Nepal has got a very distinct geographical variation. The country elevation ranges from 59 meters to 8,848 meters to the top of the world. Nepal is divided into three regions- Terai, Hills, and Mountains. All of these three regions have completely different weather and climate conditions from each other. The Northern part of this country is more on the cooler side in summer with harsh winters, whereas the south has tropical summer and mild winter.
Talking about seasons, Nepal has five seasons- Spring, Summer, Monsoon, Autumn, and Winter. At every 1,000 meters gain in elevation, an average of 6°C temperature drops. Terai exceeds 37° C (99°F) and more in summer, while in winter, the temperature ranges from 7°C to 23°C (45°F to 73°F). Likewise, in the hilly region temperature is usually mild and can plummet under zero.
As Kathmandu is a valley, the climate here is pleasant. Summer sees an average of 19°C – 35°C (66°F to 95°F), whereas winter sees 2°C – 12°C (36°F and 54°F) respectively. In the Himalayas or mountain region, the climate is usually chilly. As the elevation will increase, the temperature falls, with more exposure to the sun and strong wind.
Best Time to Visit Nepal
Spring (March to April)
Spring is one of the peak times to travel in Nepal, especially in the Himalayas. As the dry and harsh winter comes to the end, spring warms up the climate and makes the visibility of the mountains clear. The temperature remains average, neither too hot nor too cold. Likewise, this time of the year makes the trail extremely beautiful with distinct vegetations and a range of colorful flowers. This is also the most preferred time to climb the major Himalayan Mountains.
Autumn (mid-September to November)
Autumn is another great time to travel in Nepal. The trails are packed with adventure lovers. You can see people from around the world at this time of the year. Clear sky and bright days, with a little zest of cold air, make the journey perfect. Likewise, Nepali people celebrate the major festivals in autumn, therefore you might get to be part of some of these extremely vibrant celebrations. The trail is greener, and the weather is mild.
Monsoon (end-June to August)
Monsoon is no doubt the least recommended time for traveling in Nepal. The heavy rainfall can ruin even tours around the cities. Therefore, it is good to plan a trip in the monsoon. However, there are few treks that can be done in the monsoon season in Nepal. The Upper Mustang region falls under the rain shadow of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, which results in little to no rainfall during this time of the year.
Winter (December to February)
Trekking in winter limits the options. As you can still go on a few trekking trails in the winter, do know that the views might not be clear and sudden change of weather is inevitable in the Himalayas. Most of the trail gets closed due to extreme snow-fall and harsh cold. Similarly, cultural tours are the best possible activities to do in winter in Nepal.
