Best Places To Visit In Nepal During Winter

If you feel that wandering around to explore and study places can get very tiresome and feels like a lot of hard work during summer and the scorching heat can make it less enjoyable then you should definitely opt for winter travel in Nepal. It is pretty obvious that traveling in winter would feel more rewarding since we can enjoy the warmth of the sun on a cold, winter day in Nepal. Again, there are additional benefits if you visit Nepal in winter; there are fewer people, lower price rates and an opportunity to witness the lifestyle and culture of people in all its essence undisturbed by the movement of travelers during winter in Nepal.

If you think you are one of those people who love to savor their travel destination in a different way, make a plan to come to visit Nepal in your winter holidays because there are so many tourist destinations suitable for a visit for the winter season.

We Have Listed Down The Best Places To Visit In Nepal During Winter:

1. Explore Kathmandu Sightseeing

There are a lot of fascinating places inside the territory of Kathmandu to keep you busy and it is even more convenient to see these spots in winter than it would be in summer. Such places include the historically significant sites like Basantapur, Bhaktapur, and Patan. If you are planning to visit Nepal in winter, you will get to observe culturally and historically significant architectures in all of these places. All these tourist sites are popular among locals as well as tourists. All these sites offer places to explore, local eateries to taste the Nepalese cuisines and souvenir shops to buy gifts for your family and friends back in your home country.

Religious sites like the Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, and Boudhanath can be visited to explore the religious and spiritual side of Nepal and Nepalese people. Pashupatinath temple is of great significance to Hindu followers. Swayambhunath and Boudhanath are important places; suitable for Buddhist pilgrimage tour and is suitable for people willing to observe Buddhist cultural traditions and architectures.

Again, there are Godawari Botanical Garden and Garden of Dreams for you to visit to relax as you sunbathe in winter. You can go to Godawari for a hike or by cycling and go for a dry picnic to Garden of Dreams. This is one of the best places to visit in Nepal during winter so do not miss out on this.

2. Visit Nagarkot

Nagarkot is well-received by tourists for providing the environment for having a relaxed weekend while relishing the Himalayan views from the luxury of one’s hotel balcony. This spot is just thirty-two kilometres away from Kathmandu. You can see eight mountain ranges including Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Rolwaling, Everest, Numbur, and Jugal. The best month to view these mountains is from October to December for the winter season.

You can enjoy a lovely sunrise and sunset in Nagarkot if the weather is favourable with a clear sky. Nagarkot is at close proximity with Kathmandu and is a wonderful location to relax away from the chaos of the city. Nagarkot is one of the best places to visit in Nepal during winter which is close to the Kathmandu valley.

3. Visit Kakani

One of the best places to visit in Nepal during winter within a short time includes the place named Kakani situated in the Nuwakot district of Central Nepal, approximately twenty-three kilometres northwest of the capital, Kathmandu. This place provides serenity away from the disarray of the city life.

This peaceful site provides wonderful views of scenic mountains like Ganesh Himal, Langtang, and the Annapurnas. In Kakani, you can observe the natural beauty and cultural splendour of the local people. In this lovely hill village, you can go for a short hike, visit the strawberry farms, taste local cuisines, fresh cheese, and other delicacies. We recommend new visitors to go to Kakani on their visit to Nepal in winter.

4. Visit Kalinchowk

Kalinchowk is situated in the Dolakha district in the Eastern hilly region of Nepal and is ideal for a short hike. This place is at an altitude of 3842m above the sea level and is just one hundred fifty kilometres away from the capital. Both internal and external tourists are known to love Kalinchowk and it has been visited often in Nepal during winter.

For people who love snowfall, hiking, and sightseeing without much effort, this is the perfect location to hike on rocky terrains and enjoy a bonfire on a chilly winter evening. Also, it is revered as a pilgrimage site by Hindus with the presence of the picturesque temple named Kalinchowk Bhagwati and is a great place to witness the local culture, lifestyle and natural setting. This is one of the best places to visit in Nepal in winter.

5. Visit Phulchowki

If you are running short of time and places to travel to on your visit to Nepal in winter, we have something figured out for you; look forward to a one day hike to Phulchowki where you can go and return in a single day enjoyable. Phulchowki is located at the elevation of 2782 meters in the southern hill of Kathmandu.

Phulchowki is an ideal destination for travel and is just 14 km from the Godavari; all you have to do is drive from Kathmandu to the Godavari early and then head towards Phulchowki. It takes around forty-five minutes to reach there. You will be thrilled to see the majestic view of the Himalayan ranges along the rugged uphill route. And you can return back the same way. Phulchowki is a must-go place given the beautiful experience it can offer you within such a short distance and in lesser time. Do not forget to visit Phulchowki on your next visit Nepal in winter.

6. Visit Chitwan

Another important place of interest for Nepal tour in winter is Chitwan. Chitwan national park, the local Tharu museums, and the beautiful rivers are the places of interest in Chitwan. This world heritage site comes in many travelers’ bucket list so do not miss this place on your Nepal tour in winter as it is one of the best places to visit in Nepal during winter given that the temperature gets moderate which is suitable for roaming around the area.

You get the opportunities to go for jungle safari, witness varied flora and fauna and do an elephant ride in Chitwan. Also, you can visit the Tharu Cultural Museum here. Apart from this, you can witness the pristine Bishazari Tal and Seti Gandaki River and savor the beautiful sunset.

7. Visit Bandipur

Bandipur is a great destination for a short trip; it is popular as the most beautiful and well-managed town. You can explore the Newari culture of Bandipur and the beautiful surrounding which is sure to make you feel at home with the lovey streets adorned by colors and greenery. Bandipur is considered one of the best places to visit in Nepal in winter.

You will definitely treasure seeing the traditionally built houses. You can feel a European vibe in the surrounding of Bandipur with the picturesque architecture, lanes and outdoor dining facility which is amazing.

8. Visit Gorkha

Gorkha is a wonderful location to do sightseeing and study the history of Nepal. This place is famous because it is the original kingdom of Shah dynasty being the birthplace of Late King Prithvi Narayan Shah. It is approximately 125 kilometres away from the capital, Kathmandu and is convenient for travel.

Gorkha is important from the cultural, architectural and historical viewpoint. Moreover, the snow-clad mountain peaks like Annapurna and Ganesh Himal are clearly visible from Gorkha. Do not forget to add Gorkha on your winter travel destination list for Nepal.

9. Visit Pokhara

Pokhara is one of the most loved places by travelers and it is pretty much one of the best places to visit in Nepal for exploration in winter. You can go for boating and relax in the pristine lakes of Pokhara like Phewa, Rupa, and Begnas with the majestic vista of snow-clad mountains like Annapurna to keep you company.

You can go observe the Davis fall or go to the world peace pagoda to enjoy the pacifying setting it has to offer. Again there are temples like the Barahi Mandir and Bindawasini for you to explore Hindu religion and culture. Do visit Pokhara during your travel to Nepal in winter.

10. Mardi Himal Base Camp Trek

Mardi Himal Base Camp trek is a spectacular trek site which is suitable for both novice and veteran trekkers. It is situated in the base of Mardi Himal and amidst the majestic Machapuchhre.

You can relish the remarkable views of Mardi Himal, Machapuchre, Hiuchuli and Annapurna during this trek among the small meandering paths through lush green forests and the Rocky Mountains which is sure to give you an adrenaline rush. This is an ideal travel spot for you to go to Nepal in winter given the favourable weather and moderate route difficulty.

11. Visit Illam

Illam is a lovely hill station in the Eastern region of Nepal, known for its famous chiya bagaan (Tea estates), green jungles, landscapes, forests, and rivers. If you are looking for a serene place to relax enjoying the local culture and lifestyle, you should definitely experience a homestay in Illam and visit the beautiful places like Antu Danda, Kanyam, Fikkal.

You can go visit beautiful places like Maipokhari, Sadakpur, Pathivara and Mai Beni in Illam. The local restaurants even offer Tongba, a local alcoholic beverage here. The most favourable time to visit Illam is between October and December for winter travel in Nepal.

12. Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

Winter season is suitable for shorter treks since there is hardly any rainfall at this time even if the temperature is chilly. If you are equipped well and well prepared, you can enjoy in peace and convenience with fewer people at lower rates on winter as it is considered off-season for trekking. One of such trekking destination is Ghorepani Poonhill Trek.

The Poonhill trek passing through Ghorepani and Ghandruk offers you an experience to witness the local village and culture, lush green forests with a variety of flora and fauna and an outstanding view of the sunrise from the Poon Hill. This trek is suitable for both novice and expert trekkers. Also, it offers the close-up views of the panoramic Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna I and Annapurna II. This is possibly one of the best places to visit in Nepal during winter; there has been an increased attraction of people to this trekking spot over the years.

13. Visit Mustang

Mustang, situated in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal is one of the best places to visit in Nepal in winter as lower Mustang is popular for winter visitors. Mustang offers you an amazing cultural environment to learn about the traditional practices of the locals and to experience the unique, culturally rich lifestyle.

Tourists are known to visit the Mustang region from the month of August to the early winter where you can enjoy so many local festivals; among the different festivals, Tiji is very popular. The activities you can carry out on your visit to Mustang in winter include trekking, camping, hiking, religious sites’ visit, jeep ride among the mountains, and so on.

14. Visit Chisapani

Chisapani trek is recommended as a travel destination for winter travel in Nepal given the short trekking distance from Kathmandu. It is one of the short trekking routes in Nepal and is very famous for the panoramic views it has to offer of the snow-clad mountains and the beautiful villages with lush green terrace.

The Chisapani trek is a wonderful opportunity to feel the taste of trekking in Nepal in a very short time with spectacular views of snow-covered mountains and an amazing journey that takes you through the forests of rhododendron and oak trees. You can view the whole Kathmandu valley if the weather is clear when you are walking through the Shivapuri National Park and Mulkharka, the Tamang village.

15. Visit Jhapa

Jhapa district is in the Far Eastern region of Nepal and mostly constitutes of plain Terai Land. Jhapa is recommendable for winter travel in Nepal because of the hot climate prevalent in summer gets very tolerable in winter. The natural, cultural and religious heritages of Jhapa are not to be missed on your travel to Nepal in winter. There are a number of places that can be visited in Jhapa.

Some of the important cultural and religious domains in Jhapa district include the Arjundhara, Kichabadh, Kankai Mai, Satasidham and so on. One of the popular places in Jhapa is Kechanakalan known to be the place at the lowest altitude in Nepal; it is at the height of just 60m. Another wonderful place to visit is the Jamunkhadi wetland. Seize the chance to visit the beautiful land of Jhapa on your next Nepal tour in winter.