Annapurna Circuit Best Time: Month by Month, With Rain, Night Lows and Thorong La

Last updated 6 October 2026. Rain, and day and night temperatures at Manang and Jomsom, are 1991 to 2020 averages from the national weather service stations (Department of Hydrology and Meteorology). Pokhara rain is the long-term average from the Pokhara station. Temperatures at Thorong Phedi and Thorong La are averages for 2015 to 2024 from a weather model, so treat them as a guide to the cold, not a forecast for one week. Trek prices are in US dollars.

The best months for the Annapurna Circuit are late October to mid November and March to April. Late October to mid November gives dry, clear air, with very little rain at Manang and cold nights. March and April give milder weather and rhododendron forest on the lower trail, with more cloud. December to February is cold, and snow can block Thorong La for days. June to September is the monsoon. Whichever month you pick, the pass decides the plan, because it is the highest point of the trek at 5,416 m.

We run The Everest Holiday in Kathmandu. We registered the company in 2016 and we come from three generations of family guides. Our 12-day Annapurna Circuit Trek drives from Kathmandu to Bhulbhule (845 m) on day 1, then walks through Jagat (1,300 m), Dharapani (1,860 m), Chame (2,670 m) and Upper Pisang (3,300 m) to Manang (3,540 m). Day 7 is a rest day in Manang. Then we sleep at Ledar (4,250 m) and Thorong High Camp (4,925 m), cross Thorong La on day 10 and descend to Muktinath (3,800 m). Days 11 and 12 are drives back to Pokhara and Kathmandu.

Annapurna Circuit weather month by month

The Circuit crosses two kinds of weather. The south side, near Pokhara and Lumle, catches the monsoon. The north side, around Manang and Jomsom, sits behind the Annapurna range and is far drier. Read the rain columns to see that difference, and read the temperature columns for how Manang and the pass will feel. As a rough rule it gets about 6 C colder for every 1,000 m you climb.

Two things stand out. First, Manang gets very little rain in November (1.1 mm) and December (3.8 mm), and the cold arrives with it: the night low at Manang is below freezing from November to April. Second, the pass is far colder than the villages. In October the average night low at Thorong La is -10 C, and in November it is -15 C. Wind makes the pass feel colder than these figures. For more on autumn, read our Annapurna Circuit in autumn guide and our best time to trek in Nepal guide.

October and November: is this the best time?

Yes, for clear views and dry air. Rain at Manang falls from 38.9 mm in October to 1.1 mm in November. On the southern side Pokhara drops from 159 mm to 17 mm over the same two months. This is the classic window and the busiest, so book early.

The trade-off is cold. Manang nights are about 1 C in October and -4 C in November, and the night average near Thorong Phedi is -2 C in October and -7 C in November. Plan for a down jacket and warm layers at Manang, Ledar and High Camp. October is milder than November on the pass, but late October into mid November is the heart of the season for settled weather. Our October guide and November guide go month by month.

March and April: is spring worth it?

Spring is the second choice, and it suits you if you prefer warmer days to the cold of late November. The lower trail runs through rhododendron forest. Rain is still light at Manang (21.6 mm in March and 38.5 mm in April), but the south side is wetter than in autumn, with 141.7 mm at Pokhara in April, so expect more cloud and some showers on the south side.

Manang nights average about -3 C in March and -1 C in April, so you still need winter layers. March is the colder of the two months, and Thorong La averages -19 C at night in March against -13 C in April. See our spring guide and our March guide.

December to February: can you trek the Circuit in winter?

Yes, but it is the hardest season. The nights are the coldest of the year: Manang averages -7 C to -9 C, the area near Thorong Phedi -11 C to -15 C and Thorong La -20 C to -25 C. Snow can block Thorong La for days, and there is no way round the pass on foot. We do not give fixed closing dates, because snow does not follow a calendar.

Winter suits you if you have cold-weather experience and flexible dates. The days are dry (Manang gets 4 mm to 15 mm of rain a month), but the cold is serious. Read our winter guide before you decide.

May: what happens just before the monsoon?

May is a change month. Rain at Pokhara jumps from 141.7 mm in April to 354.7 mm in May, while Manang gets 40.4 mm. Manang nights are warmer, at about 3 C, and the night average near Thorong Phedi is -1 C. The south side gets wetter first, so the lower days are more likely to be wet than the days near Manang.

June to September: why is the north side so much drier?

June to September is the monsoon. About 80 per cent of Nepal's rain falls in these months. Pokhara receives 635 mm to 941 mm a month. Behind the Annapurna range Manang receives 55 mm to 85 mm, and Jomsom 32 mm to 47 mm. In July, Manang gets 85 mm where Lumle, on the south side at 1,738 m, gets 1,473 mm, about 17 times as much.

That does not make July dry on the Circuit. The lower part of the trek is on the wet side, and cloud can hide the mountains. If this is the only month you can travel, read our monsoon guide first.

Which month is best for crossing Thorong La?

The pass is the reason to choose carefully. Thorong La is 5,416 m, and the night at High Camp (4,925 m) comes before it. On our itinerary day 10 starts in the dark, with headlamps. Late October to mid November and March to April avoid the deepest cold of December to February, when the average night low on the pass is -20 C to -25 C. In every month, the pass day depends on the weather on the day, so we never promise a crossing at a fixed time. Our Thorong La guide covers the pass day, and our difficulty guide covers the fitness side.

Does the road change when you should go?

Not the season. Roads now run up both valleys, which changes how you reach the start and how you leave, but the Thorong La section is still on foot. Rain, cold and snow decide the month, not the road. For what is open right now, read Is the Annapurna Circuit open? and for how the route changed, read our road construction guide.

What does the Annapurna Circuit cost?

Our 12-day Annapurna Circuit costs from US$720 Budget, US$999 Standard and US$1,499 Luxury per person for 1 to 4 trekkers. For 5 to 8 trekkers it is US$669, US$949 and US$1,449. For 9 to 12 trekkers it is US$619, US$899 and US$1,399. For 13 to 20 trekkers it is US$569, US$849 and US$1,349. Our 16-day Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake costs from US$799, US$1,499 and US$2,100 for 1 to 4 trekkers. These prices hold for 2027, and our cost guide shows what each tier includes.

Budget means no porter, so you carry your own bag, with shared rooms and trek meals not included. Standard means one porter for every two trekkers, private rooms and all trek meals. Luxury means a dedicated porter for each trekker, private deluxe rooms with attached bathroom where available, and all meals plus fruit and nuts and unlimited soft drinks. A solo Standard trekker has no porter, and the guide carries up to 10 kg. Kathmandu hotels are not included in any trek tier. We quote them separately. We arrange the Annapurna Conservation Area permit (NPR 3,000) and the TIMS card (NPR 2,000).

The deposit is 10 per cent and it is non-refundable, with no refund if you cancel. You can reschedule free of charge with at least 72 hours notice to any date within one year. If we cannot run the trip, we refund what you paid less taxes, bank or card charges and money already spent. The balance is paid on arrival in Kathmandu in USD or EUR, cash or by card. Card carries 3.5 per cent and cash in Kathmandu carries none. We do not take Nepali rupees from foreign clients. Group size is 2 to 20, and you can also trek solo.

Do you need a guide and travel insurance?

A licensed guide and agency-issued TIMS card are required on most trekking routes under the Nepal Tourism Board rule from 31 March 2023; the Everest (Khumbu) region does not enforce it locally, but we always trek with a licensed guide.

Buy travel insurance at home before you travel. The Circuit crosses 5,416 m, so you need trekking cover to 6,000 m and helicopter rescue and evacuation, confirmed in writing. We do not recommend buying insurance in Nepal.

Which month should you choose?

If you are still deciding, compare the Circuit with Everest in our Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit comparison, or read about Manang, the village where you spend your rest day. If you tell us your dates, we will tell you what to expect.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.