Eastern Nepal · – · –
Eastern Nepal in May
Warm and increasingly humid, with pre-monsoon thunderstorms in the afternoons. Second flush tea begins in Ilam. Early May is still good for the high treks to Pang Pema and Makalu Base Camp, with long days and fewer trekkers, but haze often hides distant peaks. Sakela Ubhauli is celebrated at the Baisakh full moon. The plains below Bhedetar become very hot.
Local tip for May
Finish high treks by mid-May before the monsoon reaches the eastern hills, usually early June.
Where to go in May
Eastern Nepal5,143 mPang Pema
Kanchenjunga's north base camp, under a 3,000 m wall of ice
Eastern Nepal4,870 mMakalu Base Camp
From rice terraces near 500 m to Makalu's south face at 4,870 m
Eastern Nepal1,300 mIlam
Nepal's oldest tea hills, rolled green to the Indian border
Festivals around May
Trips at their best in May
Elsewhere in Nepal in May
Questions
Is May a good time to visit Eastern Nepal?
Warm and increasingly humid, with pre-monsoon thunderstorms in the afternoons. Second flush tea begins in Ilam. Early May is still good for the high treks to Pang Pema and Makalu Base Camp, with long days and fewer trekkers, but haze often hides distant peaks. Sakela Ubhauli is celebrated at the Baisakh full moon. The plains below Bhedetar become very hot.
What is the weather like in Eastern Nepal in May?
Ilam about 16–25 °C, humid, pre-monsoon storms. Conditions change fast with altitude, so check the forecast for each stop a week before you travel.
Where should we go in Eastern Nepal in May?
We suggest Pang Pema, Makalu Base Camp, Ilam. Finish high treks by mid-May before the monsoon reaches the eastern hills, usually early June.