Best places for clear mountain views in autumn

Everest Three Passes, Ilam and Kausani lead a list of 20. October and November bring the clearest skies of the year. These places make the most of them.

Ranked from our own destination data on season, difficulty, altitude, cost and who each place suits. Not paid for, and not the same as “most popular”.

1. 1Nepal · SolukhumbuEverest Three Passes5,545 m; difficult, 16–18 days.The full Everest circuit, crossing Kongma La, Cho La and Renjo La, with Gokyo and EBC in one route.Best months: Apr, May, Oct, Nov · Why not: Roughly 18 days, three 5,300 m+ passes, and continuous high altitude.
2. 2Nepal · Ilam, KoshiIlam2,400 m; easy, 3–4 days.Nepal's tea capital — emerald garden slopes, Antu Danda sunrises and Sandakphu views into India.Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb, Mar, Apr · Why not: Long journey from Kathmandu and very little tourism infrastructure.
3. 3Uttarakhand · Bageshwar, KumaonKausani2,000 m; easy, 2–3 days.A ridge town facing a 300 km wall of peaks — Nanda Devi, Trishul and Panchachuli all in one frame.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov · Why not: Small and slow; two nights is usually enough.
4. 4Nepal · Gorkha, GandakiManaslu Circuit5,106 m; difficult, 12–14 days.A restricted-area circuit around the world's eighth-highest mountain, over Larke Pass (5,106 m).Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov · Why not: Restricted area — minimum two trekkers, a registered agency, and a special permit.
5. 5Arunachal · Shi YomiMechuka2,100 m; easy, 6–7 days.A remote valley near the China border with an old Buddhist monastery and the Siyom river.Best months: Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr · Why not: A very long road from Dibrugarh or Along, basic stays and frequent landslides.
6. 6Uttarakhand · Pithoragarh, KumaonMunsiyari3,500 m; easy, 5–7 days.A remote Kumaon town facing the five peaks of Panchachuli.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov · Why not: Long drive — about 10–11 hours from Kathgodam on hill roads.
7. 7Nepal · Manang, GandakiNar Phu Valley5,320 m; difficult, 10–12 days.A restricted side-valley off the Annapurna Circuit, with medieval villages and the Kang La pass.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov · Why not: Restricted area, and the Kang La crossing is a serious pass.
8. 8Nepal · Solukhumbu, KoshiPikey Peak4,065 m; moderate, 6–7 days.A low-altitude ridge trek with a 180° panorama taking in Everest, Makalu and the Annapurnas.Best months: Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov · Why not: The drive from Kathmandu to Jiri or Dhap is long and rough.
9. 9Nepal · Mugu, KarnaliRara Lake2,990 m; easy to moderate, 6–7 days.Nepal's largest lake at 2,990 m, in the remote Karnali region inside Rara National Park.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov · Why not: Logistically heavy — a flight to Talcha or a multi-day jeep and trek from Jumla.
10. 10Nepal · MustangUpper Mustang4,200 m; easy to moderate, 10–12 days.The former Kingdom of Lo — cave cities, red cliffs and the walled capital of Lo Manthang.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov · Why not: Expensive restricted-area permit (around USD 500 for 10 days) and long, rough jeep days.
11. 11Arunachal · Lower SubansiriZiro Valley1,700 m; easy, 4–5 days.A wide valley of Apatani villages, pine hills and paddy fields, home to the Ziro Music Festival.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov · Why not: Remote — it takes most of a day to get there from Guwahati or Itanagar.
12. 12Uttarakhand · Chopta, RudraprayagChopta, Tungnath & Chandrashila4,000 m; easy to moderate, 4–5 days.A short climb to the highest Shiva temple in the world and a 360° Himalayan summit.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov · Why not: Tungnath temple is closed in winter (roughly Nov–Apr), and the meadow is busy on long weekends.
13. 13Uttarakhand · Sari, RudraprayagDeoria Tal2,438 m; easy to moderate, 3–4 days.A short climb to a forest lake that mirrors Chaukhamba on a still morning.Best months: Sep, Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr, May, Jun · Why not: Very small; combine it with Chopta or Tungnath or it's over in a day.
14. 14Sikkim · Khangchendzonga National ParkDzongri4,170 m; moderate, 7–8 days.A shorter trek from Yuksom to the Dzongri meadow and its sunrise over Kanchenjunga and Pandim.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov · Why not: Steep forest climbs and a cold dawn walk to the viewpoint.
15. 15Sikkim · Khangchendzonga National ParkGoechala4,600 m; difficult, 10–11 days.The classic trek to a viewpoint at the foot of Kanchenjunga, through rhododendron forest and Dzongri.Best months: Apr, May, Oct, Nov · Why not: Long and hard, with cold high camps and frequent cloud.
16. 16Nepal · SolukhumbuGokyo Lakes5,357 m; difficult, 11–13 days.A chain of six turquoise glacial lakes in the Everest region, with the Gokyo Ri viewpoint at 5,357 m.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov · Why not: High throughout, with several days above 4,500 m and steep climbs to the Ri.
17. 17Uttarakhand · Almora, KumaonJageshwar Dham1,900 m; easy, 1–2 days.A cluster of over 100 ancient stone temples inside a deodar forest, dating to the 8th–12th century.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov · Why not: Small — a half day is enough unless you combine it with a nearby trek.
18. 18Sikkim · North SikkimLachung & Yumthang Valley4,700 m; easy, 5–6 days.A wooden village under sheer cliffs and a valley of rhododendrons and hot springs, with Zero Point beyond.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov · Why not: Long, rough drives from Gangtok, and roads close after landslides.
19. 19Meghalaya · East Khasi HillsLaitlum Canyons1,800 m; easy, 2 days.A grassy rim above huge green gorges, with steps down to the hidden village of Rasong.Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr · Why not: A half-day outing; the walk to Rasong is steep on the way back.
20. 20Nepal · Rasuwa, BagmatiLangtang Valley4,773 m; moderate, 7–8 days.A glacier valley north of Kathmandu, rebuilt after 2015, ending at the Kyanjin Gompa monastery.Best months: Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov · Why not: The bumpy 7–8 hour drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi.