SeasonMapBest time to visit the Himalaya
The best time to visit the Himalaya is March, October, November and December, judged across 23 places; July to August are its low season.
Updated September 2026 · South Asia · 23 places, each judged for what it is · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
The Himalaya month by month
| Month | Season | Why | Best places |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | good | 12°C highs | Auli, Chitwan, Gulmarg |
| February | good | 14°C highs · 10 h sun | Lumbini, Rishikesh, Auli |
| March | in season | 18°C highs · 10 h sun | Gorkha, Amritsar, Dharamshala |
| April | good | wildflowers & blooms · 22°C highs · 11 h sun | Kasol, Mussoorie, Shimla |
| May | good | 24°C highs · 12 h sun | Gilgit, Kasol, Mussoorie |
| June | not its best | monsoon · 25°C highs · best Oct–Dec | Hunza, Skardu, Leh |
| July | low season | monsoon · 25°C highs · best Oct–Dec · still good for hiking | Leh, Hunza, Skardu |
| August | low season | monsoon · 25°C highs · best Oct–Dec · still good for hiking | Leh, Hunza, Skardu |
| September | not its best | monsoon · 24°C highs · best Oct–Dec | Hunza, Leh, Skardu |
| October | in season | dry season · 21°C highs · 10 h sun | Kasol, Dharamshala, Shimla |
| November | in season | dry season · 18°C highs · 9 h sun | Paro, Kathmandu, Dharamshala |
| December | in season | 14°C highs · 9 h sun | Rishikesh, Lumbini, Paro |
In season: one of the region's three best months, and good in its own right. Low season: one of its three worst, and well below its best. The reasons compare each month with the region's own year and name the seasons on the ground — monsoon, autumn colour, hurricanes — where most of its places share them.
All 23 places in the Himalaya
- AmritsarIndiaweather by month →
- AuliIndiaweather by month →
- ChitwanNepalweather by month →
- DharamshalaIndiaweather by month →
- GilgitPakistanweather by month →
- GorkhaNepalweather by month →
- GulmargIndiaweather by month →
- HunzaPakistanweather by month →
- KasolIndiaweather by month →
- KathmanduNepalweather by month →
- LehIndiaweather by month →
- LumbiniNepalweather by month →
- ManangNepalweather by month →
- MussoorieIndiaweather by month →
- Namche BazaarNepalweather by month →
- ParoBhutanweather by month →
- PokharaNepalweather by month →
- PunakhaBhutanweather by month →
- RishikeshIndiaweather by month →
- ShimlaIndiaweather by month →
- SkarduPakistanweather by month →
- SrinagarIndiaweather by month →
- ThimphuBhutanweather by month →
The Himalaya — FAQ
- When is the best time to visit the Himalaya?
- March, October, November and December. In November: dry season · 18°C highs · 9 h sun.
- When is the low season in the Himalaya?
- July to August. In July: monsoon · 25°C highs · best Oct–Dec · still good for hiking.
- Which months are in season in the Himalaya?
- March, October, November and December — the months among its best that are also good in their own right.