Introduction

Traditionally the preserve of hippies seeking spiritual enlightenment and climbers tackling the world’s highest peak, Nepal has long held an air of mystery and fascination for travellers. A far more diverse group of visitors has descended on the country in recent years though, albeit principally backpackers in search of adventure and a taste of traditional culture.

Nepal has woken up to this fact and has begun to court the interest of travellers looking for a hint of adventure, but not necessarily the “roughing it” that is traditionally associated with this kind of trip. It’s now possible to stay in a luxury hotel with swimming pool overlooking the Himalayas by night – and still pretend you’re an intrepid traveller by day.

You don’t need to climb to the top of Everest to enjoy Nepal’s natural splendour. There are numerous possibilities for treks that can be as lazy or as arduous as you wish. Many people take to the hills around Pokhara at the foot of the Annapurna range where they can enjoy the wonders of the snow capped mountains or relax at the edge of the shimmering Phewa Lake.

Nepal’s natural wonders are not confined to mountain scenery, either. Many visitors are surprised to find that the country is also home to subtropical climes in the Terai region, where the national parks are some of the last refuges for rhinos, tigers and wild elephants – not quite what you’d usually associate with Nepal.

For culture lovers and those looking for spiritual (or intellectual) enlightenment there is no shortage of ancient architecture, mainly in the form of Buddhist and Hindu temples, not only in the capital Kathmandu but also hidden away in the smaller, more remote towns of Patan with its 50 temples and 100 monasteries, or Buddha’s birthplace of Lumbini.

Weather

In Nepal the main considerations to take into account regarding the weather are the altitude, which of course has a drastic effect on temperature, and the monsoon, which brings heavy rain during the summer months.

Although Kathmandu and the lower plains of Nepal enjoy a mild climate year-round, if you are going higher up into the mountains, the temperature will drop considerably, especially at night time and during the winter (from late November to late February). At high altitude, nights can drop to as low as -20°C in winter, though daytime temperatures at lower altitudes are generally mild at up to 20°C. In winter also the snowline descends to around 2000-3000 metres, though snow is rare below 2000m.

The monsoon season is from mid-June to mid-September – and it can rain a lot, so if you’re planning lots of outdoor activities, prepare to get wet. You may find that many trekking routes are impassable at this time of year – particularly in July and August when rainfall is at its highest – so if this is your main reason for visiting, you’d be best off avoiding these months. This is, nonetheless, the hottest time of year, when temperatures average at around 24°C in Kathmandu and it can reach 30°C.

At either side of the monsoon season, from mid-September to mid-November and March to mid-June, the temperature is generally mild and comfortable and these are the best periods to visit the country. The weather can be unpredictable at any time of year, however: there can be heavy rain at either side of the monsoon season or sharp drops in temperature as winter approaches.

Average Weather Guide:

Temperature in Degrees Centigrade

Rainfall in Millimetres

The tables above are intended as guidelines only.