Nepal in February

Overview

February keeps most of January's virtues — dry air, sharp mountain views, quiet sites and low prices — while steadily shedding its bite. Days lengthen noticeably, afternoons in Kathmandu reach a springlike 18–21°C by month's end, and in the low hills the first early rhododendrons and mustard blooms hint at the season to come.

The high passes remain snowbound, so this is still a month for the lowlands, the cities and treks below roughly 3,500 m. But February has an ace the other winter months lack: its festivals. Losar fills Boudhanath and the Tibetan-Buddhist communities with masked dances and new prayer flags, and Maha Shivaratri draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and ash-smeared sadhus to Pashupatinath — one of the most extraordinary spectacles in South Asia. For the season-wide picture, see the full winter guide.

February Weather & Temperatures

Rain stays rare, visibility stays high, and morning fog thins as the month progresses. By late February the low-hill trails feel distinctly spring-like.

Where to Go in February

• Pashupatinath for Shivaratri — if your dates align, this is the month's unmissable experience: a city of sadhus, bonfires and all-night devotion.
• Boudhanath for Losar — Tibetan New Year brings fresh prayer flags, ceremonial dances and pilgrims circling the great stupa.
• Chitwan & the Terai — still prime safari weather before the spring heat builds.
• Low treks — Poon Hill, Mohare Danda and late-February Langtang for the hardy, with early blossom below and snow above.
• Pokhara — clear lake mornings and dependable Sarangkot sunrises, still without the crowds.

Festivals & Events in February

Losar, the Tibetan New Year, usually falls in February (occasionally late January). Boudhanath, Swayambhunath and the high Buddhist valleys — Langtang, Khumbu, Mustang — celebrate with family feasts, cham dances and fresh prayer flags strung against the winter sky.

Maha Shivaratri, the great night of Shiva, typically falls in February or early March. Pashupatinath becomes the centre of the Hindu world for a night: hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, naked naga sadhus by their fires, and temple queues that run through the night. Go with patience and keep valuables minimal — it is crowded, chaotic and unforgettable.

Packing & Practical Tips

• Pack for two seasons: down jacket and warm layers for mornings, but add lighter trekking wear — afternoons genuinely warm up.
• Time your visit to a festival if you can; Shivaratri in particular is worth planning a whole trip around.
• Book Pashupatinath-area rooms early for Shivaratri week — pilgrims fill the city's east side.
• Trekking: conditions mirror January's (stay below ~3,500 m) early in the month, easing later; late February is a lovely, quiet shoulder for Poon Hill.
• Prices: low-season rates generally hold until March — a last chance at winter discounts with near-spring weather.