Pokhara weather at a glance
Pokhara sits at 822 m, low enough to stay mild in winter and warm in summer, but close enough to the Annapurna range to make its own weather. The mountains block moist air arriving from the south, which is why the valley receives roughly 3,500–4,000 mm of rain a year, several times Kathmandu's total, almost all of it between June and September. The figures below are approximate long-term averages for the Lakeside area; individual years vary, and climate patterns have shifted in recent seasons.
The rating column is ours and reflects mountain visibility first, because clear views of Machhapuchhre and Annapurna are the reason most people come. A 2 means the peaks show on most mornings; a 0 means you may not see them at all during a short stay.
| Month | Day / night °C | Rain (approx.) | Mountain views | Our rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20 / 7 | 25 mm | Clear after morning mist | 2 |
| February | 22 / 9 | 35 mm | Mostly clear | 2 |
| March | 26 / 12 | 60 mm | Clear mornings, haze later | 2 |
| April | 29 / 16 | 130 mm | Hazy, early mornings best | 1 |
| May | 30 / 19 | 350 mm | Often cloudy | 1 |
| June | 30 / 21 | 650 mm | Rarely visible | 0 |
| July | 29 / 22 | 900 mm | Rarely visible | 0 |
| August | 30 / 22 | 850 mm | Occasional clear dawns | 0 |
| September | 29 / 21 | 600 mm | Improving late month | 1 |
| October | 27 / 17 | 200 mm (mostly early) | Very clear | 2 |
| November | 24 / 12 | 20 mm | Clearest of the year | 2 |
| December | 21 / 8 | 20 mm | Very clear | 2 |
October to December: the clear season
The monsoon usually ends in late September or the first days of October and leaves the air washed clean. From then until the end of December the Annapurna range stands out sharply from Sarangkot and the lake on almost every morning, and afternoons are warm enough for a T-shirt. November is often the single clearest month, with almost no rain and calm mornings on Phewa.
The catch is demand. Dashain and Tihar, Nepal's two largest festivals, fall in this period, and Nepali families travel home in large numbers, filling buses, flights and hotels. October also brings most of the year's trekkers through Pokhara on their way to the Annapurna trails. Paragliding slots, lake-view rooms and Bandipur's few hotels sell out. Book 8–10 weeks ahead for October and November, and two months ahead for the Christmas and New Year week, when the Pokhara Street Festival closes the main Lakeside road from 28 December to 1 January.
Daylight shortens through the season. Sunrise at Sarangkot moves from about 6:00 am in early October to about 6:55 am by late December, and sunset from about 5:55 pm to 5:25 pm. That makes December sunrise trips easier for families with children, since the pick-up is closer to 5:30 am than 4:45 am, though the pre-dawn ridge is colder.
January to March: cold dawns, quiet lake
January brings frosty dawns around 5–7 °C and mist that sits on Phewa until about 9 am, then clear, sunny days near 20 °C. It is the quietest stretch of the dry season, and hotel rates fall after the New Year rush. Sarangkot at sunrise can be close to freezing, so a down jacket is essential, but the views are among the sharpest of the year.
February warms steadily and is one of our favourite months to send families and couples: clear mornings, comfortable afternoons and lower prices than in October. By March, rhododendrons flower red on the ridges around Panchase and Australian Camp, and thermals strengthen, giving paragliders longer flights. The trade-off is haze: dust and smoke from crop burning across the hills and the Indian plains soften distant views from mid-March, especially after midday.
April and May: heat, haze and holidays
April and May are warm, humid and hazy. Lakeside afternoons reach 29–30 °C, and on many days the mountains show only for an hour or two after sunrise, if at all. Pre-monsoon thunderstorms build on some afternoons in April and become common by May, often with strong wind on the lake.
Even so, these months are busy with Indian families, because school holidays begin in late April and Pokhara is cooler than the plains. If you travel now, choose a hotel with a pool, schedule boating and Sarangkot for the first hours of the day and consider a night in Bandipur, Dhampus or Sirubari, which sit 800–900 m higher than the lake and are noticeably cooler. Nepali New Year in mid-April also fills the town with domestic visitors.
June to September: the monsoon
The monsoon usually arrives in mid-June and lasts into September. Pokhara is one of the wettest places in Nepal, and July alone can bring close to 900 mm. Much of the rain falls in long evening and night downpours, so daytime sightseeing is often possible, but the mountains stay hidden behind cloud for days or weeks.
Paragliding and ultralight flights are mostly paused, the hiking trails to Australian Camp grow muddy and leech-ridden, and landslides regularly block the Prithvi Highway and hill roads. On the positive side, Davis Falls and the Seti gorge are at full power, the rice terraces are bright green and hotel rates drop 25–40 percent. Teej, the women's festival, brings colour to Tal Barahi and Bindhyabasini in August or September. If you come now, fly between Kathmandu and Pokhara rather than drive.
Festivals, holidays and crowd peaks
Crowds in Pokhara follow two calendars: Nepal's lunar festival dates and Indian school and public holidays. When both overlap, as they often do in October and November, rooms and flights become scarce and prices rise sharply. Dates move each year, so check current status before you travel and ask us for the exact days in your year.
Festivals can also be a reason to come. Tihar, in October or November, lights the Old Bazaar and Bandipur's brick houses with oil lamps, and the Street Festival turns Lakeside into a five-day food fair. Expect closed offices and reduced local transport on the main days of Dashain.
- Dashain, usually late September or October: Nepal's biggest festival, 10–15 days, heavy domestic travel
- Tihar and Diwali, October or November: lamps and rangoli, Indian visitor peak
- Christmas to New Year: Pokhara Street Festival at Lakeside, 28 December–1 January
- Nepali New Year, mid-April: domestic visitors fill Lakeside
- Indian summer holidays, May–June: family rooms and Pokhara flights in demand
- Teej, August or September: women in red at Tal Barahi and Bindhyabasini
The best month for your kind of trip
Different travellers weigh the seasons differently. The list below is how we advise guests when they ask which month to choose.
- Mountain photography: November, then October and December
- Families with children: October–November, February, or Indian summer holidays in May if heat and haze are acceptable
- Honeymoon couples: November, February and early March for clear dawns and fewer crowds
- Paragliding: October–November for views, March–April for longer thermal flights
- Budget travellers: February, late September or the monsoon if views do not matter
- Pilgrims visiting Manakamana: any month, though Dashain and Saturdays bring long queues
- Short hikes to Australian Camp, Dhampus or Panchase: October–December and March–April
Places in this guide
Questions travellers ask
Which is the best month to visit Pokhara?
November is usually the best single month: almost no rain, clear mountain views on most mornings and days around 24 °C. October is equally clear but busier because of Dashain and the trekking peak. December is cooler and quieter. For a cheaper alternative with good weather, February is our first suggestion.
Is Pokhara good in December?
Yes. December is dry and clear, with days around 18–21 °C and nights falling to about 8 °C. Mornings start with mist on the lake that clears by 9 am, and the Annapurna views are some of the best of the year. The last week is busy because of Christmas, New Year and the Pokhara Street Festival.
Can I see the mountains from Pokhara in April?
Often, but not reliably. April mornings frequently show Machhapuchhre and the Annapurnas for an hour or two after sunrise, after which haze and cloud build. On some days the peaks never appear. Go to Sarangkot or out on the lake at first light, and keep a spare morning in case the first one is hazy.
Is it worth visiting Pokhara in the monsoon?
It can be if you accept that the mountains will probably stay hidden. From mid-June to early September the lake, caves, temples and Mountain Museum remain open, waterfalls are at their fullest and hotels are 25–40 percent cheaper. Paragliding is mostly paused and roads can be blocked by landslides, so fly from Kathmandu and keep plans flexible.
How cold is Pokhara in January?
January days in Pokhara are pleasant at around 19–20 °C in the sun, but early mornings drop to about 5–7 °C and the lake is often misty until 9 am. At Sarangkot before sunrise it can be close to freezing. Pack a warm jacket, a fleece and a hat, though you will shed layers by midday.
When is paragliding season in Pokhara?
The main season runs from about September or October to May. October and November give the clearest mountain views from the air, while March and April bring stronger thermals and longer flights but more haze. From roughly mid-June to August most operators stop or fly only on occasional clear days because of rain and cloud.
What is the rainiest month in Pokhara?
July is usually the wettest month, with close to 900 mm of rain on average, followed by August and June. Pokhara receives far more rain than Kathmandu because the Annapurna range forces monsoon air upward. Most of it falls in the evening and overnight, so mornings can be dry, but the mountains are rarely visible.
Is October too crowded in Pokhara?
Busy rather than crowded. Lakeside is full of trekkers and Nepali families on Dashain holidays, hotel rates peak and paragliding slots and flights sell out. Sarangkot at sunrise has crowds on the terraces. Book 8–10 weeks ahead, go out on the lake early and you will still enjoy the clearest weather of the year.
What should I pack for Pokhara in winter?
From December to February pack light layers for warm days of about 20 °C plus a down or fleece jacket, a hat and gloves for dawn outings to Sarangkot or Australian Camp. Comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen are essential, because the sun is strong at this altitude even when the air is cool.
