Highlights of Northern India & Nepal

From October to April, the days are normally warm to hot and nights cool or mild. Humidity is very low with little or no rain.

In March, April and October, it can get very hot during the day. Evenings in Delhi and Kathmandu can be surprisingly cool.

The summer months in North India and Nepal are hot and humid with monsoon season in July and August. Heavy downpours during the monsoon typically last for a couple of hours, bringing relief from the heat and humidity of previous months.

It gets very cold in the early mornings and evenings in December to February, so warm clothes are essential. Fog is also a possibility during this period. Please note, nightly temperatures in Kathmandu can be very cold and only just above freezing in December and January.

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

It is not a physically demanding adventure, but some days are long, such as the drives between Delhi and Jaipur (approximately five to seven hours), Jaipur and Agra (approximately five to six hours), Varanasi and Lumbini (approximately 12 hours), and Pokhara and Kathmandu (approximately 10 hours). The stunning scenery, however, compensates for this. We also have some early starts to take advantage of the daylight. Most of the roads are in fairly good condition but you should be prepared for a few rougher sections, particularly between Pokhara and Kathmandu. The trains are a fun way to travel and meet Indian people, although delays are always possible.

Walks: A short hike is included in Pokhara where you are driven to a lookout point for spectacular views before descending some steep (in places) village trails and stone steps to Pame. From here, we take a return transfer to Pokhara. Due to the nature of the trails, we recommend wearing walking boots, particularly in wet weather, but sports shoes are not a problem if preferred. The walk is approximately 2hr 30min of constant decent, mostly down steps; if you would prefer not to join, the tour leader can arrange a transfer for a supplement (price subject to the number of people requiring a transfer), which can be paid locally.

Monuments: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for the conservation of many monuments in India, including the Taj Mahal, and very occasionally this may mean work is taking place at sites visited on this trip. The ASI schedule is never published so it is not possible to forewarn when work is taking place.

Holi and Diwali festivals: Some departures take place during Holi and Diwali. They are great to witness and some very minor itinerary alterations may be made locally to make the most of these occasions. Holi celebrations typically involve people throwing coloured water at each other and smearing powder on each other’s faces. This is accompanied by dancing, music and traditional Holi sweets, such as ghujiya (sweet dumplings). During Diwali, the festival of lights, people typically illuminate their houses, shops and streets, and celebrate with fireworks.