Visit Boudhanath stupa at dawn, when pilgrims circle it and the butter lamps are lit, and spend time in Kathmandu’s old squares and at Swayambhunath, the hilltop temple known for its resident monkeys. In the mountains, hike lodge to lodge in the Annapurna or Everest regions. Pokhara has sunrise views of the Annapurna range across Phewa Lake, and Chitwan National Park offers jeep and canoe safaris in the lowlands.

October and November are the clearest months, with dry weather after the monsoon and the best mountain views. The big autumn festivals, Dashain and Tihar, fall in this window, so flights and lodges fill early. March through May is the second season, with rhododendrons blooming on the hillsides in March and April and warmer weather at altitude. December through February is cold at elevation but crisp and clear in the lowlands, and June through September brings monsoon rain and cloud that hides the peaks.

No technical climbing is involved, but fitness matters. Lodge-to-lodge days typically mean three to seven hours on stone-stepped trails and suspension bridges, with porters carrying the main bags. Altitude is the real challenge. Namche Bazaar sits at about 11,300 feet and Everest Base Camp at roughly 17,600 feet, so itineraries build in acclimatization days and guides watch for symptoms. The Annapurna routes stay lower, with Poon Hill at around 10,500 feet. However, there are a variety of trails available for people of all fitness levels, and we will help craft an itinerary that matches you.

Most travelers fly from Kathmandu to Lukla, a mountain airstrip at about 9,300 feet. In spring (mid-March to mid-May) and autumn (late September to November), these flights generally depart from Ramechhap, a four-to-five-hour pre-dawn drive from Kathmandu. In other months they leave from Kathmandu itself. Cloud at Lukla causes frequent delays, so it pays to leave buffer days around international flights. A helicopter from Kathmandu is the alternative and avoids the drive.

Chitwan is a sharp change from the mountains: warm, flat grassland and forest just a few hundred feet above sea level. Jeep, canoe, and guided walking safaris are the main ways to see the park’s one-horned rhinos, while tigers are rare and sloth bears are seen only occasionally. October through March is the most comfortable season, April and May can pass 100°F, and the monsoon runs June through September.