| January | Cold and icy but generally clear skies. “…Sometime around mid-January. Very quiet (few people) in winter season, cold at night, fresh and beautiful,” said one trekker. | Winter storms sometimes visit the passes and mountain basecamps through January and February, but changing weather patterns make it difficult to predict. Crampons needed for descending the pass. There are five or so icy sections of around 10m long. Porters and guides should also have crampons. Key lodges still closed so bring a tent. |
| February | Cold, icy but warming towards the end of the month | Towards the end of February, Rhododendrons begin to bloom in the lower reaches of forest. Key lodges still closed so bring a tent. |
| March | Good weather. Not too cold high up, not too warm down below | Wonderful Rhododendrons from 2000 meter elevation up to 3800 meter. Check opening of mountain l lodge
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| April | Getting hot in lower Budi Gandaki | Wonderful Rhododendrons from Deng up to Shyala. Still few people, a great time to trek. |
| May | Hot, sweaty and hazy | Last of the Rhododendron blooms can be seen. |
| June | Cooling down with rains | Monsoon slowly begins. No trekkers around. With very early starts, you can still enjoy trekking with views. |
| July | Monsoon | The time to see flowers and greenery. Nepal is lush in monsoon. Fewer lodges in activity. |
| August | Monsoon | Fewer lodges in activity. |
| September | Monsoon dies away, haze and rains still possible. | Monsoon ending around third week in September. |
| October | Magnificent | Busiest month consequently! |
| November | Fabulous, cooling down. | Colder higher up, but still a great month to trek. Be careful to avoid the Manaslu Trail Race around that time. |
| December | Getting cold. | Best views with crystal clear air. The villagers of Samdo pack up around mid-December and cross the pass to head to Kathmandu, Pokhara and India for the winter. |
