By September, monsoon rain starts to subside and the clouds get thinner providing a window for Himalayan view. The lush green rolling hills replenished by rain, clear blue sky and the crystal clear snow peak make the September view the most photogenic. The hot and humid summer temperature starts to cool down. September till December is the main season for Himalayan tours. It may still rain once in a few days in Nepal and Bhutan, but Tibet gets very little rain throughout the monsoon. The gigantic Himalayas block the monsoon clouds causing rain shadow.
Fewer tourists, lower price and cultural immersion opportunities are the benefits of Nepal tour in September. Here are the top 5 trips in the
Himalayas recommended for September.
Nepal Tibet Bhutan tour
While it may still rain in the southern flank of the Himalayas, Tibet gets very little rain throughout the monsoon. The Himalayas block the rain clouds making Tibet an alpine desert. Start a tour with Tibet and fly to Nepal and Bhutan later in the September to be in each place at the right time. One can fly to Lhasa from China or Kathmandu, Nepal. Most tourists start the tour from Kathmandu, Nepal because of visa complications. The most popular tour is 21 days which includes a tour of Lhasa and drive to Everest north base camp in Tibet, tour of Pokhara, Chitwan and Kathmandu in Nepal and Paro, Thimphu and Punakha in Bhutan. The shorter version takes about 16 days.
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| Tiger's nest (Taktsang Monastery) - Bhutan |
Everest Trek
The UNESCO Heritage Site of Everest national park provides the
most stunning trekking in the Himalayas. About 35,000 people trek to Everest
base camp each year flying to the world’s most extreme Lukla airport. October,
November and April are the peak time when the trekkers swarm in the region creating
traffic along the route. Mid September brings as good weather as the peak
months but the fewer trekkers is a boon. Also it rains less in the eastern part
of the Himalayas than in the west making Everest region more ideal for the
September trek. Everest trek could be organized from 7 days cultural trek to
three weeks challenging treks of three passes. Everest base camp trek about 14
days from Kathmandu and back.
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| Everest trekking with Mount Thamsherku in the background. |
Nepal walking holiday
Nepal walking holiday is a combination of cultural sightseeing and gentle walking in the foothills of the Himalayas. Since it is mostly driving and sightseeing, the September rain doesn’t affect the activities much. The overnight stay at hill towns like Nagarkot and Bandipur allows us more opportunities of Himalayan scenery as it is more likely to clear up in the morning and evening. Even though tourists go beyond the city limits, luxurious accommodation in tranquil places make their stay exceptional. Gentle walking in the Himalayan foothills gives the deeper insight of the countryside lifestyle and the closer view of the Himalayas.
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| Annapurna seen from Astam village |
Spiritual tour of Nepal
Being in the Himalayan citadel, Nepal was a safe haven for several cultures and spiritual practices. The intricate geography, dense jungle and gushing rivers kept even the mightiest enemies away for millennia. This is the land where Buddha was born and many sages got enlightened. There are hundreds of pious meditation caves and occult Tantric places. The unique form of Tantrism, Buddhism and Hinduism are practiced in the country. The day to day life and living heritages highly implements the ancient knowledge of Ayurveda (ancient herbal medicine), Vastushastra (material science for designing and town planning) and Jyotisshastra (astrology). This is a land of happy people to go on a spiritual tour and learn a different perspective of life.
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| World peace pagoda at Lumbini |
Everest north base camp Tour – Tibet
The northern flank of Mt Everest falls in Tibet. Because of high plateaus, it is possible to drive to the Everest base camp from the Tibetan side. A trip to Everest north base camp is the most popular tour in Tibet. It takes about 8 days to visit Lhasa and the Everest north base camp. The most popular tour flies in Lhasa and then drives to Everest north base camp visiting Shigatse and Gyantse. Some tourists also drive from Kathmandu to Everest base camp and then fly out of Lhasa. September is the best time for the tour as the high ground of Tibet will get colder afterwards.
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| Mt Everest seen from norther base camp - Tibet |
September has mixed weather with monsoon rain becoming relentless and the summer subsiding. It rains for a few days and remains cloudy. The above suggested trips are the most rewarding Nepal tours for September. September is the beginning of the biggest tourist season in the Himalayas. However it is not very crowded in September and the temperature is moderate.
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