Best Places to Visit in Nepal during the Winter Season

  • Arjun Pandey
  • Last Updated on Jun 24, 2024

Did you know you can witness the best experience visiting Nepal during the winter season? The country has a lot to offer any travelers or wanderers even in the winter season despite the weather being unfavorable on so many other destinations or countries. So, if you are also looking to spend a quality vacation in the winter season, here are the 7 best places to visit in Nepal during the winter season.

Before that, are you looking for any type of trekking or traveling package in Nepal? If so, you can simply check out many packages from Green Valley Nepal Treks. We have a huge collection of treks, tours, and peak climbing packages that you can choose from.

Table of Contents

Why Visit Nepal During the Winter Season?

Before the best places to visit in Nepal during the winter season, here are some best parts of winter in Nepal. Being a land of mountains, the winter season is the best to witness the snow-covered peaks, frozen lakes, and chilling cold of the Himalayas. Also, not to miss, the local cuisines that are a must during winter.

In Nepal, the winter season starts in late November and continues across until February. The temperature can go far below negative in the Himalayan region, which also causes shivering cold in the Hilly and Terai regions. However, in the Kathmandu Valley, days are pretty much warmer than the mornings and nights. Moreover, Kathmandu Valley also experiences clean sunny days even in the coldest winter times.

With all that being said, here are why someone, especially a travel enthusiast must visit Nepal in the winter season:

Unbelievable and Majestic Views of the Mountains

The best thing about winter in Nepal is the majestic and mesmerizing views of the tallest peaks like Mt. Everest, Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, etc. These mountains are also visible in other seasons. However, in winter you get the best view for sure. Therefore, if you want to get the best views of the tallest peaks in Nepal without actually going for any treks or peak adventures, the winter season is the best time to visit Nepal.

Mouth-Watering Cuisines and Local Dishes

Winter brings along the culinary creativity of Nepalese. Different places in Nepal offer unimaginable and unique dishes like jhol momos, thukpa, local dal bhat tarkari, etc. All these Nepali dishes can enhance your love of Nepali cuisine for sure.

Festivals and Celebrations

People know Nepal best for its cultural and traditional diversity. Therefore, people from different cultures and traditions are all living here with peace and prosperity. Because of that, there are several festivals that you can witness in the winter season only. People in different places celebrate Festivals like Maghe Sankranti, Saraswati Puja, Lhosar, etc. Moreover, the New Year celebrations in Kathmandu and Pokhara also offer the perfect vibes to the visitors.

Offers and Discounts in Tour Packages

Many travel agencies like Green Valley Nepal Treks itself provide different offers and discounts during the winter. This is because the number of tourists is comparatively lower in the winter season. So, if you want to enjoy the best of Nepal while spending comparatively less than usual, you must visit Nepal during the cold season. Moreover, the discounts are not limited to travel companies, even restaurants and lodges offer discounts in winter.

8 Best Places to Visit in Nepal During Winter Season

Travelers and tourists will never lack places in Nepal no matter whether they visit this country in summer, winter, or autumn. The country offers ever-lasting beauty, vibes, experiences, and local cuisines to the visitors. Furthermore, the hospitality offered by the locals makes visiting Nepal similar to a trip to heaven.

Chitwan National Park

If you are looking for the best place to go in winter, the first of our many suggestions would be the Chitwan National Park. This is one of the most famous national parks in Nepal, listed in the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. As the Chitwan National Park is located in the Terai region (Chitwan), summer here is somewhat unbearable.

Spotted Deer in Chitwan National Park

Therefore, we suggest you book the Chitwan National Park Package if you are searching for the best destination to go to in winter. With Green Valley Nepal Treks, you can get access to two different packages that let you discover the beauty of the Chitwan National Park.

What to do?

  • Jungle Safari and Wildlife watching.
  • Exploring the Tharu Culture and their lifestyle.
  • Cannoning across the Rapti River.
  • Eating Ghongi, a local Tharu cuisine best found in Chitwan.

Kalinchowk - Best Snow Experience in Nepal During Winter Season

Kalinchowk is the perfect place for anyone who loves to play with snow. This is a hill station located in the Dolakha district. Due to the snow-covered surroundings and religious importance, many national and international tourists visit Kalinchowk every year.

Landscape View from Kalinchowk

Besides, the beautiful view of the snow-covered Kuri village makes Kalinchowk an even better destination for the winter season. You can also get on a cable car ride that takes you to the temple and if you are a trekker, you can enjoy trekking through the mesmerizing landscape of Gaurisankhar conservation area.

What to do?

  • Trekking in the Gaurishankhar conservation area.
  • Experiencing the holy and divine environment at the Kalinchowk Temple.
  • Skiing in the snow-covered grounds of Kuri village and playing with snow.
  • Witnessing the beautiful set-up houses in Kuri village with colorful roofs.

Kathmandu Valley

Another perfect destination to visit in Nepal during winter is the Kathmandu Valley itself. Kathmandu Valley can help you experience a different type of winter season, where there is beautiful sunshine even on the coldest day. Besides, if you visit some hill stations like Chandragiri and Phulchoki, you can also experience snowfall.

Amazing View of Kathmandu Valley

Another attraction of Kathmandu Valley in winter is the foods and cuisines the city offers. There are so many restaurants and cafes from 5-star hotels and cafes to local and family-operated hotels that offer food of their kind. Besides, during the winter season, Jhol Momo, Thukpa, and Local Rice (Thakali) shall not be missed at all.

What to do?

  • Day hike to Hattiban-Champadevi-Chandragiri trail to reach the Chandragiri hill station and Bhaleshwor temple.
  • Exploring the cultural heritage of the Kathmandu valley, including Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, and Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
  • Witnessing the religious aspect of Kathmandu also known as the city of temples and visiting some of the famous temples like Pashupatinath, Bouddhanath, Patan Krishna Mandir, etc.
  • Trying local cuisines found in the Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur districts and exploring the local communities of Newar people residing here for centuries.

Ghandruk PoonHill

If you want to go for a short yet adventurous trek during the winter season, the Ghandruk-PoonHill trek is the best option for you. In this trek, you can experience the beauty of two different destinations; Ghandruk the starting point of the trek, and PoonHill, the endpoint of the trek.

Exploring Ghorepani Poonhill

Ghandruk is a village best known for experiencing the Gurung heritage. This village is located in the lap of the Himalayan ranges. Therefore, you can witness the jaw-dropping views of the snow-covered mountains once you reach Gurung village. Besides, another best thing about Ghandruk is that the locals serve the best-in-country Thakali cuisines with all the local ingredients.

Besides, PoonHill is a hill station located at an altitude of 3210 meters above sea level. If you want to go for a short trek, the Poon Hill trek takes just 2-3 days to complete. However, the view and the trail are still incomparable. Once you reach the top of the PoonHill, the mesmerizing view can lure you to never return.

What to do?

  • Trekking to the PoonHill, a hill station at an altitude of 3120 meters above sea level.
  • Mesmerizing experience of the Gurung heritage at the Ghandruk Village with mouth-watering Thakali cuisine.
  • Camping at the PoonHill height and experiencing the best short yet adventurous trekking journey.

New to trekking? 20 Best Easy Treks in Nepal for Beginners in 2024 will help you choose the best trekking route to start with.

Kakani

Within just 30 to 45 minutes of ride from Kathmandu lies a beautiful place named Kakani. This place is situated at an altitude of 2073 meters and is best known for its strawberry farm. Other than that, the place is also famous for several towers and is one of the closest places from Kathmandu to get a clearer view of the Himalayas.

Landscape View from Kakani

If you reach here, you can also wander around the Shivapuri National Park as it is located very close to Kakani.

What to do?

  • Visit the famous and beautiful strawberry farm.
  • Get on a hike to the Shivapuri National Park.
  • You can also spend a night camping in the national park itself.
  • Take the views of mesmerizing snow-covered peaks from the towers.
  • If you are a bike lover, you can also go for mountain biking in Kakani.

Mustang - The Forbidden Kingdom in Nepal

Mustang is a beautiful city located in the Himalayan region of Nepal. It is also known as the Forbidden Kingdom and is a perfect place to experience the Himalayan lifestyle, culture, and traditions. If you want to visit Mustang, you need to acquire a special permit. However, Mustang is the best destination if you want to visit Nepal in the winter season.

Tiji Festival Celebration

Besides trekking and adventures, you can also enjoy different festivals like the Tiji festival and local delicacies like Marpha, Apple, and Thakali. Also, Mustang is the home to one of the holiest temples in Nepal, the Muktinath temple. Every year, many Hindus visit Mustang, especially for the Muktinath temple.

What to Do?

  • Trekking to Upper Mustang.
  • Bike or Jeep rides over the mountains.
  • Visit the Muktinath temple and take a quick bath in 108 taps.
  • Delve into the taste of local apples, and different other items made of apples.

Thinking about trekking in Nepal? Read Best Trekking Seasons in Nepal before planning a trip.

Ilam - Eastern Attraction of Nepal during Winter Season

Ilam municipality is located at a distance of 600 kilometers from Kathmandu and is best known for the production of tea. Once you reach Ilam, you will start seeing tea bushes that cover a lot of this municipality. Besides, you will also pass other beautiful places like Bhedetar, Antu Dada, Kanyam, Fikkal, and many more peaceful and beautiful places.

Greenery of Illam Tea Garden

Ilam is also a good destination to visit in Nepal during the winter season. Besides, if you visit Ilam, you must not forget to get some local tea for yourself.

What to Do?

  • Visit the tea farming and get some local tea for yourself.
  • Experience a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Ilam (600 km).
  • Visit different tourist attractions in Ilam, including Antu Dada, Mai Pokhari, Sadakpur, Bhedetar, etc.
  • Participate in the winter annual fare that happens every year.

Pokhara - The City of Lakes

If you want to experience the best winter in Nepal, Pokhara can probably be the destination for you. From the mesmerizing sunrise view from Sarangkot, the peaceful environment at White Stupa, multiple lakes, and sparsely populated roads, to the best views of mountains like Machhapuchhre, Annapurna, Manaslu, etc, Pokhara has it all.

Phewa Lake Pokhara

Almost no tourist who visits Nepal leaves the country without experiencing the beautiful lifestyle at Pokhara. The best thing about Pokhara is its nightlife by the lakeside. If you arrive in Pokhara during the New Year season (winter of course), the celebrations are on the next level. Therefore, Pokhara is also a bucket list destination for anyone who visits Nepal during winter.

What to Do?

  • Witness the mesmerizing sunrise and golden peak of Machhapuchhre Himal due to sunlight striking from Sarangkot (1600 meters).
  • Hike up to the White Stupa to experience the peaceful environment at an altitude of 1100 meters.
  • Go for boating in Phewa Lake and visit the Tal Barahi temple situated in the middle of the lake.
  • Cycling around Pokhara city and exploring different caves like Bat Cave and Mahendra Gufa.

Conclusion

Nepal is a perfect trip destination no matter which season you choose. However, if you visit certain places in certain weather conditions and temperatures, you will experience the best of this small country full of mysteries.

In this blog, we have listed some of the best places to visit in Nepal during the winter season. These places are comparatively easier to visit during cold temperatures. However, if you are someone who loves adventures and challenges, you can look for many other treks, tours, and peak climbing packages that require high mental and physical strength to do in the winter season.

Besides, if you are looking for the best trekking company in Nepal to make your travel and trekking even easier and full of adventures, you can simply contact us.

Arjun Pandey

Arjun Pandey

Arjun Pandey was born in Gorkha, in the midwestern part of Nepal, the famous region of the Manaslu Trek. Arjun also has a wide experience and knowledge of conducting trek programs in the Himalayan regions, such as Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Mustang, Manalsu, Kanchenjunga, and Dhaulagiri, among others. He also has experience with peak climbing programs on Himalayan peaks such as Island, Mera, Lobuche, and Chulu, as well as other Himalayan peaks below 7,000 meters. Arjun's specialty also covers trek and tour programs in Tibet and Bhutan. 

Connect with the author on social media:

Instagram

Twitter bios

TikTok

Facebook

LinkedIn

Call us on WhatsApp+977 9841 392186OrChat with us