When to go · Kathmandu
Kathmandu in May
Mixed month. Hot and dusty; pre-monsoon storms.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Temperature
- 29°C84°F / 16°C61°F
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 11
- Crowds
- Medium
- Nepal overall
- Prices
- Medium
- Nepal overall
Verdict
Hot and dusty; pre-monsoon storms.
Weather in May
- KathmanduHighs around 29 °C, lows around 16 °C, rain on about 11 daysHighs around 84 °F, lows around 61 °F, rain on about 11 days
- Kathmandu valley, Nepal · Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur, Nagarkothot
Cold nights Dec–Feb (near 0 °C); dust and smoke haze in spring hide the mountains; monsoon rain most afternoons Jun–Sep.Cold nights Dec–Feb (near 32 °F); dust and smoke haze in spring hide the mountains; monsoon rain most afternoons Jun–Sep.
Pre-monsoon season
Long days and lower prices.
Watch: Heat and thunderstorms.
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Buddha Jayanti check
Full moon of Baisakh · Boudhanath and Swayambhunath
Crowds and prayers at stupas.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Nepal overall
- Medium
- Prices · Nepal overall
- Medium
Nepal overall: Hot in the Terai, pre-monsoon storms; high treks still good early in the month.
What to pack
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen