If you want to travel to Nepal but only have time off in summer or want to travel to Nepal on a budget then you should consider traveling off season. In other countries I have visited, such as Sri Lanka, the monsoon is not a problem at all but in Nepal it is a slightly different matter.
Pros:
- Less tourists. As it is off season you are able to move around in places like Pokhara without being shoulder to shoulder with other holiday goers. However, there are still a few visitors from countries such as China and India to escape their summer heat.
- Cheap airfare. Compared to traveling at other times in the year, the airfare is relatively cheap. With Air India I got a return ticket from London Heathrow for just over £500. But for those who do not want to fly with Air India, the cheaper airfare allows you to budget for a more premium airline.
- Better transport. This point is a bit of an iffy one as the ‘better transport’ is still cramped, hot and irregular. In comparison to the main festival season (September-November) where transport is scarce and all the things I listed are about 10x worse.
- Monsoon relieves the dust. In the main cities like Kathmandu and even Pokhara these days there is a huge problem with pollution and when mixed with all the dust it is just a nightmare. Just walking to work or to the shops leaves you with a nauseating headache. At least, in the monsoon the rain washes away some of the dust leaving the air that bit more bearable.
- Cheaper hotels with more availability. As there are less tourists, the hotels will gladly want to house you. In my experience this has led to more exclusive rooms with better service for an even cheaper price!
- Some beautiful days. Amidst the rain and incredible heat there really are some beautiful days in Nepal in the monsoon season. You may even get some clear days where you can see mountains bordering the hills in the distance.
Kathmandu in monsoon
Cons:
- No mountains. The killer con; Nepal is famous for its mountainous views but if there is no clear sky then there are no mountains. You might get lucky if there is a clear day, but I wouldn’t count on it. But that is always another excuse to go back to Nepal, right?
- No activities. The monsoon makes it difficult for any of the adventurous activities to run. That includes paragliding, zip-wiring, bungee jumping, jeep safaris and just about anything fun you wanted to do whilst in Nepal. Even trekking becomes difficult and limited during the monsoon due to the safety of the trekkers. Also, any water related activities e.g. rafting, boating and water gliding become scarce due to the rising levels and unpredictable nature of the water.
- Leeches/Earthworms/Mosquitoes. The first two I had never encountered before coming to Nepal so I was so scared when I saw them wriggling around trying to find skin to leap onto. If you do get a leech or worm attached to you then you can sprinkle salt on them or wait until they have finished sucking the blood. Neither option is very nice so try to cover all skin when walking through more grassy areas. Mosquitoes are especially high during off season, but luckily when it has been raining then the mosquitoes go into hiding which means no bites.
- Difficult to drive. Most of the roads in Nepal are rocky and muddy (and on hills). Thus, when mixed with water it can be a recipe for a disaster. This only applies to more rural areas but it means that access to these places becomes limited or in some cases off limits.
- No festivals. Nepal is known for its array of Hindu and Buddhist festivals so if you want to come to Nepal for these, then don’t come in monsoon. Although there are some local traditions, pujas and worship days they are few and far between and also nothing compared to the big festival months for Dashain and Tihar.
- Green leafy vegetables and salad. The monsoon makes it difficult for tourists to eat leafy vegetables and salads and can cause many stomach problems. This even includes the little chopped cucumber, radish and carrots that are often offered alongside daal-bhat. Tourists traveling in monsoon season will just have to make sure to avoid or thoroughly wash these vegetables.
Nepal is still a lovely tourist destination in the monsoon season and there are still many people that come at this time. It depends on what your itinerary of your holiday is as to how fulfilled your trip will be. In my opinion, the monsoon season is a very good time for people who want to see Kathmandu and the surrounding areas e.g. Nagarkot and Patan and even a little of Pokhara. The weather will not interfere in your plans. If, however, you want to travel to the Terai, go trekking or access rural villages then you may want to consider coming after monsoon. Travel is not impossible and is still very rewarding but who doesn’t want to see the mountains?!
Monsoon mist
