Trekking in Nepal in April

April is the second most popular time of the year for trekking in Nepal. Trekking in Nepal in April is favorable both in terms of views and temperature.

Month of April is part of spring season in Nepal when nature come alive with colorful flower blossoms and lush green valleys.

April is a comfortable period for trekking, even at higher altitudes due to its mild temperature compared to other months. The weather around the trail is clear and pleasant. The mountains offer beautiful views.

April is one of the best trekking season in Nepal for trekkers who love nature and biodiversity.

The Rhododendrons add a splash of color and life in the high altitude forests. They usually bloom in the hills of Annapurna, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri and Langtang trekking regions above 3000 meters.

You can also spot wild migratory birds flying above in the alpine Himalaya region.

Weather for trekking in Nepal in April

In April, weather conditions in Nepal is really favorable making it one of the best destinations for trekkers.

The spring temperatures are slightly similar to the autumn (mid September to November) season. It is mildly warm at lower elevations and quite moderate at higher elevations over 4000 meters.

In the mountain area, the temperature is warmer and can go up to around 20+ degrees Celsius during the day. At night, temperature hovers often around the 5-7 degrees Celsius at lower altitude and can go below freezing at altitude over 3500 meters.

Weather temperatures and conditions change as you go up or down in altitude. Likewise, there are variations depending on the trek routes. You can usually expect base camps and passes to have extreme weather conditions.

Early rains are usually light which kick start the spring blooms. The average amount of rain observed during April in Nepal is 57 mm.

In Kathmandu, daily temperature gradually rises in April, from 79°F(26°C) to 83°F(29°C) over the course of the month. But, it rarely exceeds 88°F or drops below 73°F. On the other hand, daily low temperatures increase by 7°F, from 51°F to 58°F, rarely falling below 47°F or exceeding 62°F.

Trekking in Nepal in April is beautiful especially due to the weather.

It is a good time for climbing as the high passes are usually snow free and the mountain views are still clear in April. You will also be trekking along colorful blossoms such as Rhododendrons and wildflowers.

Note: Trekking in Nepal in April or any other months involves a wide variation of altitude and temperature. So, conditions can and will vary with the altitude. The temperatures listed here are only used as rough indications. A helpful rule of thumb: the temperature goes down 1°C/1.8°F for a 100 m/ 300 ft climb.

Trekking in Nepal in April

All treks are accessible during April in Nepal from Everest to Annapurna Region.

This season is completely different to the September season. Yes, you may have trekked in Nepal previously at a different time of the year. But, trekking in Nepal in April is definitely worth it considering the scenery and diversity.

The whole country is lush and abundant green in this season. Flowers like Rhododendrons line up on the hills in a spectacular display.

Everest Base Camp Trek in April

Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the most challenging and sought after treks in the world. You can experience scenic mountains and get a peek into the life of the world famous Sherpa climbers. Sagarmatha National Park, a world heritage site is also another big highlight. You can also tour high altitude Buddhist monasteries like Tyangboche.

April is a festive month for mountaineers. Several Everest climbing expeditions will assemble around the base camp in April. So, you will have the opportunity to meet world-renowned climbers on your trip to the Base Camp. The colorful tents and trekkers in their gears turn the Everest Base Camp into a lively field. It is very similar to how the colorful rhododendrons make the forests come alive.

Though April is not a cold month, the Everest Base Camp still lies in the Himalayas. Therefore, you need to carry layered clothing and packing for Everest Base Camp trek accordingly.

Annapurna Circuit Trek in April

Annapurna Circuit Trek is one of the most classic treks in the country. April is the second most popular month to do the Annapurna Circuit. Out of the total tourists trekking the circuit annually, about 15% of annual visitors come in April itself.

It is also one of the most diverse and stunning tea house treks in the Himalaya. You get to witness the ethnic groups with their own diverse language and tradition. You get the incredible views of some of the most stunning 8000+meter peaks including the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. Simply wonderful.

This trek is also known as the ‘Round Annapurna Trek’.

Annapurna Circuit begins at Beshisahar in the Marshyangdi river valley and ends up in the Kali Gandaki gorge. This is the deepest gorge in the world. The time taken to complete the journey is usually 10 to 15 days.

Another highlight of this trek is the Thorong La pass at 5,416 meters. Thorong La is the highest and most challenging pass on the circuit. You can get a stunning view of the Himalayas from this point.

Cozy tea house accommodation and local meals are available along the trek. The delicious apple pies are the best you will ever have while trekking in Nepal in April.

Langtang Valley Trek in April

Langtang village is situated near Tibet border, it is in North of Kathmandu. Nepalese originated from Tibet are the locals in this region. Thus, it can be a perfect place to experience the Tibetan life style and culture.

Langtang Valley Trek starts from the lower Langtang Valley. Langtang National Park is another big asset of this trail. It will give you a chance to witness wildlife such as monkeys, musk deers, barking deers and the special Red Pandas.

From Langtang valley to Kyangjin Gompa, another interesting site is the Yala Cheese Factory. You should definitely visit the Yala Cheese Factory because it is truly amazing. You can reach Yala within half a day from Kyangjin Gompa.

Hiking in Langtang valley offers an easy walk through the temperate forest. During the trek, you can climb up to Kyangjin- Ri and enjoy the spectacular views of Langtang and other Himalayan ranges. Anyone with reasonable fitness can do this trek because of its easy accessibility.

Upper Mustang Trek in April

April is an excellent time of the year to go on Upper Mustang Trek. Upper Mustang is a rare untouched land in the Himalayas, and home to Lo-Manathang. Lo- Manathang is the capital of Mustang and the only walled city in Nepal.

Its name in Tibetan translation means “plains of aspiration”. It also has its own King, so it is a kingdom within a country.

The locals of this area are Loba people. It is still a restricted area and opened for trekking only fifteen years ago. To enter Upper Mustang, you will need special trekking permit. Which means you can go on this trek only with authorized trekking company in Nepal.

The local people are of Tibetan descendant and very traditional. You can watch them herd yaks, farm their own food and trade goods. This is a terrific chance to leave the modern world behind and blend in with the primitive lifestyle.

The trek also delivers some breathtaking scenery while you walk along the trails. You can also camp beneath the stars for a better view of the sky at night.

Makalu Base Camp Trek in April

The Makalu Base Camp Trek is one of the wildest and less frequented trekking routes. You will get an exclusive view of all major peaks to the east, including Everest and Kanchenjunga. The trek also features rhododendron forests, alpine lakes, and deep gorges.

Makalu Base Camp Trek falls under the restricted trek areas in Nepal. Makalu is the fifth highest mountain and is within the Makalu-Barun National Park and Conservation Area.

While only 20km away from Everest, the region feels completely different. Wild, remote and far less busy. You will not find modern facilities but you can witness the incredible beauty of the region.

The forest is full of rare animals such as the endangered Red Panda, musk deer, ghoral, Himalayan Tahr, and leopard. You can also view a variety of orchid, aromatic plants, oak, primrose and not least of all, 19 species of bamboo.

En route, you will meet the local ethnic groups such as Limbu, Newar, and Rai at the lower elevations. While, at higher elevations, you will meet Tibetan Buddhists.

Festivals in Nepal in April

When trekking in Nepal in April, you can still encounter a few unique festivals in the country. Some of them are as follows:

Bisket Jatra

Bisket Jatra is the annual celebration of two of the most important deities of the town of Bhaktapur, the wrathful god Bhairab and the goddess Bhadrakali. The New Year of the Bikram Sambat calendar i.e. Nepali New Year takes place at the same time as this ancient festival.

The main highlight of Bisket Jatra, which takes place in mid-April, is a huge golden chariot. It is pulled and carried around the town through the narrow streets of Bhaktapur by crowds of young men.

You can find the chariots at rest at certain marked places in the city. People come out to throw offerings of flower, rice, coins and red sindoor powder (vermilion). You can also witness an interesting tug-of-war between the locals of the east and west sides of Bhaktapur.

Along with public celebrations, private celebrations also take place within the families. Each family organizes a four-day long feast where all the relatives come together and enjoy. The older family members place Tika (using red tikka powder) on the foreheads of their juniors and bless them.

Nepali New Year

Baishakh 1st is the national New Year in Nepal. Baishak 1st falls in mid-April. The country’s official calendar year starts this day.

Nepali people use more than one calendar to celebrate their New Year. Nepal has a dozen of ethnic groups with their own unique calendars. They celebrate 9 different New Years including AD.

However, Bikram Sambat is the official calendar of Nepal so far. It uses lunar months and solar sidereal year, which is 56.7 years ahead of the solar Gregorian calendar AD. Baishak is the first month of Bikram Sambat Calendar.

New Year is a fun day for celebration and to get-together with families and friends. People plan to picnic, tour, and travel on this day. You can find parks across the country full of people in celebration.

People conduct various rituals to welcome the New Year in a traditional style. People exchange gifts and greeting cards. You can also enjoy New Year’s Eve events organized by clubs, hotels, and restaurants.

Nepali Mother’s Day (Mata Tirtha Aunsi)

Mata Tirtha Aunsi is a festival for mothers as it is the Nepali Mother’s Day. It falls on the Nepali first month Baisakh (April/May). It is a day to show the love and gratitude to one’s mother.

On this day, people show love and appreciation towards their mother by spending time with them. They also cook and buying gifts for her. The children who live away from their mother come to visit her with gifts or sweets.

Even the little children save their pocket money to buy gifts for their mother.

Mata Tirtha Aunsi is also called ‘Day for seeing Mother’s face’ in the local language. Those who have lost their mother pay homage to the Mata Tirtha. Mata Tirtha is a sacred pilgrimage site for bathing that lies on the outskirts of Kathmandu

Buddha Jayanti

The Buddha Jayanti falls in Baisakh (April-May). This is among the most significant of events on the Buddhist calendar. The day is a celebration of the birth as well as enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautam ‘Lord Buddha’.

Buddha Jayanti is a festival celebrated and observed by many Buddhist and Hindu communities. On this day, Stupas and monasteries organize religious programs like sermon and meditation. You can observe devotees offering butter lamps, flowers, and fruits.

They also circle prayer wheels and chant prayers throughout the day. In the memory of Buddha, people carry out processions in numerous places. They also make donations in the form of food, blood, medicines, and aids.

Trekking Tips for April

Clothes and Gears

Due to possible rain, you need to carry strong running and trekking boots.

At higher altitudes, you need to dress up in layered clothing

You should carry a windproof jacket, rain jacket along with waterproof backpack covers. For the evenings, you need to carry trekking shirts, shorts, pants and a fleece.

Dressing in loose clothing can help with the hotter days.

A light sleeping bag or a sleeping bag liner is a great addition.

For lower elevations, an umbrella and a raincoat will be a better option.

Accommodation and Hotels

All accommodation along the trekking routes will be open and available in April. Accommodation can get busy along popular trails in April. However, it may not be as booked out as in the September – November season.

Trekking Guides

If you are trekking on an unknown trail or planning a restricted area trekking in Nepal, you need to hire a licensed trekking guide. It is for your own ease and security.

Conclusion

April is a comfortable period for trekking in higher altitude. If you are worried about the weather, you need not be at all.

Even records suggest that the weather does no harm to the number of the trekkers trekking in Nepal in April. In fact, April secures third place right after October and November in the highest number of incoming trekkers throughout the year. Now, this is a winning factor!

April is full of flowers, festivals, rice-planting and a pleasant climate. Thus, it makes for a perfect setting for you to celebrate the month trekking here in Nepal.

All in all, Nepal is a trekker’s paradise in April. This is sure to make your trekking experience more adventurous and worthwhile.