Погода: Горкха, декабрь

December and January are the driest and clearest months in Nepal, which is why regulars recommend December over the spring for Annapurna views - more reliably clear daytime skies than April, and quieter trails with it. Down in Pokhara at 800m it is not cold: highs around 15 to 21C, lows near 8C, and late-December trek reports read like a good English spring day. The altitude is where it changes - rooms high on the trail sit near -10C in December and January, so the packing depends entirely on how high you go rather than on the town. Haze is possible but is far less the December problem than it is later in the winter. The record for Pokhara: 16.7C days, 8.4C nights, 11.5 precipitation days, 9.1 hours of sun and AQI 75.

Gorkha-forum threads on a November trek starting point describe this as genuinely peak season for the Manaslu Circuit, posters calling clear skies and stable conditions considerably more reliable than the earlier monsoon-adjacent months. Regulars call the route from Gorkha through Barpak, Dobhan and on to Samdo and Dharamsala a real highlight, mountain views considered among the best in the country this time of year. Posters recommend booking permits and a guide well ahead, November's popularity meaning real competition for the better teahouses along the route. Regulars call Gorkha itself worth a night before setting out, the old palace and town considered genuinely interesting beyond its role as a trailhead. Posters recommend real cold-weather layers for higher altitude regardless of comfortable conditions in town, temperature swings here considerable once the trek climbs. The record: 17.8C days feeling like 18C, 7.8C nights, 18.8mm across nearly 6 days and 61 percent humidity.

Gorkha-forum threads on January trekking describe this as genuinely a strong window, posters calling conditions cool but reliably bright with real sunshine and far fewer crowds than peak autumn. Regulars describe January as one of the driest months regionally, though real accumulation is still possible and can briefly disrupt plans if a system moves through. Posters call higher elevations considerably colder than lower towns like Gorkha, real layers essential for anyone continuing up toward higher terrain. Regulars recommend avoiding routes near five thousand meters given how much colder conditions run at serious altitude. Posters call checking a current forecast with local lodge keepers standing advice, weather capable of shifting with real speed. Regulars call the lower Gorkha valley a genuinely comfortable base for acclimatizing. The record: 13.1C days feeling like 11C, 2.8C nights, a notably high 7.4cm of fresh accumulation and 68 percent humidity.

Gorkha-forum threads on the Manaslu Circuit describe October as the single busiest month, limited teahouse beds a real concern for anyone solo or without an advance booking. Posters call November, especially past the first week, a genuinely quieter alternative with comparably strong conditions once October crowds thin out. Regulars are direct a restricted-area permit is mandatory here, requiring a licensed guide and a minimum of two trekkers per group regardless of experience. Posters describe guide and accommodation costs as running roughly consistent through the season, budgeting around that figure per day standing advice. Regulars call October's clearer skies and stable conditions the real draw despite crowding, mountain views some of the most reliable of the year. Posters recommend booking guides and permits well ahead given tight October capacity. The record: 20.7C days feeling like 22C, 12.5C nights, an extraordinarily high 121mm across nearly 17 days and 74 percent humidity.

Gorkha-forum threads on whether it's worth a stopover are consistently positive, posters describing April as warm, clear days good for exploring the historic Gorkha Durbar palace and its hilltop views over the surrounding valley. Regulars call an overnight stay genuinely worthwhile rather than a rushed day trip, giving time for both the palace complex and the quieter town below without racing the clock. Posters note this sits ahead of the region's wetter summer stretch, generally comfortable conditions for walking the palace's stone steps and surrounding temple grounds. Haze can build in the valley air this time of year, occasionally softening the more distant Himalayan views, though the immediate palace and town scenery stays clear regardless. Regulars recommend combining a Gorkha stop with nearby Manakamana temple for a fuller day. The record: 23.8C days feeling like 24C, 10.6C nights, 52 percent humidity, 11.2 hours of sun and an unhealthy 91 AQI.