Best Time for Mardi Himal Trek

The Mardi Himal trek, one of the many versions of the Annapurna circuit trek, is done best during spring and autumn. These seasons are the best time for the Mardi Himal trek, mostly because of the temperate and dry weather.

The spring months in Nepal occur from March to May, and the autumn months from September to November. These months will bring clear blue skies and moderate temperature days. You will achieve great vistas of the landscapes the trek provides with very few weather issues. The days won’t be too short or too long during these months. You will likely receive little to no snowfall making the trails perfect for hiking.

These seasons are not only the best time for Mardi himal trek but also any trekking in Nepal. They are marked as the “peak trekking season” of Nepal due to the weather and climate suitability. Many trekkers from around the world swarm the trekking trails of Nepal. The same applies to the Mardi Himal trek during these peak trekking seasons.

As the spring and autumn seasons are peak trekking seasons, the monsoon and winter months are considered “off-trekking seasons”. Trekking during these months is rare due to the rather unfavorable weather and climate. Although they aren’t recommended, trekking during the off-season is also possible.

Stick with this article to get to know about the best time for Mardi Himal trek and the possibility of it throughout the year. You might want to check: Mardi Himal Trek Difficulty

Mardi Himal Trek during Spring – Vibrant time to trek

Temperature range – 0 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius

Likelihood of rainfall– less likely

Likelihood of snowfall– less likely

Highlights – dry trails, beautiful vistas due to clear blue sky, temperate weather, Nepali new year, crowded trails

Spring in the northern hemisphere occurs during March, April, and May. These months bring a very bright and vibrant environment within the trails of the Annapurna circuit. The vegetation throughout the trails will be amazing, with flowers blooming to their brightest colors.

The spring skies will be clear blue with very few clouds, allowing you amazing vistas. The chances of rainfall and snowfall are very slim. You will notice the dry trails, making your trek less risky of accidents. The temperature will not be very swelteringly hot or freezing.

The spring months more or less have a similar environment, climate, and weather. But the different months have different versions of spring.

March – The birth of spring

The first month of spring, March will have some traits that resemble the end of February. The trail housing snowfall starts drying by the end of February and gets completely dried by March. You will likely not receive any snowfall throughout March. Hence, the skies will be clear, and you can see amazing vistas on the trek.

The temperature will not be as warm as peak spring but still moderate enough. You might get chilly mornings and afternoons during earlier March. But it will not be as chilly as in the winter months. The days will get longer compared to the preceding months giving you substantial daylight.

March will mark the opening of the trekking business within the trails of the Annapurna circuit. The tea houses and lodges that shut down due to extreme winter weather open up. You will notice more trekkers within the trail compared to the barren trails of winter. By the end of March, the trails will be swarmed with trekking crowds. It might cause issues in accommodation and transportation due to an increase in demand. You ought to make earlier reservations to ensure convenience.

April – The blooming spring

April is the full-fledged springtime that will bring one of the best time for Mardi himal trek. The flowers will be blooming, the vegetation will be green and alive after the dread of winter ends. You will get amazing vibrant views of landscapes with enough daylight hours and clear blue sky.

April will also likely receive little to no snowfalls and rainfall. The Annapurna circuit will have dry trails that make your hikes easier. The weather will again be temperate; you won’t face boiling hot or freezing cold weather.

This allows for a very convenient trek as you need not carry extra luggage. Extreme weathers require you to make special arrangements for your luggage. For example, monsoon/summer months need you to carry extra rain gear. The winter months necessities you to bring a pile of thermal wear to keep you warm.

The Annapurna circuit trails get very crowded in April as it is the heart of spring. The best version of spring occurs in April. So from a logistic point of view too, it is the best time for Mardi himal trek. It brings in a myriad of trekkers from around the world, keeping the trekking business very busy. This makes up problems related to finding accommodations, transportation, tickets, etc. Be in contact with your travel agency or make such arrangements earlier to make your trip easier.

Besides such minor issues, the Mardi Himal trek would be awesome if done in April. April also brings the Nepali new year in its midst. The environment of Nepal overall will be refreshing and vibrant due to this. Trekking Mardi Himal is highly recommended during April.

May – The end of spring

May is not as popular in the trekking scene as April. But most part of the month is still very suitable for trekking the Annapurna circuit. The skies will still be clear for the most part giving you amazing vistas. The trekking business will still be open, allowing you proper facilities for accommodation, meals, and transportation.

The trails will not be as crowded as it was during April throughout May. May has a high chance of starting the monsoon at its end. You might expect some pours if you trek the region during the month’s end. But for the most part of the month, the weather and climate are stable, resembling spring.

May, the third and final month of spring, will bring a significant rise in temperature. You might get very exhausted walking the trails due to the heat. Carry light cotton clothes, sunglasses, and enough SPF cream to protect from heat.

Mardi Himal trek during Autumn – The best time

Temperature range – 10 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius

Likelihood of rainfall– less likely

Likelihood of snowfall– less likely

Highlights – dry trails, beautiful vistas due to clear blue sky, Nepali festival season, crowded trails, temperate weather, chilly mornings and nights, shorter days

Autumn, the season of fall, will bring in a very cozy and vibrant environment in Nepal. The autumn season in Nepal occurs during the months of September, October, and November. The temperature of the Annapurna circuit region gets lower after the hot summer months.

You will receive clear vistas with no obstructions as the skies are clear with very few clouds. The likelihood of rainfall also decreases as the summer months end. You will find that the trails have dried up, and there are no muddy or slippery roads. The trees will turn into a warm, soft shade of brown with the leaves dried up. Such a scene of the forest trails will be mesmerizing.

Although autumn is among the best time for Mardi Himal trek, it comes in variations. Meaning different months of autumn have slightly different characteristics. Let us get into a brief detail.

September – The monsoon withdrawal month

September is popularly known to be the beginning of autumn in Nepal. However, the weather in September has been quite unique these past few years. The monsoon rains usually withdraw by the end of August or the beginning of Spring. But records of the past few years have shown monsoon withdrawal happening as late as the end of September.

To understand such a situation of the weather in September, you should stick to weather reports. The prediction of the monsoon withdrawal is usually made beforehand, which gives a tentative time for when the monsoon ends. You can easily guess if the September of a particular year will be more rainy or dry.

In general conditions, however, the September months are quite dry with a stable climate. You will notice shorter days and a slight drop in temperature. The early morning and night times will be chilly, but the day temperature will be moderate. You might need warm clothes for bed, and normal cotton clothes will be fine for the day.

October – The best of fall

Although September will be a little unpredictable, October will be a very stable autumn month. The monsoon rains will definitely withdraw by the end of September. This allows October to have the refreshing autumn season to bloom. The trekking trails of the Annapurna region will be dry, with very less chance of rainfall or snowfall.

Enchanting views of the mountain ranges such as Mount Annapurna, Mount Machhapuchhre, and Mardi Himal will be visible clear as a day. You will get wonderful vistas of mountain ranges or other landscapes this time. These pristine views make up an unforgettable trek with the best vistas.

The trails are fully dried as the monsoon rains will stop disturbing the trails. You will notice a significant rise in trekkers on the trails in October. Like spring months, autumn months are also the “peak trekking season” in Nepal. So naturally, trekkers worldwide choose October as their trekking time. It is also a good time to trek the Annapurna circuit logistically, except for the crowds.

The huge crowd of trekkers within the trail causes businesses to be bustling. Your accommodation services in tea houses and lodges will be packed. Achieving a convenient accommodation spot will be a great hassle. You could embrace this difficulty and sleep on uncomfortable floors with sleeping bags. But if you wish to sleep comfortably, make sure you have early reservations. Your travel agency or tour guides can help you with this.

Another reason that aids for October being the best time for Mardi Himal trek is the festival season. The Dashain and Tihar festivals occur anywhere between October and November. They bring a great, joyous environment throughout the country. Due to this festive environment, the Mardi Himal trek will be delightful this time of the year.

You can find huge swings made up of bamboo in many parts of the country. Kids play with kites and local street games to commemorate the Dashain festival. You see beautiful lights throughout the country during Tihar. We highly recommend you trek within Nepal or visit the country on such a festive occasion.

November – The end of autumn

The traits of November are just an extension of what October offers. The weather and climate of November are stable and temperate, just like October. You will receive little to no snowfall or rainfall. November will still offer you clear blue skies with amazing vistas. The temperature might significantly decrease during November, especially during the month’s end. Packing warm clothes will be essential if you plan on doing the Mardi Himal trek this time.

The festivities might still persist till November as the festival season lasts for over a month. So November will still be amazing with a wholesome environment in Nepal.

The trails will still be crowded with a lot of trekkers making booking very hectic. In November, too, early reservations are necessary to make your trek more comfortable. But such a crowded environment could also be a great thing. You will get to fraternize with many trekkers from around the world and learn a lot. It will be a great experience for cultural sharing and learning more about the worldwide trekking scenario.

Mardi Himal trek during the off-season

Monsoon – Wet or humid weather

Temperature range – 10 degrees Celsius to 23 degrees Celsius

Likelihood of rainfall– highly likely

Likelihood of snowfall– less likely

Highlights – slippery and muddy roads, very barren trails, heavy rainfalls, sweltering heat

The monsoon or summertime in Nepal falls during June, July, and August. These months bring a very hot and humid climate with a lot of rainfall. The Annapurna region receives rain almost every day during these months. So the trails to the Mardi Himal base camp will also be rainy, making the road slippery and muddy. Such roads increase the chances of accidents and falls.

Although it makes up for some discomfort, the rain also makes the nearby vegetation beautiful. The vegetations become lush and green after rainwater washes them up. It makes the environment very quaint and beautiful.

The trails will be quite empty in monsoon as very few trekkers travel this time. You will likely not face many accommodation issues, like peak trekking seasons.

You can do the Mardi Himal trek during monsoon as well. But you need to make a lot of preparation for it to be successful. Carry necessary rain gear, light summertime clothes, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc., for a summer trek. Be cautious and walk around the trails to avoid accidents and falls.

Winter – Freezing cold

Temperature range – -5 degrees Celsius to 12 degrees Celsius

Likelihood of rainfall– less likely

Likelihood of snowfall– highly likely

Highlights – freezing weather, chances of snowfall, very slippery roads, trails with very few people

The winter months in Nepal fall during December, January, and February. These months bring very cold weather throughout the Annapurna region. The mountain ranges receive a lot of snowfall during winter. So it is likely that the trails along the Mardi Himal trek might also receive some. Trekking long hours for days on a snowy trail will be very uncomfortable. It makes the trails slipper, and again risks of accidents and falls increase.

Despite these issues, the Mardi Himal trek during winter is still possible. Although the harsh weather brings some inconvenience, it gives an amazing experience. You get to enjoy the snowfall of the Annapurna region. The nearby mountain ranges like Annapurna and Mardi itself will be covered with snow. It makes up for an ethereal trip with mesmerizing vistas.

You need to be cautious if you wish to venture the Mardi Himal trek this time of the year. You have to carry very heavy luggage to ensure you have enough warm clothes. If possible, you can hire a porter to make that simpler. Enjoy the snowfall with caution, wearing comfortable footwear and handwear.

The winter trails of the Mardi Himal trek will also be empty due to winter’s cold and unstable weather. So finding accommodation or transportation will not be that difficult. If done right, winter’s Mardi Himal trek could also work amazingly well for you.

Final Say

The Mardi Himal trek is possible throughout the year. But it depends upon you and your desire for the trek to choose when to do it. Looking at the physical comfort and logistics, spring and autumn are the best time for the Mardi Himal trek. But treks during these months also do not come easy and need a lot of prep. Though inconvenient for the trek, the winter and summer months allow a unique experience.

At peak climbing Nepal, we are here to help make your Mardi Himal trek easier. Our team curates special itineraries and arrangements suitable for your trek any time of the year. If you have problems making up reservations for your spring and autumn treks, we will make it for you. We will manage porters and guides for winter and monsoon treks to guide you.

Whatever your choice for the Mardi Himal trek is, we will be there for you. Contact us to book your Mardi Himal trek package or for more info.