condition. The early spring tends to be a but cold, but as it approaches the mid and late spring, you can expect a warm temperature. The spring comes with the sun. For this condition, it is recommendable to visit the Everest Base Camp or oats other region of mountains with about 4000m height, as the temperature is moderate. There is blossom of vegetation to, this further enhances the vibrancy of the beautiful views.

However, the late spring can be a bit worrisome as it gets tad hot. This results in sweaty trek conditions. You are advised to come with your sunglasses / sun screens too. Another plus side on the Spring seasons is the absebmnse of large crowds like the Autumn season. This can help you enjoy your visit to the Himalayas remote corners. The presence of clear skies makes it possible to jet out, or survey the mountains in a flight. This is just perfect.

Trekking In Nepal In The Summer

The summer is know to be the season of the sun, globally. Between the months of May & June (stretches into July sometimes) , if you plan to go trekking in Nepal, you should consider the following conditions. The Summer time is the hot season and can be somewhat disturbing for people who detest harsh sunny conditions. The mountain view is also a bit hazy and unclear. Apart from this, the  condition remains unpleasant due to heavy rain threats from the Monsoon season which sets in next. There fore, the paths are sticky and the monsoon cloud also makes the view terrible. Many people are a fan of this season because it is amongst the cheapest trek season in Nepal. If you think you can survive the above conditions, then you’re good to go. Only one piece of advice, go with you water bottle to stay hydrated.

Trekking In Nepal In The Monsoon Season

The monsoon season is yet another amazing season of the year where trekkers enjoy their treks in Nepal. This is usually between the months of July to August.

In a season like this, a trekkers should expect a similar weather to the Summer, but quite hotter with heavy shower. This enhances high humidity during this period. The existence of the heavy rainfall makes trekking quite difficult as the paths remain sticky and muddy. There is a high chance of landslide. Also, there is high lightening and thunder condition which discourages hiking. The top of the mountains are quite clear when there is really no cloud. However, for anything with a low altitude, the view happens to be very difficult and not eye pleasing.

 

Worry not, during the Summer and the Monsoon seasons, you can have the luxury of visiting the Indian Himalayas which happens to be a center of attraction. The Ladakh is also within your reach. There is a promise of dry climate and low population, plus an amazing scenery as the Ladakh is protected from the Monsoon.

Trekking In Nepal in The Autumn Season

As stated above, the Autumn season stands to be the very best Trekking season in Nepal. For a lot of reasons, the days between September to November are quite blissful and superb for any adventure of your choice. There is perfection in the views due to the overly clear and cloud free skies plus the dust free atmosphere. The dominance of fresh vegetation is also an interesting fact. The imagery is quite vibrant, so you are assured to get the best photography experience.

For a season like this, you are advised to book the treks fast. There is no other reason for this than the excess population. The treks during this season are quite expensive. In the Autumn season, you actually can pick any region of your choice to visit, be it the remote Himalayan regions, or the popular city places, or the Teahouses or the Annapurna circuits. The weather condition favors all. Be sure to have a smooth Autumn Trek experience.

Whatever the season of visit, these are a list of essential things that will keep you safe and in check before and during your treks and adventure in Nepal.

·         Trek choice – As awesome and beautiful as the country of Nepal is, a lot of visitors and trekkers have had terrible experiences during their treks here. Some are keen on doing the ‘Everest Base Camp’ because it is said to be the most popular region of Nepal. The Everest Base Camp gets extremely busy through out the year and might result in delay and stress. There are other appealing centers to visit which will also guarantee your satisfaction with the experience.

·         Budget –  It is understandable if your budget is just for a go at one of the cheapest treks in Nepal. If you fall in this category, stick to the budget, please. Under no circumstance should you try to squeeze in with cheap local guides who’d promise you much more than is realistic for your price. This might result in you having a totally bad trekking experience.

·         Gears – As interesting as the adventure may sound, you definitely need to pack your gears with you to survive. The gears ensure that you are injury free, you stay hydrated and you stay fed. The basic and important gears you should carry with you are; Hiking boots, Water-proof jacket, Water bottle, Baby wipes, Sunglasses, Leggings, headtorch, basic medicine, gloves and so on.

·         Travel Insurance – Ensure you have the right travel insurance to keep you safe. There’s no telling what might happen on the mountains.