A synonym of paradise, a place of natural wonders, the Manaslu Region of Nepal is an enchanting place to visit once in a lifetime. I mean, the Manaslu Region, located in the foothills of the world’s eighth highest mountain Manaslu, shortfalls nothing. The area owns numerous breathtaking peaks, traditional villages, picturesque landscapes, enriched flora, and more. Those are the reasons that more and more people are being fetched to this region every year.
As of its scaling popularity, lots of queries are also coming upfront. The most frequent question is about Manaslu Weather. Well, that is why we have come up with this detailed article on Manaslu Weather. Throughout the article, you will read all the weather information about Manaslu Region. And it will be a helpful guide for all those who wish to Manaslu Region Treks.
When it comes to Manaslu Region Treks, it is pretty essential to have a hint about the weather and climate of the region. The reason is the region is not as famous or visited as the Annapurna and Everest Region. It is one of the off-the-beaten and restricted areas, and solo treks are not allowed in the region. As it is less explored, you will not hear much information about the region’s weather from the people. The weather can trick its trekkers quite easily. That is why you should know every bit about the weather in the Manaslu Region.
Upon knowing the correct information after reading this article, you will have a unique and trouble-free experience in the Manaslu area. You will know when is the right time for trekking and expeditions in the region. For that, you have to read this article without leaving a word also.
We will start dipping in each of the seasons in the Manaslu Region in detail. But before that, we will go through the geography of the Manaslu Region.
About Geography of Manaslu Region
The Manaslu region is a great example that sums that the topography of Nepal is a varied one. The entire region has six different climatic zones, starting from 2,000m to 8,163m. It comprises subtropical hills to high Himalayan pastures. The area starts from Arughat, the starting point of various Manaslu Region Treks, and goes up to the top of Mt Manaslu.
The climatic zones of the Manaslu Region start from 1000m(Arughat). The lowest zone is called the tropical and subtropical zone, elevating from 1000m to 2000m. Likewise, the next is the temperature zone which ranges from 2,000m to 3,000m. As we go higher, the zone with an elevation of 3,000m to 4,000m is the subalpine zone. Moreover, the alpine zone ranges from 4,000m to 5,000m, and a zone lying above 4,500m+ altitude is the arctic zone.
Talking about the land structure, the Manaslu Region is full of high hills, broad valleys, and rocky cum snow-filled mountains. The highest mountain pass of the region is Larkya La Pass(5,106m), which is also the ultimate place of the Manaslu Circuit Trek. Likewise, here live the mountains like Manaslu Himal(8,136m), Ngadi Chuli(7,871m), Shringi(7,187m), Saula(6,235m), Lango(6,668m), and more. You will also navigate several glacier valleys as well in the region. In total, Manaslu Region’s geography is more like a natural wonder.
Manaslu Weather in Spring
Spring is a season of excellent weather and conditions in Nepal. Spread across three months, March, April, and May, the season is popular among climbers and trekkers as the best season for adventures in the country. The whole country’s weather is in the suitable form during this season. How could it not be the same in the Manaslu Region? If you want to visit the lands of the Manaslu, this is one to choose. We will now discuss each of the months individually.
March
Spring begins with the days of March. As days go on, the weather conditions get better and better, telling you the Spring has taken over Winter. February is the last month of Winter. Hence, March, which appears right after February, is a little colder than other months of the season.
However, the temperature is endurable, and Manaslu Region Treks are entirely open for the month. Only the first couple of weeks of March are the most chill. As the month reaches its midpoint, the weather begins to come at its best. You will experience a warm temperature as compared to the beginning of the month. But the higher places of the region like Larkya La Pass are colder as always. The average temperature in such areas is around -6 degrees during this season. That means you can expect to experience warm temperatures in the lower regions.
Likewise, Spring is also the season of flowers. The trails of the region start to get dotted with the colorful Rhododendron and other flowers. You will also view the clear mountains in the backdrop. The sun is always visible with no clouds around it in March. And you can enjoy sunny trekking days with breathtaking views throughout the month.
April
As we reach April, Spring takes over everything in Nepal. April is the month you should not miss if you think Spring is the right season for trekking in Nepal. You are destined to have unique experiences on any day of April. By this month, the temperature reaches around 6 to 12 degrees on average in the lower areas.
The flowers, which started to pop out in May, begin to blossom fully in April. It is just a great treat to your eyes if you are in the Manaslu Region in April. The weather is entirely stable, with no chances of clouds, rainfall, and snowfall. One will be enjoying the clearest views of the landscapes and mountains of the Manaslu Area this month. This is also the peak time for mountaineering expeditions. Hence, you will see lots of climbers en route to the mountains of the region. They prefer this month for only one reason; climbing is less complicated due to the excellent weather conditions of April.
As for various good reasons, April brings more crowd to the Manaslu Region than any other month. However, the trail will not be as populated as the Everest Region or Annapurna Region trails.
May
May is the last month of April and the last opportunity to see the Manaslu Region before Summer arrives. As Summer is coming, you will notice a gradual increase in temperature during this month. But that will not outdate any of the Spring’s perks. You will still have clear sunny skies, transparent mountains, and more to explore.
The only problem you will face this month is you have to sweat a little more while trekking in the region. There will be no rainfall yet this month. You can have a beautiful trekking experience. The sun will be brighter and hotter than ever, and that is it. However, the higher areas will be colder than the lower sections. In those areas, the night hours are the coldest ones. That means you have to wear a good pair of warm clothes in May as well.
Flowers of the Spring season will not be dim away yet. The trails still will be colorful as in April. Make sure you get enough pictures of the vegetation and landscapes during the month. Once April is over, so will be the Spring. Therefore, make it count in May.
Read more on: Trekking in Nepal in May
Manaslu Weather in Autumn
To know what the weather is like, you have to visit the region in September, October, November. People who have seen it before tell that Autumn is one of the best times for exploring the Manaslu region. Well, that is true due to all the good weather conditions of the season. It is by far the busiest season for tourism activities in Nepal. Let’s know why it is so.
September
September is a month that bridges Monsoon with Autumn. It is more like a transitional month when Monsoon slowly gives up to Autumn. For that reason, the first few weeks can be a little wet, cloudy, and rainy. Those who trek during early September have to experience the post-monsoon times. The temperature is also cold during this period.
However, after the initial weeks, the temperature starts to get warmer, and so is the weather. Once it is mid-September, you will see the sun coming up quite regularly. The mountains can be seen due to the clear skies. And it becomes such a lovely time to be on the trekking trails in Nepal. If you check the region’s temperature, it remains around 7 degrees in the higher areas and about 20 degrees in the lower places. Such temperature numbers are neither too crispy nor hot. You will have a pleasant trekking experience in late September.
Though it is not the season of flowers, you will get impressed by seeing the clear sights of surrounding loaded vegetation. The streams, rivers, waterfalls flow soundly like never before, thanks to the Monsoon season. So, yeah, September is one of the finest months for trekking purposes.
October
October is an ideal month of Autumn. The reason is you get to enjoy the perks of Autumn at its finest this month. Once it is October, the Autumn becomes most effective, and you can experience that in the weather. The temperature ticks the most suitable number in the month, around 15 degrees in most sub-alpine zones(3,000 to 4,000m). Likewise, the temperature of the higher areas becomes endurable as well. But remember that the night hours are cold as compared to day ones.
The middle month of Autumn is a month for mountain lovers. You can enjoy the mountain panorama on a clear, bright day. There are no odds of rainfall or lousy weather during October. Trekking in October is like trekking in such a time when weather difficulties are distant things. The Manaslu Region, a breathtaking place as always, looks so different in October. And you will see lots of other trekkers on the trails to the Manaslu Region.
Moreover, the month is distinct for another reason. That is the biggest festival of Nepalese, Dashain, and Tihar, fall during this month. And these festivals add more color to the already beautiful weather and environment. You should experience all of these in October!
November
November is a sad month for some of the adventure lovers in Nepal. That is not because it has unpleasant weather conditions, but it brings an end to everyone’s favorite Autumn. The last month of Autumn is as workable as other months for trekking in the Manaslu Region. You’ll have clear skies, warm temperature, breathtaking views, and other things in November too.
However, the temperature lowers a little as we head towards the coldest season, Winter. You will go through an average temperature of around 13 degrees in the lower areas of Manaslu. The higher regions like Samagaun and Larkya La can be measured around -3 to -6 degrees on average during the month. You have to carry warm clothes during the expedition in November. If you have the gear to bear the temperature, you can have a crispy view of the region. You may see the mountains getting whitish due to the snow.
The month is the last reminder for trekkers who want to experience the Manaslu Region at its best. If they miss out on this month, they have to wait for at least 2 to 3 months until Winter finishes. November is a little colder but offers the same adventure as the other Autumn months.
Manaslu Weather in Winter
Manaslu is notably cold in Winter as in every other place. Weather-wise it is not an excellent time for an expedition in the region. December, January, and February are the three periods of the season. And you should expect some cold weather during those months. However, Manaslu Region is not cold to adventures at all during this season. It means you can do trekking things here in Winter as well. Let’s read to find out which months of Winter are feasible and which are not.
December
December, the first of three months, is the best month of Winter to trek. The temperature is still low until the first few weeks. And other conditions are also quite workable. It will feel like trekking in Autumn. But once it is half of the month, the temperature starts to drop. The people living in the higher areas fall to the lower areas to avoid extreme weather.
The average temperature during the month in higher places like Samagaun and Samdo can reach about -8 degrees. As you expect, the lower regions are much warmer than the high areas as always. The average temperature goes about 8 to 10 degrees. That is the reason people migrate to the lower areas from the higher ones. And that results in the closing of the teahouses in the higher regions. However, some of the teahouses can still be open. You have to make sure of that before joining the expedition.
As the day passes by, the temperature becomes more and more extreme in the higher lands. By the end of the month, the Winter wrap-ups the region entirely. The chance of heavy snowfall in the areas near Larkya La Pass grows high. And it happens to be even more difficult to trek during this time.
January
January is the peak month of Winter. Everything from low temperature to snowfall is at its peak throughout this month. That makes the weather of the month the most extreme one. The temperature of the higher areas of the Manaslu Region reaches -6 to -10 degrees. Similarly, the so-called lower regions are also chilly, with an average temperature of 6 to 8 degrees. The number tells it clearly that January is not a suitable month temperature-wise.
However, if you want a level-up adventure, then the month is suitable. With the occasional snowfall in the higher parts, the trails in the Manaslu Region become more challenging. The novice trekkers are not suggested to the Winter treks in the region. It is pretty difficult to go through the challenges of Winter if you have no prior trekking memories. One doing a walk this month in the higher parts of the Manaslu Region will get the best views of the mountains, though. The peaks get covered with whitish snow.
February
The first half of February is more like January. Things like snowfall in the mountains and extreme temperatures are too normal until then. But the temperature starts to increase gradually to the regular points in the second half of February. The snow also melts with time, and the trail begins to become easier to walk. You can feel that Spring is on arrival.
As we head towards the end of the month, we can experience the flower all over the Manaslu region’s trails starting to blossom. The view of the landscapes is even breathtaking with the snow-dust. If you can bear the cold temperature, then February is the most accurate month for exploring the Manaslu Region. But make sure you are going only after mid-February.
Manaslu Weather in Monsoon
Monsoon or Summer is the hottest season of all; you know that. The season starts in June and runs until late August or early September in Nepal. The season is also the wettest period of the year, and the nation receives a considerable amount of rainfall. The lower areas receive more amount of rain than the higher areas. At the same time, higher areas get occasional snowfall. Hence, the weather is quite unsure and unstable during these three months. Let’s know what it is like in each of the months.
June
The Monsoon rules over Spring from June in Nepal. From the start of the month, the temperature starts to increase, especially in the lower areas. You have to find some sweat-absorbing clothes to trek during this month. As we go to the mid of the month, the temperature on average reaches 25 degrees in the lower areas of the Manaslu Region. The dark clouds will start to appear around the skies.
Yet, the rain amount is relatively low in June as compared to the later months. So the early weeks of the month can be the time for safe and easy Manaslu Region Treks. But the trek does not guarantee you clear mountain views and bright trekking days. As it is monsoon already, you may experience light to heavy rainfall throughout the month. The trails get wet and slippery by the end of the month. And it becomes difficult and risky to trek in the region.
July
The Monsoon season is at its finest in July. That means there will be lots of rainfall during the month. Along with the rain, there can be heavy snowfall in the higher areas as well. The days of July are not the right ones for trekking in hills. Due to the continuous rainfall, there is a high chance of landslides around the mountains. For that reason, most of the trail stays emptier during this month.
Moreover, the temperature remains humid before rainfall and gets a bit chilly afterward. Yet the view after rainfall is excellent to watch. The rain washes all of the dust off the ground. The rivers and streams get full of water and back to their optimal. It is a unique experience trekking in Monsoon, but you have to go through extreme weather with that.
August
August is the last month of Monsoon before Autumn begins in September. The temperature is still hot and humid in the low elevation areas. The rainfall does not lower anytime yet. It can start raining on any day of the month and can last any longer.
Likewise, the days are mostly cloudy and dark. There is low visibility around the region most of the time. However, the weather gets a little better after the rainfall. The clouds open up, and so do the mountains. The cycle of precipitation runs all over the month and until the first few weeks of September. If there would be no slippery trails, landslides, and snowfall, then August is the best time to trek because the fresh view after the rainy hours is just breathtaking in the Himalayas. But that is not possible; the rain will occur anyway.
At Last
So that is the Manaslu Weather across a year. We hope you find everything about the weather of the Manaslu Region around the year. Without a doubt, Autumn and Spring are the times when the weather is at its best. And the weather is worst during Monsoon and Winter. You can do nothing other than picking the right time for your Manaslu adventure. With this article, you surely know the suitable time for your excursion to the Manaslu.
We wish you a safe and exhilarating experience!