Season guide · Kathmandu · Nepal
Kathmandu in autumn
October–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bijay Chaurasia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Clear skies, comfortable days and the main festival and trekking season; the busiest and most expensive time. Expect highs up to 26°C (79°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F), with about 5 rainy days across October–November. October–November are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- October–November
- Temperatures
- 7°C (45°F) to 26°C (79°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 5
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | 26°C (79°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 4 | 11.4 h | 5/5 |
| November | 23°C (73°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 1 | 10.7 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 25°C (77°F) against a yearly 25°C (77°F), and 5 of the year's roughly 109 rainy days fall in these 2 months. Crowds rate 5/5 and hotel prices 5/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- October: Dashain — Nepal's biggest festival, with kites and family gatherings (usually October)
- October: Tihar — festival of lights (October or November)
- November: Tihar (some years)
Make the most of the weather
Religious site · Swayambhu
Swayambhunath
On a wooded hill west of the city, this ancient stupa painted with the all-seeing eyes of the Buddha is surrounded by shrines, prayer wheels and resident monkeys, which give it its nickname, the Monkey Temple.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
- Kids
Garden · Thamel
Garden of Dreams
Bring a book for an hour's escape from Thamel's traffic.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Architecture
Religious site · Boudha
Kopan Monastery
On a hilltop north of Boudhanath, this Tibetan Buddhist monastery is home to monks and nuns and runs well-known introductory courses in Buddhism and meditation.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Thankot
Chandragiri Hills cable car
Go on a clear morning between October and March for the best mountain views; afternoons often cloud over.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Kids
- Outdoors
Nature · Budhanilkantha
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
The forested hills on the valley's northern rim form a national park crossed by trails, including a steep climb to Shivapuri peak at about 2,730 metres and walks to the Nagi Gompa nunnery.
- Time needed
- Half to full day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
- Views
Day trips in autumn
- Bhaktapur (About 45 minutes to 1 hour by road) — The best-preserved of the valley's royal cities, with three main squares, the five-tiered Nyatapola temple, Pottery Square where potters work in the open and streets largely closed to traffic.
- Nagarkot (About 1.5 hours by road) — A hill village at around 2,000 metres on the valley's eastern rim, famous for sunrise views over a wide sweep of the Himalaya on clear days, mainly from October to March.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Kathmandu?
Yes: October–November are among the best months. Clear skies, comfortable days and the main festival and trekking season; the busiest and most expensive time.
+What is the weather like in Kathmandu in autumn?
Highs of up to 26°C (79°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F), with about 5 rainy days over the season.