Hi All,
I am planning for a trip to Nepal next month and my travel dates are 13th aug to 22nd aug (10 days). I am planning to cover Kathmandu, Pokhara, Nagarkot and Chitwan as a part of my itenary. I could see it will be a rainy season but my tour guide has been saying that it won't affect the trip too much. Has anyone else travelled to nepal during monsoons especially in August? How bad could it get and should I call off the trip?
Thanks,
Swati
Hi Swati,
As you know it is Monsoon season when you will be visiting. It will be hot, humid with outbreaks of heavy rain.
Travelling around the Kathmandu Valley won't be a problem. If driving by bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara or Chitwan there's an element of luck at that time of year due to the road conditions which can often have delays due to landslides or road repairs.
In Chitwan, you most likely will not see a tigers, but should see a Rhino and elephants.
In Pokhara, you probably won't see too much in terms of mountains.
All of these places are still doable, I wouldn't call of the trip for them alone, though unless you are traveling by private car you will have delays. Unless you have the option of choosing a different time of year, Oct-Nov for views or March April for Tigers, though you will need to spend several days in Chitwan for that. A better option though just as long would be Bardia.
As it stands now, Nagarkot is the only place I would not visit in August. Unless you hit it looking with a sunrise view on a clear day, there's not much to see in August. If you like culture, and an over night then Dhulikeil can offer the same views - but again, you'll need to be in Nepal and make your own call on the weather - clouds.
It really boils down to - what do you want to see? How do you like to travel? Mountains will be scarce, so priotiy would be on Cultural heritage. Chitwan is still doable but it will be uncomfortably hot, with delays on road traffic due to rainfall.
I hope this helps
[ Edit: Edited on 15 Jul 2022, 17:59 GMT by TLWH ]
Far too hectic a schedule for 9 days during Monsoon – Besides, Sauraha, the main accommodation village for Chitwan regularly gets flooded by The Rapti River in the monsoon and Pokhara is one of the wettest places in Nepal !!
If it were me, with 9 days I’d stick to Kathmandu and the valley – More than enough to keep you well occupied there without risking road travel which will be fraught with landslides, or risking air travel with all the associated delays.
Id not let the monsoon put you off going to Nepal, if as above says, you can come at another time, then yes, considerer it, but you do need more time to get between places and, in my opinion, your own schedule is far to ambitious for the monsoon season
Good Luck
Rob