Nepal has four seasons, spring, monsoon, autumn, and winter. Spring is warm to hot depending on the places you visit ( see the temperature chart below). There are occassional rains but generally the weather is fine in spring. Moonsoon brings heavy rains . Autuman has very pleasant weather with clear blue sky and clear mountains . Winter gets chilly and needs really warm clothes if you are going to the mountains. Kathmandu has an elevation of 1350m ( 4500 ft approx) and Pokhara 850 m( approx), for temperature in Kathmandu and Pokhara in different months , refer the table below.
Nepal can be visited throughout the year for sightseeing tours .For trekking tours the best time is from last week of september to first week of June. However shorter treks like Ghorepani poon hill trek or Jomsom trek can be done even in summer. Summer is an ideal season for trans himalayan treks like Upper mustang, Dolpo , Nar Phu valley or for alpine flower treks as these places lie in rain shadow zone of the Himalayas.These areas experience only minimum of rain even in summer, it is warmer and vegetations grow and alpine valley floors bloom with flowers.
Temperature in Kathmandu , Pokhara and Chitwan
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |||
| Kathmandu | Max | ºC | 19 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 24 | 20 | 20 |
| Min | ºC | 1 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 8 | 1 | |
| Pokhara | Max | ºC | 20 | 21 | 27 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 23 | 21 |
| Min | ºC | 8 | 8 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 11 | 7 | |
| Chitwan | Max | ºC | 24 | 26 | 33 | 35 | 35 | 36 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 24 |
| Min | ºC | 7 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 18 | 12 | 7 | |
Source: Ministry of Science
Your Health in Nepal
We recommend you to immunize against certain illness that are not prevalent in your home country such as Cholera, Typhoid, Malaria, Meningitis, Hepatitis etc. Your physician would be best able to advise them on the availability and administration of these inoculations.
Please ensure that all water is boiled & filtered before consumption. Normally all hotels and reputed restaurants in Kathmandu serve safe water but while eating in an ordinary establishments do not eat green salads and when you need to drink stick to soft drinks or bottled mineral water. Iodine tablets are easily available for treating water while in the trek.
A travel insurance policy that covers theft, loss & medical treatment is recommended. You should make sure that your insurance policies also cover soft adventure activities during your stay in Nepal /Tibet such as rafting, trekking etc; For high altitude trekkers and climbers, policies should also cover helicopter evacuation expenses in case of serious illness or accident or if clients are stranded in remote areas due to the unexpected.
It is always wise to bring a simple medical kit of your own( though we provide a medical kit ourselves too). The followings are recommended:
- Aspirin for pain or fever
- Antihistamine - useful as a decongestant for colds, allergies, to ease the itch from insect bites
- Antibiotic - useful if the clients are traveling well off the beaten track
- Kaolin preparation (Pepto-Bismol), Imodium or Lomita, for treatment of severe diarrhea.
- Antiseptic, Mercurochrome & antibiotic powder or similar “dry spray” - for cuts & stings
- Bandages & band-aids – for minor injuries.
- Scissors & a thermometer.
- Insect repellent sun block, sustain lotion, water purification tablets.
- Paracetamol
- Antacid tablets
- Diamox for altitude sickness if you are going for high altitude trekking.
- Your regular medicine, vitamins if your are taking any.
In case of illness there are a number of hospitals with good facilities for treatment in major cities with English speaking medical staffs.
