Best time to visit Pokhara, month by month
October and November are the clearest; here is the whole year.
The best time to visit Pokhara is October and November: the monsoon has gone, the air is clear and the Annapurnas stand sharp above Phewa Lake almost every morning. March and April come second, with warm days and rhododendrons in bloom, though the afternoons get hazy. December to February is clear and cold at dawn. June to September is the monsoon: green and quiet, with clouds on the peaks and rain on most days.
The year at a glance
| Month | Night to day | Rain | Sunrise · sunset | The sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 to 20 °C | Almost none | 07:03 · 17:30 | Crisp, clear mornings: mist in the valley till nine, sharp mountains all day |
| February | 8 to 23 °C | A shower or two | 06:45 · 17:50 | Dry and clear, warming up; hazy afternoons late in the month |
| March | 12 to 27 °C | A few showers | 06:15 · 18:10 | Warm days and spring haze; the peaks show at dawn |
| April | 16 to 30 °C | Afternoon thunderstorms | 05:45 · 18:25 | Hot and hazy; mountains at dawn only |
| May | 19 to 30 °C | Storms most afternoons | 05:25 · 18:45 | Hot, humid and hazy; pre-monsoon storms |
| June | 21 to 30 °C | Heavy, mostly at night and in the afternoon | 05:12 · 19:00 | The monsoon arrives mid-month: a green valley, cloud on the peaks |
| July | 22 to 30 °C | The wettest month | 05:20 · 19:00 | Full monsoon: lush and warm, the mountains hidden |
| August | 22 to 30 °C | Heavy | 05:35 · 18:40 | Monsoon continues, with bright breaks between showers |
| September | 20 to 29 °C | Tapering off | 05:50 · 18:10 | Rain easing; the peaks return by the end of the month |
| October | 16 to 28 °C | Rare | 06:05 · 17:45 | The clearest skies of the year: warm days, cool nights |
| November | 11 to 25 °C | Almost none | 06:25 · 17:20 | Clear, dry and perfect |
| December | 7 to 21 °C | Almost none | 06:50 · 17:15 | Clear and crisp: cold mornings, warm sun |
Typical temperatures in Pokhara town (about 820 m). The hills and trekking routes are colder. Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and move a little each year.
The four seasons
October and November: the clearest season
Dry, warm days and cool nights; the best months for mountain views, trekking and paragliding, and the busiest. Dashain and Tihar, Nepal’s biggest festivals, usually fall in these weeks.
December to February: clear and cold
Sharp views and quiet trails, cold mornings around 7 °C and warm sun by day. The Pokhara Street Festival fills Lakeside from December 28 to January 1.
March to May: rhododendrons and haze
Warm to hot, with rhododendron forests in bloom on Poon Hill, Panchase and Australian Camp. The mountains show best at dawn; storms build on May afternoons.
June to September: the green monsoon
Lush rice terraces, full waterfalls and few visitors. Expect rain most days and clouds on the peaks; plan caves, museums and cooking classes for wet afternoons.
Month by month
January
Crisp, clear mornings: mist in the valley till nine, sharp mountains all day.
- The clearest mountain views of the year
- Migratory ducks and cormorants on Phewa, Begnas and Rupa
- Cold nights, bring a jacket
- Pokhara Street Festival: until Jan 1
- Maghe Sankranti: Jan 14
- Sonam Lhosar (Tamang new year): late Jan / Feb
February
Dry and clear, warming up; hazy afternoons late in the month.
- Peak paragliding weather
- Clear mornings for every viewpoint
- Rhododendron starts on the high ridges
- Maha Shivaratri: Feb / early Mar
- Gyalpo Lhosar (Tibetan new year): Feb / Mar, at Tashi Palkhel and Tashiling
March
Warm days and spring haze; the peaks show at dawn.
- Rhododendron forests in bloom on Panchase, Australian Camp and Poon Hill
- Holi colours on the streets
- Long days for hikes
- Holi (Fagu Purnima): March, full moon
- Ghode Jatra: late Mar / Apr
April
Hot and hazy; mountains at dawn only.
- Nepali New Year on the streets
- Rhododendron at its best higher up
- Lake days: boats, kayaks, sunset on the water
- Nepali New Year (Baisakh 1): Apr 13–14
- Buddha Jayanti: late Apr / May, full moon
May
Hot, humid and hazy; pre-monsoon storms.
- Buddha Jayanti at the Peace Pagoda and the monasteries
- Mango season
- Early starts beat the heat
- Buddha Jayanti: May full moon, at the Peace Pagoda
June
The monsoon arrives mid-month: a green valley, cloud on the peaks.
- Rice planting: mud, songs and dal bhat in the fields (Asar 15, about Jun 29)
- The waterfalls fill up
- Fewer visitors, lower prices
- Asar 15, rice-planting day: Jun 29 / 30
July
Full monsoon: lush and warm, the mountains hidden.
- Davis Falls at full roar
- Caves, museums and cooking on wet afternoons
- A clear hour after rain can surprise you
- Guru Purnima: July full moon
August
Monsoon continues, with bright breaks between showers.
- Teej: women in red, songs at the temples
- Rivers high: rafting for the brave
- Green terraces everywhere
- Janai Purnima: Aug full moon
- Gai Jatra: Aug
- Teej: late Aug / Sep, at Bindhyabasini
September
Rain easing; the peaks return by the end of the month.
- Dashain begins: bamboo swings, kites, family feasts
- The terraces turn gold
- Quiet trails before the season
- Teej: early Sep
- Dashain: late Sep / Oct, ten days
October
The clearest skies of the year: warm days, cool nights.
- Mountains out all day, the best month for views
- Dashain and Tihar: swings, lights, family time
- Paragliding and trekking season opens
- Dashain: October, the big one
- Tihar, the festival of lights: late Oct / Nov, five nights
November
Clear, dry and perfect.
- Tihar lights on every house
- Prime trekking and paragliding
- Migratory birds arrive on the lakes
- Tihar: early Nov
- Chhath: Nov, on the lakeside ghats
December
Clear and crisp: cold mornings, warm sun.
- Pokhara Street Festival, Dec 28 – Jan 1: Lakeside closed to traffic, food and music
- Sharp views, quiet trails
- Tamu Lhosar, the Gurung new year, Dec 30
- Tamu Lhosar (Gurung new year): Dec 30
- Street Festival: Dec 28 – Jan 1
Questions people ask
What is the best month to visit Pokhara?
October, closely followed by November. The skies are the clearest of the year, days are warm (up to about 28 °C) and nights cool, so the mountains are out almost every morning.
What is the weather like in Pokhara in October?
Rain is rare, days reach about 28 °C and nights drop to about 16 °C. The sunrise is about 06:05. It is also Dashain and often Tihar, so book early.
Is it worth visiting Pokhara in the monsoon?
Yes, if you like green landscapes and few crowds: the waterfalls are at their fullest and prices are lower. You will see less of the mountains, and some hill roads can be slow after heavy rain.
When is the best time for trekking from Pokhara?
October to November and March to April. December to February is good for low treks such as Poon Hill or Australian Camp if you pack warm layers.
When are the mountains clearest?
From October to February, especially early in the morning. From March the haze builds through the day, so go to the viewpoints at sunrise.