When to travel

The season guide

Bhutan is open year-round. The question is not whether you can come but what you are prepared to trade — crowds for weather, views for solitude, price for certainty.

The short answer

March to May, or
September to November

Those are the settled seasons, and if you can travel then you probably should. They are also the busiest and the most expensive, and hotels in Paro, Thimphu and Bumthang fill months ahead — particularly around the big tshechus.

The longer answer is that winter and monsoon both have real arguments for them. December to February gives the clearest Himalayan views of the year from Dochu La and Chele La, and it is the only time the black-necked cranes are in Phobjikha. The monsoon is wet but the country is empty and green, and if you do not need a mountain view it is a good time to have Bhutan largely to yourself.

What you should not do is book a high trek outside April to June or September to early November. The passes hold snow and the risk is not worth the saving.

Typical conditions by month

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Settled — clear and comfortable Cold or variable, often clear Monsoon or deep winter

A general guide to western and central Bhutan. Conditions vary with altitude, and weather in the Himalaya does not read guides.

Season by season

What each one is actually like

Spring

March – May

The most popular season and, for many people, the best. Rhododendron on the passes from late March, jacaranda at Punakha in May, clear mornings and warm afternoons. Paro Tshechu falls in this window and hotels fill months ahead.

Temperature: Daytime 15–25°C in the western valleys; near freezing on the high passes at dawn.

Monsoon

June – August

Wet, green and very quiet. Rain is usually heaviest overnight and in the afternoon rather than all day, and valley travel continues normally. Cloud sits on the passes, so mountain views are unlikely. Landslides can add hours to a drive on the eastern road.

Temperature: Warm and humid; 20–30°C in the lower valleys.

Autumn

September – November

Settled weather returns from late September. Clear skies, comfortable temperatures, the rice harvest in the western valleys, and the largest festivals including Thimphu Tshechu. The best all-round window, and the busiest.

Temperature: Daytime 15–25°C; cold at night from late October.

Winter

December – February

Cold at night, sharp and clear by day, and by some distance the best time for Himalayan views from Dochu La and Chele La. Black-necked cranes are in Phobjikha. Higher passes can close briefly after snow, and trekking above 4,000 metres is not sensible.

Temperature: Daytime 5–15°C in the western valleys; below freezing at night, colder in Bumthang.

Temperatures are a general guide to the western valleys. Bumthang and the high passes are consistently colder; Punakha and the southern belt are consistently warmer. Weather in the Himalaya does not read guides.

By interest

If you are coming for one thing

Cranes

Late October to mid February, in Phobjikha only. November and early December are the most dependable. Crane Season in Phobjikha →

Mountain views

Late October to February. The haze that hides the Himalaya for most of the year is gone and Dochu La is at its best. Western Valleys Discovery →

Trekking

April to June and September to early November. Outside those windows the high passes hold snow. Druk Path →

Festivals

Spread through the year, but the two largest fall in spring and autumn. The calendar →

Tell us when you can travel

Give us your window and we will tell you what is on, what the weather will probably do, and which route suits those weeks best.