Trekking in Nepal in Winter: Pros, Cons, and Insider Tips

Wondering if trekking in Nepal in winter is a good idea? You’re in the right place!

I lived in Nepal for 7 months and trekked in winter not only once, but twice. My first trek was Ghorepani Poonhill for 3 days in early January. The second was Annapurna Base Camp over 7 days in mid/late February.

I quickly learned that not only is trekking in Nepal in winter do-able, it also comes with a large list of benefits. Like the extra magic a shimmering field of snow adds to the majestic mountain views or the cozier time spent huddling around the fire with the local families who own the teahouses.

There are also a lot of important things to know before doing a winter trek in Nepal, like to rent crampons and trekking poles (we learned this the hard way as we flailed and crawled our way up slippery hills). Or the right things to pack to deal with the extra cold.

In this guide, you’ll find it all. The pros, cons, insider tips, what to expect, which tour operators to book with, packing, and more!

Winter in Nepal: What is it Like?

Kathmandu Valley

I lived in Nepal from September to the end of March, so I experienced the full winter season.

In Kathmandu Valley, winter is pretty mild. The lowest the temperatures get in peak winter are around 0 degrees Celsius. The day time highs get up to around 7 degrees.

👉 It is important to note that while this may not seem that cold, Nepal does not have central heating. They rely entirely on space heaters for heating indoors. We wore lots of sweaters indoors and got gym memberships so we could shower with hot water. Some of the newer fancy hotels have heating, but most still don’t.

🛏️ If you want the more modern amenities like temperature control, we stayed in Aloft Kathmandu for a few nights and I highly recommend it. It was my first hot rain-fall shower in months haha. It feels really luxurious for a cheap price.

The Mountains

Temperatures and weather in the mountains is a lot more intense.

The temperatures get down to -7 or even -10 at higher elevations. The average highs sit around 2 – 3 degrees.

Snow storms also happen and the mountains are known for their unpredictability. However, winter is technically the season that has the clearest skies for mountain views.

Pros of Winter Treks

1. There are WAY fewer crowds

Winter trekking in Nepal means wayyyyy less people on the trails. For example, Ghorepani Poon Hill is one of Nepal’s most famous treks so it sees hundreds of people per day in peak season. Some people describe it as so crowded, that it’s hard to enjoy the views.

When I hiked to Poon Hill in January, there was a ton of space to move and experience solitude at the top. There’s a tower to get a higher vantage point and we even had it to ourselves for a short period of time.

Teahouses also get a lot less crowded. There were only one or two other groups of hikers at the ones we stayed at. We spent most of our time enjoying the local owners’ company around the fire.

The trails themselves are serene. You’ll go hours without seeing other people.

2. The snow makes the mountains a winter wonderland

I found there to be some extra magic in the mountains when the landscape is covered in snow. We got some amazing photos with clear skies and shimmering white in all directions.

I also enjoyed the extra playful feeling that comes with trekking through snow. The steps down from Poon Hill were covered over with snow, so we slid our way down!

3. Clear skies and stunning views

The winter season brings extra great views of the Himalayas because the skies are most bright and clear.

When I lived in Nepal for 7 months, the best views I saw of the mountains from Kathmandu were in the months between December and February. In the winter, I’d see them roughly once a week, compared to the one single time I saw them in the fall.

4. Cheaper off-season prices

Visiting Nepal in the off season can bring cheaper prices and more opportunities for deals. The costs of accommodation will be cheaper in some hotels and even in tea houses along your trek.

You will also have an easier time bartering for a lower price for trekking gear and activities in the cities. If you are planning to trek with a tour company, some will even offer off-season trekking deals as well.

5. A guaranteed bed with no need to worry in advance

With so many people trekking in peak seasons, some have a hard time finding a bed in their desired village stops. The more established treks will have many different teahouses offering accommodation, but even those will run out of space occasionally in the spring and fall.

Since you are not able to book accommodation in advance online, this can be a stressor. Tour companies assure you will get a bed, but if you’re trekking with an independent guide, you might get stuck with the lesser ideal options.

Tea houses will often allow people to sleep out on the cushioned benches in the common spaces in these cases. However, trekking in the off-season definitely eliminates this stress altogether.

Cons of Winter Treks:

1. Colder temperatures

This is an obvious one. It can get to -10 degrees on cold winter nights! It does slightly change depending on which elevation you’re at, but no matter where you are, it’s cold.

Trekking to Ghorepani Poon Hill in January, I experienced lows of -5 degrees Celsius at night. With a proper -10 sleeping bag and a down jacket, it felt management. I only really noticed it for the split second I got undressed when changing clothes.

Annapurna Base Camp in February was even colder, reaching -10 degrees at night in Deurali.

Teahouses have wood burning furnaces to warm your feet at the end of the day. Most of them also give you comforters to add on top of your sleeping bag.

I personally enjoyed the extra challenge that came with navigating the winter temperatures!

👉 Tip: You don’t need to worry about owning or bring your sleeping bag on an international flight. They are super easy and cheap to rent or buy in Pokhara or Kathmandu.

2. Heavier packing

Your bag will be heavier because of the extra layers/equipment you need to pack in winter.

Things like down jackets, winter hats, gloves, crampons, trekking poles, etc.

For a shorter trek this isn’t overly noticeable. However, once you start getting up into week+ long treks, it can really make a difference.

The good news is, you can always hire a porter to carry your pack for you. They carry up to 10kg in weight per bag. You do have to pay extra of course, but it contributes to the local economy and sustaining a family’s livelihood.

3. Some treks become inaccessible or have more risks to consider

Some trekking routes in Nepal are not recommended or outright closed during winter. Any treks with high mountain passes like the Annapurna Circuit or the Gokyo Lake trek above Everest Base Camp.

Some treks are open but not recommended in winter, like Everest Base Camp.

There are higher risks of avalanches and ice conditions in certain regions. Here are three examples of treks you can do in winter and what their risk levels are:

• Ghorepani Poon Hill – You’ve probably noticed from me referring back to Poon Hill, but this trek is open. It is also fully accessible and, in my opinion, better in the winter! The trek is at a low enough altitude and does not take you through any avalanche prone areas.

• Annapurna Base Camp – While still doable, there are some added risks to trekking to ABC in the winter. I was surprised how mild the conditions can be, I sometimes even wore a t-shirt during the day. However, as we reached the last stop before base camp, we unexpectedly got a lot of snow. The risk for avalanche became too high and we ended up having to turn back. If we had left for our trek one day earlier though, we would have been totally fine. So, this trek is definitely a possibility in the winter, but there is a risk that you won’t get to complete your entire journey.

• Langtang Valley Trek – Langtang is a 6 hour drive from Kathmandu and a great winter trekking option. It takes between 6 – 8 days. The trek stays at lower elevations so there sometimes isn’t even snow on some portions of the trail.

The Best Treks to Do in Winter

1. Ghorepani Poon Hill

Max Elevation: 3,210 metres

Days: 3 – 5 days

Difficulty: Moderate

I hate to be a squeeky wheel, but of course I have to add Poon Hill to the list. It is short and sweet with ENORMOUS rewards. The winter adds to this trek by reducing typical crowd levels and adding a winter wonderland effect.

Ghorepani starts in Nayapul, or about 1 hour before Ghandruk if you take a jeep past Nayapul like I did. Key towns to stop in along the way are Ghandruk (2,012 metres), Tadapani (2,630 metres) and an overnight stay in Ghorepani (2,874 metres).

The highlight is waking up for sunrise on Poon Hill, with views over Fishtail, Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri mountains.

⭐If you want to book a winter trekking tour with a local guide, you should try this one!

2. Annapurna Base Camp: 7 Days

Max Elevation: 4,130 metres

Days: 7 – 9 days

Difficulty: Difficult

Annapurna Base Camp is surprisingly mild in winter. The harsher snowy conditions only start to take effect once you get closer to Duerali at 3,200 metres.

You hike up and down mini-mountains basically to get through a valley towards base camp. At the top you are surrounded by 8,000 metre mountain peaks towering above you, like the North face of North Face of Machhapuchare Himal (aka Fish Tail).

This tour even includes a stop through an adorable flower-covered town with hot springs. This was one of my favourite stops on the trek to rest our sore muscles after 5 days of hiking. Plus I found 7 days the perfect number for ABC.

⭐ Check out this amazing tour of ABC, including a hidden hot springs stop!

3. Mardi Himal

Max Elevation: 4,500 metres

Days: 5 – 7 days

Difficulty: Moderate

Mardi Himal is in the same conservation area as Poon Hill and ABC, but has a unique vantage point of fishtail mountain. It is also a lot more off-the-beaten-path, so if you like trying places most tourists haven’t seen, this is your best bet.

The highlight of trekking Mardi Himal is the narrow snow-dusted ridge you trek along (safely) with front row views of Annapurna South. You might need crampons for portions of it, but the trail is open all year.

This is one of the best tours of Mardi Himal. It is 6 days, one of the most affordable, AND has free cancelation up to 24 hours in advance (which is helpful in winter).

⭐ Check out the Mardi Himal Trekking tour!

4. Langtang Valley

Max Elevation: 3,800 metres

Days: 6 – 8 days

Difficulty: Moderate

Langtang is in Langtang National Park in Nepal, north of Kathmandu. It is a beautiful valley trek, leading through forest, past frozen waterfalls, and to the final Kyanjin Gompa peak.

There are no high passes to cross and you get great immersion into Nepali village life and big‑mountain solitude.

This incredible 7 day Langtang Trek was the one I wanted to try before having to leave Nepal early for COVID. Luckily it has free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance!

⭐ Check out the 7 day Langtang Trekking tour!

5. Everest Base Camp / Everest View Trek

Max Elevation: 3,860 metres – 5,364 metres

Days: 5 – 9 days or 12 – 14 days

Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult

Out of all of these winter treks, Everest Base Camp is probably the hardest to do in winter. I’d say there are better options, unless you have your heart set on Everest.

The temperatures in this region are colder, plunging to -22 degrees at night. The day highs are still around 2 degrees. You will also definitely need crampons and trekking poles to handle the icy conditions.

The reward of trekking to EBC is enormous! You get to see the tallest mountain in the world towering 8,849 metres high. For reference, that is the height some commercial planes fly at.

The Everest View Trek is a shorter version that gets you to a great viewpoint of the mountain, without having to get as high in elevation.

This is one of the best tours of EBC. It has free cancellation and includes your flights to/from Lukla airport. It also has local guides and porters and includes your 2 nights stay in Kathmandu on either end of the trek.

Here’s a great option for the shorter Everest viewpoint trek.

⭐ Check out the 14 day Everest Base Camp Trek!

What to Pack for Your Winter Trek

Packing the right way in winter is especially crucial. But it’s tough to balance packing light with all the extra items you need to stay warm and safe. Here is the list of items I found essential for my winter treks:

• Winter -10 sleeping bag (these can be rented in Pokhara or Kathmandu from many of the gear shops. Yak and Yeti is great in Pokhara).
• Sleeping bag liner – for cleanliness with rented sleeping bags
• Merino wool base layers
• Regular long-sleeves
• Fleece sweater
• Down jacket
• Water proof outer shell
• Smart wool socks – Proper wool socks are ESSENTIAL!
• Winter hat and gloves
• Trekking poles
• Crampons (potentially – we needed these for Poon Hill and a portion of ABC, but Lang Tang doesn’t always need them. Ask your guide).
• Sunscreen – You can still get burnt to a crisp in winter. The UV in the mountains are strong.
• Cash – For tipping your guides and porters and buying snacks at the teahouses. I purchased a lot of Oreos on my treks haha.
• Head Lamp – Especially for some sunrise hikes.
• Face mask – For in Kathmandu. The smog and pollution levels are really bad and most people wear masks or covers.
• Quick‑dry trekking towel
• Small first‑aid and blister kit – Moleskin, tape, ibuprofen. You won’t be able to find any of this up in the mountains.

Important Tips for Trekking in Nepal in Winter

• Pack the Right Equipment – You will need a winter sleeping bag, crampons (otherwise you’ll be crawling up the steep snowy hills like I did… oops!), and trekking poles.

• Give Yourself A Little Extra Time – Trekking in the snow is like walking through deep sand on the beach. It takes a little bit longer. Allow yourself an extra hour at least each day to account for the extra challenge.

• Consider Hiring a Porter – Take a little weight off your shoulders and hire a porter to carry your heavier winter bags. These guys are superstars and make trekking with two 10kg bags look like a cake walk.

• Make Sure Your Travel Insurance Covers Your Trek – This goes for all seasons, but especially in the winter when risks of slipping and other injuries can be slightly higher. Most standard insurance does not cover trekking, so make sure you get any necessary add-ons.

• Understand That Mountain Weather is Unpredictable – The mountains put off some pretty powerful vibes and trying to predict the weather is not always reliable. Just keep this in mind and go into the experience with appropriate expectations!

• Spend Some Time in Pokhara – We’ve talked a lot about Kathmandu, but Pokhara is the closest city to the Annapurna region with Poon Hill, ABC, and Mardi Himal. There are so many amazing things to do in Pokhara before or after your trek so make sure you stay for an extra day or two. For example, I went paragliding the day after finishing Poon Hill and had a spa day after my ABC trek.

Finally: Final Tips on Travelling to Nepal

You will surely spend some time in Kathmandu before moving on to your trek and if you have the time, I highly recommend spending a few days there.

Where to stay?The best places to stay in Kathmandu are around the Thamel area. This is where all the trekking shops are for you to rent gear or book any last minute trekking tours.

What else is there to do in Nepal? Aside from exploring Kathmandu for a few days, you can take hot air balloon rides in Pokhara, go on jungle safaris in Chitwan National Park, take a cable car ride at Chandragiri, and way more!

Read Related Posts About Nepal

• 21 Amazing Tourist Attractions in Pokhara
• The Ultimate Kathmandu Itinerary for 7 Days in Nepal
• 11 Unique Things to Do in Nepal
• Trekking in Nepal in Winter: Pros, Cons, and Insider Tips