Pokhara (Annapurna) weather in May

May in Pokhara: hot, soaked, with muggy air — a gamble, with 26 rainy days.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Pokhara🇳🇵 Nepal · Himalaya · Trekking61
  1. 78Jan
  2. 77Feb
  3. 82Mar
  4. 75Apr
  5. 61May
  6. 54Jun
  7. 49Jul
  8. 50Aug
  9. 53Sep
  10. 69Oct
  11. 87Nov
  12. 86Dec

#8 of 12 months in Pokhara · #1170 of 1413 destinations to visit in May · comfort 61/100 (tier C)

Days
25°C
Nights
16°C
Wet days
26
Sun
11 h
Humidity
81%
Daylight
14 h
Pokhara, Nepal
Photo: Anjan Karki · Pexels

Traveller notes on Pokhara in May

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.
Tripadvisor community · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Pokhara

Pokhara-forum threads on an April visit describe conditions as genuinely mild and pleasant, posters naming a range roughly between twenty and thirty degrees as standard for the month. Regulars call Pokhara genuinely warmer and more humid than Kathmandu by late April, several posters naming this a real difference worth planning around. Posters call haze from regional farm burn-offs a genuine recurring complaint, several regulars naming this a real reason mountain views can disappoint despite otherwise clear skies. Regulars call nights genuinely mild enough that a fan covers it, several threads confirming air conditioning isn't really necessary. Posters recommend checking recent haze reports before counting on mountain views, several regulars calling this standard given how much visibility varies day to day. The record: 24.1C days, 11.5C nights, an extraordinarily high 193.2mm across nearly 16 days and 72 percent humidity.
PokharaAprilRegular · April · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Pokhara-forum threads on a March visit call this genuinely one of the better windows for Nepal overall, posters describing conditions as generally favorable though morning mist at lower elevations is a real possibility. Regulars call mornings typically clear with building cloud around the peaks by midday, afternoon showers a genuine factor later in the month. Posters recommend Sarangkot for panoramic Annapurna views regardless of trekking plans, a real option for anyone not doing a multi-day route. Regulars call rhododendron blooms a March highlight on many of the popular treks, timing here considered genuinely rewarding for anyone interested in the flowers specifically. Posters recommend real layers for elevation gain regardless of comfortable conditions in town, mountain weather here shifting fast once a trek climbs. The record: 20.5C days feeling like 21C, 8C nights, an extraordinarily high 194.7mm across nearly 20 days and 76 percent humidity.
PokharaMarchRegular · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Pokhara-forum threads on February trekking describe conditions as genuinely comfortable for walking, posters calling daytime temperatures pleasant without the sticky heat of later spring. Regulars call this one of the quieter windows on the main trekking routes, less crowded than the busier March and April season. Posters describe mountain views as often clearer this time of year, though a hazy stretch remains possible on any given day. Regulars recommend real layers for the evening chill, temperatures dropping once the sun goes down even at Pokhara's low elevation. Posters call checking a multi-day forecast before committing to a route worthwhile, conditions at higher altitudes shifting faster than the lake-side town suggests. Regulars call February a solid choice for anyone prioritizing comfortable walking temperatures over guaranteed clear skies. The record: 16.8C days feeling like 17C, 6.6C nights, an extraordinarily high 192.7mm across nearly 20 days and 77 percent humidity.
PokharaFebruaryRegular · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Pokhara-forum threads on late-September conditions describe the monsoon as genuinely winding down by the last week, posters calling that stretch a real sweet spot with clear skies compared to earlier in the month. Regulars are direct early September remains solidly within the wettest part of the Nepal year here, real caution warranted for anyone planning serious trekking that early. Posters describe the mountain views as becoming genuinely crystal clear once the pattern breaks, a real reward for timing a visit toward month's end. Regulars call daytime temperatures comfortable in the mid-twenties Celsius once the shift happens. Posters recommend building flexibility into any Annapurna-area itinerary given how much conditions vary within the same month. Regulars call late September through October the genuinely strong window for the wider region. The record: 25C days feeling like a punishing 30C, 20.6C nights, an extraordinarily high 806mm across nearly 28 days and 88 percent humidity.
PokharaSeptemberRegular · September · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Pokhara's card on the map.

Pokhara climate normals — May

Daytime high25°C / 76°F🥵 hot
Nighttime low16°C / 60°F
Feels like (high)29°C / 84°F
Rainfall410 mm / 16.1 in⛈ soaked
Rainy days26 days
Humidity81%💦 very humid
Dew point17°C / 63°F
Sunshine11 h/day
Daylight13.6 h
Wind7 km/h / 4 mph
Snowfall0.3 cm / 0.1 in
Air quality (US AQI)83🙂 moderate

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Pokhara 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 trekking season, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Pokhara'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 weatherPokhara's best weather comes in March, November and December — separate windows, not one continuous season.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Pokhara in May

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Season

    Spring trekking season

    1 Mar – 15 MayTrail seasonCrowdedBook early

    Lakeside is a staging post rather than a destination for two months: Poon Hill, Mardi Himal and the Annapurna Base Camp trail all start from here. Warmer than autumn and hazier by the week.

  • Season

    Wet season

    MonsoonRisk

    26 rainy days and about 410 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.

    from the climate normals

What's on around the world in May →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Pokhara — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Pokhara?

Loading map…

Pokhara in May — FAQ

Is May a good time to visit Pokhara?
May in Pokhara: hot, soaked, with muggy air — a gamble, with 26 rainy days. It ranks #8 of 12 months for Pokhara on SeasonMap's comfort score (61/100).
What is the weather like in Pokhara in May?
In May, Pokhara averages a daily high of 24.5°C and a low of 15.8°C, with about 409.5 mm of rain over roughly 25.6 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Pokhara in May?
Pokhara has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 83 in May.

Within 300 km: Manang's Spring crossing season on 15 Mar – 20 May, and Kathmandu's Spring trekking season on 1 Mar – 15 May.