Treat every figure here as a general planning range, not a forecast — mountain weather in the Himalaya varies by year, by week, and by elevation in ways no single table fully captures.

Trek the Annapurna Circuit Trek

A legendary high-altitude trek in Nepal that encircles the Annapurna Massif, offering dramatic scenery, diverse cultures, and the iconic crossing of Thorong La Pass at 5,416 meters.

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Why Annapurna Circuit Weather Changes So Much

Two things drive this more than anywhere else in Nepal's trekking regions. First, elevation: the route climbs from around 760 m at Besisahar to 5,416 m at Thorong La, a vertical range large enough to span several climate zones in the space of a week. Second, the rain shadow: the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs form a wall the monsoon largely can't cross, so Manang, upper Manang, and Mustang stay drastically drier than the lower Marsyangdi valley even during peak monsoon. The practical result is that "Annapurna Circuit weather" genuinely means different things depending on which day of the trek you're asking about.

Annapurna Circuit Weather by Elevation

Lower elevations (Besisahar through Chame, roughly 760–2,600 m): Warmer and more humid than the rest of the route, with the most rainfall of any section during monsoon and genuinely pleasant conditions the rest of the year. This is also where leeches appear below about 2,000 m during the wet months.

Manang and the middle section (Pisang through Yak Kharka, roughly 3,300–4,060 m): Temperatures fall steadily with elevation — mornings and nights turn cold well before the daytime feels cold. This is also where the rain shadow kicks in properly: from Upper Pisang onward, monsoon rainfall drops off sharply compared to the lower valley.

Thorong La and the high-altitude section (Thorong Phedi through the pass, 4,525–5,416 m): Cold in every season, genuinely extreme in winter, and exposed to wind regardless of month. A sunny, warm day in Kathmandu or even in Manang tells you very little about conditions at the pass — this gap is the single most important thing to understand about Annapurna Circuit weather.

Annapurna Circuit Weather by Month

January

The coldest, quietest month of the year. Thorong La commonly sees nighttime temperatures below −15°C to −20°C, and this is the month with the highest chance of the pass being genuinely difficult or temporarily blocked by snow — one recent January saw roughly a fifth of the trekker numbers of peak April, which tells you most of what you need to know about how few people attempt this month. Lower elevations stay relatively mild by day. Daylight is short. January can work for experienced, well-equipped winter trekkers who build real flexibility into their schedule — it's not the month for a first attempt at this route.

February

A genuine transition month, best understood as two halves. Early February still carries deep winter's harshness — average conditions commonly running from about −1°C to −14°C, with real snow risk at altitude and clouded skies more likely than later in the month. By mid-to-late February, temperatures climb gradually and Thorong La conditions typically improve, with the back half of the month often delivering the first reliable spring-style crossing windows — sometimes weeks before March and April's crowds arrive. Rhododendrons at lower elevations can begin budding in the final week.

March

The clear start of spring. Snow risk continues falling through the month — early March can still see occasional snowfall above 4,000 m, but it tends to clear quickly rather than accumulate the way January's does. Lower valleys warm noticeably. This is a genuinely underrated month: quieter than April, with conditions improving steadily as it progresses.

April

Widely considered the strongest spring month — melting snow at Thorong La, generally stable temperatures, and full rhododendron bloom in the lower forests. It's also the second-busiest month of the year after October, so book ahead. For the complete month-by-month breakdown, including early versus late April and exactly where the rhododendrons actually bloom, see our Annapurna Circuit Trek April guide.

May

Warmer and increasingly humid at lower elevations, with pre-monsoon haze building by mid-month — but often the year's lowest snow risk at Thorong La, and noticeably quieter than April. Early May is the stronger half of the month; by late May, the monsoon's approach becomes noticeable at lower elevations. For the complete picture, see our Annapurna Circuit Trek May guide.

June

The genuine transition into monsoon, and a month of two very different experiences depending on where you are. Below Chame, expect building rain, rising humidity, and the start of leech season in the lower forests. From Upper Pisang onward, the rain shadow keeps conditions comparatively dry and stable — daytime temperatures in the low-to-mid 20s°C, cooler at night. Thorong La stays cold with a real chance of snow or storm activity. June rewards trekkers specifically drawn to quiet trails and green lower valleys who understand they're trading reliable mountain views for solitude

July

The wettest month on the lower circuit. Besisahar to Chame sees near-daily rain, swollen rivers, and genuine landslide risk on some road sections — this stretch is a fundamentally different trek in July than in October. Above Pisang, conditions stay comparatively mild, often just brief morning mist rather than sustained rain. Thorong La requires real caution: monsoon storms can affect the pass, and an earlier-than-usual start (commonly 3:00–3:30 AM rather than the standard 3–5 AM) is typical specifically to clear the exposed section before afternoon storm activity builds. This is a month for experienced trekkers with a guide who understands the current risk profile, not a first Himalayan trek.

August

Continues July's pattern through most of the month — wet, humid, leeches below 2,000 m, landslide risk on the lower approach — with late July and August sometimes showing slightly more stability in the upper rain-shadow sections than peak June–July. Late August is where the real shift begins: rainfall starts easing and the first clear, fresh post-monsoon air appears, a preview of what September and October deliver in full.

September

Split clearly into two phases. Early September still carries real monsoon influence — lingering rain, reduced visibility, and lower-section trail conditions similar to August. By mid-September, conditions improve steadily: rainfall eases, visibility opens up, and Thorong La conditions become more consistently favorable. Late September is close to October's standard in most years, with trekker numbers picking up accordingly as the main autumn season begins.

October

The single most reliable month of the year — stable weather, minimal rainfall, dry trails, and consistently good Thorong La conditions, at the cost of being the busiest month on the route. Cold mornings and nights persist at altitude regardless of how clear the skies are lower down. For the complete breakdown by week, see our Annapurna Circuit Trek October guide.

November

Excellent visibility, often the clearest of the year, with temperatures noticeably colder than October and dropping further as the month progresses. Early-to-mid November stays close to October's reliability; late November edges toward winter conditions at altitude. For the full early/mid/late breakdown, see our Annapurna Circuit Trek November guide.

December

Winter's entry point — cold nights throughout, rising snow risk at altitude, and shorter daylight, but generally more forgiving than January, particularly early in the month. For the complete picture, including why early December is meaningfully different from late December, see our Annapurna Circuit Trek December guide.

Annapurna Circuit Weather by Season

Spring — March to May

Rising temperatures, falling snow risk at Thorong La as the season progresses, rhododendron bloom concentrated in the lower forests (peaking March into April), and increasing crowds through April before May offers some relief. Advantage: a genuinely strong balance of conditions, especially in April. Trade-off: April's crowding, and May's building heat and haze lower down.

Monsoon — June to August

Heavy rain and real trail difficulty below Chame; a comparatively dry, viable rain-shadow experience from Upper Pisang onward. Thorong La remains crossable but genuinely conditional, with earlier starts and more caution warranted than in any other season except deep winter. Advantage: near-total solitude and vivid green landscapes. Trade-off: the lower approach is a genuinely different, harder proposition than any other time of year, and mountain visibility is unreliable throughout.

Autumn — September to November

The most consistently favorable season on the whole route — improving through September, peaking in October, and holding strong into November before late-month cold sets in. Advantage: the most reliable Thorong La window of the year. Trade-off: October specifically is the most crowded month on the entire circuit.

Winter — December to February

Cold throughout, with real month-to-month variation — December is the gentlest entry, January the harshest, and late February often the season's most underrated window as conditions ease ahead of spring. For the full three-month comparison, see our Annapurna Circuit Trek in Winter guide.

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Thorong La Weather and Crossing Conditions

At 5,416 m, Thorong La runs on its own rules regardless of season. Temperature drops sharply with elevation, wind exposure adds a real chill-factor on top of the air temperature, and conditions can shift faster and with less warning than anywhere else on the route. Daytime summit temperatures typically run roughly −5°C to 5°C in spring and autumn, colder in winter; nighttime and pre-dawn conditions drop well below that, most severely in January.

Snow and ice risk is lowest in autumn (particularly October), rising through winter (peaking in January), falling again through spring (lowest by May), and genuinely possible even in summer if a monsoon storm reaches the pass. None of this is a guarantee in either direction for any specific date — current, local conditions from your guide matter more than the season's general reputation. Never assume the pass is crossable simply because your itinerary lists it for a traditionally favorable month.

Rain and Monsoon on the Annapurna Circuit

The single most important thing to understand about rain on this route: it isn't distributed evenly. The lower Marsyangdi valley, roughly Besisahar to Chame, sits outside the rain shadow and takes the full force of the monsoon between June and August — heavy, near-daily rain in July specifically, muddy and sometimes landslide-affected trail and road sections, and leeches in the forested stretches below about 2,000 m.

North of Chame, and especially from Upper Pisang onward, the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges block most of that moisture. Manang, Yak Kharka, and the approach to Thorong La stay comparatively dry even at the height of monsoon — arid enough in places to resemble the Tibetan plateau rather than anything "monsoon season" usually implies. It's genuinely inaccurate to describe the whole circuit as either "wet" or "dry" during these months — it's both, depending entirely on which section you're standing in.

Snow on the Annapurna Circuit

Snow becomes more likely as elevation increases, and it's overwhelmingly a Thorong La and surrounding high-altitude story rather than a lower-route one. Winter carries the greatest snow risk, January most of all. Spring can still carry residual snow, particularly in early March, though it tends to melt off quickly rather than accumulate. Snow at the pass is even possible outside the "expected" window, if a strong monsoon storm reaches that high in summer.

Worth keeping distinct: snow falling during your trek, an already-icy trail from an earlier storm, and a pass genuinely difficult or temporarily closed are three different situations, not interchangeable descriptions of "bad weather" — your guide's read on which of these you're actually facing matters more than the fact that snow is present at all.

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What to Pack for Different Weather Conditions

Lower elevations, most of the year: breathable, lightweight clothing, sun protection, and — during monsoon specifically — rain protection and anti-leech precautions (long socks pulled over trouser cuffs and tucked tight prevent most attachments).

Mid elevations (Manang and similar): a fleece or warm mid-layer, a light insulated jacket, a rain shell, and gloves for cold mornings and evenings.

High elevations (Thorong Phedi through the pass): a genuinely warm insulated jacket, full layering (base layer through insulation through shell), a warm hat, gloves, thermal layers, good wool or synthetic socks, and wind protection — needed in every season, not just winter.

Winter specifically: add heavier insulation, warmer gloves, additional thermal layers, and genuine cold-weather protection against snow and wind chill.

This is weather-specific gear, not the complete packing list — see our general Nepal trekking packing guide for everything else.

How Reliable Are Weather Forecasts on the Annapurna Circuit?

Useful, but genuinely limited at altitude. Standard forecasts get less reliable the higher you go, and mountain weather — especially around Thorong La — can shift meaningfully within hours in a way a seven-day forecast simply can't capture. What actually works well: checking conditions daily rather than trusting a forecast made days in advance, and leaning on your guide and local lodge staff, who combine forecast access with current, on-the-ground observation in a way no app fully replicates. Treat a forecast as one input among several, not a guarantee — particularly in the days immediately before your Thorong La crossing.

What Month Has the Best Annapurna Circuit Weather?

There's no single universal answer — it depends on what you're optimizing for.

Best overall reliability: Autumn, especially October and November — the most consistently stable weather and the most dependable Thorong La window of the year.

Best spring conditions: April, with early May as a quieter, slightly warmer alternative.

Quietest conditions: Winter, especially January, with real cold and snow trade-offs — or late February and early March, which combine improving conditions with trails that are still largely empty.

Wettest period: July and August, particularly on the lower Besisahar-to-Chame approach.

A trekker prioritizing solitude over certainty might choose a very different month from one prioritizing guaranteed clear mountain views — neither preference is wrong.

Weather vs. Crowds

Weather and crowd levels move together on this route more than on most treks — the best-weather months are also the busiest, almost without exception.

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How Weather Affects the Trek

Poor weather doesn't just mean discomfort — it changes the trek's actual physical demands. Cold saps energy faster than the same effort at a comfortable temperature. Rain and mud slow the lower sections and add real slip risk. Snow and ice at altitude turn straightforward sections into ones requiring real care and sometimes traction equipment. Poor visibility removes one of the trek's main rewards and can complicate navigation on exposed sections. Shorter winter daylight compresses your margin for error on longer days. None of this is a full difficulty picture on its own — for how weather fits into the trek's overall physical demands, see our Annapurna Circuit difficulty guide.

Weather and Itinerary Planning

Weather can affect walking hours, the Thorong La crossing, road transport reliability, and how much flexibility your itinerary needs to build in. This isn't automatic — a stable October departure often runs exactly as planned — but monsoon months, winter, and the transitional shoulders (early September, early March) all benefit genuinely from built-in buffer days rather than a rigid schedule, particularly around the pass crossing itself.

Places Nepal's current Annapurna Circuit Trek runs as a 10-day itinerary with 7 trekking days — the first and last days are road transfers rather than walking days, which also happens to sidestep the wettest lower-valley walking that a fully-walked classic itinerary would spend several extra days crossing during monsoon months specifically. Itinerary length more broadly depends on starting point, road transport use, pace, and whether you're adding Tilicho Lake or another side trip — for the full route breakdown, see our Annapurna Circuit itinerary guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the weather like on the Annapurna Circuit Trek? It varies dramatically by elevation and season — warm and humid in the lower valleys, cool and dry through Manang's rain shadow, and cold and exposed at Thorong La, with autumn (especially October) offering the most stable conditions overall.

What is the best month for Annapurna Circuit weather? October is generally considered the most reliable, with November and April close behind — though the "best" month depends on whether you're prioritizing clear views, mild temperatures, or fewer crowds.

How cold does the Annapurna Circuit get? Lower elevations rarely drop below freezing; Thorong La commonly falls below −15°C to −20°C overnight in winter, and stays cold year-round even in the warmer months.

What is the weather like at Thorong La? Cold and wind-exposed in every season, with snow and ice risk highest in January and lowest around October and May.

Does it snow on the Annapurna Circuit? Yes, primarily at Thorong La and the highest sections, most likely from December through February and least likely in autumn.

Does it rain on the Annapurna Circuit? Yes, heavily on the lower Besisahar-to-Chame approach during monsoon (June–August), while Manang and areas north stay comparatively dry due to the rain shadow.

Can you trek the Annapurna Circuit during monsoon? Yes, though the lower approach is genuinely difficult — many trekkers use road transport to skip that section and focus on the drier upper circuit and Thorong La.

Can you trek the Annapurna Circuit in winter? Yes, with real preparation — December and late February are generally more forgiving than January specifically.

What is the weather like in Manang? Cool and dry for most of the year thanks to the rain shadow, with cold nights year-round and genuinely cold winter conditions.

What is the weather like in October? Stable, dry, and clear — widely considered the most reliable month of the year for this route.

What is the weather like in April? Warm lower valleys, stable spring conditions, and Thorong La generally clearing of winter snow, alongside the second-busiest crowds of the year.

What should I pack for Annapurna Circuit weather? A genuine layering system covering everything from breathable lower-elevation clothing to full winter-grade insulation for Thorong La, adjusted by season.

How reliable are weather forecasts on the Annapurna Circuit? Useful but limited at altitude — daily local checks with your guide matter more than a forecast made several days in advance, especially near Thorong La.

Does weather affect crossing Thorong La? Yes, directly — snow, wind, and storm activity can make the crossing difficult or temporarily impossible regardless of which month it technically falls in.

Which month has the clearest mountain views? October and November typically offer the clearest, most consistent visibility of the year.

Plan Your Annapurna Circuit Trek With Places Nepal

Understanding the weather is the groundwork. Choosing a departure that matches what you actually want from the trek is the next step. Not sure which month suits you? We can help you choose the right Annapurna Circuit itinerary based on the season, conditions, and trekking experience you're after — whether that's October's reliability, April's bloom, or a genuinely quiet winter or monsoon departure with the right preparation. See the full 10-day Annapurna Circuit Trek for current pricing and departure dates.