Climate in the region of the Annapurna (ACAP- Annapurna Conservation Area Project)

In the region of Mount Annapurna the time before or after monsoon is recommended as the best time for trekking; from February until the end of April and from the end of September until the end of November one surely can expect an agreeable and bland climate in the terrains at a lower or at a middle height (1,000 m-3,000 m). But attention! Temperature variations can be considerable at these ranges and temperatures (20-28 ℃ in sunshine) can rapidly decline to chilly 5-15 ℃ – depending on the height – in the evenings and at nights. From November until February in the area of an altitude of 3,000 m-4,000 m night frost can be possible; but during the days it’s very agreeable in the sun – so you may wear only a light fleece. Above an altitude of 4,000 m it is getting extremely frigid during this period with temperatures below minus 10 ℃ at night and we only can recommend the general season of trekking.

Generally one can say the nearer the monsoon the milder the climate; however that means one or another day of downpour or one or another day of rain and perhaps a bad sight. The other way round after monsoon from about the end of November it’s getting drier and colder until towards the end of February the temperatures will rise again. This means again owing to the clearer and cooler air we will have a better view until February; then rising temperatures up to the beginning of the monsoon in May and a greater accumulation of dust will lead to a lower view. In a word: equal to the European region of the Alps: cold months – best view.

Also noteworthy is the fact that various different micro-climates exist which are caused by the geographical structure of the Annapurna massif. The climate in the Kali Gandaki valley is extremely arid in the above section and here the scenery looks like a desert. The climate is getting more humid on the classical trekking way to Tatopani and therefore one can find a subtropical ambience with a flora of banana plants and mandarin trees at one of the deepest points of the valley. The entire northeast slopes of the Annapurna massif with the valley of river Marsyandi are all in all more humid. This is shown in an ample vegetation which begins with the rice terraces near Bahundanda at the starting point of the trekking way and changes to a cold and humid, foggy forest and in the end to a sparse alpine vegetation of spruce and pine.

Rhododendron trees start to blossom at the end of March and this is unquestionably a highlight of the flora; a view you can enjoy in the environment of Poon Hill.

The complete circuit of the Annapurna massif is closed by the characteristic traits of the alpine vegetation of the pass Thorung La at a height of 5,414 m and so includes an extraordinary wide range of climates and flora. One can say to have that experience during a marvellous trekking tour is really an exquisite uniqueness.