Climate guide for Pokhara, Nepal

Best Time to Visit
Pokhara

How to read the score (0–10)
05810
UnfavorableGoodOptimal

About Pokhara

Choose May-September for this rhythm: boat the lake, hike Sarangkot sunrise, and prepare trekking logistics. Clear post-monsoon and spring windows give the sharpest peaks.

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Travel Tips

Lake Sunrise & Boats
Hire a rowboat on Phewa Lake at dawn for Annapurna reflections before mist lifts. Agree the fare and return time before casting off; life jackets are worth requesting.
Paragliding Weather Windows
Tandem flights depend on wind and cloud - mornings are most reliable. Book with licensed operators, confirm insurance cover, and allow a buffer day if flying is your priority.
Trek Permits Nearby
Day hikes toward Sarangkot need little paperwork, but multi-day Annapurna routes require TIMS and park permits. Arrange through a registered agency in Pokhara before heading up.
Altitude & Dust
Pokhara is lower than Kathmandu but dry-season dust and lake humidity still irritate. Pack sunglasses, a light scarf, and drink more water than you think you need after flights from higher elevations.

Things to do in Pokhara

Pokhara, Nepal. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

When to visit Pokhara: the short answer

The best time to visit Pokhara is April, followed by March, February. Those months combine the most usable temperatures with the fewest lost days to rain: April averages 23°C with 35 mm of rain and about 25 sunny days. The months to avoid unless you have a specific reason are September, August. If budget matters more than perfect weather, October is the strongest of the low-rate months at 5.9/10.

Across the year Pokhara swings from 11°C in January to 26°C in June, a 15-degree spread, while rainfall ranges from 1 mm in November to 596 mm in July. That is the whole planning problem in one sentence: Pokhara is not equally good year-round, and the difference between the best and worst month here is 4.4 points on a 10-point scale.

Warmest month: June (26°C). Coolest: January (11°C). Driest: November (1 mm). Wettest: July (596 mm).

Pokhara month by month

January in Pokhara — reliably good (6th best month)

Good · 8.1/10

January averages 11°C (51°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rain is a non-issue at 6 mm for the month, with about 8 sunny days and 10.4 hours of daylight to work with.

It scores 8.1/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 9.3/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect peak pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, footwear you can get muddy.

February in Pokhara — the year's strongest window

Best window · 8.8/10

February averages 13°C (55°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Expect 23 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 13 sunny days and 11 daylight hours.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Pokhara at 8.8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.

March in Pokhara — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.2/10

March averages 18°C (65°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Expect 41 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 19 sunny days and 11.8 daylight hours.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Pokhara at 9.2/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.

April in Pokhara — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.3/10

April averages 23°C (73°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Expect 35 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 25 sunny days and 12.7 daylight hours.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Pokhara at 9.3/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, footwear you can get muddy.

May in Pokhara — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6.9/10

May averages 24°C (75°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

At 135 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 22 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 6.9/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 9.3/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, April is materially better in Pokhara — 2.4 points higher on the same scale.

June in Pokhara — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.2/10

June averages 26°C (78°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

300 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 23 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.

It scores 5.2/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 9.3/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, April is materially better in Pokhara — 4.1 points higher on the same scale.

July in Pokhara — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 4.9/10

July averages 23°C (74°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

596 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 16 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.

It scores 4.9/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 9.3/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, April is materially better in Pokhara — 4.4 points higher on the same scale.

August in Pokhara — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 4.9/10

August averages 23°C (73°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

456 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 15 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.

It scores 4.9/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 9.3/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, April is materially better in Pokhara — 4.4 points higher on the same scale.

September in Pokhara — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 4.9/10

September averages 22°C (72°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

329 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 13 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.

It scores 4.9/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 9.3/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, April is materially better in Pokhara — 4.4 points higher on the same scale.

October in Pokhara — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.9/10

October averages 19°C (67°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

At 161 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 16 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 5.9/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 9.3/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, April is materially better in Pokhara — 3.4 points higher on the same scale.

November in Pokhara — reliably good (5th best month)

Good · 8.3/10

November averages 16°C (61°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rain is a non-issue at 1 mm for the month, with about 11 sunny days and 10.6 hours of daylight to work with.

It scores 8.3/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 9.3/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.

December in Pokhara — reliably good (4th best month)

Good · 8.4/10

December averages 13°C (55°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rain is a non-issue at 1 mm for the month, with about 10 sunny days and 10.2 hours of daylight to work with.

It scores 8.4/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 9.3/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect peak pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, footwear you can get muddy.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Pokhara, Nepal?
In Ideal Weather mode, the best months to visit Pokhara are April, March, February, December, November. April is the single peak month with an Ideal Weather score of 9.3/10 based on temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and historical sunny days.
What is the weather like in Pokhara year-round?
Pokhara has a climate profile suited to nature and wildlife travel. Average monthly temperatures range from 11°C in January to 26°C in June, with Ideal Weather scores between 4.9 and 9.3 out of 10.
Which months should I avoid in Pokhara?
The lowest Ideal Weather-scoring months in Pokhara are July (4.9/10), August (4.9/10), September (4.9/10). These months typically combine less comfortable temperatures, higher rainfall or fewer sunny days.
When is the rainy season in Pokhara?
July is the wettest month in Pokhara, averaging about 596 mm of rainfall. November is the driest, at roughly 1 mm.
Which is the sunniest month in Pokhara?
April sees the most sun in Pokhara, with about 25 sunny days on average - ideal for outdoor plans.
Is Pokhara a good destination for nature and wildlife travel?
Pokhara is well suited to nature and wildlife travel. Its highest Ideal Weather window (April, March, February, December, November) aligns with the conditions travelers usually look for in this style of trip.
How is the bestime.to score for Pokhara calculated?
Each month receives an Ideal Weather score from 0-10 using ERA5 climate normals for Pokhara: temperature comfort, precipitation, humidity, daylight hours, and historical sunny days - weighted for nature and wildlife travel.

Explore by month

Curated in Pokhara

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