Nepal in May

May is the last month of the Spring tourist season in Nepal. Temperature starts to rise making it hot in Pokhara, Chitwan and Lumbini. With comfortably warm weather, the month of May is good for trekking in Nepal. The night temperature at altitude above 3,500 m could still go below zero. Monsoon clouds start to swarm during the second half of May. There may be little rain with thunder storms in the late afternoon, towards the end of May.

Spring comes late in the Himalayas. The month of May is best for high altitude treks and hill station tours.

May Temperature varies with the dramatically changing altitude of Nepal. While the arrival of tourists in the country starts to decline by mid May, trekking trails will remain busy. The weather window for the Everest expedition falls around the third and fourth week of May. Many trekkers on the way to Everest base camp prefer May as they can meet the expedition teams at the base camp.

Major events in May

Tiji festival : The three days long festival is celebrated with feasting and mask dancing by monks in the courtyards of walled city of Lomangthang, Upper Mustang from 16 - 18 May 2024.

Buddha Jayanti : Buddha Jayanti 2024 falls in 26 of May. This is the day of triple bliss when Buddha was born, enlightened and attended Mahaparinirvana.

Nepal trips for May 2024

Nepal weather in May

Average weather around the major tourist area of Nepal

Place	Max Temp	Min Temp	Rainfall	Rain day
Kathmandu	28.7℃	15.7℃	123.6 mm	12
Pokhara	30.1℃	18.4℃	359 mm	5
Chitwan	34℃	21℃	188 mm	4
Namche	14℃	4℃	41 mm	9
Jomsom	14℃	-1℃	53 mm	8

Nepal Travel tips for May

• Avoid cities and tourist crowds. You can fly or drive directly to the trekking trail head instead of staying in crowded cities like Kathmandu.
• Choose off the beaten path treks with less tourists. Travel in small, private group. It is possible to organize treks with private tent.
• Dress in layers.
• Bring light rain jacket and rucksack cover.
• Start your day early to avoid evening rain and strom.
• Choose your destinations at altitude above 1,000 m. Temperature is pleasant for Bhutan tour, hill statons of Nepal and trek in Everest.
• Chances of strong wind in the evening. Avoid walking till tale or take shelter at the safe place which protect you from falling objects in case of wind.

Top 3 Nepal treks for May 2024

Big trekking groups start to return by the month of May making services easy in the classic trekking trails. The good Spring weather continues making the high altitude temperature more comfortable. Spring blossoms and greenery makes breathing much easier. Here are the top three treks to do in May which avoids the hot and humid walks in the foothills.

Spring comes later in the Himalayas and May is the perfect month to trek in the northernmost Higher Himalayas.

Everest Trek

Everest trek starts and ends at Lukla with an elevation of 2,800 m making it the perfect trek to do in the month of May. This avoids trekking in undulating layers of foothills which get hot in the month of May. Everest is one of the most popular valleys in the Higher Himalayas.

Round Annapurna Trek

Round Annapurna trek also avoids walking in the hot and humid foothills. The Annapurna circuit trek starts with drive to Chame (2,650 m) and ends at Muktinath (3,800 m). May is best time to trek at that altitude and also to cross the Thorong La pass (5,416 m).

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Gosaikunda Lake Trek

This trek starts right from the northern hill of Kathmandu and climbs to the altitude of 4,610 m Lauri Binayak La Pass before coming down to Gosaikunda Lake (3,380 m). Trekkers spent the entire time in the scenic trail of Shivapuri national park and Langtang national park.

Lower Mustang Tour

Fly or drive to Jomsom in the trans-Himalayan region of Nepal and explore the enclave of medieval Tibet and the kingdom of Lo without paying the pricey restricted area permit required for Upper Mustang. Lower Mustang also has sky caves, ancient monasteries of both Bon and Buddhists and alpine lakes with magnificent views of the Himalayas. Being in the rain shadow of the Annapurna range, the area remains relatively drier even during the monsoon.

The trans-Himalayan region of Mustang gets the least rainfall. Avoid the hot and humid foothills and the pre-monsoon rain in May.

Tiji Festival tour of Mustang

Lomanthang, the walled capital of Lo kingdom, still celebrates the mystic mask dancing festival of Tiji in the month of May. Amid the melodious music and prayers, the monks perform the meditative dance of Vajrakilaya to ward off the evils. Mustang was the southernmost kingdom of medieval Tibet that remained unchanged as it politically fell in Nepal.