Best Winter Treks in Nepal

Nepal is one of the most popular places in the world for trekking, and in both spring and autumn, the country sees hundreds of thousands of trekkers descending on the numerous trails that wind their ways through the mighty Himalayas. Of particular attention for trekkers are the routes that run to Mount Everest Base Camp and around the Annapurna Range.

While most people tend to travel to Nepal for trekking during the spring and autumn seasons, when the weather is at its best for trekking, there are those that come to Nepal in the winter months. While there are certain areas of Nepal that cannot be trekked in the winter, there are also plenty of places that can be, and a winter trek, with the snow that can dust the mountains, can make for a much more enjoyable experience for those that desire it.

Kathmandu Valley Trek in Winter

Trekking around the Kathmandu Valley is an awesome adventure, and a trek that is suitable for those with little trekking experience or little time to make some of the longer treks. If you are a nature lover and do not want to stray too far from the comforts of the capital, then this trek is ideal for you. One of the most beautiful places in Asia, the Kathmandu Valley is the pinnacle of non-mountain trekking in Nepal.

Known as Rim Valley Trekking, there are a couple of routes that you can take, the main one being from Kakani to Dhulikhel, via Shivapuri, Chisopani, and Nagarkot. A five-day trek, it takes you around the perimeter of Kathmandu through some of the valley’s most stunning scenery. There are also shorter treks in the valley, such as the route from Thankot to Kulekhani, vis Chitlang Village and Dakshinkali Temple, or the day-long treks from Shivapuri to Chisapani and from Chandragiri to Hattiban. The number of days you spend trekking in the valley is really up to you, based on how many days you have spare for trekking and how many for sightseeing. Most treks start from one day to around six days, depending on the route.

There are a couple of routes that you can take within Rim Valley Trekking.

The weather is one of the main reasons that the Kathmandu valley is a good location to trek in the winter months. With its much lower altitude and warmer climate, Kathmandu rarely ever sees snow, even in the coldest months of the year. A region of Nepal that can be visited throughout the year, the Kathmandu Valley lies in the Warm Temperate Zone of Nepal, where the average climate is fairly temperate and not typical for this region. In the depths of winter, the temperatures around the valley can reach as high as 19 to 21 degrees, with lows at night of around 4-5 degrees.

Getting to Kathmandu’s many trekking trails is relatively easy, and you can either get a taxi to the start of the trails or join a tour that can take you there and provide a guide for your trek. If you have no experience, it is usually best to use a guide for the first few times, until you are a little more experienced.

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Everest Region Trek in Winter

The pinnacle of trekking in Nepal, the routes around the Sagarmatha National Park are some of the best in the world, not to mention they usually end at the Everest Base Camp. The Everest region offers some of the world’s greatest treks, with great views and amazing experiences.

With a host of different routes, including the 16-day trek to Mount Everest Base Camp, the stunning circuitous route that takes you off the Everest trail to the lakes at Gokyo Ri, or the 2-3-week Three Passes Trek that combines all of the best parts of the Sagarmatha treks in one, there is something for everyone around Everest, though novice trekkers should use guides. The winter also gives you nice clear skies, which are ideal for getting good views of the mountains around the world’s highest peak.

Everest Region Trek is the pinnacle of trekking in Nepal.

The weather in the Everest region in the winter can be a little extreme at times, and while there are times when the mountain is completely inaccessible, this is not often, and only in the worst and coldest months of the year. While the weather can be cold in the winter months, from November to February, with strong winds, these colder months can be better for trekking, as there are fewer tourists along the trails. Daytime temperatures can be comfortable, and even warm in the sunshine, although the nights can get pretty cold, reaching well below freezing.

Getting to the Sagarmatha National Park requires you to take a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, the start of the Everest trail, which lies halfway up a mountain at around 2,845 meters above sea level. All of the treks in the region start from Lukla, and you can find plenty of accommodation and places to eat there, despite being relatively small.

Langtang Trek in Winter

Lying in the Rasuwa District of Nepal, close to the border with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, the Langtang Valley is the perfect destination for people that want to trek in the Himalayas, but with a little easier route than the Everest or Annapurna treks. Langtang valley gives you shorter trekking routes at lower altitudes, which makes it ideal for beginners and novices. Treks range from 3 days to 6 days, depending on the route you take through the valley. Most treks start and end at Syabrubesi.

Langtang valley provide shorter trekking routes at lower altitudes.

The trek is close to the city of Kathmandu, at only around 80 kilometers away, but it is hard to tell that, with the Langtang National Park covering the whole valley. The route is one of the most scenic in the region, heading through forests of dense bamboo and rose trees, with an abundance of waterfalls, all in view of the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. It is also a good place to trek for those wanting to know more about the unique culture of the region, which resembles the Tibetan culture just over the border.

Langtang has a warm and temperate climate, despite being right on the border with Tibet. However, while it may be temperate, the winter temperatures can get pretty cold at night, with highs and lows ranging between minus seven and plus seven degrees. January is the coldest month, with an average temperature a little below freezing. The advantage of the Langtang trek is the lack of snow, as it is low enough to be clear through the winter.

To get to the trail head, it is easy to get a bus from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi, which lies on the western edge of the park. Buses leave several times a day, or you can get a shared van that can drop you there on the way to Rasuwa Gadhi.

Annapurna Trek in Winter

The Annapurna Trek is one of the most popular treks in Nepal, and runs within the Annapurna Mountain Range in the central Himalayas. There are actually several treks in the range, which vary in distance and duration from 160 kilometers to as much as 230 kilometers, and from twelve to twenty-one days, depending on the trek.

Winter, from December to March, is the coldest period on the trails, but it is a much better time to trek to avoid the vast crowds of trekkers that spring and autumn bring. Daytime temperatures can be cold, around freezing or a little above, and at night it drops to well below freezing. However, as long as there is no really heavy snow, many of the lodges and teahouses stay open in the winter months, so accommodation is available. There is often snow in the region in winter, but unless it blocks the trails, they are normally open. The only problem part would be the Thorong La Pass, which is usually blocked with snow from late December to the middle of February.

The Annapurna Trek is one of the most popular treks in Nepal.

Before trekking in the Annapurna Range, you should check the weather, both current and forecast, and it is a good idea to travel with a guide or as a group, as the winter months are the time when avalanches are more prevalent in the region. The trekking route in the Annapurna range are not for inexperienced or novice trekkers, however, as they are hard and arduous, reaching altitudes above 5,000 meters.

Getting there can be done by private vehicle to Besisahar or by public bus, which takes around 6-7 hours. Buses run daily, and leave in the mornings at around 9:30am. If you are hiring a private car to take you, then expect it to be expensive, as the trip is around 170 kilometers.

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Chitwan Trek in Winter

Chitwan National Park is one of the best places to do some low-altitude jungle trekking, and is the ideal place to trek if you love to see wild animals along the trails. Chitwan has several types of jungle treks available and the winter months from December to February are the best times to visit. The weather in the winter months is pleasant, with cool northerly winds coming down from the Himalayas. It can get a little cold in January, with nighttime temperatures getting as low as seven degrees, and daytimes only reaching around 24 degrees.

Treks available range from short one-day treks to treks of five days and more, depending on how long you want them to be. Chitwan has three separate zones for trekking, and each takes you deeper into the jungles of southern Nepal. The day-long treks start at dawn and include a canoe ride to the trekking area in Zone 1, and usually a trek to a known spot for the local rhinos. 2-3-day treks head a little further into Zone 1, and sometimes include a little of Zone 2. 3-5-day treks are the best for wildlife spotting, as they head deeper into Zones 2 and 3, and there is a much better chance of seeing the wild rhinos or Bengal tigers. It should be noted that trekking alone in Chitwan National Park is not allowed, as it is a reserve for wild animals. The treks are usually in groups with a guide or two, although you can have a private trek, with just you and the guide, if you want to pay the additional cost.

Chitwan can be reached easily by bus from Kathmandu. Tourist buses, which have air-conditioning, run from the Thamel district to Chitwan, departing at around 7:00am daily, including weekends. The buses take around 5-7 hours to get to the park, and cost around 500 to 650 rupees per person, which you can bargain for to reduce the price a little. Buses from Pokhara also run daily, taking around five hours and costing around 450 rupees.

Suggested Winter Clothing for Nepal Trekking Tours

It is best to pack light, especially if you are carrying your own pack along the trail. You do not ant to carry too much, and even if you do use a porter, they are only able to carry a certain weight. Removing unnecessary and useless items will keep your pack light enough to be able to carry comfortable.

The bare essential is what you should be looking at, and as such, the list should look something like this:

A pair of good quality waterproof hiking boots
A spare pair of inside shoes
6 pairs of underwear and four pairs of socks, which can be washed as you travel.
Two pairs of good quality hiking pants
One pair of shorts
Two jumpers (fleece or woolen)
Two sets of thermal tops and bottoms
One Gore-Tex jacket
One down jacket for wearing under the Gore-Tex
One pair of waterproof pants
1 beanie hat and 1 buff for your neck
1 pair of thick gloves (Gore-Tex is best)
Personal hygiene essentials
First aid kit
Reusable water canteen with water purification tablets

Tips for Winter Treks in Nepal

If you are planning a Nepal Trekking Tour in winter, it is a good idea to hire a guide for the trek, even if you have one it before. Winter trekking is very different from summer trekking, and it is best to have someone with you, as it can be harder to get to someone who has had an accident in the winter months if they are alone.

You should make sure you know the local weather patterns for the season you are trekking in, and make sure you check the weather forecasts regularly, both before and during your trek. A small FM or AM radio can help you keep in touch with the weather reports for the region whilst on the trail.

Pack light, as light as possible, or you may regret adding those hair straighteners or all those gadgets when your pack starts to feel heavy after a couple of days. Lose all the non-essential equipment you usually take on holiday with you, as they will not be needed halfway up a mountain or in the depths of the Chitwan jungles.