Is May a good time to visit Nepal?

It is a good month for most of the country. High treks and Everest summits, Upper Mustang and the Tiji festival, Rara Lake, and Lumbini for Buddha Jayanti.

What is the weather like in Nepal in May?

Hot and humid before the monsoon, with afternoon thunderstorms. High up it is the warmest, calmest trekking month. Kathmandu averages 29°C by day and 16°C at night, Pokhara 29/18°C and Chitwan 35/23°C.

What festivals are in Nepal in May?

Buddha Jayanti, the Buddha's birthday (April–May); Tiji festival in Lo Manthang (May); Ubhauli, the Kirat spring festival; Republic Day (28 May).

Where should I go in Nepal in May?

Kanchenjunga, Mount Everest (Sagarmatha), Everest Base Camp Trek, Ilam Tea Gardens, Swayambhunath, Langtang Valley Trek.

Nepal in May: Weather, Festivals & Where to Go

What Nepal is like in May (Baisakh–Jestha): the weather in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan, festivals, crowds and the places at their best.

Weather: Hot and humid before the monsoon, with afternoon thunderstorms. High up it is the warmest, calmest trekking month.
Good for: High treks and Everest summits, Upper Mustang and the Tiji festival, Rara Lake, and Lumbini for Buddha Jayanti.
Watch out for: Lowland heat (Lumbini and Chitwan can pass 38 °C) and cloudier mountain views by late morning.
Crowds: Spring · Medium
Festivals: Buddha Jayanti, the Buddha's birthday (April–May)
Tiji festival in Lo Manthang (May)
Ubhauli, the Kirat spring festival
Republic Day (28 May)

Average climate

	High	Low	Rain
Kathmandu	29°C	16°C	125 mm
Pokhara	29°C	18°C	330 mm
Chitwan	35°C	23°C	160 mm

Best places to visit in May

Mountain

Kanchenjunga

Taplejung, Koshi Province

The world's third-highest mountain, on the Nepal–Sikkim border, sacred to the Limbu people as Sewalungma.

Mountain

Mount Everest (Sagarmatha)

Solukhumbu, Koshi Province

The highest point on earth at 8,848.86 m, first climbed by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Edmund Hillary in 1953.

Trek & trail

Everest Base Camp Trek

Solukhumbu, Koshi Province

Nepal's most famous trek: about 12 days from Lukla through Sherpa villages to the foot of the Khumbu Icefall.

Village & culture

Ilam Tea Gardens

Ilam, Koshi Province

Neatly clipped tea bushes rolling over the hills around Ilam bazaar, Nepal's first tea estate since 1863.

Monastery

Swayambhunath

Kathmandu, Bagmati Province

The ancient hilltop stupa of the 'self-arisen' Buddha, reached by 365 steps, overlooking the whole valley.

Trek & trail

Langtang Valley Trek

Rasuwa, Bagmati Province

A week-long walk up a glacier valley close to Kathmandu, to the yak pastures and monastery of Kyanjin Gompa.

Trek & trail

Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Kaski, Gandaki Province

A walk into the Annapurna Sanctuary, a glacial amphitheatre ringed by Annapurna I, Machhapuchhre and Hiunchuli.

Temple & shrine

Muktinath

Mustang, Gandaki Province

A temple at 3,710 m sacred to Hindus and Buddhists, with 108 water spouts and an eternal natural gas flame.

Heritage & palace

Lo Manthang and Upper Mustang

Mustang, Gandaki Province

The walled capital of the old Kingdom of Lo, in a desert of red cliffs and cave dwellings north of the Himalaya.

Trek & trail

Manaslu and the Manaslu Circuit

Gorkha, Gandaki Province

The world's eighth-highest mountain and a wild two-week circuit around it over the Larkya La.

Heritage & palace

Lumbini, birthplace of the Buddha

Rupandehi, Lumbini Province

The sacred garden where Siddhartha Gautama was born, marked by the Maya Devi temple and Emperor Ashoka's pillar of 249 BCE.

Park & wildlife

Bardiya National Park

Bardiya, Lumbini Province

The largest national park in the Terai and the best place in Nepal to see a wild tiger, on the banks of the Karnali.

Also good in May

Rara Lake Shey Phoksundo Lake Khaptad National Park Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek Pathibhara Devi Olangchung Gola Makalu Barun National Park Namche Bazaar Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo Ri Lukla Lhotse Khumjung and Khunde Thame Mera Peak Island Peak (Imja Tse)Salleri, Phaplu and Chiwong Mai Pokhari Gupha Pokhari Basantapur and Tehrathum Dhaka Diktel and Rawa valley Salhesh Fulbari Chobhar Gorge and Jal Binayak Bungamati and Khokana Namobuddha Gosaikunda Tamang Heritage Trail Rasuwagadhi Fort Helambu Trek Panch Pokhari Bhote Koshi Tsho Rolpa and Rolwaling Jiri Manthali and the Sunkoshi valley Ruby Valley Trishuli River Chitlang Kulekhani (Indrasarowar)Ghandruk Mardi Himal Trek Sikles Manang village Tilicho Lake Nar–Phu valley Jomsom and Marpha Kagbeni Tukuche Kali Gandaki Gorge Tsum Valley Besisahar and Lamjung Durbar Siddha Gufa Kushma bridges and bungee Dhorpatan Khopra Ridge and Khayer Lake Dhaulagiri Swargadwari Jaljala Rukumkot and Kamal Daha Dho Tarap Simikot and the Kailash route Limi Valley Chandannath and Jumla Sinja Valley Ramaroshan Saipal Himal Api Nampa and the Byas valley

Quick answers

Is May a good time to visit Nepal?: It is a good month for most of the country. High treks and Everest summits, Upper Mustang and the Tiji festival, Rara Lake, and Lumbini for Buddha Jayanti.
What is the weather like in Nepal in May?: Hot and humid before the monsoon, with afternoon thunderstorms. High up it is the warmest, calmest trekking month. Kathmandu averages 29°C by day and 16°C at night, Pokhara 29/18°C and Chitwan 35/23°C.
What festivals are in Nepal in May?: Buddha Jayanti, the Buddha's birthday (April–May); Tiji festival in Lo Manthang (May); Ubhauli, the Kirat spring festival; Republic Day (28 May).
Where should I go in Nepal in May?: Kanchenjunga, Mount Everest (Sagarmatha), Everest Base Camp Trek, Ilam Tea Gardens, Swayambhunath, Langtang Valley Trek.

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Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and move by a few weeks each year. Temperatures are long-term averages.