Nepal trek conditions today

Right now 1 of 5 treks we track score Good or better, 3 Fair and 1 Poor or Avoid. Closures are currently reported for Manaslu Circuit. Peak autumn season: Most stable weather of the year; cold nights high up and busy lodges. Conditions differ by route and change within hours — check the live score for your trek and always follow Nepal DHM warnings, local authorities and your guide.

Everest Base Camp has the highest score right now: 91/100 (Excellent). Wind chill -28°C on Kala Patthar Looking ahead, the best day in the 7-day outlook is Sun 18 Oct on the Annapurna Base Camp (score 97).

October and November are usually the best months: the monsoon has withdrawn, skies are clearest and the trails are dry. March to May (spring) is the second main season, with warmer weather and rhododendrons but more haze and afternoon cloud. The monsoon normally runs from around mid-June to late September or early October, and in winter (December–February) high passes can be closed by snow.

Some people do, but it is the hardest time: daily rain, leeches, cloud-hidden mountains, frequent landslides on approach roads and gorges, and delayed Lukla flights. Rain-shadow areas north of the main Himalaya are drier, but you usually have to pass through wet, landslide-prone valleys to reach them. Watch the landslide factor in our score and keep spare days.

Of the treks we track, the most accessible is Langtang Valley (Moderate, 6–8 days, max 4,773 m), followed by Annapurna Base Camp (Moderate–strenuous, 7–10 days, max 4,130 m). The most demanding is Everest Base Camp (Strenuous, 12–14 days, max 5,545 m). All of them go above 4,000 m, so every one needs gradual acclimatisation.

Since April 2023 Nepal has required foreign trekkers in most regions to trek with a licensed guide, and restricted areas such as the Manaslu Circuit have long required a permit arranged through a registered trekking agency, a licensed guide and at least two trekkers. Enforcement and rules can change, so confirm the current requirements with the Nepal Tourism Board or a registered agency before you travel.

It depends on the route: most treks need a national-park or conservation-area entry permit, many areas also use the TIMS card, and restricted areas need a special permit. Everest Base Camp: Sagarmatha National Park entry permit, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit. Annapurna Base Camp: ACAP entry permit, TIMS card. Langtang Valley: Langtang National Park entry permit, TIMS card. Annapurna Circuit: ACAP entry permit, TIMS card. Manaslu Circuit: Manaslu Restricted Area Permit, MCAP entry permit, ACAP entry permit. Fees and rules change — check with the Nepal Tourism Board.

Above about 3,000 m, raise your sleeping altitude by no more than roughly 500 m per night and take a rest day every 3–4 days (or every 1,000 m gained). Drink enough, avoid alcohol, and never ascend with symptoms such as headache, nausea or unusual fatigue. If symptoms get worse, descend immediately — confusion, loss of coordination or breathlessness at rest are emergencies. Ask a doctor about medication before you go.

Nepal Tourist Police: 1144. DHM weather and flood hotline: 1155. On the trail, lodges, national-park and conservation-area checkposts and health posts can relay rescue requests. Carry travel insurance that explicitly covers trekking to your maximum altitude and helicopter evacuation, and keep the policy number with your guide.

Each trek is scored 0–100 from hourly forecasts at every waypoint, corrected to its real altitude. Six factors are combined: conditions at the high point during the pre-dawn crossing window, snow and pass status, landslide risk against the Nepal Himalaya rainfall threshold, trail weather, mountain views and access (flights or roads). Reported closures and severe hazards cap the score. 80+ is Excellent, 65+ Good, 50+ Fair, 35+ Poor and below 35 Avoid.