Annapurna Base Camp Weather: Month-by-Month Guide

When ABC Works Best

The Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek has two dependable windows: October to early December and March to early May. The elevation is manageable (4,130 m at ABC, 3,700 m at MBC) so it is comfortably done in shoulder months too, but there is one caveat — the Deurali to MBC section is avalanche-prone after heavy winter or spring snowfall, and closures do happen.

ABC is lower and further south than EBC or Manaslu, so it sees more moisture year-round. The trade-off: warmer nights, no need for extreme cold gear, and lush forest walking below Chhomrong.

Temperatures Along the Trail

The final morning at ABC, watching sunrise on Annapurna I and Machhapuchhre, is usually the coldest hour of the trek — expect -10 °C to -15 °C at the sanctuary in autumn and winter.

Month-by-Month Breakdown

January and February — Cold and snowy

Trekkable but demanding. ABC nights hit -15 °C, and the trail from Deurali up is often snow-covered with real avalanche risk on the narrow section approaching MBC. Trekkers do go in this window, but you want an experienced guide, a warm bag and micro-spikes.

March — Snow starts melting

Warmer days at Chhomrong, still cold at ABC. Rhododendrons begin blooming in the forest sections below Ghandruk from late March. Avalanche risk on the Deurali–MBC section peaks after heavy snowfall combined with warming days — the fatal 2020 avalanche on this section happened in mid-January during a similar warming spell.

April — Peak spring

The best spring window. Warm days, cold-but-tolerable nights at ABC, rhododendrons in full colour through the lower forest. Skies are usually clear early in the month but haze builds toward the end. Busy lodges.

May — Warm and hazier

Days warm even up high. First half of May still gives good visibility; from mid-May pre-monsoon cloud rolls in during afternoons. Nights at ABC drop only to -5 °C or so.

June to mid-September — Monsoon

Wet forest walking, leeches from below Chhomrong up to Bamboo, cloudy peaks and heavy afternoon rain. Trails hold up better than the Manaslu or Everest lower reaches, and lodges are quiet and cheap, but views are hit-or-miss. Trekkable if you accept the trade-offs, but not the plan for first-time visitors.

Late September to October — Peak autumn

The single best window. Clear skies from the moment the monsoon lifts, warm days, cold-but-comfortable nights at ABC. Book lodges at Deurali, MBC and ABC ahead — the sanctuary lodges have limited capacity and fill up.

November — Cold and clear

Fewer crowds than October, still excellent visibility, colder nights at MBC and ABC. A great month for solitude if -10 °C nights are within your tolerance.

December — Early winter

First half of December is still trekkable with the right gear. By mid-month the ABC sanctuary starts getting cold enough that some trekkers turn back at MBC.

The Deurali to MBC Avalanche Section

Between Deurali (3,230 m) and MBC (3,700 m), the trail crosses a narrow valley below steep slopes. This is the single most weather-sensitive stretch on the ABC trek:

• After heavy snowfall (typically January through early March) and again in warming spells, avalanches can and do sweep the trail.
• The trail is closed periodically by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) when risk is high. Check at Chhomrong before continuing.
• Guides usually push the group through this section in the morning, when overnight cold has stabilised the snow, and never linger.
• In January 2020, an avalanche in this section killed four South Korean trekkers and three Nepali guides. It was a reminder that the risk is real and season-dependent, not theoretical.

If ACAP has closed the section, do not try to cross it. It reopens fast when conditions stabilise.