When is the best time to visit Kasol? If you think about it, there can never really be a one-line answer to this question. Why? Because when to go to Kasol will always depend on what kind of a trip were you looking forward to. Kasol is beautiful always and presents a different color in each season. Which color do you want to see will decide when should you visit.
Located at an altitude of 1580 meters (5,180 ft), Kasol caters to a wide range of tourists. From a backpacker looking to get high to an adventure enthusiast to a family out on a vacation, you will find all kinds of travelers out there. Easy accessibility, stunning natural beauty, tons of activities, and being budget-friendly is what makes Kasol such a desired destination.
It is one of those places where tourism never really ends. On a general basis, April to June is considered to be the best time to visit Kasol. But will this suit you as well? Read on to find out.
Please note that in this article, I will only be talking about the weather of Kasol and the best time to visit. For other details like how to reach, where to stay, and what to see, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Kasol – A Complete Travel Guide.
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About Kasol
Kasol is a small town located in Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh, on the banks of the River Parvati. It is located about 30 km from Bhuntar and 76 km from Manali. Kasol in recent times has come up as a hotspot for backpackers. It also acts as a base for nearby treks to Malana, Kheerganga, and Pin Parvati Pass.
Due to a large number of Israeli tourists in the region, the town is also nicknamed as ‘Mini Israel of India’. Every year, Kasol holds the annual Music Festival on every New Year’s Eve that attracts thousands of people wanting to celebrate their new year in the town.
Weather of Kasol
Owing to its high altitude, Kasol experiences a moderate climate for most of the year. Summers here are pleasant and short, lasting from April to June. Monsoon brings plenty of rains, covering the entire region under a carpet of green. It snows here in the winter months and the town turns into a white wonderland.
Below is a month by month breakdown of how the weather and tourism in Kasol trends in the year and when it would be a good time for you to go.
Kasol in January
January is the coldest month of the year in Kasol. This is also when the town receives the maximum amount of snow in the entire year. Kasol and the nearby places like Malana, Tosh, and Kheerganga continue getting frequent spells of snow throughout the month. If the weather turned extreme, the treks to Malana and Kheerganga may get closed for a few days or weeks.
The average temperature in January ranges between 5°C maximum and -2°C minimum. This is a good time to go if you want to see a white Parvati valley and hopefully also catch a live snowfall. You would however have to be prepared to handle the extreme cold and freezing temperatures.
- Clothes to Pack: Heavy woolens, Windproof jacket, thermals, caps, gloves, muffler, insulated shoes, woolens socks
Also Read: Weekend Trip to Kasol – How to Plan your Itinerary
Kasol in February
It continues to snow in Parvati Valley in February but as the month progresses, the intensity and frequency will go down. The snow on the ground around Kheerganga however will be more this month. If you want to see snowfall, you should plan in early February. The average temperature will range between 8°C maximum and 1°C minimum.
- Clothes to Pack: Heavy woolens, Windproof jacket, thermals, caps, gloves, muffler, insulated shoes, woolens socks
Kasol in March
This is a perfect month if you want to attempt a winter trek to Kheerganga or Malana. The route to both these places will definitely be open in March. It is still winter so even March will be terribly cold. The temperature will range between 10°C and 3°C. The chance of snow will remain in March as well but more towards the early part of the month.
If you went to Kasol in March and did not find any snow in the town, try trekking to Kheerganga and you will definitely find some there. Or you can try trekking other higher villages like Kalga, Pulga, or Tosh.
- Clothes to Pack: Heavy woolens, Windproof jacket, thermals, caps, gloves, muffler, insulated shoes, woolens socks.
Kasol in April
The snow starts to melt in March and is mostly all gone by April. The only area where you may find some snow in April is probably around Kheerganga or other higher villages that can only be reached on foot. With that being said, the weather in April is very agreeable. It will neither be too cold nor too warm making it a great month for the trip. The temperature will remain around 15°C maximum and 7°C minimum.
April marks the beginning of the spring season. The water from the melting snow will feed the valley and help it turn green. This month also marks the beginning of the tourist season in Parvati Valley and the number of tourists slowly starts to increase.
- Clothes to Pack: Light woolens, Windproof jacket, caps, regular sports shoes
Kasol in May
The weather will continue to get warmer and the temperature will rise up to 20°C maximum and 7°C minimum. This is another great month to visit in terms of the weather as it will suit the majority of the tourists. With vacations on in the school, you will also find a lot of families in the valley in May and June.
If photography was on your mind, this month may disappoint you a little as the scenery in summer is a little dry. This is however the best time for trekking. Other than exploring Kheerganga and Malana, you will also be able to trek other areas and the village of Parvati Valley.
- Clothes to Pack: Regular cotton clothes, Light jacket, regular sports shoes
Kasol in June
June is pretty much the same as May with only one small change. The weather will get even warmer with the temperature rising up to 23°C maximum and 13°C minimum. This is the time when Kasol receives the maximum number of tourists and may even feel a little crowded.
This is a good time to go if you want to escape the heat of the plains for a few days. But it will be a bad time to go if you do not like the crowd and want to be away from people. In June, even Chalal can feel a bit crowded and you may have to move ahead towards other villages, rather than staying in Kasol.
- Clothes to Pack: Regular cotton clothes, Light jacket, regular sports shoes
Kasol in July
July is the warmest month of the year with the average temperature ranging between 25°C maximum and 17°C minimum. Kasol starts to get pre-monsoon showers by June end itself but it is July that marks the beginning of the monsoon season. It rains quite a lot here and you must remember that while visiting Kasol in July.
Monsoons in general are not considered to be a good time to be in the mountains. But if you must, you should plan towards the beginning of July. The frequency and intensity of the rain will continue to increase as the month progresses. Landslides and roadblocks become a common sight for a few weeks in the monsoon season.
If you are planning a trip in July, it would be wise to call ahead and inquire about the weather and the road conditions. You do not want to arrive in Kasol and then get stuck in Parvati valley because of the weather. Even if things did not go that extreme, it may continue to rain for days and shut you indoors at the hotel, ruining any sightseeing plans.
- Clothes to Pack: Regular cotton clothes (preferably the ones that can dry faster), Light jacket, regular sports shoes
Also Read: Tosh Village – A Comprehensive Travel Guide & Itinerary
Kasol in August
It will continue to rain in the month of August as well and in fact even more than July. This entire month is ruled by the rain gods. There will be no significant change in the temperature and it will average out at 23°C maximum and 16°C minimum.
With all that I said about monsoon being a bad time, there is also a positive side to it. This is probably the best time for a photography visit to Kasol. This is when the mountains and the valleys truly come to life. The vistas will turn heavenly and it would seem as if everything has been washed clean and covered with a carpet of green. The trek to Malana and Kheerganga will also remain open. In fact, it is actually the peak time for the Pin Parvati trek.
So yes, a trip to Kasol in August can easily be planned and will present you with an amazing landscape. Just keep the rain in mind and prepare accordingly.
- Clothes to Pack: Regular cotton clothes (preferably the ones that can dry faster), Light jacket, regular sports shoes
Kasol in September
This by far is my most favorite time to visit Kasol. The monsoon will be long gone but would have left plenty of greenery behind. The weather will be very moderate and agreeable, perfect for visiting with family and friends. It will all still be very green and scenic, perfect for photography. The entire valley will remain open for tourism and you can participate in all outdoor activities.
The average temperature in September will range between 20°C maximum and 15°C maximum. There will be certain freshness in the air at this time and you will clearly feel it.
- Clothes to Pack: Regular cotton clothes (preferably the ones that can dry faster), Light jacket, regular sports shoes
Also Read: Budget Trip to Kasol – How to Reduce the Total Trip Cost
Kasol in October
October is the month of the autumn season. All that was green in September will now turn orange, giving a magical golden touch to the valley. This is another good month for photography, especially during the early part. For trekking, however, this is among the best times in the year. The weather will start to turn a little cold by end of the month and the average temperature will drop down to 16°C maximum and 9°C minimum.
There aren’t many tourists in the valley in October which makes it a good month for people looking to get away from the crowd. You may still find some tourists in Kasol but the number will be even lesser in places like Chalal and Tosh.
- Clothes to Pack: Regular cotton clothes (preferably the ones that can dry faster), Light jacket, regular sports shoes
Kasol in November
November is an overall bad month to visit Kasol and Parvati Valley. This is the beginning of the winter season so the temperature will range between 12°C and 6°C. The scenery however will be very dull and dry. So what you get in November is just a featureless landscape. The weather will be terribly cold and there won’t even be any snow around.
With that being said, it makes it a perfect time for budget travelers. Since the number of tourists in the valley is very less, you will have a better chance of getting a good deal on accommodation in Kasol.
- Clothes to Pack: Light woolens, Windproof jacket, caps, regular sports shoes
Kasol in December
The first half of December is much like November, dull and dry. But after the 15th of the month, it can snow anytime in Kasol and other nearby places. The upper reaches of Parvati Valley in fact start to receive snow in November itself but it snows in Kasol only by the end of December.
The average temperature in December will range between 7°C maximum and 1°C minimum. At nights, this will drop further down to a couple of degrees below zero. In places like Malana and Tosh, the average temperature will be even lower.
- Clothes to Pack: Heavy woolens, Windproof jacket, thermals, caps, gloves, muffler, insulated shoes, woolens socks
Also Read: Kheerganga Trek – A COMPLETE Travel Guide & Safety Tips
Best time to visit Kasol
Now based on the information above, I believe it is safe to say that the best time to visit Kasol is between April to June, September, and October. But it will also depend on what kind of trip did you want.
If you wanted to see snow, a trip from the end of December to early March will be the best. If you did not want to trek but wanted to get snowfall in Kasol itself, you will have to take your chances in January.
For a trip with the family, April to June is the best time. This is when the weather will suit the majority of travelers. For a budget trip, you should visit in July, August, or November. For photography, I will recommend July to September.
If you were thinking of a bike ride, you should avoid the months of July and August.
- Best Month to Visit Kasol – April are September can be termed as the best month to visit Kasol.
- Best season to Visit Kasol – Summer and post-monsoon can be considered as the best season to visit Kasol. If you want to see snow, it would have to be winter.
- Best time to visit Kasol for Party – The annual music festival at New Year’s Eve is really the best time to go to Kasol for Party. The end of December to early January, around Christmas and New Year, is really the party time here.
- Best time to visit Kasol for Hash – I really do not know anything about this because I have never tried it.
- Best time to visit Kasol for Snow – Late December to early March is a good time if you want to see snow. If you want to catch a live snowfall, January is the month to go.
Best time to go to Kasol – Conclusion
I hope the information above on the best time to visit Kasol was of help. If you have any other questions or need any further details, please feel free to ask in the comments section below, or at our Community Forum and I will be glad to answer.
