Best Time to Visit Nepal from Singapore: Month by Month, for Trekking and Touring

In short

The best time to visit Nepal is October and November, when the monsoon has cleared the air, the trails are dry and the Himalaya stands out sharply. March to May is the second choice, with rhododendrons in flower and warmer nights, though views are hazier by May. December to February is quiet, clear and cold at night, and suits Chitwan, Kathmandu, Pokhara and lower treks. June to September is the monsoon: Kathmandu averages 384 mm of rain in July and mountain flights are often delayed, so most travellers wait, unless they are heading to rain-sheltered Upper Mustang. From Singapore, the year-end school holidays from late November and the March holidays fit Nepal best.

We plan these trips all year from our own team in Nepal, and the question we hear first is whether a date works for a particular trip. A trek, a heritage tour and a tiger safari each have different best months, so this guide goes by what you want to do, then month by month, then by Singapore's 2027 school holidays. Our Nepal tours from Singapore page shows every trip.

Nepal's four seasons at a glance

Averages for Kathmandu airport at 1,337 m, 1991 to 2020, from World Meteorological Organization normals. Higher up it is far colder, and the plains are far hotter.

The best time for what you want to do

• Trekking to Everest or Annapurna: October and November first, then late March to mid-May. Both match the trekking months in our Everest Base Camp: Tibet or Nepal side guide.
• A first trip with temples and mountain views: October to early December, or March and April. Our 5-day Kathmandu Heritage trip suits a long weekend plus leave.
• Tigers, rhinos and elephants: December to March, when the air is dry and days are comfortable in Chitwan National Park and Bardiya. April and May are hot, but animals gather near water.
• Festivals: late September to early November for Dashain and Tihar, March for Holi, May for Buddha Jayanti.
• Fewer people: January, February and the shoulder weeks of early March and late November.
• Lower prices: June to August, when many hotels discount. You trade that for rain and cloud-covered mountains.

Nepal month by month

Temperatures below are Kathmandu's daily high and overnight low, so you can compare them with Singapore's steady 30°C or so.

January: 19°C and 3°C

Dry, clear and the coldest month, with frost possible on Kathmandu mornings. High passes such as those on the Everest Three Passes route hold snow, so this is a month for Chitwan, Pokhara and lower trails such as Poon Hill. Pack a proper down jacket.

February: 22°C and 5°C

Days warm up quickly and crowds stay thin. Chinese New Year falls on 6 to 8 February 2027, which makes a good short Kathmandu trip with a day or two of leave.

March: 26°C and 9°C

Spring trekking begins and the first rhododendrons open on the lower Annapurna trails. Holi is expected on 22 March 2027, a festival calendar lists, right after Singapore's March school holidays.

April: 29°C and 12°C

Rhododendrons reach their peak along the Poon Hill and Langtang forests, and climbers begin arriving at Everest Base Camp. Haze builds in the valleys as the month goes on, so start walks early for the clearest views. The Rato Machhindranath chariot festival often starts now in Patan.

May: 29°C and 16°C

The last good trekking month, with afternoon cloud and the first storms: Kathmandu averages 129 mm of rain. The plains become very hot. Buddha Jayanti is expected on 20 May 2027, the same day as Vesak Day in Singapore, and our Buddha Jayanti guide explains why Lumbini draws pilgrims then.

June: 30°C and 19°C

The monsoon usually reaches Nepal around mid-June, so the first weeks of the June school holidays can still work for Kathmandu and Pokhara, with an umbrella and flexible plans. Expect mountain views only in early mornings, if at all.

July: 29°C and 20°C

The wettest month, at 384 mm in Kathmandu. Roads can close with landslides, Lukla flights are often cancelled and leeches come out on forest trails. Rice terraces are at their greenest, and Upper Mustang is the trekking exception.

August: 29°C and 20°C

Much the same as July, at 343 mm. Choose this month only if your dates are fixed, and plan for cities, temples and wellness rather than mountains.

September: 29°C and 19°C

Rain eases through the month, from an average of 208 mm, and trails reopen in the last two weeks. Singapore's September holidays (4 to 12 September 2027) come a little early for clear views. Indra Jatra fills Kathmandu's old squares around this time, and Teej is expected on 4 September 2027.

October: 27°C and 14°C

The classic month: 43 mm of rain and sharp mountains. Dashain is expected around 30 September to 14 October 2027, with the main tika day about 9 October. Many shops and offices close then, so see our Dashain guide before fixing dates. Trails and flights are at their busiest.

November: 24°C and 8°C

Our favourite month for most travellers. It is the driest of the year, at 6 mm, with cold clear mornings and fewer people after mid-month. Tihar, the festival of lights, is expected in late October 2027, around Singapore's Deepavali on 28 October.

December: 20°C and 4°C

Still clear, and quieter until the Christmas weeks. The Everest and Annapurna trails remain open but nights get seriously cold above 4,000 m, so bring a warmer sleeping bag. It is a good month for a family trip to Pokhara and Chitwan.

The best time by region

• Kathmandu Valley (1,337 m): October to April. Morning smog can settle in winter, so visit Boudhanath and Pashupatinath once the sun is up.
• Pokhara (about 800 m): October to April for mountain reflections on the lake and sunrise at Sarangkot. It is one of Nepal's rainiest towns in the monsoon.
• Everest region: October to November and March to May. Lukla flights may leave from Ramechhap in those months; our Lukla airport guide explains why, and our 15-day trek keeps a spare day for delays.
• Annapurna and Poon Hill: October to November and March to April, with Poon Hill workable in winter too. See our best treks in Nepal for easier options.
• Chitwan and Bardiya: October to March. From April the heat climbs well above 30°C, and some lodges close in the monsoon.
• Upper Mustang: April to October, including the monsoon months, as it sits in the rain shadow of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges.
• Lumbini: October to March. Summer on the plains is very hot.

Nepal in Singapore's 2027 school and public holidays

Dates are from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Manpower.

• Chinese New Year, 6 to 8 February: clear and cold. Good for Kathmandu and Pokhara.
• March holidays, 13 to 21 March: early spring and our pick for families. Trails are open and it is not yet hot.
• Hari Raya Haji and Vesak Day, 17 and 20 May: the last trekking weeks, and Buddha Jayanti in Lumbini.
• June holidays, 29 May to 27 June: go in the first two weeks if you can, before the monsoon sets in.
• September holidays, 4 to 12 September: still rainy. Better for Kathmandu's festivals than for trekking.
• Deepavali, 28 October: clear skies and Tihar at about the same time, but a busy week to book.
• Year-end holidays, 20 November to 31 December: the best long window of the year, with dry weather throughout.

Nepal's festivals in 2027

Most dates follow the lunar calendar and Nepal's government confirms them closer to the time, so treat these as a guide. They come from published 2027 calendars and our own Dashain guide.

• Holi: about 22 March in Kathmandu.
• Buddha Jayanti: about 20 May, at Lumbini and Boudhanath.
• Teej: about 4 September, with women in red at Pashupatinath.
• Dashain: about 30 September to 14 October, with tika about 9 October.
• Tihar: late October.

Getting the timing right from Singapore

• Flights: Singapore Airlines flies nonstop to Kathmandu in about five hours; see our guide to Singapore Airlines to Kathmandu. October and the year-end holidays sell out first. For arrival at Kathmandu, see our Nepal airports guide.
• Time difference: Nepal is 2 hours 15 minutes behind Singapore.
• Layers: in any season, Kathmandu's nights are far cooler than Singapore. Above 3,000 m you need a warm jacket even in spring and autumn.
• Spare days: mountain flights depend on weather in every season. Keep at least one free day before your flight home.
• Weather can surprise: Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology posts forecasts. Late monsoon storms have hit in September and October in recent years, so we watch them for every departure.

Still deciding where to go? Our guide to Bhutan or Nepal compares the two, season by season.