After the cherry blossoms: trek Nepal's rhododendron spring

When the cherry blossoms fall in Japan, the Himalaya is just putting on its own flower show. From March to May, Nepal's hillsides blaze red, pink and white with blooming rhododendron — the national flower, lali gurans — beneath clear skies and warm spring sun. For Japanese travellers, spring in Nepal is a natural sequel to sakura, and it lands right around Golden Week.

Why spring is special

Spring brings a particular magic that autumn cannot match: flowers. Whole hillsides of rhododendron forest come alive, especially in the Annapurna foothills and on the Poon Hill trail, where ancient gnarled trees turn crimson. The days are warm and comfortable, the skies generally clear, and the higher passes have shed their winter snow. It is warm enough at lower elevations to be a joy and cool enough up high to be invigorating.

A trek to bookend the blossoms

There is something poetic about following Japan's cherry blossoms with Nepal's rhododendron. The Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill trails are at their most beautiful in spring, walking up through flowering forest to an amphitheatre of white peaks. And because spring is also the Everest climbing season, the Khumbu hums with energy for those headed to Base Camp. Book early — spring is popular, and Golden Week dates fill fast.

Source: Travel Himalaya Nepal trek operations.

Cover photo: Shailendra Rawat अज्ञानी via Pexels (Pexels License).