Best places to visit in Nepal
24 curated destinations in Nepal, each with its honest season window: when to go, when it is merely fine, and when to stay away.
When to visit Nepal
Curated places in Nepal that are in peak season, by month. Tap a month for the picks across India.
February, March, October and November put the most of Nepal in peak season. June the fewest, with 0.
All 24 destinations in Nepal
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Bandipur (Tanahun)
Nepal
Car-free Newar hill bazaar with Himalayan views above the Marsyangdi valley
Peak: Feb to Mar and Oct to Dec
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Bardia National Park (Thakurdwara)
Nepal
Nepal's wildest tiger country, along the Karnali River and its Tharu villages
Peak: Feb to Apr and Oct to Nov
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Bhaktapur (Durbar Square)
Nepal
Car-free Newar old town of pagodas, potters' squares and curd in clay pots
Peak: Feb to Mar and Oct to Nov
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Chitwan National Park (Sauraha)
Nepal
Rhino and tiger jungle along the Rapti River, with canoe trips and jeep safaris
Peak: Oct to Mar
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Daman (Makwanpur)
Nepal
Ridge village on the old Rajpath with one of the widest Himalayan views in Nepal
Peak: Oct to Dec
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Ghandruk
Nepal
Stone Gurung village facing Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre
Peak: Mar to Apr and Oct to Nov
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Gorkha Durbar
Nepal
Hilltop palace fort where Prithvi Narayan Shah set out to unify Nepal
Peak: Feb to Mar and Oct to Nov
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Gosaikunda Lake
Nepal
Sacred alpine lake at about 4380 m, the Shiva pilgrimage of Janai Purnima
Peak: Apr to May and Oct to Nov
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Ilam (tea gardens)
Nepal
Rolling tea hills next to Darjeeling, with Kanchenjunga sunrise at Antu Danda
Peak: Mar to Apr and Oct to Nov
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Janakpur (Janaki Mandir)
Nepal
Sita's birthplace, with the white marble Janaki Mandir and sacred ponds
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Kalinchowk Bhagwati
Nepal
Ridge-top goddess shrine in Dolakha, a favourite winter snow trip from Kathmandu
Peak: Oct to Feb
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Kathmandu Durbar Square
Nepal
Newar palace square, a living goddess and pagoda temples in the old city
Peak: Feb to Mar and Oct to Nov
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Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
Nepal
Sapta Koshi wetland reserve with wild water buffalo and huge winter bird flocks
Peak: Nov to Mar
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Kyanjin Gompa (Langtang)
Nepal
Last village of the Langtang valley, with a gompa, cheese factory and glaciers
Peak: Mar to Apr and Oct to Nov
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Lo Manthang (Upper Mustang)
Nepal
Walled medieval capital of the old Kingdom of Lo, deep in Upper Mustang
Peak: May and Sep to Oct
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Lumbini
Nepal
Birthplace of the Buddha, with the Maya Devi Temple and Ashoka's pillar
Peak: Nov to Feb
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Manang
Nepal
High Annapurna Circuit village with glacier lakes and the Tilicho trail
Peak: Apr to May and Oct to Nov
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Marpha
Nepal
Whitewashed Thakali apple village in the windswept Kali Gandaki valley
Peak: Mar to May and Sep to Nov
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Muktinath
Nepal
High Himalayan shrine sacred to Hindus and Buddhists, with 108 water spouts
Peak: Apr to May and Sep to Oct
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Namche Bazaar
Nepal
Horseshoe Sherpa town on the Everest trail, with your first views of Everest
Peak: Mar to May and Oct to Nov
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Phoksundo Lake (Dolpo)
Nepal
Turquoise high lake of Dolpo, with a Bon village and a tall waterfall below
Peak: May and Sep to Oct
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Pokhara (Phewa Lake)
Nepal
Lakeside town under the Annapurnas, with paragliding, rowing boats and cafes
Peak: Mar and Oct to Dec
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Rara Lake
Nepal
Nepal's biggest lake, a deep blue bowl ringed by pine in far-west Mugu
Peak: Apr to May and Oct to Nov
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Tansen (Palpa)
Nepal
Old Newar hill town of Palpa, known for Dhaka cloth and a riverside palace
Peak: Feb to Mar and Oct to Dec
By theme in Nepal
Common questions
When is the best time to visit Nepal?
Across the 24 curated destinations in Nepal, February, March, October and November are the months with the most places in peak season. June has the fewest, at 0.
How many places are worth visiting in Nepal?
This catalogue lists 24 in Nepal, chosen for the landscape or the heritage rather than for size. Plain cities are deliberately left out unless the trip is the heritage itself. The strongest themes here are mountains (13), offbeat (12), heritage (9), culture (7) and trek (7).
What kind of places are in Nepal?
13 mountains, 12 offbeat, 9 heritage, 7 culture and 7 trek. Every entry carries its own peak, shoulder and avoid months, so nothing is recommended in a month it should not be.
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