1

I trekked AC and ABC in Oct 2005, and then in April 2008. In Oct we actually had very heavy, and very unseasonal, snow which delayed us for 5 nights at Manang. After that the weather ws fine that time.

In April, it was hot and quite sticky lower down, but I did not get any rain until trekking into ABC at the end of April, when I had some very heavy thunderstorms, with some huge lightning forks, and there was quite a lot of cloud build up at times. Higher up on AC the weather for me was very clear, and not at all cold at night, so I think you will be fine. April - May is the second most popular trekking season.

If you do AC, do try and go through Ghyaru above Pisang, and also try and go to Lake Tilicho Tal - I did the latter in April (Oct snow prevented it that time) and the views ect are awesome.

2

Hi,

The month April is suitable for any type of trekking. This month falls in the spring season which is after the winter when the sun gets more warmer and the view of mountain become clear.

There is very little probability of rainfall. So it is the most favorable month/season for trekking in Nepal.

Cheers!!!

3

Just one correction to my post above: I did get some rain one afternoon on about day 3 of doing AC in April 2008 - I don't have access to my maps, books etc, so can't say exactly where this was.

Hopefully some more Nepalis (in addition to post 2) will post up their views - they are there all year round. I am UK based.

4

I did ABC on late March / early April in 2009. There was no rain. But the view wasn't great as the peaks were shrouded in clouds most of the time, except in the morning. If I want clear view, I will still stick to Oct-Dec season.

5

Hi

Some basic weather info here; more detail from wunderground.com and mountainforecast.com.

After the first few days on the AC the himalayan rain shadow will limit what rain there is anyway.

scoodly

6

I also did the AC in April to first of May counter clockwise. Had great weather, no rain. Was warm/hot down low. Clear mornings but hazy/cloudy afternoons. No view from Poon Hill. Did the ABC last fall, with rain and snow.
Did the Gokyo trek the fall before with great weather till Gokyo where is started to snow as we headed down.

7

Tend to agree more with the trekkers who have trekked the route as opposed to the “guides” and “experts” who appear to be painting a slightly more optimistic viewpoint.
I have trekked the western side of AC in April and also had several very hazy days as well as some very windy afternoons in the higher reaches of the valley – OK not too much rain, but the haze did spoil the views a bit.
Early mornings tend to be best, so my advice would be to get up early and take advantage of them – If you get rain; it tends to be in the late afternoons / evenings, so by starting your trek early you also stand the best chance of keeping dry ;-)
Good Luck and Happy Safe Trekking
Rob

8

Some further details about the weather that I expereinced in April 2008 when doing AC: the eastern side was a bit hazy, but was warm and quite sticky. The central part from about Bratang to Pisang - Ghyaru - Manang - Lake Tilicho - Thorung La pass and to Muktinah was almost all very clear. The lake was amazing: clear blue skies, the white wall of the Annapurnas, and the surface of the lake was completely frozen. Also there were few other trekkers there - most organised groups miss the lake.

Even going down the western valley from Muktinah was pretty clear until I got to Tatopani, from where there was generally quite a lot more cloud, and it was very sticky, and the walk up to ABC, including ABC itself, there was a lot of cloud, and some violent thnder stroms a couple of afternoons. Views in the sanctuary were quite limited (unlike when I went there in Oct 2005).

As the OP says, each year will vary.