Monsoon Season in Nepal: 13 Best Things to Do!

Are you wondering what monsoon season is like in Nepal?

You’ve come to the right place as I live in Nepal and have spent a couple of monsoon seasons in Nepal before. So, if you are wondering if it’s worth visiting Nepal during the monsoon season, here is everything you need to know!

Monsoon (June-August) is the off season in Nepal but there are still many things you can do. It is not the best time for trekking but you can immerse yourself in the art, architecture, food and visit lots of attractions the country has to offer.

Here is all the information on how to prepare for travelling in Nepal and activities you can do during the monsoon season in Nepal.

When is Monsoon Season in Nepal

The monsoon season typically runs between June-August, however, it can start earlier/later and end in mid-September too. The weather patterns are slightly unpredictable each year, thus, the monsoon can start earlier or be delayed.

Temperature During Monsoon Season in Nepal

The temperature in Nepal during monsoon is very hot and humid. The weather forecast may say it’s 30-35 Celsius degrees but due to the humidity, it will feel much hotter.

It is especially true in the Terai Region of Nepal (in the southern part of the country, close to the border with India), that gets the hottest and most humid temperatures.

Does it Rain All Day During the Monsoon Season in Nepal?

No, it does not rain all day during the monsoon season in Nepal. Usually, it only rains for 1-2 hours in the afternoon or evening and the rest of the day is hot and humid.

Pokhara is one of the places in Nepal that receives the highest level of rainfall, so if you travel to Pokhara, you are likely to experience more rainfall.

What to Pack for Travelling During Monsoon Season in Nepal

• Umbrella
• Waterproof shoes
• Light rain jacket
• Light clothes (as it will be hot and humid)

Best Things to Do During the Monsoon Season in Nepal

1. Trek in the Rain Shadow Region of Nepal: Mustang!

Mustang is in the rain shadow region of Nepal, this means that it does not (or rains less) here during monsoon. Jomsom in Lower Mustang can be reached by bus from Pokhara. From Jomsom, you can go on day hikes to other nearby villages such as Muktinath, Marpha or Kagbeni.

You should still check the weather forecast and be careful about travelling to Lower Mustang. For example, in 2023 Kagbeni (one of the villages in Lower Mustang) got flooded from all the rainfall. So even though Lower Mustang is in the rain shadow, the weather patterns can still be unpredictable.

2. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu

There are 7 World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley including Buddhist stupas, Hindu temples and three Durbar Squares (“royal palace squares”) that used to be buildings of royal families.

The heritage sites are: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Boudha Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, Swoyambhu Stupa and Changu Narayan Temple.

🌧️ Check out the best rainy day activities in Kathmandu here!

The world heritage sites offer a glimpse into the history and architecture of Nepal. The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is also referred to as a “living museum” as you can see how the temples and old palace buildings have integrated into everyday life.

3. Explore Cities and Towns in Nepal

Apart from Kathmandu, there are many other cities to explore in Nepal. The weather may not be the best and you will not get clear views of the Himalayas but there are still lots of activities to do.

3.1 Tansen (Palpa)

They say the weather is pleasant all year round in Tansen! It does not get too hot during the monsoon and does not get too cold during winter. So it is an ideal place to visit during the rainy season in Nepal.

• Main attractions in Tansen (Palpa): Rani Mahal (the “Taj Mahal of Nepal”), Shreenagar Hill and Tansen View Tower, Tansen Durbar and Museum, and Palpali food. 

Check out my travel guide to Tansen here!

3.2 Bandipur

Bandipur is a charming little town where you can see beautifully preserved Newari architecture. It has chill, outdoor cafes and restaurants, which make it feel like you are in France or Belgium.

• Main attractions in Bandipur: Thani Mai Temple, Siddha Gufa (the biggest cave in Nepal), Bandipur to Ramkot hike, cafes and restaurants.

Check out my travel guide to Bandipur here!

3.3 Gorkha

Gorkha is known as the place where the former King of Gorkha, Prithvi Narayan Shah is from. He is significant in Nepali history as the king, who started the unification of various kingdom into one unified Nepal (in the 1760s). Gorkha is also where the Gurkha soldiers originate from.

• Main attractions in Gorkha: Gorkha Durbar and Gorkha Museum, sunrise and sunset views

Check out my travel guide to Gorkha here!

3.4 Janakpur

Janakpur is famous for Mithila art paintings and its Hindu temples, such as the Janaki Temple (Janaki Mandir). It is in the south of Nepal, so it will be really hot and humid, but it is worth to visit for a day.

• Main attractions: Janaki Temple, Mithila paintings, Indian street food and sweets.

Check out my travel guide to Janakpur here!

3.5 Pokhara

Pokhara gets much more rain during monsoon than Kathmandu, sometimes raining all day long.

In any case, if you are in Pokhara during the rainy season, it is a big city with many activities to do rain or shine!

• Main attractions: World Peace Pagoda, boating, hiking, Annapurna Cable Car to Sarangkot, museums, Davis Falls, caves. 

Check out my travel guide to Pokhara + 🌧️ best rainy day activities in Pokhara here!

4. Chill in Chitwan and Spot Rhinos by the Riverside

Chitwan is a popular place in Nepal for jungle safaris and wildlife spotting. However, the rainy season is not really a good time to go on jungle safaris. This is due to that the grass grows very tall from all the rain. Thus, it is very difficult to spot any wildlife inside the national park at this time.

Sometimes they even stop the jungle safaris for a few weeks during the monsoon because the trails become impassable due to all the rain. So if you visit Chitwan in July which has tends to have the highest rainfall, be prepared that you may not be able to go on a safari.

However, Sauraha (the main tourist town in Chitwan) is located by the Rapti River where many rhinos and elephants come to drink and cool down during the heat of the monsoon. Thus, you have the biggest chance of seeing wildlife by the riverside during the monsoon.

Sauraha is a chill, relaxing town with lots of restaurants and cafes. They have also built hotels and restaurants by the riverside, so you can just chill there and possibly spot wildlife.

Check out my travel guide to Chitwan here!

5. Learn to Cook Nepali Dishes

Immerse yourself in Nepali culture and learn to cook some Nepali dishes!

Some of the most popular Nepali dishes include dal bhat and momo which you will find in plenty of restaurants to try first. Both dishes come in veg and non-veg options, including buff meat which is the most popular type of meat in Nepal.

There are various cooking classes that you can sign up for. There is a cooking class on AirBnB Experience that I recommend. They hold the cooking lessons in Patan, so if you join for a morning cooking session, afterwards you can even check out the Patan Durbar Square.

The best part is that you get to eat everything you cook and you also get the recipes at the end. I even signed up my brother here for a class when he visited me and he loved it.

6. Go on a Cable Car Ride

Cable Cars are not the first thing that comes to mind when people think about Nepal. Surprisingly, there are a good number of cable cars in the country that are a great day trip activity.

Although, if you go on the cable cars during monsoon season, the views from the top will be cloudy and you will not see the mountains.

Still, the cable cars are a great option for an activity and usually, once you get to the top of the cable car, there are some other activities you can do apart from the mountain views.

• Chandragiri Cable Car (Day trip Kathmandu)
• Annapurna Cable Car to Sarangkot (Day trip from Pokhara)
• Manakamana Cable Car (Day trip from Kathmandu)

7. Check Out Museum Exhibitions

Is it raining and not sure what to do? Check out a museum exhibition and learn about the art and culture of Nepal!

Kathmandu has some really great museums that are perfect for a rainy day: Museum of Nepali Art, Narayanhiti Palace Museum, Aviation Museum, and the Music Museum of Nepal among others.

The museums in Pokhara are also a great place to learn about the history of mountaineering, and the history and culture of the Gandaki Province (where Pokhara and the Annapurna Range is located).

8. Learn to Make a Thangka Painting

Thangka paintings originate from 2,500 years ago and they are Tibetan Buddhist paintings. There are different types of thangkas that you can paint or buy, and each painting depicts a topic related to Buddhism. These can be an excerpt from Buddha’s life or mandalas used for meditations.

Most of the Thangka painting shops and schools are located in Bhaktapur and Patan. There are options to sign up for a day class or even longer ones (depending on how much time you have).

The teachers will help you select a painting of your choice that you can finish in the amount of time that you signed up for. I did a one day class in Bhaktapur at the Lama Thanka Painting School that I can recommend.

Check out what it’s like to take a Thangka Painting Class in Bhaktapur.

9. Take a Vipassana Meditation Course

Vipassana meditation is a form of Buddhist meditation.

The Dhamma Shringa Vipassana Meditation Centres can be found all around the world and they hold free 10-day vipassana courses frequently throughout the year. If you like meditation or interested to learn more about it, Nepal is a good place to give it a go. 

The vipassana courses are completely free and you also get free accommodation and food throughout the course.

I must say, the vipassana meditation technique is very strict and you really have to motivate yourself to get through the 10-day course.

I somehow pushed myself through a 10-day course in 2023 and here you can read about my experience of what it’s like to take a vipassana meditation course in Nepal.

10. Chill at a Swimming Pool

The weather gets very hot and humid during the monsoon season in Nepal, so what’s better than chilling by the pool on a hot day?

It does not rain all day long in Nepal, so you can even go for an outdoor swimming pools on a sunny day.

There are also many indoor swimming pools, which can be an option in case it is raining. Some swimming pools in and around Thamel include: Aloft Hotel, Hotel Shanker, Mulberry Hotel.

11. Watch a Movie at the Movie Garden Pokhara

The Movie Garden is a chill place to watch movies in Pokhara. It is an outdoor cinema but they also have seats that are covered in case it rains. They play one movie in the evenings and it usually start around 7 pm. The place has a small bar so you can order drinks and snacks too.

12. Zen Out at a Singing Bowl Session

Tibetan singing bowls are a big thing in Nepal. There are many shops selling singing bowls and places where you can sign up for a session.

Many of the singing bowl schools also organize trainings where you can sign up and learn the ins and out of holding your own singing bowl session.

If you are interested to try a singing bowl sessions, there are 2 places in Kathmandu that offer free singing bowl sessions for those that are interested:

• FREE: Nepal Singing Bowls and Healing Centre: every day: 9:45 am, 4:30 pm
• DONATION-BASED: Nirvana Singing Bowl: every day: 10 am, 5 pm

13. Visit the Caves and Waterfalls in Pokhara

Pokhara has caves and waterfalls that are especially beautiful to visit during monsoon.

Generally, outside of monsoon season, there is not much rain so the water levels can be very low. However, during monsoon season the waterfalls and rivers get full of water and offer a much better experience.

Some of the places in Pokhara worth checking out is the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave (it is a cave but there is a waterfall inside which gets full of water during monsoon), Davis Falls (it is a small waterfall that is otherwise not so spectacular outside of monsoon season) and the Seti River Gorge.

Reasons to Visit Nepal During the Monsoon Season

#1 Less Tourists

People usually say that during monsoon season, the only foreigners you will find in Nepal are the ones that live here. Many times it is true, but you can still find the odd traveller here and there. So visiting Nepal during monsoon season is in a way more authentic. 

• Con: On the other side, less tourists also mean less travellers to buddy up with. In case you are travelling solo and looking to make travel friends, it will be more difficult during this time.

#2 Lower Prices and Discounts

The monsoon season in Nepal constitutes as the low season when fewer tourists visit Nepal. Due to this, there will be many discounts in hotels and trekking gear shops. 

As the hotels will run at low capacity, booking ahead is not so crucial during this time. Check out booking.com for prices, or you can also just show up at the hotel and inquire about the prices.

#3 Apart from trekking, there are still many things to do!

Most people come to Nepal for trekking, however, trekking is not recommended during this time due to the rainfall and possible landslides. Don’t worry, Nepal has so much to offer apart from trekking, so check out my list of the best things to do below. 

Is it Safe to Trek During the Monsoon Season in Nepal?

Trekking is not advised during this time due to the rain and landslides. During the rainy season in Nepal, there are also lots of leeches on the trail that make trekking or hiking very uncomfortable.

Check out Lower Mustang if you are keen to do some day hikes in Nepal. Mustang lies in the rain shadow region of Nepal, so it can be a recommended alternative where you can go on day treks/hikes during monsoon.

Festivals During the Monsoon Season in Nepal

Nepal is full of holidays and festivals all year long. However, there are the least number of festivals during the monsoon season. Nepal follows a lunar calendar, meaning that the dates of holidays change every year – but more or less they fall around the same time/month.

The biggest Nepali holidays (Dashain and Tihar) are celebrated after the monsoon season ends. 

🎆 Check out the holiday calendar for Nepal 2024 here!

Festivals in Nepal in June

Ropai Festival

The Ropai Festival celebrates the rice planting season in Nepal. It usually falls at the end of June. Most of the farmers finish the planting of the rice seeds by this time, and through the celebration, they wish for good rains for the rice seeds.

People play in the muddy rice fields on this day and if you are in the countryside during the Ropai Festival, you will see and may also be invited to join the festival.

Festivals in Nepal in July

The dates of holidays changes every year as Nepal uses the lunar calendar. Nevertheless, usually none of the holdays fall on a date in July.

Festivals in Nepal in August

August is a bit more lively when it comes to festivals. There are usually 2-3 festivals in August, depending on how the lunar calendar is each year.

Nag Panchami

‘Nag’ means snake in Nepali and so Nag Panchami is dedicated to snakes. On this day, devotees offer prayers to snakes in order to be protected from snake bites.

Janai Purnima

‘Janai’ is a sacred thread worn by Hindu men and during Janai Purnima they change this thread. The changing of the thread is believed to purify the person and protect from negative influences.

Gai Jatra

Gai Jatra is celebrated by a procession of people wearing masks and costumes. People who have lost family members in the past year join the procession. Depending on the lunar calendar, this festival can be in August or September.

Teej

The Teej festival is celebrated by women to pray for their husbands’ wellbeing. In Nepal, once the woman is married, they traditionally move in with their husbands. During Teej, women also return to their parents’ home to celebrate with their mom and sisters.

Depending on the lunar calendar, this festival can be in August or September.

Shree Krishna Janmashtami

Shree Krishna Janmashtami is dedicated to celebrating the birthday of Lord Krishna. Depending on the lunar calendar, this festival can be in August or September.

Bus Travel During Monsoon Season in Nepal

Travelling by bus during the monsoon season in Nepal can be a bit trickier. The buses still go as scheduled, however, there is a much bigger chance of landslides on the mountainous roads. It can cause long traffic and delays, so plan that the travel time might take even longer during this time of the year.

FAQ: Monsoon Season in Nepal

When is the monsoon season in Nepal?

The monsoon season generally starts from June until September. However, due to changes in the weather patterns, it can still be unpredictable. For example, it can start earlier in May or in late June. The ending of monsoon is also not so fixed, it can be over at the end of August or be delayed until mid-September.

How often does it rain during the monsoon season in Nepal?

It actually does not rain as much as most people think. The mornings are usually clear and it rains a few hours in the afternoon. Kathmandu generally has much better during monsoon, with just a few hours of rain in the afternoon/evening. The weather in Pokhara is much worse and it rains much more.

Is it worth visiting Nepal during the monsoon season?

Yes, it is totally worth visiting. Although, trekking is not advised during this time, there are lots of other things you can do in Nepal during this time.

Can I go trekking during monsoon season in Nepal?

Trekking is not recommended during the monsoon season in Nepal. Due to the rainfall, there is a risk of landslide on the trails that make it unsafe to go trekking. In addition, the trails are full of leeches during this time which make it very uncomfortable to be trekking while trying to get rid of the leeches.

Conclusion

The monsoon season in Nepal typically runs from June to mid-September. The beginning of June is still not as rainy so it is still a good time to go trekking in Nepal.

July and August receive the highest rainfall and trekking during this time is not recommended due to the rainfall and possible landslides.

If monsoon is the only time that you can visit Nepal, don’t worry because there are still many things to do and places to explore.

The monsoon starts to come to an end in September, however, there can still be rainfall and cloudy skies. So, if you are planning to trek in Nepal it is better to plan it from the end of September onwards.

Nepal Quick Guide