Trekking in Nepal in February

February is the last month of Nepal's dry winter: cold nights, mostly clear mornings and a quiet trail, with the days getting noticeably longer. Low and mid-altitude routes work well, such as Poon Hill and Ghandruk, Helambu, the Pokhara foothill walks and the Kathmandu Valley rim, while high passes and glacier valleys stay cold and snowy and are better left for spring. Our own calculation puts Kathmandu at about 10.6 hours of daylight in mid-January and about 11.2 hours in mid-February, so February gives you close to an hour more walking light than January.

If you are choosing between months, our best time to trek in Nepal guide has the year at a glance, and trekking in Nepal in January covers the coldest weeks. This guide focuses on what changes by February, which routes suit it, what to pack and how to plan, using our region and route pages, which were checked on 19 October 2026.

What February is like

Our region pages group December to February as cold, with snow on the high routes. The practical effects:

• Clear mornings, cloud later. Winter mornings are often the clearest of the year. The Poon Hill route page lists December to February as "cold, clear" next to the spring and autumn seasons, which is why the sunrise climb is popular in winter.
• Cold nights. Water bottles and pipes can freeze overnight at altitude, and teahouse bedrooms are unheated, so your sleeping gear matters more than anything else you pack.
• Daylight is returning. On a flat horizon Kathmandu has about 11.2 hours between sunrise at 06:42 and sunset at 17:54 in mid-February, against about 10.6 hours in mid-January. In a deep valley the sun reaches the trail later and leaves it earlier, so plan on fewer usable hours than the table suggests. Our daylight guide explains how.
• Quiet trails. Far fewer trekkers walk in February, so lodges are easy to book, but some close for the season and menus can be limited.
• Snow is the main uncertainty. A fall of snow can close a high section for days and turns the Ulleri steps and the ridge paths to Ghorepani icy.

Routes that suit February

Poon Hill and Ghandruk

The Poon Hill route runs four days from Pokhara: a drive to Nayapul and a climb up the Ulleri steps to Ulleri (2,070 m), then Ghorepani (2,860 m), the sunrise climb to Poon Hill (3,210 m), and a walk via Tadapani (2,630 m) and Ghandruk to a road back to Pokhara. The Annapurna region page notes that Poon Hill and Ghandruk stay walkable in winter. The route is easy on paper, but February snow changes the footing, and the highest night is Ghorepani at 2,860 m, below the 3,000 m mark where the CDC Yellow Book starts advising limits on sleeping altitude gain. For costs see our 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 makes it the most flexible of the winter options. Tharepati will be cold.

Langtang Valley, with a plan B

The Langtang Valley is an eight-day trek reached by road, with Kyanjin Gompa at 3,870 m and Kyanjin Ri at 4,773 m as the side trip. The Langtang region page describes winter as cold with snow on the high trails, advises experienced walkers only, and warns that lodges at the top may be closed. Avalanche paths cross the upper valley, and you should not stop or camp in them, especially in winter and early spring. The advantage is that there is no flight to cancel; the cost comparison is in our Langtang cost breakdown.

Short walks near Kathmandu and Pokhara

The Chisapani to Nagarkot trek is a three-day walk with a top of about 2,175 m. Our Kathmandu Valley page says December to February is cold but dry, and that views can be excellent after a clear night. In Pokhara, winter mornings are very clear but cold above 2,000 m. Our Kathmandu Valley rim hikes guide and short treks from Pokhara list more options.

Routes to leave for spring

If a high route is the dream, aim for April or October. Our snow and high pass conditions guide explains how snow affects 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, whatever the season. Cold adds its own risks: you cool quickly when wet and still, and fingers and toes suffer first, so dry layers and a spare pair of socks matter. Carry a headlamp, because a short winter day can end before you reach the lodge. Read our altitude sickness basics before you go above 3,000 m.

What to pack

You do not need expedition kit for Poon Hill, but you need more warmth than in autumn:

• A sleeping bag rated well below the coldest night you expect; see sleeping bag ratings for Nepal.
• A down jacket, a warm hat and insulated gloves; renting in Kathmandu is an option, as our down jacket guide explains.
• Waterproof boots and warm socks, with microspikes if your guide expects ice; see crampons and microspikes.
• An insulated bottle, sun protection for snow glare and a headlamp.

Our general packing list covers the rest.

Permits and costs

Permits do not change with the season. As of October 2026 the Annapurna Conservation Area permit is NPR 3,000 for foreigners (about USD 22), with online payment adding a 2.9% gateway charge and a permit issued at a check post costing double, and the Langtang National Park permit is NPR 3,000. A guide is part of a realistic budget; see the daily budget guide. Lodge prices are not tracked by month, so ask at check-in. Our permits page keeps the current table.

A sample February plan

1. Day 0, Pokhara. Buy ACAP and check the forecast and snow reports with your agency or lodge.
2. Days 1 to 3. Walk the Poon Hill loop, taking the sunrise climb with a headlamp and warm layers. If snow has fallen overnight, delay or skip the climb and spend the morning at Ghorepani.
3. Day 4. Descend to Ghandruk and drive to Pokhara.
4. Spare days. Keep one or two at the end, as on any trek.

With a spare week, add the lower Helambu loop from Kathmandu.

Who should go

February suits people who like quiet and cold, accept changes of plan and own a warm sleeping bag. It does not suit first-time trekkers who want a high-altitude goal or anyone who cannot accept a day lost to snow. If you are new to trekking, read the first-time trekking guide and which Nepal trek is right for you. To share a guide and costs on a winter route, use the Poon Hill partner page, and browse the Annapurna, Langtang, Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara regions. All our seasonal guides are in the seasons and weather hub.