Himalayas in February?

November 12, 2006 7:01 PM

Is trekking/bumming around the Indian Himalayas in February a good idea?

My boyfriend and I are doing a round the world trip and spending February in India. He really wants to check out the Himalayas in Northern India, but my preliminary research seems to indicate that February isn't really the best time of year to go traipsing around on the roof of the world. I guess I'm wondering if travelling to and in the Himalayas in Feb is (A) practical and/or (B) a good time to experience the place. Or should we just stick to the beach?

posted by Wendy to Travel & Transportation (6 answers total)

Very anectdotal, but I spent three weeks in and around the Hill Stations and a bit north (Simla, Manali, Dharamsala) in January and it was gorgeous in the day, and cold as hell at night. Really cold -- and that was only about 2000 metres asl. Really beautiful. Not too many travellers. But, man, it was nippy. And higher elevations would be nippier still, of course. Take a good sleeping bag and do your homework and you'll probably be fine.
posted by Rumple at 10:14 PM on November 12, 2006

I can't imagine when it would not be a good time to bum around the Indian Himalayas.

Carpe diem, etc, etc.
posted by Brave New Meatbomb at 2:19 AM on November 13, 2006

I travelled through the Himalayas (took the Manali to Leh bus route and then spent some time in Leh) in July, and it was still f'ing cold at night. I can't imagine that the road would be passable in the winter, as they have a hard enough time keeping it passable in the summer, but IANAE.
posted by The Michael The at 5:05 AM on November 13, 2006

Is trekking/bumming around the Indian Himalayas in February a good idea?

For you? Or for the scavengers that will eat your corpses when they thaw in the spring?

Yes, it's OK to trek the Himalayas in the winter, at least if you're doing it with professionals on certain routes. Here is one company's route list. At the bottom, it says:

SEASON:
1. November to February

WEATHER:
1. Mainly dry but higher reaches can be snowbounded.
2. Night temperature can be one to four degree celcius.

And here is another site describing winter tours.

If you are inexperienced and plan on doing more "traipsing" and "bumming" than planned trekking, though, there may never be a good (safe) time of year to do it. People die of exposure on little mountains in America in the summer.
posted by pracowity at 6:18 AM on November 13, 2006

I went to the Himalayas in February as a child, but we stayed in cities/towns (which is what I'd consider "bumming around" which is why I'm bothering to answer). I remember it being hot and beautiful. Definitely worth it.
posted by carmen at 7:09 AM on November 13, 2006

It's SOOOO nice not to be in the tourist crush, and the views are likely to be very fine. Darjeeling (not far from Bhutan) is often overlooked in favor of Dharmsala in the west, which is RIDICULOUSLY over-crowded (the new Goa) and has more inherent charm. Also, consider Nepal, of course... a cheap flight from Delhi, and an even cheaper bus ride.

If you are doing much auto/bus travel across passes, it's best not to schedule your itinerary too tightly; snows come pell mell and close roads, as do rockslides. Build in some extra time for travel contingencies in Feb. Himalayan travel.

Oh, I'm so jealous! Yeah, it's nippy, but totally, totally worth it. Use lots of layers!
posted by DenOfSizer at 10:54 AM on November 13, 2006