Season guide · Pokhara · Nepal
Pokhara in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Q-lieb-in, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Dry, clear and cool, with cold nights; good for lower treks and quieter than autumn. Expect highs up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F), with about 7 rainy days across December–February. December is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 7°C (45°F) to 22°C (72°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 7
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20°C (68°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 2 | 10.5 h | 3/5 |
| February | 22°C (72°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 4 | 11.2 h | 3/5 |
| December | 21°C (70°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 1 | 10.4 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 21°C (70°F) against a yearly 26°C (79°F), and 7 of the year's roughly 141 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- December: Pokhara Street Festival — food, music and stalls along Lakeside (usually late December to 1 January)
Make the most of the weather
Experience · Sarangkot
Tandem paragliding
Fly in the morning for calmer air and clearer mountains, and choose an operator with a clear safety record and insured pilots.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours including transfer
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
Religious site · Anadu hill
World Peace Pagoda
A white Buddhist stupa built by the Japanese Nipponzan Myohoji order on a ridge above the southern shore of Phewa Lake, at about 1,100 metres.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Free
- Active
- Photo spot
Nature · Damside
Davis Falls
Visit the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave across the road on the same trip to see the water emerge underground.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Photo spot
Religious site · Damside
Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave
A cave across the road from Davis Falls, entered down a spiral staircase, with a shrine to Shiva housing a natural stone lingam.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Nature
- History
Nature · Old Pokhara
Seti River gorge
Look over the edge from the bridges rather than approaching unfenced banks.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
Day trips in winter
- Ghandruk (About 2–3 hours by jeep) — A large Gurung village of stone houses and slate roofs on a hillside facing Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre, with a small Gurung museum.
- Bandipur (About 2.5–3 hours by car) — A preserved Newar hill town on an old trading route, with a car-free main street of 18th- and 19th-century brick houses, temples and views of the Himalaya from the Tundikhel ridge.
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 winter a good time to visit Pokhara?
Yes: December is among the best months. Dry, clear and cool, with cold nights; good for lower treks and quieter than autumn.
+What is the weather like in Pokhara in winter?
Highs of up to 22°C (72°F) and lows around 7°C (45°F), with about 7 rainy days over the season.