Best Time to Trek Annapurna Base Camp - Annapurna Circuit Trek

Climate Preference

The best time to trek Annapurna base camp - Annapurna circuit trek depends on how you wish to take your coffee. Nepal is rich in geography with wide range of climatic condition; a decision about the best time to trek hugely depends on how you wish to trek and what you wish to view during trekking in Annapurna circuit. Here’s the list of seasonal characteristic and pros and cons during Annapurna circuit trek in Nepal.

Annapurna Circuit Trek

Autumn (September-November)

• Climatic Condition: Autumn is often regarded as the best season for Annapurna circuit trek in Nepal. The weather is pleasant, comfortable though unpredictable and changeable. The temperature sometimes gets hot even at the elevation of 3,000m. This is the peak season for trekking in Annapurna circuit so it is better to book flight in advance.
• Scenery: The climate in fall is highly pleasant and so are the mountain views. It is the perfect time for trekking in Annapurna when everything is rejuvenated, refreshed and vibrant. This is also the season when you get to view the snow-capped mountains and outstanding nature decorated at its finest. Astonishing view of Annapurna I, II, III, IV and Dhaulagiri range are the major attraction of Annapurna circuit in summer. Although weather remains mild during fall, sometime grooving clouds over the head of mountain vistas creates difficulty in viewing.
• Clothing: Pack of woolen jackets as the weather gets cooler in Annapurna Sanctuary
• Festival: Autumn gives you the cross-cultural privilege of Hinduism. This is the season when the great festival of Hindu, Dashain followed by Tihar starts. So, it is great to lace up your hiking boot and go for trekking in Annapurna circuit during autumn.

Winter (December to February)

• Climatic condition: As Annapurna circuit rises to an altitude of 5,416m at Thorong La Pass touching Tibetan plateau, the weather here in winter is freezing cold. The climate in winter is exceptionally cold with frequent snowfalls. This season is not recommended for trekking in higher altitude like Annapurna circuit.
• Winter is an adventurous season when you encounter very few flock of tourist and few opened teahouses. The climate can be blizzard with stunning sunshine and flawing winds. The crossing of high pass is not guaranteed, however it is a true time to experience the real Himalayan life of Annapurna circuit.
• Scenery: The mountainous vistas are often covered with snows offering great opportunity for snowy scenery. People living in altitude of Annapurna circuit migrate to lower altitude in winter.
• Clothing: Thermal longjohns, Inner insulating wear, outer layer- windproof and water proof jackets, down, proper footwear, skin and eye protection and helmets.
• Festivals: Enjoy Tamu Loshar, Christmas and Mageshangrati in highland of Nepal. They follow the religion in their own cultural and religious manner. Tamu Loshar (Dec30) is the year according to Gurung calendar. It is the greatest festival celebrated by Gurung community in Nepal. They visit monasteries and Buddhist shrines and gather in a common place to perform cultural song and dance.

Annapurna Circuit Trek

Spring (March to May)

• • Climatic condition: The weather in spring at Annapurna circuit is delightful. It is second peak season of Annapurna circuit with its warmer weather and longer days. Thriving rhododendron forest covers the hillsides of Annapurna sanctuary which make your trail immensely rewarding. The downside fog might obscure the mountains however it is possible to trek up.
  • Scenery: Clear weather with panoramic view of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, blooming rhododendron all over and truly inspiring climate.
  • Clothing: Woolen Jackets and light cloths for both cold and hot situation.

• Festivals: Enjoy the dance performance of monks in Mustang. Addenting the Tiji festival in Upper Mustang is the main-highlight of the Annapurna Circuit trek.

Summer (June to August)

• Climatic condition: Summer is known as monsoon in Nepal. The weather in Annapurna circuit is quite hot with sizzling temperature. However, the climate is cool as it’s higher up and relatively gets less rain.  The torrential downpour, mudslide and leeches make the trekking completely impossible throughout the Annapurna circuit in summer. Basically, the northern vicinity of Annapurna circuit encounters less rainfall and southern region, particularly around Pokhara, gets heavy rainfall. The northern section of Annapurna circuit like Mustang gets very less rainfall because it lies in rain shadow region. To be clear, the average rainfall of Pokhara is 3474mm. So, if you are ready to endure some rainfall in some section, summer might be the perfect season for trekking in Annapurna circuit.
• Scenery: Blooming flowers adorns the mountain and leaves gets black green. Monsoon is especially for botanist when the surrounding hills are full of lush vegetation with numerous flora species. The less-crowded trail in monsoon lets you experience the wilderness trekking in Annapurna region. Everything looks special in bright sun but it may be too hazy for perfect photography.
• Clothing: You must bring sunglasses, sunhat and hat to protect from extreme sunlight. Bring wind proofs and rain proofs to stay away from rain.  Don’t forget to bring umbrella, although it might be useless while hiking in steep terrain.
• Festival: Annapurna circuit  trekking is full of highland festival and cultural excursion in Nepal. Attend Yartung Mela in Muktinath valley on full moon day (July-August) in Shravan according to Bikram calendar. Yartung means end and Mela means festival, it means a festival to send off summer.