Trekking in Nepal in December

December is when Nepal's trekking season turns from autumn to winter: dry, often very clear, cold at night and quiet on the trail, with the shortest days of the year. Low and mid-altitude routes such as Poon Hill, Helambu, the Pokhara foothill walks and, early in the month, Khaptad work well, while the high circuits and passes lose their season to snow, cold and closing lodges. By our calculation Kathmandu has only about 10.4 hours of daylight in mid-December, with sunrise near 06:47 and sunset near 17:11, so every walking day is shorter than in October.

This guide explains what December is like, how early and late December differ, which routes work and which do not, and how to pack and plan. It draws on our region and route pages, checked on 19 October 2026. If you are weighing the month against its neighbours, see trekking in Nepal in November, January and winter trekking in Nepal.

What December is like

• Dry and clear. There is no monsoon cloud, and cold mornings are often the clearest of the year. The Poon Hill route page lists December to February as "cold, clear" beside the spring and autumn seasons.
• Very short days. The shortest day is around 21 December, when our calculation gives Kathmandu about 10.4 hours between sunrise and sunset. Mountain walls cut the light further. Our daylight guide explains how to plan the day.
• Cold nights. Our region pages describe temperatures far below freezing at altitude in the Everest region and freezing nights at Kyanjin Gompa from November. Teahouse bedrooms are unheated.
• Closing lodges. The Everest page says high lodges begin to close late in November, and the Rara page says lodges close toward the end of November and the lake begins to freeze at the edges.
• Quiet trails. Few trekkers walk, so rooms are easy to find where lodges are open.

Early versus late December

Conditions change within the month, and so does the choice of route:

Routes that suit December

Poon Hill and Ghandruk

The Poon Hill route runs four days from Pokhara: Ulleri (2,070 m), Ghorepani (2,860 m), the sunrise climb to Poon Hill (3,210 m), Tadapani (2,630 m) and a descent through Ghandruk. The Annapurna region page says Poon Hill and Ghandruk stay walkable in winter. Snow and ice can change the footing on the Ulleri steps and the ridge, and the highest night, Ghorepani, is below 3,000 m, so altitude advice rarely bites. Costs are in the Poon Hill cost breakdown.

Helambu

The Helambu trek takes eight days from Sundarijal and reaches Tharepati at 3,650 m, with most nights between 2,180 m and 2,580 m. It starts a one-hour drive from Kathmandu and can be shortened at any village, which helps if a December cold snap arrives. Expect cold at Tharepati.

Pokhara foothills

The Panchase trek is a four-day walk with a top of about 2,500 m, and our Pokhara page says winter mornings are very clear but cold above 2,000 m, with late October to April the best period for Panchase. Our short treks from Pokhara guide lists others.

Khaptad in early December

Our Khaptad region page lists March to May and October to December as the best periods, and the Khaptad trek runs 10 days with a high point of about 3,276 m. The Great Himalaya Trail page cited on the region page warns that winter snow closes the park from late December to the end of February, so go in the first half of the month if at all. Flights in the far west are often delayed.

Routes to leave for spring or autumn

If you want a high route, aim for April or October. Our snow and high pass conditions guide explains the passes.

Safety in the cold

Cold does not remove altitude effects. Above 3,000 m the CDC Yellow Book advises moving sleeping altitude by no more than 500 m a day and adding an extra acclimatisation day for each additional 1,000 m gained. In winter the extra risks are cold and darkness: you cool quickly when wet and still, so carry dry layers and a spare pair of socks, and a headlamp, because a short day can end before you reach the lodge. Avalanche paths cross the upper Langtang valley, and our Annapurna page warns of avalanche risk in the Sanctuary after snowfall in winter and spring. Read the altitude sickness basics before going above 3,000 m.

What to pack

You need more warmth than in autumn. The essentials:

• A sleeping bag rated well below the coldest night you expect; see sleeping bag ratings for Nepal.
• A down jacket, warm hat and insulated gloves, with the option to rent in Kathmandu; see down jacket rent or buy.
• Waterproof boots, warm socks and microspikes if ice is likely; see crampons and microspikes.
• An insulated bottle, sun protection for snow glare and a headlamp with spare batteries.

The packing list covers the rest.

Permits and costs

Park and conservation area permits do not change with the season: as of October 2026 the ACAP permit is NPR 3,000 for foreigners, with online payment adding a 2.9% gateway charge and a permit issued at a check post costing double. Restricted-area permits for Manaslu, Tsum Valley and Nar Phu are priced lower from December to August than from September to November, for example Manaslu at USD 75 per week plus USD 10 a day beyond one week against USD 100 plus USD 15, but those routes are poor choices in December snow. Lodge prices are not tracked by month, so ask at check-in; the daily budget guide shows how to budget and the permits page keeps the table.

The guide rule

The guide rule does not change with the season. The Nepal Tourism Board announced in April 2023 that foreign trekkers must use a licensed guide in national parks and conservation areas. We found no separate Department of Immigration or park-authority notice, and 2026 operator reports say checkpoints enforce it in Annapurna and Langtang, the strictest, and most other parks, but not in Khumbu (checked 19 October 2026). In restricted areas a licensed guide through a registered agency is part of the permit. See the guide rule explainer.

A sample early December plan

If December is your only window, aim for its first half and a low route. Fly into Kathmandu, spend a day on permits and a gear check, and travel to Pokhara. Walk the four-day Poon Hill route, with the sunrise climb on the third morning, and keep a spare day in Pokhara for weather or a delayed bus. With a second week, add the lower Helambu loop from Kathmandu or a Panchase walk, and keep every day inside the daylight in the table above: on a day of about 10.4 hours of flat-horizon light, a six-hour walk with lunch is comfortable, and a nine-hour day is not. Check conditions with the lodge each morning and be ready to stop early if snow or cloud arrives.

Who should go

December suits people who like quiet, cold, clear days, who accept short daylight and who own a warm sleeping bag. It does not suit first-time trekkers who want a high-altitude goal or people on a tight schedule. For newcomers, read the first-time trekking guide. To share a guide on a winter route, see the Poon Hill partner page, and browse the Annapurna, Langtang, Khaptad and Pokhara regions. All our seasonal guides are in the seasons and weather hub.