By Uncover Nepal Team · Checked by our Kathmandu travel team · Last checked 1 November 2026
In May, Kathmandu afternoons often turn dark over the valley rim, and a thunderstorm rolls in before evening. High above, Everest expeditions wait at base camp for their summit days. In Lumbini, pilgrims gather for Buddha Jayanti on the full moon of Baisakh.
The short answer: Nepal in May is hot in the Terai, warm and stormy in the valleys and still in season on the high trails. Kathmandu averages 29.2 °C by day and 16.1 °C at night, trails are quieter than in April and the monsoon normally arrives on 13 June.
To compare May with other months, start with our best time to visit Nepal guide.
In this guide
- What is the weather like in Nepal in May?
- Will storms, haze or an early monsoon affect your trip?
- Is May busy in Nepal?
- Which festivals fall in May 2027?
- Are the rhododendrons still in bloom in May?
- Which treks suit May?
- How do you stay well at altitude?
- How hot are Chitwan and Lumbini in May?
- Places to visit in Nepal in May
- What should you pack?
- Frequently asked questions
- Plan your May trip
Key facts
- Kathmandu, average high / low
- 29.2 °C / 16.1 °C (WMO Climate Normals 1991 to 2020, checked 1 Nov 2026)
- Kathmandu, May rainfall
- 128.9 mm, on 11.9 days with 1 mm or more (WMO Climate Normals 1991 to 2020, checked 1 Nov 2026)
- Kathmandu daylight
- About 13 h 13 min on 1 May to about 13 h 46 min on 31 May 2027 (sunrise-sunset.org, checked 1 Nov 2026)
- Foreign arrivals, May 2025
- 86,216, down from 116,487 in April (MoCTCA, Nepal Tourism Statistics 2025, checked 1 Nov 2026)
- Main dates, May 2027 (expected)
- Buddha Jayanti Thu 20 May; Republic Day Sat 29 May (officeholidays.com, Prokerala, Hamro Patro, checked 1 Nov 2026)
What is the weather like in Nepal in May?
May closes the pre-monsoon season, which Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) counts as March to May. The Terai is hot, Kathmandu and Pokhara are warm, and rain climbs fast: Kathmandu gets about double April's rain and Pokhara about two and a half times as much.
| Station (altitude) | Average high | Average low | Rainfall | Source and period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu, Tribhuvan Intl Airport (1,337 m) | 29.2 °C | 16.1 °C | 128.9 mm | WMO normals 1991 to 2020 |
| Pokhara Airport (827 m) | 30.4 °C | 18.7 °C | 353.0 mm | WMO normals 1991 to 2020 |
| Chitwan, Rampur near Bharatpur (189 m) | 35.6 °C | 22.1 °C | No reliable figure | DHM normals 1991 to 2020 |
| Bhairahawa, Gautam Buddha Airport (108 m) | 36.6 °C | 23.9 °C | 87.6 mm | WMO normals 1991 to 2020 |
| Lukla, Tenzing-Hillary Airport (2,786 m) | 16.7 °C | 8.0 °C | 127.6 mm | DHM, years on record, not a full normal |
| Jomsom (2,741 m) | 20.6 °C | 7.8 °C | 18.6 mm | DHM normals 1991 to 2020 |
| Humde, Manang (3,401 m) | 16 °C | 2.7 °C | 40.4 mm | DHM, years on record, not a full normal |
Table: May averages by weather station. Valley stations (Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, Bhairahawa) do not describe trekking altitudes.
Rain comes often: Pokhara averages 18.3 rainy days. Jomsom, behind the Annapurnas, had the country's lowest May rain in 2026 and 2025. We found no published May average for Everest Base Camp; the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) says temperatures drop 6 °C per 1,000 m.
The takeaway: expect warm, damp valleys and cold trail nights.
Will storms, haze or an early monsoon affect your trip?
They can. Pre-monsoon weather brings thunderstorms and lightning in the afternoons and evenings, with windstorms and hail possible. Forest-fire smoke and pollution can hide the peaks in spring. In some years the monsoon comes before June: in 2025 it reached eastern Nepal on 29 May.
ICIMOD calls it a "double burden" of smoke and pollution for the Kathmandu Valley every pre-monsoon season. We have found no figures comparing May's haze with April's, so we will not promise clear views.
What to do:
- Walk in the morning and reach your lodge before the afternoon storms.
- In a thunderstorm, get off ridges and open ground, away from lone trees.
- Late in the month, keep a spare day for an early monsoon.
The takeaway: start early and leave slack in the plan.
Is May busy in Nepal?
Less than April, and far less around Everest. Foreign arrivals fell to 86,216 in May 2025, from 116,487 in April, and protected areas counted 47,791 foreign visitors against April's 75,146. Lumbini is the exception: it fills with Nepali and Indian pilgrims around Buddha Jayanti.
| Place | Foreign visitors, April 2025 | Foreign visitors, May 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Conservation Area | 46,169 | 33,873 |
| Chitwan National Park | 11,996 | 9,460 |
| Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park | 9,927 | 1,784 |
| Langtang National Park | 1,851 | 502 |
Table: foreign visitors entering protected areas, MoCTCA, Nepal Tourism Statistics 2025, checked 1 Nov 2026. Counts are entries in each month.
Ask us how full the teahouses (simple family-run trekking lodges) are on your dates.
The takeaway: expect quieter trails than in April.
Which festivals fall in May 2027?
Expect Buddha Jayanti on Thursday 20 May 2027 and Republic Day on Saturday 29 May 2027, both national public holidays in the current list, with Patan's Rato Machhindranath chariot festival usually under way (its 2027 dates are not announced yet). The official 2084 holiday list is not out yet, so check it when it is published.
| Date (2027, expected) | Festival | What it is | Public holiday? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 20 May | Buddha Jayanti | The Buddha's birth, on the Baisakh full moon | Yes, in the 2083 list |
| Sat 29 May | Republic Day | Jestha 15 in the Nepali calendar | Yes, in the 2083 list |
Table: expected dates from officeholidays.com, Prokerala and Hamro Patro; holiday status from the Ministry of Home Affairs 2083 BS list; checked 1 Nov 2026.
Buddha Jayanti centres on Lumbini, the Buddha's birthplace; in 2026 it was marked with a peace puja (prayer ritual) in the Mayadevi Temple.
The takeaway: for Buddha Jayanti in Lumbini, tell us your dates early.
Are the rhododendrons still in bloom in May?
Mostly in the first half of the month. The rhododendron (lali gurans), Nepal's national flower, blooms in spring and is at its fullest in the Nepali months of Chaitra and Baisakh. Baisakh 2084 ends on 14 May 2027, so by the calendar the peak is over by about mid-May. Timing shifts with height and from year to year.
In eastern Nepal they grow between about 1,200 and 3,600 m. No source says which heights still bloom in May, so ask us about your route.
The takeaway: if flowers are the point, go in April or early May; our Nepal in April guide covers the peak.
Which treks suit May?
Most of the classic routes. NTB lists March to May among the best seasons for Sagarmatha National Park and the Annapurna Conservation Area, and trails are quieter than in April. The catch is cloud and afternoon storms, so build in spare days, especially if you fly to Lukla.
| Trek | High point | May notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ghorepani Poon Hill | 3,210 m | Sleeps at Ghorepani, about 2,850 m |
| Mardi Himal | 4,500 m (base camp) | Real altitude, short trek |
| Annapurna Base Camp | 4,130 m | Starts on the wet Pokhara side |
| Everest Base Camp | 5,364 m | Expedition summit window |
| Thorong La (Annapurna Circuit) | 5,416 m | Ask us |
| Larkya La (Manaslu Circuit) | 5,106 m; some sources give 5,160 m | Ask us |
| Langtang | Ask us | Check the current trail status before you book |
Table: trek high points as used across our Insights series, checked 1 Nov 2026.
Lower and middle treks
Poon Hill is a short trek to a sunrise viewpoint above Ghorepani; in May, mornings are your window. Mardi Himal base camp is at 4,500 m, so treat it like a longer trek. Our best time to trek in Nepal guide compares the seasons.
Everest in the summit window
The Himalayan Rescue Association's Everest ER, a fee-charging clinic that also sees trekkers, stays at base camp "until the end of spring climbing season (end of May.)"
In 2026 the rope-fixing team reached the summit on 13 May and Everest Chronicle reported the first major summit wave on 17 May: the main summit days fell in the second half of May, in a record season.
For trekkers, the risk is the flight in: Lukla's May rain is more than double April's. In the busiest months many Lukla flights leave from Ramechhap (Manthali), a drive from Kathmandu, and every Lukla flight depends on the weather, so keep a spare day. More in our best time for the Everest Base Camp trek guide.
Annapurna and the high passes
Pokhara, the start for Annapurna Base Camp, is wet in May; Jomsom is dry. There is no fixed opening date for the Thorong La or Larkya La. Your guide, who knows the route, decides when and how to cross. A licensed guide walks with you on every trek we run.
The takeaway: May suits Everest and the Annapurnas if you start early and keep spare days.
How do you stay well at altitude?
Go up slowly, however fit you are. The US CDC says altitude illness can start from about 2,450 m, and fitness does not protect you. Every trek with a height in the table above sleeps higher than that, even Poon Hill, at Ghorepani, about 2,850 m.
- Above 3,000 m, raise your sleeping height by no more than about 500 m a night, and rest every 3 to 4 days.
- Know the early signs: headache, nausea, unusual tiredness and poor sleep. Never go higher with symptoms; if they worsen, go down.
- Ask your doctor about preventive medicine (for example acetazolamide).
- Check your insurance covers your altitude and rescue: see our travel insurance guide.
Full advice is in our altitude sickness guide.
How hot are Chitwan and Lumbini in May?
Very hot, day and night. Rampur, near Bharatpur in Chitwan, averages 35.6 °C by day and 22.1 °C at night. Bhairahawa, about 18 km from Lumbini, averages 36.6 °C and 23.9 °C. NTB describes April to June in Chitwan as "hot, up to 43 degrees Celsius".
Averages hide the bad days: on 25 May 2024 the night temperature at Rampur never fell below 33.0 °C.
Chitwan. May is outside NTB's "October-March" best season, but the park is open; our Chitwan National Park guide covers safaris.
Lumbini. Entry is NPR 1,000 for foreigners, NPR 700 for SAARC and Myanmar nationals, NPR 80 for Indians and NPR 20 for Nepalis, per day.
How to handle the heat:
- Plan Chitwan safaris and Lumbini visits for early and late in the day.
- Drink extra fluids, and avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, as the NHS advises.
"If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter."
NHS, Heatwave: how to cope in hot weather, reviewed June 2026
The takeaway: treat midday in the Terai as rest time.
Places to visit in Nepal in May
The best places to visit in Nepal in May are the Everest and Annapurna trails, still in season and quieter than in April, the dry Jomsom and Manang side of the Annapurnas, and the Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara, if you plan around afternoon storms. Chitwan and Lumbini are open but very hot.
Kathmandu Valley. See the old squares in the morning, or head up to Nagarkot, at about 2,100 to 2,200 m.
Pokhara. The lakeside city west of Kathmandu suits slow mornings; Sarangkot, at 1,595 m, is the sunrise hill above it.
Jomsom and Manang. NTB says "some places like Manang and Mustang fall in the rain-shadow behind the mountains and are mostly dry". Pokhara to Jomsom flights were suspended in mid-October 2026, so check how you will get there.
The takeaway: in May, go high or go dry.
What should you pack?
Pack for heat, rain and cold. In Kathmandu a T-shirt covers the day and a light layer the evening. On a trek add thermals, a warm jacket and a warm sleeping bag: Lukla nights average 8.0 °C and Humde 2.7 °C.
- A proper waterproof shell and pack cover: Pokhara averages 353.0 mm of May rain.
- Sun hat, sunscreen and light, loose clothes for the Terai.
- A buff or mask for smoky days, dry bags and a head torch.
- Boots you have already walked in.
Frequently asked questions
Can I trek in winter or the monsoon, and which treks work then?
Yes. NTB says "there is no seasonal constraint on traveling in and through Nepal". For Sagarmatha National Park it describes December to February as snowy, with daytime temperatures of 5 degrees Celsius. In the monsoon, the rain-shadow side stays mostly dry: Jomsom gets about 292.4 mm a year against about 3,866.5 mm in Pokhara. Ask us what suits your dates.
How much does trekking in Nepal cost overall?
Start with the official fees. Sagarmatha National Park entry is NPR 3,000 for foreigners and NPR 1,500 for SAARC nationals, plus the Khumbu municipality Trek-Card at NPR 3,000, or NPR 2,000 for SAARC countries and China. Annapurna Conservation Area entry is NPR 3,000, or NPR 1,000 for SAARC. Our Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit cost guides go further.
Can children trek in Nepal, and which treks suit families?
Yes, with care; ask your doctor first. The UIAA Medical Commission advises against sleeping above 3,000 to 4,000 m with a preschool child, preferring below 2,500 m, and says that, on early data, children need about as long as adults to acclimatise. Nagarkot, at about 2,100 to 2,200 m, and Namobuddha, at 1,750 m, stay low. Under-10s enter parks free. Ask us about routes by sleeping height.
When is Buddha Jayanti in 2027?
Buddha Jayanti is expected on Thursday 20 May 2027. It falls on the Baisakh full moon and is a public holiday in the 2083 list. The official 2084 holiday list is not out yet, so check it when it is published before you fix Lumbini dates.
Plan your May trip
May brings the Everest summit season and quieter trails, at the cost of Terai heat and storms. To compare months, see our best time to visit Nepal guide, or read Nepal in March and Nepal in April.
See our treks page, our classic multi-city tour and our tours page. Message us on WhatsApp or use the enquiry form and we will reply with options.
