Wildflowers and festivals

Spring trekking season

We’re well into Spring now and this is one of the best times to trek in most of the Himalayan regions. Spring, from March to late April/early May is one of two main trekking seasons, the other key season and most popular time to trek is the Autumn, from October to end of November. It is possible to trek at other times and the quieter times such as December, January and February are also a great time, depending on where you go, with quieter trails and less visitors overall, which is a real draw for many visitors and a favourite time for some of our own team to visit.

Trekking trails and rhododendron festivals

During Spring, when you’re in the mountains you can expect to see beautiful wildflowers colouring the hillsides and meadows,  and whole swathes of countryside vibrant with the reds and pinks of rhododendron blooms, Nepal’s national flower. Bhutan has even launched its own Rhododendron Festival this April, and Spring is a key time for festivals in Bhutan as well as in Nepal and India with Holi (the festival of colours) and Nepali New Year all in Spring, something to consider when you’re planning a visit. If you want the chance to experience a festival, it’s best to book early as flights and accommodation can get booked up quickly as it’s a time when many travellers visit.

Temperatures start to rise from March although at that time it can still be a little chilly in early morning and late evening/overnight as well as cooler at higher elevations of course, above 3000m. The further south you go, for example in the Terai region in Nepal, popular for wildlife safaris and in Kerala in India, it’s always at least a few degrees warmer. Typically, in Spring you’ll have blue skies and warm, comfortable days. In April, above 3000m you may still get some snowfall although elsewhere even in winter it’s unusual to have any snow at lower elevations.

Cultural tours and wildlife safaris

Spring is also an ideal time to book a cultural tour or wildlife safari, with generally comfortable temperatures (hotter in the south if visiting Chitwan National Park or Bardia National Park, especially into April and May) and good conditions for wildlife spotting and for travelling, before temperatures really start to climb from early May leading up to the monsoon season.

Late Spring into Summer

For most of the Himalaya, the summer months are monsoon (rainy) season and whilst it’s possible to visit, it’s not the ideal time and not recommended for trekking although a few ‘rain shadow’ treks are possible such as in Mustang and the Everest region. Flights can get delayed or cancelled due to the weather, trails can be muddy and slippy, leeches are in proliferation along the trails, there can be mudslides and really if you’re visiting the Himalaya, to have the best experience possible, visit during Spring, Autumn or if you like things quieter, the winter months.

The exception to this is Tibet and also Ladakh in India when the summer months are the ideal time to visit, whether on trek or tour. At other times, due to their high elevation, the conditions are too extreme and temperatures too low, so the best time to visit Tibet or Ladakh is from April to early September, ideal for a great summer adventure. We’ll share more on summer treks and tours in the Himalayas in our next blog, or if you can’t wait for that, Contact Us and we’ll be happy to share more.

If you’d like inspiration for your first or next adventure in the Himalayas, visit our website at www.one-himalaya.com for featured itineraries and inspiration. All our treks and tours can be customised to your requirements (for example adding a safari or including other activities) and run either as a small group trek or private trip. If you’d like to discuss options or if you’d like us to design a tailor-made itinerary, designed just for you, Contact Us and we’ll be happy to help!