Trekking in Nepal during September

For most trekking tour operators, the month of September is the beginning of the autumn trekking season. However, it is the tail end of the monsoon season, and it can rain until the third week, and occasionally it rains until the end of the month. The daytime temperatures are to be warm to hot and humid below 1500 meters, warm up to 2500 meters, and warm/cool above 2500 meters. Therefore, you can do most treks during September, and it is advised to choose higher altitude treks for cooler temperatures. This is an ideal time to do regular treks such as Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake, Everest base camp, Mardi Himal, Annapurna Base Camp, or go for more adventurous walks such as The Upper Dolpo Circuit or Upper Dolpo Traverse or Upper Mustang as these regions are in the rain shadow.

It pays to invest in the right equipment such as a suitable raincoat or even an umbrella, sleeping bag, a couple of fleece layers, right thermal underwear, thick hiking socks, gloves, trekking pants, and warm hats name a few necessary gears to invest in. It is always better to have more than less.

It is good to dress up in layers, which you can ‘peel’ one at a time when you start to warm/heat up as you begin trekking. You can hike in shorts in the lower to middle altitude areas.

Benefits of Trekking in Nepal Himalaya during September.

This is the beginning of the fall season; some flowers are still blooming in Nepal’s middle and high hills. However, the clouds can begin to form during the early afternoon, and it can start raining at the lower altitude and snow in the higher elevations during the late afternoons. This could be a good thing to clear the clouds and clear the clouds for excellent mountain views the following day. You might even see a lot of substantial colourful moths during September while trekking in Nepal.

• The trekkers will start to be seen on the trail and in the lodges if you go trekking during September to the popular trekking areas where there are lodges.
• You will be warm to hot while hiking during the daytime.
• You will meet other trekkers on the trail and lodges.
• The WIFI speed should be decent as the fall season isn’t yet in full swing.
• You can use the internet for weather forecasts and temperatures.
• There will be fewer people queuing for hot showers.
• You can see villages ripening crops such as rice and millet.

Can I do a high-altitude trek in Nepal during September?

You can undoubtedly do a high-altitude trek in Nepal during September. This is a better time to do a high-altitude trek than February or March. However, you can expect some snowfall in the higher elevations, but this should melt quickly due to the warmth and humidity. We do receive some precipitation for a few days every month. We receive more massive snowfalls during February and March rather than in the middle of September.

Dangers/Inconveniences of trekking in Nepal during September.

Trekking trails can still be muddy and slippery. Be careful of wet roots while trekking through forests. Leeches might again come out when it is raining or in moist areas. For prevention, you can make a small pouch of rock salt and chewing tobacco. You can dab the bag on the leeches when they get on your boots, clothes, or you. You need to dip the bag in water to moisten it is more useful this way. Some people burn leeches or use Dettol or regular salt. However, the rain can wash them off, making rock salts and chewing tobacco mixture an excellent choice.

Landslides can be dangerous; walk briskly with utmost caution when you cross landslide areas on the trail. DO NOT stop to take photos in the middle of the landslip area. Instead, two or more of you cross the landslide area while the other person looks out for falling rocks.

Thunder and Lightning storm

It is not a regular occurrence, but occasionally there might be thunder and lightning storms. So in case, you are caught in the rain:

Take refuge in a vehicle or grounded building when lightning and thunder begin.

If you are far from a vehicle or a building, stay clear from tall objects like trees, electric/telephone poles, and bodies of water. Instead, find a depression or a low spot and make yourself as small as possible – DO NOT lie down on the ground.

If you are a group, spread yourselves 50-100 feet away to avoid multiple victims, as lightning can travel along the ground.

If you happen to be indoors, avoid taking showers or doing laundry and avoid charging your phone or other gadgets.

Stay indoors for at least 30 minutes after the last seen lightning or since the last thunder.

• Start early in the morning to avoid the afternoon rains. There usually is a pattern when it starts to rain. Study it for a couple of days or speak to the lodge owners.
• The leeches start coming out in elevations below 2400 meters if it rains.
• It can be hot and humid in lower elevation areas.
• Insects in the lower altitude areas can bite you – bring suitable insecticide.
• September is the monsoon’s end; rains could disrupt domestic flights to or from Short take-off and landing strips (STOL) airports like Lukla, Jomsom, and Juphal. In addition, landslides can block roads causing delays in your holiday program.

September 2021 – The disturbances in the Bay of Bengal cause heavier precipitation than usual.

September 2020 – There was a lull in the monsoon rains in the first week while the second and thirds precipitation returned to ‘normal.’

September 2019 – The combination of heavy to moderate rainfall was experienced this month.

September 2018 received a lot of rainfall during the first ten days; then, there was a lull in precipitation, which picked up again from the third week. As a result, there was a massive influx of trekkers on the famous trails of the Everest, Annapurna, and Langtang regions.

Check out our Trekking packages for Nepal, Bhutan, India, and Tibet.

The treks that are good for September are listed below: