Trekking in Nepal during the spring.

The spring months of March and April are the second most popular season for trekking in Nepal. The flowers will bloom in the middle altitude hills in March, while the higher reaches of the hills’ flowers should bloom in April. It is also the windy season from mid-March until the end of April, bringing sudden gusts of wind, rain, and hail storms in the lower to mid-level elevations or even snowstorms at the higher altitude areas. It is also called pre-monsoon weather. The precipitation can make the trails wet, muddy, and slippery. Be cautious when hiking through wet stones/rocks, green or black stones/paths, muddy trails, or tree roots in the woods – assume it is slippery and takes careful steps. You should be able to do most treks in Nepal during spring except for remote and high-altitude treks such as the Upper Dolpo Traverse or Dolpo Circuit, as the high passes would still be covered in snow.

As always – it pays to invest in the right gear, such as a suitable down jacket, sleeping bag, a few layers of fleece, the right thermal underwear, thick hiking socks, gloves, trekking pants, and warm hats, to name a few essential gears. It is always better to have more than less. If you are going on a longer trek, invest in Merino wool products such as their base layers, socks, underwear, etc. Merino wool products are supposed to be odourless for up to two weeks of wear.

It is always better to dress up in layers that you can ‘peel’ one at a time when you start to warm/heat up as you begin trekking.

Benefits of Trekking in Nepal Himalaya during the Spring.

It is the spring season, and flowers bloom in the middle hills of Nepal. Rhododendron forests can be very colourful with white, pink, and crimson red (Nepal’s national flower) flowers, Magnolias, and wild orchids, to name a few. The clouds begin to form in the latter part of the day, and it could start raining at the lower altitude and snow in the higher elevations during the late afternoon or evening. The rain/snow is good as it can clear the clouds for magnificent mountain views the following day.

1) The spring rain, hail, or snow can drop the Rhododendron petals and make the forest floors bright and colourful. It can also clear the clouds for unobstructed views the following morning.

2) All the lodges and restaurants will be open during the spring season.

3) You will be warm while hiking in the sunny weather – perhaps even sweat on the uphill climbs.

4) You will get to meet many other trekkers in the lodges.

5) All food on the menu will be available.

6) The lodges will be fully stocked.

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

You can undoubtedly do a high-altitude trek in Nepal during March. This is because we receive some monthly precipitation for a few days. However, we receive more massive snowfalls during February and March rather than in the middle of winter.

Dangers/Inconveniences of trekking in Nepal during the spring season.

1) The lodges can be crowded with other trekkers but won’t be as busy as in October or November.

2) The Internet can be very slow due to many people who have logged on.

3) There could be a line of people queuing for hot showers.

4) The food might take longer to be prepared due to the number of people staying at the lodge.

5) The toilet floors could be wet and dirty due to the muddy trails.

6) The paths could be icy or muddy due to the spring rain/snowfall. However, the trail could be, and dirt can camouflage the ice.

7) Mid-March, the beginning of the windy season, could be very windy conditions.

8) You will likely face rain in the lower elevations and snow in the higher mountains during March.

9) The views might not be as good in spring as during late autumn and winter. But, again, forest fires are usually the reason.

10) Sudden windy conditions bring rain or hail storms from mid-March to mid-April, as it is the windy season. In addition, you must be careful of flying debris such as signboards, corrugated iron roofs, falling branches, or even uprooted trees.

Trekking during the spring of 2020 was interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the visibility and environment were much cleaner and clearer due to the lockdown brought by the pandemic.

March 2019 experienced record precipitation with more than average rain and snowfall.

April 2018 experienced more precipitation than usual.

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