Khumbu Himalaya · Nepal

Best Time to Hike Everest Base Camp — Namche & Tengboche

The best time to hike Everest Base Camp is late September to November and March to May, the two windows named in the official season guidance. Both pair low rainfall with moderate daylight, while the summer months bring far more rain. Confirm current conditions with the managing authority before you go.

Wide spring valley with blooming rhododendron slopes, stone path and distant snowy peaks under hazy morning light

Month-by-month climate for Everest Base Camp — Namche & Tengboche

Month	Relative warmth	Rain	Daylight
Jan	Coldest	3 mm	10.4 h
Feb	Coldest	9 mm	11 h
Mar	Cool	15 mm	11.8 h
Apr	Mild	27 mm	12.7 h
May	Warm	57 mm	13.4 h
Jun	Warmest	83 mm	13.8 h
Jul	Warmest	176 mm	13.6 h
Aug	Warmest	171 mm	13 h
Sep	Warmest	97 mm	12.2 h
Oct	Mild	26 mm	11.3 h
Nov	Cool	1 mm	10.6 h
Dec	Coldest	3 mm	10.2 h

Modelled regional averages for 2010–2023 (rainfall) and calculated daylight hours; they describe the wider area, not a reading taken on the trail. “Relative warmth” compares each month with the warmest and coldest months of this place’s own year. It is not a temperature, and the high parts of a route are colder than the region around them.

The modelled numbers show a clear wet season: July and August are the wettest months at roughly 176 mm and 171 mm, with June and September also damp at 83 mm and 97 mm. The driest stretch runs from November through March, with November at about 1 mm and January at 3 mm. Daylight swings from about 10.2 hours in December to 13.8 hours in June. By the relative labels, June through September are the warmest months of this place's year, while December through February are the coldest. These are regional averages, not trail measurements.

Everest Base Camp — Namche & Tengboche season by season

Spring · March to May

Spring is one of the two windows named in the official season guidance. Rainfall climbs gradually from about 15 mm in March to 57 mm in May, so conditions are typically drier early in the season and wetter toward the end. Warmth moves from cool in March to mild in April and warm in May, and daylight stretches from about 11.8 to 13.4 hours, giving you longer, more flexible trekking days. Because rain increases through the season, earlier spring dates tend to be the drier choice.

Summer monsoon · June to August

These are the warmest months of this place's year but also the wettest, with modelled rainfall of about 83 mm in June and over 170 mm in both July and August. Daylight is at its longest, around 13 to 13.8 hours, yet the heavy rain is the main reason this period sits outside the official season guidance. Expect wet trails and frequent rain cover needs. If you are considering this window, check conditions and requirements with the managing authority first.

Autumn · September to November

The official season guidance points to late September through November. Rainfall falls sharply across the period, from about 97 mm in September to 26 mm in October and just 1 mm in November, so the later weeks are typically the driest. Warmth eases from warmest in September to mild in October and cool in November, while daylight shortens from about 12.2 to 10.6 hours. Plan your daily distances around the shrinking daylight, especially as November arrives.

Winter · December to February

Winter is the driest part of the year, with modelled rainfall of only about 3 mm in December and January and 9 mm in February. It is also the coldest stretch of this place's year and has the shortest days, around 10.2 hours of daylight in December and 11.0 in February. This period falls outside the official season guidance, so check conditions with the managing authority before planning, particularly given how the relative cold may affect the trek.

Trekker in clear crisp autumn air crossing a high suspension bridge over a turquoise glacial river

Official season guidance

Nepal DNPWC & local committees: Late September to November and March to May

You need the Sagarmatha National Park entry permit plus the local Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit; Nepal’s rules on guides for trekkers have been revised, so check the current requirement with the Nepal Tourism Board or a licensed operator. Build in acclimatization days.

Check current dates on ntb.gov.np

What to pack for the season

Pack for the season you choose rather than a single average. Spring and autumn call for layers you can add or shed through the day, and rain cover matters more as May and September approach. Winter dates favor extra warm layers and a reliable headlamp for the shorter days, while the monsoon months demand serious waterproofing and sun protection between showers.

For layering, rain cover and weather planning, see hiking in rain, heat and cold.

Timing mistakes to avoid

The most common timing mistake is choosing dates on rainfall alone. November and winter look very dry, but the official season guidance names only late September to November and March to May. Another is ignoring daylight: late autumn days are short, so a plan built on summer pacing runs out of light. Finally, because the route needs acclimatization days and has permit rules, leave slack in your schedule and confirm requirements with the Nepal Tourism Board or a licensed operator.

Gloved hands wrapped around a steaming mug beside a frosty stone wall with snow dusted peaks behind

Common questions

When is the best time to hike Everest Base Camp?

The official season guidance names late September to November and March to May. These windows combine lower rainfall than the summer months with workable daylight. Because conditions change, confirm current guidance with the managing authority, Nepal DNPWC and local committees, before you commit to dates.

Is it a bad idea to trek during the summer months?

June to August is outside the official season guidance. Modelled rainfall is highest then, around 176 mm in July and 171 mm in August, so trails are typically wetter. If you consider this window, check current conditions and requirements with the managing authority first.

Which month is driest on this route?

Modelled averages show November as the driest in the official autumn window, at about 1 mm of rain, with winter months also very dry. Daylight is shortest then, roughly 10.2 to 10.6 hours, so plan your days accordingly. These are regional averages, not measurements at the trail.

How does daylight change through the year?

Calculated daylight ranges from about 10.2 hours in December to 13.8 hours in June. Spring offers 11.8 to 13.4 hours, while late autumn drops toward 10.6 hours in November. Shorter days mean earlier starts and a headlamp, so factor daylight into your daily plan, especially in autumn and winter.

Sources

Nepal DNPWC & local committees — ntb.gov.np: official season and permit guidance.
NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources): monthly temperature and rainfall averages, 2010–2023, from MERRA-2 reanalysis. Daylight hours are calculated from latitude.

Conditions, closures and permit rules change without notice — confirm current information with the managing authority before you go. See our editorial policy and affiliate disclosure.