Trekking in Nepal in October 2027: Weather, Best Treks and Departures

Last updated 10 October 2026.

Short answer: October is the busiest and, for most people, the best trekking month in Nepal. The monsoon has gone, the air is dry and the views are sharp. It is also the month of Dashain, when transport and some teahouses are affected, and the month when Lukla flights and lodge beds sell out first. Book two to three months ahead. We have Monday departures on 4, 18 and 25 October 2027. There is none on 11 October.

If you want one trek to build October around, I would take the Annapurna Circuit or Everest. The Circuit is at its best from late October, and Thorong La is easier than in November. Below I cover the weather figures, which treks suit October, the crowds, Dashain and Tihar, our dates and when to book.

Trekking in Nepal in October 2027 at a glance

What is the weather like in October?

Dry and settled after the first week, with nights getting colder. These are averages from my own best-time guides, not forecasts. Everest rows are station averages (Dingboche is modelled).

October is the first properly dry month after the monsoon, but it is the wet edge of the good season. The first week can still feel like the end of the rains, and late October is the safer pick. On the Everest side, two of the last few autumns have seen the tail of a Bay of Bengal cyclone clip Nepal in late October, with a few days of cloud, fresh snow high up and grounded Lukla flights. That is our experience, not a station statistic. It is not every year, but keep a spare day or two at the end. My Everest in autumn guide and Annapurna Circuit in October guide go deeper.

Which treks suit October 2027?

These prices hold for 2027. Group size lowers the price per person, and a private trip costs the same as a group.

On Budget you carry your own bag, rooms are shared and trek meals are not included. On Standard there is one porter for every two trekkers, private rooms and all trek meals, and a solo Standard trekker has no porter, so the guide carries up to 10 kg. On Luxury every trekker has a dedicated porter, private deluxe rooms and all meals, and the Everest Base Camp trek uses a helicopter to and from Lukla.

How crowded is October?

Very. On the Everest trail October is the busiest month, and about 124,000 international visitors arrived nationwide in October 2024 (Nepal Tourism Board, read from a chart, all visitors). Villages like Lobuche and Gorak Shep have a fixed number of rooms. Independent trekkers who arrive in the afternoon often find them full. Our guides pre-book rooms along the route, which is part of why we ask for early bookings. My guide to booking teahouses in October explains the problem.

Dashain and Tihar in October 2027

Both festivals come early in 2027. Dashain runs from the end of September, with Fulpati on Wednesday 6 October, Maha Navami on Friday 8 October, and the tika day of Vijaya Dashami on Saturday 9 or Sunday 10 October. Two calendars differ by a day on Dashami, and the government has not issued its 2027 notice. Tihar follows: Laxmi Puja on Friday 29 October, Govardhan Puja on Saturday 30 October and Bhai Tika on Sunday 31 October. Our 25 October departures will be on the trail for Tihar, which touches Kathmandu and the lower villages most.

Dashain is the one that bites. Kathmandu empties, buses and domestic flights fill with Nepali families, and some small teahouses run on skeleton staff. Trails and most lodges stay open. Government offices close, so file restricted-area and climbing permits well before the holiday. My full Dashain and Tihar 2027 guide has the day-by-day table.

Our fixed departures in October 2027

These dates are open to join. There is no departure listed on Monday 11 October, the day after Dashami. If you want that week, tell me and I will run the trek privately, even for one person, at the same price.

What about flights, roads and permits?

October is inside the Manthali window. Lukla flights leave from Ramechhap airport, a four to five hour night drive from Kathmandu, and your guide collects you between midnight and 2 am. Our notes mark all three Everest departures that way. Weather delays leave a backlog of two to three days, and in Dashain week the domestic flights carry more Nepali passengers than usual. Keep a spare day at both ends and never book your flight home for the day after the trek. Luxury flies a helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla. See the Manthali guide.

Permits are in our price. Annapurna is NPR 3,000 plus TIMS at NPR 2,000. On Everest it is the park permit (NPR 3,000), the Khumbu local fee (NPR 3,000) and TIMS (NPR 2,000). Manaslu is USD 100 a week plus USD 15 a day from September to November. Upper Mustang is USD 50 a day. Restricted-area permits need 48 hours in government working days, and holidays do not count. The Beni to Jomsom and Besisahar to Chame roads were damaged in 2026, and I will confirm each road 48 hours before you set off. If one is still closed I move your dates free.

When should you book an October 2027 trek?

Two to three months ahead, which is early July to early August for the 4 October departure and late July to late August for the 25th. Flight seats and teahouse beds sell out well before the trek does. Add one to two weeks for Manaslu or Mustang. My booking guide has the reasons.

The deposit is 10 per cent and it is non-refundable, so there is no refund if you cancel. You can reschedule free of charge with at least 72 hours notice (seven days for restricted areas), to any date within one year. If we cannot run your trip, we refund what you have paid, less taxes, bank or card charges and any money already spent on permits or flights. The balance is paid on arrival in Kathmandu, in USD or EUR, cash or by card. Card carries 3.5 per cent and cash carries none. We do not take Nepali rupees from foreign clients. Your licensed guide is named after you book. Kathmandu hotels are not included in any trek price, so I quote them separately.

Questions people ask

Is October the best month to trek in Nepal? For many people, yes. The rain has gone and the air is clear. It is also the busiest month, so you trade the best views for the biggest crowds.

Is October better than November? November is drier and colder, and the second half is quieter. October is milder, and the last week can bring a late storm. I like late October to mid November.

Does Dashain stop treks? No. Trails and most lodges stay open. It affects buses, domestic flights and some small teahouses, and government offices close.

When is Dashain in 2027? Fulpati is on 6 October and Maha Navami on 8 October. The tika day is 9 or 10 October, depending on the calendar. Government dates are not out yet.

How cold is Thorong La in October? The model average is about -10 C at night, against -15 C in November. Wind makes it feel colder.

Do the Lukla flights leave from Kathmandu in October? Mostly from Manthali, with a midnight pick-up. Luxury uses a helicopter from Kathmandu.

Is October more expensive? No. Our prices are the same all year and hold for 2027. Flights and Kathmandu hotels are at their dearest in October and April, which I cannot control.

How do you book?

Message me on WhatsApp on +977 9810351300 with your dates, group size and the trek you have in mind. I will tell you which October date I would choose and send the exact quote.

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