For years, travel guides have promised perfect weather and peak experiences during a destination’s “best time to visit.” But in today’s climate, that advice is often out of date before your plane ticket is even booked.

Take Nepal, for example. April and May are meant to be ideal for trekking — clear skies, crisp views, and mild temperatures. Yet this year, early monsoons brought heavy rain, and thick haze clouded the mountain scenery. It’s a pattern playing out across the globe: record heat in Australia, early cherry blossoms in Japan, and unpredictable snow in Europe’s ski towns.

Experts say climate change is making extreme weather — from heatwaves to floods — more frequent and harder to predict, no matter the season. Shoulder seasons, once safe bets for mild conditions and smaller crowds, are now just as vulnerable to sudden swings.

For travellers, this means the old “set it and forget it” approach to trip timing is over. Tour operators like Nepal’s Duluwa Outdoors are shifting focus to real-time local updates, flexible itineraries, and honest conversations about what’s realistic. The goal isn’t to scare people away but to prepare them for surprises — and maybe even help them discover new experiences, like chasing monsoon waterfalls or exploring indoor adventures when outdoor plans fall through.

Some travellers are already adapting, swapping scorching summer trips to southern Europe for cooler spring or autumn visits, or seeking out destinations with more stable climates. Off-season travel is also gaining popularity as seasons blur and once “undesirable” times bring unexpected rewards.

While “best time to visit” guides won’t disappear entirely, they need a rethink. Relying on historical weather patterns is no longer enough — locals, live updates, and flexible plans are now your best travel tools.

In a changing climate, the best time to travel might simply be when you’re ready — as long as you’re ready for anything.