October is one of the best months for visits to Nepal. The month is suitable for every activity, from outdoor adventures like trekking, cycling, mountain climbing, rafting to sightseeing tours.
It is also a great time for a peaceful and relaxing visit to the country.
All the trekking destinations and routes within Nepal are open in October. October is host to favorable weather conditions along with the 2 biggest festivals of Nepal.
October is favorable for all types of trekking in Nepal. People with various levels of physical fitness, budgets, and duration can go for trekking in Nepal in October.
Allow us to tell you everything you need to know about Trekking in Nepal in October.
Contents
Weather Condition in October in Nepal
Due to the wide diversity of landscapes of Nepal, the weather conditions and temperatures do vary on the trekking routes.
Yet, the average temperatures during the day in Nepal are between 14- 25 degrees Celsius.
The days are warm, sunny, and long with clear skies. During the night, the average temperature drops to 5-10 degrees Celsius.
The temperature also drops with an increase in altitude and vice versa.
After 4,000 meters, the temperature drops by 1 degree with every 100 meter ascend.
On average, the nights are colder than the days.
To give you a better idea, here are some weather conditions you may face in October in Nepal during your treks.
Nepal (On average): 14- 25 Degree Celsius
Sunshine Duration: 10 Hours
Rainfall: 67 mm
Kathmandu (1,400m) is the capital city of Nepal and where most journeys in Nepal begin.
14-25°C
Sunshine Duration: 10 Hours
Rainfall: 67mm
Pokhara (827m-1,740m) is where most treks to the Annapurna Region begin.
14-29 °C
Sunshine Duration: 11 and Half Hours
Rainfall: 140mm
Jomsom (2,760m) is a popular rest stop for the classic and popular Annapurna Circuit Trek.
5-17 °C
Sunshine Duration: 11 and Half Hours
Rainfall: 22mm
Namche Bazaar (3,440m) is a popular rest stop for treks in the Everest Region.
1 to 15 °C
Sunshine Duration: 11 and Half Hours
Rainfall: 63mm
The sunshine hours is the average number of hours the sun is out. The climate also changes with the change in altitude. The passes and Base Camps have more extreme conditions than other routes.
Best Trekking Trails in Nepal for October
As October is one of the best seasons for treks in Nepal, all the trekking trails are open.
Depending on the experience you are looking for, you can have your pick from among the many trekking destinations.
Given below is a list of the most recommended trekking trails in different trekking regions in Nepal.
Everest Region
The Everest Region of Nepal offers some of the highest and most popular treks in the world.
There are different valleys to explore in the Everest Region. Each of the valleys has impressive views of giant snowy peaks, glaciers, and beautiful villages.
To help you decide which trek is best for you, here’s a list of the main trekking routes. You can choose one depending on your time frame, budget, and the experience you are looking for.
Short and easy trails
Popular and classic Trails
Gokyo Lake Trek
Less Crowded trails to reach Everest Base Camp (EBC)
More challenging and adventurous treks
3-Pass trek
2-Pass trek with EBC
Trekking peaks to climb
Island Peak trek with EBC, Mera Peak trek
Annapurna Region
The Annapurna Region offers varied scenery and culture. Each of the treks in this region starts or finishes near Pokhara- the city of Lakes.
The popular treks in this region are on a much-trodden track. The trails are accessible and you will be close to modernization on these trails.
Most of the trails offer clear views in October.
Short and Easy Trails
Annapurna Panorama Trek:
This is the most scenic short trek in Nepal. It is one of the busiest trekking routes with lodges and tea stops at regular intervals.
You trek to the heart of the Annapurna range. Doing so takes you through huge hills, traditional Gurung settlements, and great views of the mountains.
Throughout the trail, you get 360-degree views of clear and beautiful skies, sunrise, sunset, and mountain peaks.
This is another short and beautiful trek through wide and well-maintained (steep at some places) trails. The lodges here are large and comfortable. There is also minimal risk of altitude sickness.
You pass through beautiful Magar and Gurung villages and some dense rhododendron forest.
From Poon Hill, you get great views of the Annapurna South, Annapurna I, and Dhaulagiri.
Popular and Classic Trails
Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Trek
One of the classic treks in the Region is the Annapurna Base Camp Trek.
This exciting trekking route takes you through picturesque villages, waterfalls, and streams. You also pass through lush green meadows, and captivating forests of rhododendron, pine, and oak.
The full Annapurna Circuit trek takes you around the Annapurna massif.
You trek alongside Marshyangdi river all the way to its waterhead beyond the Annapurna range.
You also enter into Manang, Mustang, and cross the famous Thorong La Pass. Views of the beautiful Himalayas is breathtaking.
Some major peaks you can view on this trek are Annapurna II, III, and South, and Lamjung Kailash. Along with these, you can also see Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Dhaulagiri, Tukuche Ri, Nilgiri South, and other minor peaks.
You will cross many suspension bridges, and travel past waterfalls, and small traditional villages.
You can also choose to do the mini-Annapurna Circuit Trek.
Langtang Region
This region is the most accessible way to reach the Himalayas from Kathmandu. Here you have the beautiful options of Langtang Valley trek, Gosaikunda Lake Trek and Helambu Trek.
These offer views of majestic Mountains and lush green valleys. These short-mid length treks offer sensational views along with a cultural experience.
The trails here are less crowded with less infrastructure for a luxury trip.
For easy and comfortable trekking, you can also opt for the Tamang Heritage Trail. You pass and stay at beautiful Tamang villages along the way while enjoying some beautiful views.
For those searching for real adventure trekking in this region, you can opt for the Ganja La Pass trek or the Panch Pokhari Trek.
Rest of Nepal
These cover all parts of Nepal besides the aforementioned popular regions for treks.
Short and easy Trails
Chisapani Nagarkot Trek
Chepang Hill Trek
Popular and Classic Trails
This trek takes you through the unspoiled and varied countryside of Nepal. You pass rice terraces, Tibet-influenced villages and lush green forest up to a 5,100 meters pass.
This route also offers basic lodges with minimum facilities.
You can visit the Gorkha royal palace. You also get fabulous views of the mountains and make your way to the Tibet-flavoured country of Nupri.
Remote and less crowded Trails
Rara Trek
Upper Dolpo Trek
Note:
- The Short and easy trails are for individuals looking to enjoy the views and the trek at ease and comfort.
These trails are ideal for trekkers wishing to spend some time in nature without having to walk for many tiring hours. These are also perfect for trekking with family and as an introduction to high altitude treks in Nepal.
- The popular and classic trails are the most crowded trails of the regions.
These see the largest number of visitors, trekkers, and climbers. These are usually on the bucket list of every backpacker and traveler all around the world.
These follow classic trail routes set by the legendary trekkers, mountaineers, and adventurers from around the world.
- The remote and less crowded trails are for trekkers and individuals looking for an off-beat trekking experience.
These are lesser known, more remote and less visited trekking trails of the region.
Even during a peak trekking month like October, these trails see fewer crowds than the popular classic trails of Nepal.
It’s perfect for individuals looking to enjoy the peace and tranquility and spend time with nature and the Himalayas.
Highlights of Trekking in Nepal in October
Ideal Weather conditions
On the trails, you will enjoy moderate temperatures and perfect weather conditions for treks. This means dry, clear, bright, and long days and cool nights.
Greenery and Flowers
October is also the time when you can enjoy the scenery of lush and green hills, valleys, and forests.
It is also the time when the fields are full of paddy, millet and mustard plants. At some places, buckwheat, maize and other kinds of crops are growing.
So you can enjoy these different kinds of greenery on the trails. You may also find these in the nooks and crannies of the rocky trails.
The energy of Fellow Trekkers and Visitors
October also receives one of the largest numbers of trekkers and visitors on the trails.
Hence, you can enjoy conversations with fellow trekkers and visitors. You can also enjoy the aura and presence of potential climbers on their way to the different summits of Nepal.
Clear and Amazing Views
October offers clear, dry, and warm days and nights.
It has some of the lowest rainfall of the year. Hence, you can enjoy fabulous clear views of the surrounding mountains and landscapes.
Trek at your own pace
It also has a daily average sunshine hour of 10-11 hours. So, you can enjoy your treks at your own pace without having to rush to your trek destination.
You will have lots of time to enjoy the trails and nature without having to worry about getting dark and cold quickly.
Open High Passes and Trekking Peaks
Even for high altitude treks, the weather conditions are relatively stable this month. Hence, you can attempt one or many of the passes or trekking peaks of your trek destination.
All the High Passes and Trekking Peaks are open and doable in October.
Festivals
Enjoy the culture and traditions of the locals at their festive best. If you time your trek well, you can witness the celebration of Nepal’s 2 biggest festivals- Dashain and Tihar.
Best Trail Conditions
All the trekking trails, routes, and destinations are in the best trail conditions of the year. There is a very low chance of trails being muddy, slippery, or wet.
Lower Risks
You can enjoy your trekking experience with some of the lowest risks. There are fewer chances of avalanches, mudslides, and landslides, in October.
The chances of roadblocks and flight delays are also less. Along with these, the chances of infestations of mosquitoes, leeches, and other insects are also lower in October.
Solo or Group treks in October
You can do both solo and group treks in Nepal in October.
October is a mid-autumn season in Nepal. It is the best season and month to trek in Nepal.
On most trails, you will find someone to talk to in the hotels, teahouses and the trails. Hence, you can always ask for help and directions when you need to.
So, if you wish to trek solo, this is one of the best months to do so.
However, there are some trekking destinations and regions in Nepal where the Government of Nepal doesn’t allow solo trekkers.
Types of Trekking
In Nepal, there are generally 2 types of trekking. They are:
Teahouse trekking
As the name suggests, you trek towards your trek destination of the day which is the next teahouse. You will find the teahouses along most of the popular trekking trails.
The teahouses in Nepal not only provide food but also lodging with all the basic amenities.
In October, all these facilities are open and running in Nepal.
Hence, going for this option is more comfortable and easy. These type of treks also allows for luxury trekking in Nepal. You will have better accommodation choices along with meals and transportation in this type of trekking.
Camp trekking
Camping is also a great option in Nepal in October.
In this type of trek, you will be making camps on your destinations along the trail of your trek.
You and your team will carry all the camping essentials along with your trekking essentials.
These types of treks are suitable and available for remote areas where there are no tea houses.
October is a great time for camp trekking as well. The weather and the trails will be dry and in their best condition.
Short / Long Duration Treks in October
As mentioned earlier, all treks of Nepal are open in October. Depending on your needs and convenience, you can choose the duration for your trek.
Nepal has a wide variety of options on all duration for treks. These include short day-hikes in and around the cities to month-long treks in the Himalayas.
Given below are some examples of different duration treks:
Short day-hikes to 10-day Treks
The types of short treks available in Nepal are quite varied. From the short treks to the ones in and around the cities.
Some popular short treks are Shivapuri Day Hike, 9 days Mardi Himal Trek, and 7 days Tamang Heritage Trek.
These treks are perfect for individuals who are short on time yet want a Himalaya Trekking experience.
During October, there is very little chance of your itinerary getting disrupted due to flight delays or roadblocks. Hence, you can easily stick to your schedule.
Though short, these come in different difficulty levels as well as in different trekking regions of Nepal.
More than 10 days (Long) Trek
Nepal, being the land of the Himalayas, is home to some of the most varied and beautiful trekking destinations of the world.
If you are not short on time in October, you have the whole of Nepal for treks.
Some popular long treks are 18 days Ganesh Himal Trek and 21-24 days Makalu Base Camp Trek.
Longer duration treks are great for those looking for a more in-depth experience of trekking in Nepal. You can choose from a wide range of easy-difficult level long duration treks.
With/ without a guide and porter
With the wide range of choices of treks in Nepal in October, you can do your treks with or without a guide and porter.
It is always a safer option to do your treks with one or more of them.
A guide and porter will provide you with in-depth information about the trails and its physical infrastructure.
Final Say,
Trekking in Nepal in October is quite popular so you will need to book everything in advance to ensure you get your choice of flights, accommodation, and trekking package.
For any further questions or queries related to treks in Nepal in October or any other month, feel free to contact us.
You can also contact us to help you create your own custom itinerary to better suit your travel dates and duration.