Autumn trekking in Nepal runs from late September through November and is the most popular trekking season of the year. The monsoon ends, the dust and haze wash out of the sky, and the Himalayas stay sharp and visible for weeks at a stretch. Daytime temperatures in the mid-hills sit between 15°C and 20°C, trails are dry, and mountain flights operate on schedule more reliably than at any other time of year.
Autumn trekking in Nepal: Photo by Roshan Pokharel
Autumn 2026 also comes with a change worth knowing about. In March 2026, Nepal’s Department of Immigration began issuing Restricted Area Permits to solo trekkers. Routes like the Manaslu Circuit, Tsum Valley, and Upper Mustang previously required a minimum group of two foreign trekkers. This is the first full autumn season under the new rule, which means solo travelers can finally book these routes without hunting for a trek partner on a forum.
I live in Kathmandu, and every year I watch the same pattern: trekkers who book in August get their preferred guides, flights, and teahouses. Trekkers who book in late September pay more and compromise. This guide covers when to go, what changed in 2026, which treks suit which trekkers, and exactly what to arrange before you land.
Why autumn is the best trekking season in Nepal
October and November offer the most stable trekking conditions of Nepal’s calendar. Three things line up at once:
Visibility. The monsoon (June–September) scrubs the atmosphere clean. From early October, mountain views stay clear most mornings, which matters if you are trekking for the panoramas from Kala Patthar, Poon Hill, or Thorong La.
Weather. Expect roughly 15–20°C in the mid-hills during the day and progressively colder nights as you gain altitude. Above 4,000 meters, nights drop below freezing from late October, but daytime trekking stays comfortable. Rain is rare; snow generally holds off until December on the main routes.
Reliability. Flights to Lukla and other mountain airstrips are cancelled far less often in autumn than in monsoon or winter. If your itinerary depends on a domestic flight, autumn is when it is most likely to run on time.
The trade-off is crowds. October is peak season on Everest Base Camp and the Annapurna routes. If you want the same weather with thinner traffic, target the second half of November, or pick one of the quieter routes below.
October vs November: which month is better?
October is better for warmth and post-monsoon greenery; November is better for solitude and the crispest visibility. In October, hillsides are still green from the monsoon and high passes are comfortably warm at midday. By November, the crowds thin noticeably, the air is at its driest and clearest, and teahouse availability improves at the cost of colder nights, especially above 4,500 meters. Both months are excellent. If you can only be flexible by two weeks, late October to mid November is the sweet spot.
Festival season: Dashain and Tihar
Autumn trekking overlaps with Nepal’s two biggest festivals, and most guides written outside Nepal ignore what that means in practice. Dashain falls in October 2026 and Tihar follows in early November [confirm exact 2026 dates before publishing]. During Dashain especially:
- Domestic flights and buses fill up as Nepalis travel home to their families. Book internal transport early.
- Some guides and porters take leave for the festival. Reputable agencies plan around this, but last-minute hires get harder.
- Kathmandu itself empties out and quiets down a genuinely nice time to be in the city before or after a trek.
- In villages along the trails, you may be invited to share festival food or watch bamboo swing (ping) celebrations. It is one of the best cultural windows of the year.
None of this should stop you from trekking during the festivals. It just means booking your logistics two to four weeks earlier than you otherwise would.
What changed for trekking in Nepal in 2026
Three regulatory changes affect autumn 2026 trekkers directly:
1. Solo trekkers can now get Restricted Area Permits. Since March 22, 2026, individual foreign trekkers can obtain a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) through a registered trekking agency. The old rule required a minimum of two foreign trekkers per permit, which locked solo travelers out of Manaslu, Tsum Valley, Upper Mustang, Nar Phu, Dolpo, and Kanchenjunga unless they found a partner. The change covers restricted zones across 13 border districts.
2. Permits can be processed before you arrive. The Department of Immigration moved restricted-area permit applications to an online system, and agencies can now start processing your RAP before you land in Nepal. For autumn, when agency offices are at their busiest, this removes a day or two of waiting around in Kathmandu.
3. Upper Mustang moved to per-day pricing. The Upper Mustang permit changed from a flat US$500 for 10 days to US$50 per person per day. A flat fee made short itineraries poor value; the per-day model means a 5–6 day visit now costs roughly half what it used to.
What has not changed: a licensed guide arranged through a registered trekking agency remains mandatory on national park, conservation area, and restricted routes which covers effectively every major trek in this guide. “Solo” in the new rules means you can apply for a permit alone, not that you can walk alone. Independent, guideless trekking in restricted areas is still prohibited.
Autumn trekking in Nepal 2026: Photo by ashim bhatta
Each route below lists duration, difficulty, permits, and who it suits. Durations are typical teahouse itineraries from Kathmandu or Pokhara.
1. Everest Base Camp trek
- Duration: 12–14 days
- Difficulty: Moderate to challenging; maximum altitude 5,545 m (Kala Patthar)
- Permits: Sagarmatha National Park permit + Khumbu Pasang Lhamu rural municipality fee
- Best for: First-time Himalayan trekkers who want the classic
Autumn is when Everest Base Camp earns its reputation. Clear mornings from Namche onward, dependable Lukla flights, and every teahouse open and stocked. The trade-off is that October is the busiest month on this trail; book Lukla flights and Namche accommodation well ahead, and consider starting in the last week of October to catch clear weather with slightly thinner crowds.
2. Annapurna Circuit
- Duration: 10–14 days depending on road transfers
- Difficulty: Moderate to challenging; crosses Thorong La at 5,416 m
- Permits: Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
- Best for: Trekkers who want variety the circuit climbs from subtropical valleys to a high desert pass
October is the safest month to cross Thorong La: stable weather, low snow risk, long daylight. The Manang side villages (Braga, Ngawal, upper Pisang) are at their best in autumn light. Internal link: [Annapurna article]
3. Manaslu Circuit newly open to solo trekkers
- Duration: 13–15 days
- Difficulty: Challenging; crosses Larkya La at 5,106 m
- Permits: Restricted Area Permit + Manaslu Conservation Area Permit + ACAP (the route exits through Annapurna territory); guide mandatory
- Best for: Trekkers who want a quieter alternative to the Annapurna Circuit
This is the route the 2026 rule change matters for most. Manaslu has long been called what the Annapurna Circuit was thirty years ago, and until this year, solo travelers could not get the permit. Autumn 2026 is the first peak season where they can. Expect interest in this route to climb if Manaslu is on your list, this is a strong year to do it.
4. Langtang Valley trek
- Duration: 7–9 days
- Difficulty: Moderate; maximum altitude around 4,984 m (Tserko Ri, optional)
- Permits: Langtang National Park permit
- Best for: Trekkers on a shorter timeline, no domestic flights required
Langtang starts a day’s drive from Kathmandu, needs no flight, and delivers big-mountain scenery in under ten days. In autumn the valley’s yak pastures and the Kyanjin Ri viewpoints get the same crystal visibility as the more famous routes, with a fraction of the foot traffic.
5. Upper Mustang better value under 2026 pricing
- Duration: 10–12 days traditional itinerary; shorter trips now viable
- Difficulty: Moderate; high desert terrain, maximum altitude around 3,840 m (Lo Manthang)
- Permits: Restricted Area Permit at US$50 per day + ACAP; guide mandatory
- Best for: Trekkers drawn to Tibetan culture, walled towns, and trans-Himalayan desert landscapes
Upper Mustang sits in the Himalayan rain shadow, so it is one of the few regions trekkable even in monsoon but autumn adds cold clear light to its canyons and cave monasteries. The switch to per-day permit pricing is the practical news for 2026: shorter Mustang itineraries finally make financial sense, and solo travelers can now apply.
6. Ghorepani Poon Hill trek
- Duration: 4–5 days from Pokhara
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate; maximum altitude 3,210 m
- Permits: ACAP
- Best for: Beginners, families, and anyone short on time
Poon Hill at sunrise in late October Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna massif lined up across a clear sky is the best return on four days of walking anywhere in Nepal. Rhododendron forests, stone staircases, well-run teahouses. This is the trek I recommend to friends visiting Nepal for the first time who are unsure about altitude.
7. Kanchenjunga Base Camp for the remote option
- Duration: 18–22 days
- Difficulty: Challenging and remote; north base camp at around 5,140 m
- Permits: Restricted Area Permit + Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Permit; guide mandatory
- Best for: Experienced trekkers who want genuine remoteness
Kanchenjunga sees a fraction of the trekkers that Everest or Annapurna do, and autumn is realistically the only comfortable window for it. Like Manaslu, it is newly accessible to solo permit applicants in 2026. Plan for basic teahouses and long days.
When to book: an August–September timeline
If you are reading this in August or early September, you are on schedule. Here is the order of operations:
- Now (August): Confirm your route and dates. Book international flights fares into Kathmandu climb as October approaches.
- 8–10 weeks out: Book your trekking agency and guide. For restricted routes (Manaslu, Mustang, Kanchenjunga), start the RAP paperwork now; agencies can process it before you arrive under the 2026 system.
- 6–8 weeks out: Book domestic flights (Lukla, Pokhara) and any pre/post-trek hotels in Kathmandu. Remember Dashain: domestic transport fills early in October.
- 4 weeks out: Sort travel insurance that covers trekking to your maximum altitude, including helicopter evacuation.
- On arrival: Collect permits your agency has arranged, buy last gear on Thamel’s trekking street, and get a local SIM or eSIM for the trail.
Frequently asked questions
When is autumn trekking season in Nepal?
Late September through November. October is the peak month; the season effectively ends in early December when high passes get colder and some teahouses close.
Is October or November better for trekking in Nepal?
October offers warmer temperatures and greener hills; November offers fewer trekkers and the driest, clearest air. Late October to mid November combines the best of both.
Can I trek solo in Nepal in 2026?
You can travel solo, and since March 2026 you can obtain Restricted Area Permits as an individual but a licensed guide through a registered agency is mandatory on all major routes, including Everest Base Camp and Annapurna. Guideless independent trekking is not permitted on these trails.
How far in advance should I book an autumn trek?
Two to three months ahead for peak October dates, especially for Lukla flights and restricted-area permits. Shorter treks like Poon Hill or Langtang can be arranged a few weeks out, but guide availability tightens around Dashain.
How cold does it get in October and November?
Mid-hill days run 15–20°C. Above 4,000 m, expect below-freezing nights from late October, with high-pass mornings around −5 to −10°C in November. A four-season sleeping bag and a real down jacket are standard kit.
Do I need a permit for every trek?
Yes. At minimum a national park or conservation area permit; restricted routes like Manaslu, Upper Mustang, and Kanchenjunga also require a Restricted Area Permit arranged through a registered agency.