March is Nepal waking up. Winter's cold loosens, the national flower sets whole mountainsides on fire with bloom, expedition teams stream toward Everest, and one morning the entire country erupts in colored powder. It is the second-most popular season for good reason — and early March still has a quiet, shoulder-season feel.
The weather, region by region
Kathmandu Valley: highs climbing from ~20°C to 25°C through the month, nights 8–12°C. Mostly dry; the occasional spring shower clears the air beautifully.
Pokhara: warm and pleasant, mid-to-high 20s by late March. Lake mornings are calm; afternoon clouds often build over the Annapurnas.
Trekking routes: below 3,000 m, ideal — mild days, cool nights, blooming forest. Above 4,000 m, winter still has a grip early in the month: expect snow on high passes (Thorong La, Cho La) in early March, melting fast by April. Nights at altitude remain well below freezing.
Chitwan and the Terai: heating up (low 30s°C) and dry — grasses are cut or burned in early spring, making March one of the best wildlife-viewing months as rhinos and deer become easy to spot in the short grass.
Rhododendron season
Nepal's national flower (lali gurans) is a tree, not a shrub, and in bloom it transforms the mid-hill forests into something unreal — canopies of crimson, pink, and white from 2,000 to 3,500 m.
Best displays:
- Ghorepani / Poon Hill — the classic; the trail tunnels through blooming forest (route in our two-week itinerary)
- Langtang Valley — blooms framing 7,000 m peaks
- The Milke Danda ridge in eastern Nepal — the largest rhododendron forest in the country, for travelers heading far off-trail
Timing: lower forests peak mid-to-late March, higher slopes run into late April.
Holi — the festival of colors
Falling on the full moon of early-to-mid March, Holi is a one-day, nationwide color fight. In Kathmandu, Thamel and Basantapur Square become friendly chaos — music, water balloons, and clouds of pink and green powder; Pokhara's Lakeside celebrates with concerts by the water. The Terai celebrates a day after the hills.
Traveler notes: wear clothes you can throw away, bag your phone, and expect to be a cheerful target — tourists are very much included. It is one of the most fun single days you can spend in Nepal.
Everest expedition season begins
Late March is when summit expeditions fly into Lukla and begin staging toward base camp. Trek the EBC route in late March or April and you walk amid the season's gear trains, icefall doctors, and a base camp swelling into a canvas city — an atmosphere October trekkers never see. Trails are noticeably quieter than October, too.
March vs. October
| March | October | |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain views | Good (haze late month, low altitudes) | Best of the year |
| Temperatures | Warming, high passes still snowy early | Ideal everywhere |
| Crowds | Moderate | Peak |
| Color | Rhododendron forests in bloom | Post-monsoon green |
| Events | Holi, Everest expeditions staging | Dashain, Tihar |
| Wildlife (Chitwan) | Excellent (short grass) | Good |
There is no wrong answer — October (full guide) wins on sky, March wins on bloom, festivals-per-square-meter, and breathing room on the trails.
Practical tips for March
- Early March: carry real winter layers above 4,000 m and ask locally about snow on passes before committing to high crossings.
- Late March: start treks early in the day; afternoon cloud build-up over the big peaks is normal in spring.
- Book around Holi — domestic transport gets busy the day before and after.
- The packing list applies as-is; add a cheap white t-shirt for Holi.
Visa, permits, and budgets are unchanged year-round: see the visa guide, permit guide, and budget breakdown.
