Nepal in January

January has fine weather and moderate temperature for Nepal tour and short treks in the foothills of the Himalayas. January is middle of winter and is not good time for high altitude trekking. But Nepal is the only Himalayan country which offers short and scenic treks and tours during the winter. The altitude variation of tropical jungle and rolling foothills make a perfect Nepal trip throughout winter. Winter days are warm and sunny with clear sky and the temperature is comfortable for touring and trekking. This is also the best time to go on a wildlife tour, bird watching and spiritual tour.

Quick travel tips for January

• Prepare to walk in snow in the higher elevation of short treks. Trails of high altitude treks may be closed because of heavy snow.
• Christmas and New Year time sees a brief tourist season rush.

January weather in Nepal

Average weather around the major tourist area of Nepal

Nepal Tour for January 2020

Nepal is the only winter destination in the Himalayas. The other Himalayan countries like Tibet and Bhutan are closed because of winter snowfall. The vertical landscape of Nepal starts from tropical jungle and elevates over the layers of hills to the top of the world. Himalayan views from the hill stations and ridge tops of the short treks are brilliant. The tropical plains of Nepal are only about 180 km crow flying from the Himalayas. Two of the UNESCO Heritage sites Lumbini (birthplace of Buddha) and Chitwan national park are in the tropical plane of Nepal. Beside that Bardia national park, Koshi Tappu and Suklaphanta national park are also pristine destinations for wildlife sighting and bird watching. Kathmandu at 1,350 m and Pokhara at 800 m never gets snow. Short trek from Kathmandu and Pokhara reaches to 3,000 m which may have little snow making the experience and the view even more brilliant. Moreover days in January are sunny and warm with crisp sky for Himalayan views. Only drawback of travelling to Nepal in January is cold nights.

Nepal Trek in January 2020

By mid January, monsoon rain subsides and the main tour season for Nepal begins. All trekking trails are open after the monsoon flooding and landslide. January is best time to go on any treks in Nepal.

However popular trekking trails of Annapurna and Everest gets over crowded making the logistics scarce and more expensive. Nepal's main festival 'Dashain and Tihar' also falls in January. The festival holiday and movement of local people make the situation even worse. If your holiday is flexible, it is better to avoid travelling to Nepal in the peak tourist season.

Nepal Travel tips for January

• Domestic flights may be effected because of fog and low clouds in the valleys of Kathmandu and Pokhara.
• Wet cold wave may effect the visibility and tour in southern planes like Chitwan, Bardia and Lumbini.
• Altitude above 2,200 may have snow less than one feet. It is fun to walk and the scenery is more beautiful but the trail becomes more slippery.
• First week of January feels like peak season with domestic and foreign tourists in popular tourist destinations like Pokhara, Chitwan and Ghorepani.
• More tourists come for Lumbini and Buddhist circuit tour.