Trekking in Nepal in November

November is the month of the clearest air and the coldest nights of the autumn season. The monsoon is long gone, skies are very clear, the crowds of October ease, and the temperature drops fast with altitude, so a warm sleeping bag and a flexible plan for the high passes matter more than they did a month earlier. For many trekkers it is the best compromise in the calendar: almost October's views, noticeably fewer people, and trails that are still open on the main routes.

The costs are cold and, late in the month, snow. Our regional pages describe November as cold and very clear in the Everest and Annapurna regions, cold, clear and quiet in Langtang, cold and windy at the Manaslu pass and cold and windy in Upper Mustang, where lodges begin to close. This guide covers each region, the Tihar festival, the permit season that still counts as autumn, and how to pack and plan for a month that changes character between its first and last week.

What November is like

The first half of November feels like late October with fewer people. The second half is more wintry. In practice:

• Very clear air. Mountain views are at their sharpest, particularly in the Everest and Annapurna regions.
• Cold nights, cold mornings. Rooms above about 3,500 m are unheated, and water in bottles can freeze. A sleeping bag rated for well below freezing is worth its weight, and our sleeping bag ratings guide explains how to read a rating.
• Quieter trails and lodges. The Annapurna page calls lodges quieter, and the Langtang table says cold, clear and quiet. Rooms are easier to book than in October, although not on tika or festival days.
• Snow later in the month. The Annapurna page says passes get more snow late in the month, and the Manaslu table lists a cold, windy pass. A fresh snowfall can close a pass for a day or more.
• Some lodges start to close. In Upper Mustang, lodges begin to close in November, and in the high Everest valleys some close as winter approaches.

For a full-year comparison use best time to trek in Nepal, and for the busier month before it read October.

Region by region

Everest

The Everest page lists the October to November window as one of the two main seasons, and our month table says November is cold and very clear. The Everest Base Camp trek over 12 days reaches Dingboche (4,410 m) on day 5 and Gorak Shep (5,164 m) on day 8, so the coldest nights come late in the trek. Flights to Lukla in the morning mostly operate, with delays common; keep a buffer. Mani Rimdu, the festival at Tengboche monastery, falls in October or November, so if you want to see it, check the year's dates with your lodge or agency. Our best time for Everest Base Camp guide has more, and the packing list for Everest in spring is a good base to adapt with warmer layers.

Annapurna

The Annapurna region in November is colder but very clear, with quieter lodges, and passes get more snow late in the month. For Thorong La, that means an early-November crossing is safer than a late one. The Annapurna Circuit climbs from Manang (3,540 m) to Yak Kharka (4,050 m) and Thorong Phedi (4,540 m) before the 8 to 10 hour day over the pass at 5,416 m, so a cold, still morning is what you are waiting for. Read the snow and high pass conditions guide, and make sure your guide has a plan if the pass is closed. Lower routes like Poon Hill and Mardi Himal are fine and quieter.

Langtang

Langtang is cold, clear and quiet in November. The Langtang Valley trek reaches Kyanjin Gompa at 3,870 m with a hike to Kyanjin Ri at 4,773 m. It is one of the easiest ways to see big mountains with few people, and the road from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi takes 7 to 8 hours by jeep. Avalanche paths cross the upper valley, so follow the region page's advice not to stop in them.

Manaslu

The Manaslu table lists a cold, windy pass in November. The Manaslu Circuit crosses Larkya La (5,106 m) on day 11 after Samdo (3,875 m) and Dharamsala (4,470 m). Go early in the month and keep a spare day. The restricted-area permit is in the higher September to November band: USD 100 per person for the first week plus USD 15 per extra day, USD 175 for the 12 days our plan assumes (as of October 2026), plus NPR 3,000 each for the Manaslu and Annapurna conservation areas.

Upper Mustang

The Upper Mustang table lists November as cold and windy, with lodges beginning to close. The Upper Mustang trek is possible in early November, but treat the last weeks as the end of the season, and confirm lodge availability in Lo Manthang before you book. See best time for Upper Mustang.

Tihar and the calendar

Tihar, the festival of lights, follows Dashain, usually late October or early November. In 2026, Laxmi Puja is on 8 November and Bhai Tika on 11 November. Expect offices and shops to close for a few days, lights in villages and heavy travel on the days around them. It is a good moment to be in a village, and a poor moment to be trying to book a last-minute bus. Our October guide explains Dashain and Tihar in more detail.

Health and cold

Cold increases the demands on the body. Altitude rules stay the same: above 3,000 m the Wilderness Medical Society guidance, as the CDC cites it, is a sleeping-altitude gain of no more than 500 m per night, with an extra night for every 1,000 m. Add to that the standard cold-weather basics: keep your core and extremities warm, eat and drink regularly, and put on layers before you get cold, not after. Frostbite and hypothermia are real on pass days, so keep a spare pair of gloves and socks dry. Our altitude sickness basics and acclimatisation schedule cover the rest.

Costs and permits

As of October 2026, park and conservation permits are NPR 3,000 for foreigners, including Sagarmatha, Langtang, ACAP and MCAP, and the Khumbu trek card is NPR 3,000. Restricted-area permits for Manaslu, Tsum and Nar Phu use the September to November rates, which are higher than December to August. For the Everest Base Camp route, our dated estimate for two sharing at mid-range comes to about USD 1,100 to 1,550 per person, excluding international flights, insurance and tips. See the permits page.

A November checklist

1. Book the cold-proof sleeping bag first. Rent in Kathmandu or Pokhara, or bring your own.
2. Pick the pass for the first half of the month if you can.
3. Keep a buffer day for flights and snow.
4. Check lodge availability above 4,000 m and in Upper Mustang.
5. Carry a headlamp. Days are short and you may arrive after dark.

If you want views, quiet and a still-open route network, November is a strong choice. If your plan depends on a high pass at the end of the month, consider moving it to March or April.