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Best time to visit Bhutan

October to December is the ideal time to visit Bhutan for drier days and more sunshine. Don’t discount spectacularly snowy January-February, though, or April for the wildflowers. Our weather charts, month-by-month guide, and expert advice give you a good idea of the best time to visit Bhutan, depending on what you want to see and do.

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Best time to visit Bhutan

As a rule of thumb, southern Bhutan is tropical, the east is warmer than the west, and in the high Himalayan regions, expect perpetual snow.

October to December is the best time to visit Bhutan, with the weather at its driest and brightest. Autumn months (September-November) also see less rainfall and clear skies. Winter (December-February) is a photographer’s dream; prayer flags flutter against snowy backdrops. However, road closures are common and temperatures can drop below zero at night. Spring (March-May) can be wet, but the birds are in song and the wildflowers – including rhododendrons – are out, which can make it the best season to visit Bhutan for hiking. The soaking monsoon season (June-August) is best avoided, although some people still travel in the hottest month of July. Also note that Bhutan’s weather varies dramatically depending on the elevation.

Call us for the best time to go to Bhutan

A month by month guide on when to go to Bhutan

January in Bhutan

Hot stone baths

Coldest month – promise of snowy peaks

Low season for trekking

Hot stone bath, anyone? It’s not as snowy as you think in the lower altitudes of Bhutan in January, but it is cold, with lows of -6°C in Paro at night and an average high of just 7°C. Up above 3,000m the snow can block the roads. This off-season time is very quiet in terms of visitors, but it’s dry, and you might have views of the white peaks of Himalayan mountains.

February in Bhutan

Warms up at the end of the month

Still cold at night

High trails blocked with snow

The last month of winter has highs of 8°C and lows of -5°C. In Bhutan in February, it’s quiet and there are few trekkers about (not that it’s ever very busy in the first place). Those who come might get views of Himalayan mountains covered in snow, and be able enjoy them all for themselves, though high trails will still be blocked with snow.

March in Bhutan

Second most popular time after autumn

Spring flowers

Start of spring trekking season

March marks the start of spring with a flourish. It’s the start of trekking season, and clear skies combined with colourful flowering hills make for splendid accompanying scenery. After chilly mornings, the temperature becomes pleasant in the day – great for sightseeing tours. You can trek the Druk Path in Bhutan in March, and many other trekking routes are open, too.

March is a good time for combining countries on our tour to Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal

April in Bhutan

Great walking season

Rhododendrons

Birdlife

Magenta rhododendrons bloom on the hills, while magnolia, jacaranda, primroses and violets add their own displays to the valleys of Bhutan in April. It’s a beautiful time for our small group tours and a good time to look out for birds and other wildlife. This is also a popular trekking month. There are lows of 4°C and highs of 15°C in Paro and hikers will find it nicely dry and comfortable for walking.

May in Bhutan

Last good month for trekking

Humid with some rain

Monsoon approaching

The late spring brings higher humidity to the valleys in Bhutan in May, as well as a bit more warmth, cloud and rain, especially as the month progresses. But the rhododendrons are still in bloom, making this a picture-perfect time for photographers and nature lovers, and it’s nice and warm for trekkers. Our small group tours are still running this month – the final few before monsoon season kicks off.

June in Bhutan

Start of the monsoon

Greenery and flowers

Some trekking trails and roads closed

Bhutan in June is experiencing monsoon season. It’s wetter than in other areas of the Himalayas, but the result is lots of fresh homegrown produce, and greenery and flowers in the valleys. The monsoon brings lots of rain, landslides, view-obscuring clouds, and leeches – yes, leeches. There are good deals to be had, but small group tours tend to pause until September or October.

I think October-November is a fantastic time to travel, as the Himalayan skies are often very clear and the weather warm...

– Martin Royle, director and guide at our partner Royle Safaris

July in Bhutan

Swap hiking for cultural tours

Peak monsoon

Lots of rain

It’s peak monsoon season and half a metre of rain falls on Paro. Bhutan in July is also experiencing its warmest temperatures of the year, with average highs of 18°C in Paro and 22°C further east in Trashigang. If you’re traveling, you’re probably not hiking as paths might well be washed away, but you could pack a raincoat and do a cultural tour.

August in Bhutan

Cultural tours and spa trips

Last monsoon month; rainy throughout

Few visitors

The monsoon pours on and temperatures are still warm, reaching the high 20°Cs in some areas. Bhutan in August is experiencing its last full month of monsoon, but the rainfall is lower than the preceding month. Still, since paths get washed away in the monsoon season, hiking is out for most people – whilst cultural tours, or some time in a spa, might be tempting.

September in Bhutan

Start of autumn trekking season

Some rain might stick around

Drier end of the month

A month of two halves. The first half of September is rainy as the monsoon ends; trekkers might find muddy, washed-out paths and cloudy skies. But the second half of the month is drier, the skies clear up, and it’s warm, with highs of 17°C and lows of 8°C. Bhutan in September is entering the main tourist season, and you’ll find our small group cultural tours and trekking departures gearing up.

October in Bhutan

Stable weather

Festivals

Most popular trekking month

Most people visit Bhutan in October, so you will want to book your vacation in advance as flights can sell out. That said, it’s still quiet in Bhutan. October is one of the best months for hiking, and you’ll find our small group departures for the Snowman Trek are in October. Small group cultural tours take off, too.

October is a great time for our Bhutan small group tour

November in Bhutan

Very dry and clear

Good for wildlife

A popular trekking month

Since there are many November festivals to visit, lots of our small group tours depart this month. It’s a good time for wildlife, too: tiger watching, plus the endangered black-necked cranes arrive for winter, prompting (you guessed it) a festival. There’s a nip in the air in Bhutan in November and it starts to get cold at night – but the skies are clear, it’s drier than October, and it’s another wonderful month for trekking.

November is a great time for our Bhutan culture and festivals vacation

December in Bhutan

Dry and cold

Beautiful snowy mountains

Off season for trekking

The first part of December isn’t too cold, but it does get colder. This is the off season – the Bhutanese winter, which lasts until the start of March. Bhutan in December is dry, the skies are blissfully crisp and clear, and the valleys are sunny with far-reaching views across the Himalayas – well worth it for those who can brave the chill. Visiting photographers will delight in capturing the snowy backdrops.

Bhutan Weather Chart

MIN °C

MAX °C

RAIN (mm)

JAN

-7

FEB

-5

MAR

APR

MAY

180

JUN

411

JUL

529

AUG

391

SEP

247

OCT

NOV

-2

DEC

-5

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Our travelers also ask...

When is the best time to visit Bhutan for festivals & events?

Tshechus, Buddhist festivals, populate the country’s calendar; major cities hold one annually. Tshechus celebrate the arrival of Buddhism in Bhutan, and are important multi-day religious events, featuring celebration, music and dance. They are also vital social occasions, where people are off work and able to gather with their friends and families. Paro’s is in March whilst Thimpu’s is in October. Read our guide to find out more about when to see the best festivals in Bhutan.

When is the best month to visit Bhutan?

October is the best month to visit Bhutan, if our travelers are anything to go by – it’s the most popular time to visit. October to December is the best season, with stable weather, lovely temperatures, and paths dry and good for trekking. There are also a number of festivals.

What is the rainy season in Bhutan?

Bhutan’s rainy season is the monsoon, which brings lots of rainfall from June to the start of September. At its height (July), it can deliver half a metre of rain.

When is the best time to visit Bhutan & Nepal together?

Autumn (September-November) and spring (March-May) are the best times to visit Bhutan and Nepal if you don’t want to be too wet or too cold. Both countries experience similar Himalayan weather – including a monsoon in summer, dry, settled weather in autumn, and less settled but warm weather in spring.