Nepal in May

Hot in the Terai, pre-monsoon storms; high treks still good early in the month.

May is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• OctoberGreatBest month: clear skies, peak trekking — and Dashain fills transport; book everything early.
• NovemberGreatClear and dry; Tihar early in the month; the best mountain photography.
• DecemberGreatCold but clear; lower treks and Pokhara are good; high passes can close.
• FebruaryGreatClear and cool; Losar and Shivaratri; good for Chitwan and lower treks.

• Kathmandu valley · Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur, Nagarkothot

  Cold nights Dec–Feb (near 0 °C (32 °F)); dust and smoke haze in spring hide the mountains; monsoon rain most afternoons Jun–Sep.Cold nights Dec–Feb (near 32 °F (0 °C)); dust and smoke haze in spring hide the mountains; monsoon rain most afternoons Jun–Sep.

• Pokhara and the middle hills · Pokhara, Bandipur, Gorkhahot

  Pokhara is one of the wettest towns in the country in the monsoon; clear Annapurna views Oct–Dec.

• Terai lowlands · Chitwan, Lumbini, Bardiahot

  Fog on winter mornings; 40 °C (104 °F) in May; Chitwan's grass is cut in Jan–Feb, the best time for rhino sightings.Fog on winter mornings; 104 °F (40 °C) in May; Chitwan's grass is cut in Jan–Feb, the best time for rhino sightings.

• High Himalaya treks · Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Manaslubest weather

  Two seasons: spring (rhododendrons, some haze) and autumn (clearest skies, crowded trails). High passes close with snow Dec–Feb.

• Eastern Tarai: Eastern Tarai plains · Janakpur, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Kakarbhittahot

  Hot and humid April–June (35–40 °C (95–104 °F)); monsoon June–September; the comfortable window is October to early December and February to March.Hot and humid April–June (95–104 °F (35–40 °C)); monsoon June–September; the comfortable window is October to early December and February to March.

• Himalayas, Nepal: High trekking valleys (2,500–4,000 m) · Khumbu, Annapurna, Langtangbest weather

  Two clear windows: late March to May and late September to November. Monsoon June–early September brings leeches, cloud and landslide risk on roads.

• Himalayas, Nepal: High passes and summits (4,000 m+) · Cho La, Thorong La, Larkya Lafine

  Passes can close with snow from December to March; winter crossings need proper gear and a guide.

• Middle Hills: Middle Hills · 700–2,500 m, across Nepalfine

  Clear skies and mild days October–November; haze and heat build March–May; the monsoon brings cloud, leeches on trails and landslide risk.

• Western Tarai: Western Tarai plain · Lumbini, Kapilvastu, Nepalgunj, Bardiyahot

  October to March is dry and 15–28 °C (59–82 °F); April to June passes 35 °C (95 °F); the monsoon runs late June to September with flooded fields and sticky 30 °C (86 °F)+ days.October to March is dry and 59–82 °F (15–28 °C); April to June passes 95 °F (35 °C); the monsoon runs late June to September with flooded fields and sticky 86 °F (30 °C)+ days.

• Kathmandu29 °C (84 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 11 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 11 rain days
• Baitadi32 °C (90 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 8 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 8 rain days
• Bandipur30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 10 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 10 rain days
• Bhaktapur29 °C (84 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 9 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 9 rain days
• Bharatpur33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 9 rain days
• Biratnagar34 °C (93 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 9 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 9 rain days
• Birgunj38 °C (100 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 6 rain days100 °F (38 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 6 rain days
• Birtamod35 °C (95 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 10 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 10 rain days
• Budhanilkantha33 °C (91 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 9 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 9 rain days
• Bungmati29 °C (84 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 10 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 10 rain days
• Butwal34 °C (93 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 8 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 8 rain days
• Chhukhung10 °C (50 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 8 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 8 rain days
• Chobhar29 °C (84 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 11 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 11 rain days
• Chomrong22 °C (72 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 8 rain days
• Daman25 °C (77 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 10 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 10 rain days
• Deboche16 °C (61 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 7 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 7 rain days
• Dharan32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 9 rain days
• Dhulikhel28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 11 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 11 rain days
• Dingboche9 °C (48 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 0 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 0 rain days
• Ghandruk24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 8 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 8 rain days
• Ghat20 °C (68 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 45 °F (7 °C), 9 rain days
• Gokyo12 °C (54 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 5 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 5 rain days
• Gorkha28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 8 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 8 rain days
• Haleshi30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 10 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 10 rain days
• Janakpur36 °C (97 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 8 rain days97 °F (36 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 8 rain days
• Jiri27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 12 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 12 rain days
• Jomsom20 °C (68 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 5 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 5 rain days
• Kakani26 °C (79 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 8 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 8 rain days
• Kakarbhitta33 °C (91 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 12 rain days
• Kapilvastu35 °C (95 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 12 rain days
• Kaskikot30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 12 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 12 rain days
• Khumjung16 °C (61 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 7 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 7 rain days
• Khunde14 °C (57 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 7 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 7 rain days
• Kirtipur32 °C (90 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 7 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 7 rain days
• Kumpur29 °C (84 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 12 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 12 rain days
• Lukla18 °C (64 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 8 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 8 rain days
• Lumbini38 °C (100 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 6 rain days100 °F (38 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 6 rain days
• Monju17 °C (63 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 10 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 10 rain days
• Nagarkot30 °C (86 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 9 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 9 rain days
• Namche Bazaar14 °C (57 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 7 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 7 rain days
• Nepalgunj38 °C (100 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 12 rain days100 °F (38 °C) / 77 °F (25 °C), 12 rain days
• Pangboche17 °C (63 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 10 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 10 rain days
• Patan29 °C (84 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 12 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 12 rain days
• Pharping32 °C (90 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 2 rain days
• Pheriche12 °C (54 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 7 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 7 rain days
• Salleri20 °C (68 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 8 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 8 rain days
• Sarangkot28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 12 rain days
• Sauraha32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 7 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 7 rain days
• Siddharthanagar37 °C (99 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 6 rain days99 °F (37 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 6 rain days
• Sri Antu28 °C (82 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 14 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 14 rain days
• Sunwal35 °C (95 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 9 rain days
• Tangting27 °C (81 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 9 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 9 rain days
• Tansen29 °C (84 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 10 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 10 rain days
• Taplejung28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
• Tengboche16 °C (61 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 7 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 7 rain days
• Thame16 °C (61 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 7 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 7 rain days
• Thulo Sailung22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 10 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 10 rain days
• Tukuche22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 10 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 10 rain days
• Tumling25 °C (77 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 10 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 10 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Buddha Jayanti

  May full moon

  Crowds and butter lamps at Boudhanath, Swayambhunath and Lumbini.

Crowds · Nepal

Medium

Prices · Nepal

Medium

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Nepal, side by side.

• Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• High Himalaya treks

  Best weather of the year (Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Manaslu)

• Dingboche

  Best months: Oct–Nov, Mar–May

• Ghat

  Best months: Oct–Nov, Mar–May

• Jomsom

  Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov

• Lukla

  Best months: Oct–Nov, Mar–May (check)

• Namche Bazaar

  Best months: Mid-Sep–mid-Nov, Mar–May

• Pheriche

  Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Dec

• Tumling

  Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov