Is May a good month for the Annapurna Circuit?

Yes, particularly for the pass. May gives the mildest Thorong La crossing of the year and a quiet trail, at the cost of haze and afternoon storms on the eastern side. The Mustang half stays clear.

What is the rain shadow on the Annapurna Circuit?

Manang, Muktinath, Kagbeni and Jomsom sit behind the main Himalayan wall, which blocks the monsoon and pre-monsoon moisture coming from the south. They stay dry and bright while the Marsyangdi side of the same circuit is under storms.

Is Thorong La easier in May than April?

In temperature, clearly. Pre-dawn conditions on the pass run around -12 to -7°C in May against -16 to -11°C in April, and there is no snow on the approach. April has better long-range visibility from the top.

Do afternoon storms affect the trek in May?

On the eastern side, most days. The standard response is early starts, which this itinerary already builds in through the short days to Chame, Upper Pisang and Yak Kharka.

Annapurna Circuit Trek in May: Weather & Crowds

May temperatures, valley to high camp

Waypoint	Elevation	Day	Night
Chame	2,670m	20 to 25°C	6 to 10°C
Manang	3,519m	15 to 20°C	1 to 5°C
Thorong Phedi	4,450m	9 to 14°C	-5 to -1°C
Thorong La	5,416m	3 to 8°C	-12 to -7°C

May is the warmest the pass gets. A crossing at -12 to -7°C in the pre-dawn hours is genuinely manageable rather than an endurance problem, and the whole circuit walks in comfortable temperatures. The eastern valleys build cloud from late morning and produce thunderstorms most afternoons, while Manang, Muktinath and Jomsom stay dry behind the Himalayan wall. That split is the defining feature of a May circuit.

On the trail

Trail conditions in May

The pass is at its most forgiving. No snow, mild pre-dawn temperatures, and long daylight for the descent to Muktinath. Anyone nervous about the 5,416m crossing will find May the least intimidating month to attempt it.

The eastern approach is where May demands discipline. Afternoon storms roll up the Marsyangdi, and the sensible schedule is early starts and early finishes, which is easy on this itinerary because the days to Chame, Pisang and Yak Kharka are short by design.

Once over the pass you drop into the rain shadow and the weather changes completely. Muktinath, Kagbeni and Jomsom in May are dry, bright and windy, and the contrast with the storms you left behind on the other side is one of the more striking things about walking this route in the pre-monsoon.

Crowds & teahouses

Who else is up there

The April crowd thins quickly through the first half of May and the circuit gets comfortably quiet. Every lodge stays open with full service, and even Thorong Phedi has space most nights, which it does not in April or October.

Getting in & out

Flights, roads and logistics

Roads stay reliable through most of May, with the first pre-monsoon rain occasionally causing delays on the Besisahar to Dharapani jeep road late in the month. Vehicle availability is easy again after the spring peak.

What changes this month

Sleeping bag to -10°C comfort is still sensible for Thorong Phedi

A proper rain shell for the eastern side afternoon storms

Windproof layer for the Kali Gandaki, which stays fierce in May

Strong sun protection for the Mustang side, which is high, dry, exposed and cloudless

Lighter layers overall than April needs

Some mountains
don't wait

Permits close. Weather windows narrow. The best Everest region teahouse beds fill by October, and spring season opens again in March. Our Kathmandu team is already booking for autumn. If you have been planning a trek, this is the window.

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Annapurna Circuit Trek in May

May temperatures, valley to high camp

Trail conditions in May

Who else is up there

Flights, roads and logistics

What changes this month

May questions