Tourism Seasons by Country
Pick a country to see its tourist season month by month — high season, shoulder season and low season — along with any festivals that affect prices, crowds or closures that month.
Nepal
| Month | Season Description |
|---|---|
| January | October and November are Nepal's absolute peak trekking season — the most sought-after window in the entire Himalayan region. Teahouse lodges on the Everest Base Camp route and the Annapurna Circuit are booked solid; the trail from Lukla to Namche Bazaar sees hundreds of trekkers per day. Permits sell out and guides must be reserved months ahead. Prices for lodges, guides, and porters are 50–80% above low season. December through April (spring) is also high season for trekking: rhododendrons bloom in March–April and the trails are busy but slightly less crowded than autumn. Kathmandu festival season (Dashain and Tihar in Oct–Nov) fills the city. Christmas and New Year bring a premium-travel crowd to Pokhara lakeside and Kathmandu boutique hotels. |
| February | October and November are Nepal's absolute peak trekking season — the most sought-after window in the entire Himalayan region. Teahouse lodges on the Everest Base Camp route and the Annapurna Circuit are booked solid; the trail from Lukla to Namche Bazaar sees hundreds of trekkers per day. Permits sell out and guides must be reserved months ahead. Prices for lodges, guides, and porters are 50–80% above low season. December through April (spring) is also high season for trekking: rhododendrons bloom in March–April and the trails are busy but slightly less crowded than autumn. Kathmandu festival season (Dashain and Tihar in Oct–Nov) fills the city. Christmas and New Year bring a premium-travel crowd to Pokhara lakeside and Kathmandu boutique hotels. |
| March | October and November are Nepal's absolute peak trekking season — the most sought-after window in the entire Himalayan region. Teahouse lodges on the Everest Base Camp route and the Annapurna Circuit are booked solid; the trail from Lukla to Namche Bazaar sees hundreds of trekkers per day. Permits sell out and guides must be reserved months ahead. Prices for lodges, guides, and porters are 50–80% above low season. December through April (spring) is also high season for trekking: rhododendrons bloom in March–April and the trails are busy but slightly less crowded than autumn. Kathmandu festival season (Dashain and Tihar in Oct–Nov) fills the city. Christmas and New Year bring a premium-travel crowd to Pokhara lakeside and Kathmandu boutique hotels. |
| April | October and November are Nepal's absolute peak trekking season — the most sought-after window in the entire Himalayan region. Teahouse lodges on the Everest Base Camp route and the Annapurna Circuit are booked solid; the trail from Lukla to Namche Bazaar sees hundreds of trekkers per day. Permits sell out and guides must be reserved months ahead. Prices for lodges, guides, and porters are 50–80% above low season. December through April (spring) is also high season for trekking: rhododendrons bloom in March–April and the trails are busy but slightly less crowded than autumn. Kathmandu festival season (Dashain and Tihar in Oct–Nov) fills the city. Christmas and New Year bring a premium-travel crowd to Pokhara lakeside and Kathmandu boutique hotels. |
| May | May is the transition into monsoon: pre-monsoon cloud builds but many trekkers still attempt shorter routes. Permits and lodges are available without advance booking — except on Everest, where the spring climbing season peaks in May. September marks the end of the monsoon and is Nepal's quietest trekking shoulder: trails are green and fresh, mountain views begin to clear, and teahouse prices are moderate. A good month for the experienced trekker wanting solitude on popular routes. |
| June | June through August is the monsoon season and Nepal's low season for foreign trekkers. High-altitude trails become leechy, muddy, and often blocked by landslides. Most teahouses on the Everest and Annapurna routes remain open but operate at fraction of peak capacity. Prices are at their lowest: room-and-board deals at teahouses are sometimes negotiable; guide and porter day rates fall 20–30%. Kathmandu sightseeing (Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath) is still excellent year-round and much less crowded in monsoon. Chitwan National Park wildlife viewing remains good. Inner-Mustang and the Manaslu area sit in rain shadows and are the key trekking destinations that stay viable through the monsoon season. |
| July | June through August is the monsoon season and Nepal's low season for foreign trekkers. High-altitude trails become leechy, muddy, and often blocked by landslides. Most teahouses on the Everest and Annapurna routes remain open but operate at fraction of peak capacity. Prices are at their lowest: room-and-board deals at teahouses are sometimes negotiable; guide and porter day rates fall 20–30%. Kathmandu sightseeing (Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath) is still excellent year-round and much less crowded in monsoon. Chitwan National Park wildlife viewing remains good. Inner-Mustang and the Manaslu area sit in rain shadows and are the key trekking destinations that stay viable through the monsoon season. |
| August | June through August is the monsoon season and Nepal's low season for foreign trekkers. High-altitude trails become leechy, muddy, and often blocked by landslides. Most teahouses on the Everest and Annapurna routes remain open but operate at fraction of peak capacity. Prices are at their lowest: room-and-board deals at teahouses are sometimes negotiable; guide and porter day rates fall 20–30%. Kathmandu sightseeing (Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath) is still excellent year-round and much less crowded in monsoon. Chitwan National Park wildlife viewing remains good. Inner-Mustang and the Manaslu area sit in rain shadows and are the key trekking destinations that stay viable through the monsoon season. |
| September | May is the transition into monsoon: pre-monsoon cloud builds but many trekkers still attempt shorter routes. Permits and lodges are available without advance booking — except on Everest, where the spring climbing season peaks in May. September marks the end of the monsoon and is Nepal's quietest trekking shoulder: trails are green and fresh, mountain views begin to clear, and teahouse prices are moderate. A good month for the experienced trekker wanting solitude on popular routes. |
| October | October and November are Nepal's absolute peak trekking season — the most sought-after window in the entire Himalayan region. Teahouse lodges on the Everest Base Camp route and the Annapurna Circuit are booked solid; the trail from Lukla to Namche Bazaar sees hundreds of trekkers per day. Permits sell out and guides must be reserved months ahead. Prices for lodges, guides, and porters are 50–80% above low season. December through April (spring) is also high season for trekking: rhododendrons bloom in March–April and the trails are busy but slightly less crowded than autumn. Kathmandu festival season (Dashain and Tihar in Oct–Nov) fills the city. Christmas and New Year bring a premium-travel crowd to Pokhara lakeside and Kathmandu boutique hotels. |
| November | October and November are Nepal's absolute peak trekking season — the most sought-after window in the entire Himalayan region. Teahouse lodges on the Everest Base Camp route and the Annapurna Circuit are booked solid; the trail from Lukla to Namche Bazaar sees hundreds of trekkers per day. Permits sell out and guides must be reserved months ahead. Prices for lodges, guides, and porters are 50–80% above low season. December through April (spring) is also high season for trekking: rhododendrons bloom in March–April and the trails are busy but slightly less crowded than autumn. Kathmandu festival season (Dashain and Tihar in Oct–Nov) fills the city. Christmas and New Year bring a premium-travel crowd to Pokhara lakeside and Kathmandu boutique hotels. |
| December | October and November are Nepal's absolute peak trekking season — the most sought-after window in the entire Himalayan region. Teahouse lodges on the Everest Base Camp route and the Annapurna Circuit are booked solid; the trail from Lukla to Namche Bazaar sees hundreds of trekkers per day. Permits sell out and guides must be reserved months ahead. Prices for lodges, guides, and porters are 50–80% above low season. December through April (spring) is also high season for trekking: rhododendrons bloom in March–April and the trails are busy but slightly less crowded than autumn. Kathmandu festival season (Dashain and Tihar in Oct–Nov) fills the city. Christmas and New Year bring a premium-travel crowd to Pokhara lakeside and Kathmandu boutique hotels. |
Festivals & events
Holi
Celebration
Mar · approximate dates
The festival of colours, joyously messy in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Lunar date, usually March.
Bisket Jatra
Celebration
Apr
Bhaktapur's new-year chariot festival with a giant tug-of-war. Around mid-April.
Dashain
Closures
Sep–Oct · approximate dates
Nepal's longest festival (~15 days). Shops, offices and services close and transport is packed. Lunar dates, Sep–Oct.
Indra Jatra
Celebration
Sep · approximate dates
Kathmandu's great street festival with masked dances and the Kumari chariot. Lunar date, usually September.
Tihar (Deepawali)
Celebration
Oct–Nov · approximate dates
Five-day festival of lights honouring animals and siblings. Lunar dates, usually October–November.
