Manang (Annapurna) weather in May
May in Manang: cool, soaked, with muggy air — fine if you can take 27 rainy days.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#6 of 12 months in Manang · #899 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 76/100 (tier B)
- Days
- 13°C
- Nights
- 5°C
- Wet days
- 27
- Sun
- 11.4 h
- Humidity
- 85%
- Daylight
- 14 h

Traveller notes on Manang in May
Notes from nearby Pokhara (44 km away)
Manang doesn't have its own notes for May yet — these are about Pokhara, close enough to share the season.
Forum posters describe May as genuinely hot in the Pokhara valley, commonly citing daytime temperatures around 26-30C, with brief thunder showers a real possibility even though the full monsoon hasn't arrived yet. Posters frame May as noticeably less wet than the June-September monsoon peak, which is a fair relative comparison - though the real monthly data shows May itself already carries a high number of rainy days, more a ramp-up into the wet season than a genuinely dry month in absolute terms. Posters do flag a real tradeoff for mountain views: increasing haze and humidity this time of year can soften or obscure distant Himalayan peaks, even on days without active rain, something to weigh for anyone prioritizing clear mountain photography over comfortable trekking temperatures.
Other months in Manang
Manang-forum threads on a March visit describe the road here as genuinely now fully vehicle-accessible from Besisahar, posters naming this a real change from the trek-only access of years past. Regulars call crossing Thorung La this early a genuine open question, several posters asking whether the pass at over five thousand meters is realistically crossable by late March. Posters call March genuinely still pre-season for the high route, several regulars naming this why timing needs careful checking before committing to a full circuit attempt. Regulars call side trips from Manang still genuinely worthwhile regardless of pass conditions, several threads naming this a real fallback if the crossing looks too risky. Posters recommend checking current pass conditions with local guides, several regulars calling this standard given how much snow can still block the route this early. The record: 5.6C days, -3.1C nights, 67mm across nearly 13 days and 68 percent humidity.
Manang-forum threads on a September Annapurna Circuit trip describe late-month timing as straddling the shift into the main trekking season, posters calling the trail busy with real competition for rooms. Regulars call showers still a factor into September and October, heavier rainfall raising a real risk of mudslides along parts of the route. Posters recommend booking ahead rather than assuming a room will be available on arrival, several regulars describing this as standard practice for a busy September trek. Regulars call weather here genuinely unpredictable at this elevation, one poster citing a fall storm that dropped over a meter of accumulation in a single stretch. Posters recommend real cold-weather layers and flexible scheduling regardless of exact September dates, conditions capable of shifting a trek's timeline with little warning. The record: 16C days feeling like 16C, 10.5C nights, an extraordinarily high 367.6mm across nearly 29 days and 78 percent humidity.
Manang-forum threads on trekking the Annapurna Circuit and Tilicho Lake during the wetter months call this one of the better monsoon-season choices in Nepal, posters describing the Manang and Jomsom-Muktinath side as sitting in a real rain shadow that gets comparatively little rain even at peak season. Regulars call the stretch below Pisang a real contrast, considerably wetter than the sheltered sections further along. Posters describe the approach after Chame as noticeably drier, conditions more favorable than what trekkers face lower down. Regulars recommend never attempting this route solo, a partner or guide standing advice. Posters call real waterproof layers still essential despite the rain shadow, conditions never fully predictable. Regulars recommend checking trail and weather conditions before committing to a specific itinerary. The record: 16.8C days feeling like 18C, 10.4C nights, an extraordinarily high 402.6mm across nearly 30 days and 89 percent humidity.
Manang-forum threads on a late-February Annapurna Circuit attempt are direct sub-zero daytime readings are entirely possible this high even with clear skies, real cold-weather gear non-negotiable regardless of how the valley looks lower down. Posters call the Thorong La pass a genuine wildcard, closures from accumulation and icy ground a real risk that can derail a crossing. Regulars describe Tilicho Base Camp lodges as commonly closed until late February or March, worth confirming before counting on that route. Posters call winter technically the region's drier season overall, though a system can still disrupt an itinerary. Regulars recommend flexible timing and a real weather buffer for any February attempt. Posters call the lower Annapurna lodges generally still open even when higher passes are questionable. The record: 3.5C days feeling like 2C, -5C nights, a notably high 36.2cm of fresh accumulation and 59 percent humidity.
Add your own note from Manang's card on the map.
Manang climate normals — May
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Manang in May
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusySpring crossing season, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Manang's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherManang's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
What's on in Manang in May
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Rule
ACAP and TIMS permits
1 Jan – 31 DecBook earlyAn Annapurna Conservation Area permit and a TIMS card are checked at Chame and again in Manang village, and neither is issued on the trail. Rules since 2023 also expect foreign trekkers to walk with a licensed guide. Source ↗
- Season
Spring crossing season
15 Mar – 20 MayTrail seasonCrowdedThorong La becomes a reasonable proposition again from about mid-March, though there is still snow on the top in April. Warmer and hazier than autumn, with fewer people on the trail.
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 41 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Manang — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Manang?
Manang in May — FAQ
- Is May a good time to visit Manang?
- May in Manang: cool, soaked, with muggy air — fine if you can take 27 rainy days. It ranks #6 of 12 months for Manang on SeasonMap's comfort score (76/100).
- What is the weather like in Manang in May?
- In May, Manang averages a daily high of 12.6°C and a low of 5.1°C, with about 180.6 mm of rain over roughly 26.7 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Manang in May?
- Manang has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 91 in May.
- Does it snow in Manang in May?
- Manang sees roughly 41.2 cm of snowfall in May.
Within 300 km: Pokhara's Spring trekking season on 1 Mar – 15 May, and Kathmandu's Spring trekking season on 1 Mar – 15 May.