Travel guide · Nepal
Visiting Nepal in December
December is dry, clear and cold as winter settles — great visibility, quiet trails and low-altitude treks.
Nepal in December is dry, clear and increasingly cold as winter settles in. The skies stay sharp, the crowds thin out after the autumn rush, and visibility remains excellent — making December a quietly rewarding time for low-altitude trekking, Terai safaris and crowd-free sightseeing. The trade-off is the cold: nights drop sharply in the hills and mountains, and some high passes begin to close. For travellers who pack warm and love a peaceful trip, December delivers. For the year overall, see our month-by-month guide to Nepal.
Weather in December
December is firmly into the dry, cold winter. Kathmandu and Pokhara enjoy crisp days of roughly 12 to 20°C with chilly mornings, occasional valley fog and cold nights near freezing. The Terai is mild and very pleasant. In the high mountains it turns cold, with snow accumulating on the upper trails and the first high passes closing — though stable high-pressure days still deliver superb clarity.
Trekking in December
Stick to lower and mid-altitude routes. The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek is a winter classic, with crystal-clear sunrise views over Annapurna and Dhaulagiri and manageable altitude, and the lower Annapurna and Everest-view trails remain feasible with warm gear. High passes such as the Thorong La and the Everest three passes can be snowbound, and many high-altitude lodges close for winter, so plan around lower trails. As always when going up, read our altitude sickness guide.
What else to do
December is excellent for sightseeing in the clear, quiet Kathmandu Valley, with the Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur uncrowded in the sharp winter light. Chitwan and Bardia national parks offer some of the year's best wildlife viewing as cool weather keeps animals active and grass is short. Pokhara's lakeside is calm and crisp, and sunrise spots like Sarangkot and Nagarkot are reliably clear.
Festivals in December
December is a quieter festival month. The Newar festival of Yomari Punhi, celebrating the end of the rice harvest, usually falls on the December full moon, marked by making and sharing sweet, steamed yomari dumplings filled with molasses and sesame. Christmas is celebrated by Nepal's Christian community, and the secular new year draws gatherings in tourist hubs. For the wider calendar, see our festival calendar of Nepal.
Crowds and prices
December moves from shoulder into low season, with thinning crowds and softening prices as the cold sets in — especially in the second half of the month. Trails and temples grow quiet and rooms are easier to find. For the year's clearest, still-busy autumn weather, look back at Nepal in November; for the coldest, quietest depth of winter, read ahead to Nepal in January. To weigh the season, see our best time to visit Nepal guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good time to visit Nepal?+
Yes, if you can handle the cold. December is dry, clear and quiet, with excellent visibility and thinning crowds. Days are pleasant in the sun but nights are cold in the hills and very cold in the mountains, where some high passes start to close.
Can you trek in Nepal in December?+
Lower and mid-altitude treks work well in December, such as Ghorepani Poon Hill and the Annapurna foothills, with clear views and quiet trails. High passes can be snowbound and many high-altitude lodges close, so plan around lower routes.
What is the weather like in Nepal in December?+
December is dry and clear with cold nights. Kathmandu and Pokhara see crisp days around 12 to 20 degrees Celsius and chilly mornings, the Terai is mild and pleasant, and the high mountains are cold with snow accumulating on the upper trails.
Are there festivals in Nepal in December?+
December is a quieter festival month, though Yomari Punhi, the Newar festival celebrating the rice harvest with sweet yomari dumplings, usually falls in December, and Christmas is marked by Nepal's Christian community.
