Best Time to Visit

There is no wrong time to visit Bhutan — only different ones. Here is what each season and month brings.

The four seasons

Spring (March–May) brings rhododendron and magnolia to the forests, mild days in the valleys and the Paro Tshechu. Views can be hazier than in autumn, but the colour is extraordinary.

Summer (June–August) is the monsoon. Rain usually falls in afternoon showers rather than all day, the valleys turn a deep green, and there are far fewer visitors. Cloud often hides the high peaks.

Autumn (September–November) is the classic season: clear skies after the rains, golden rice terraces, the Thimphu Tshechu and the best trekking weather of the year. It is also the busiest time.

Winter (December–February) is cold, dry and bright, with some of the clearest mountain views of all. Snow can close the high passes for a day or two, and the black-necked cranes winter in Phobjikha.

Month by month

Month	Weather	Good for
January	Cold, clear, dry	Mountain views, quiet sightseeing, Punakha’s warmth
February	Cold, clear	Punakha festival season, cranes in Phobjikha
March	Mild, blossom begins	Paro Tshechu (often), rhododendrons
April	Mild, some haze	Spring festivals, forest walks, Druk Path–style treks
May	Warm, humid by the end	Gardens, farm life, lower-altitude hikes
June	Monsoon begins	Green valleys, few visitors, summer festivals in Bumthang
July	Monsoon	Cultural tours, Haa Summer Festival
August	Monsoon	Quiet dzongs and temples, lush landscapes
September	Rains ending	Thimphu Tshechu (often), harvest begins
October	Clear, crisp	Treks, festivals, the finest views
November	Clear, cool	Bumthang festivals, cranes arrive, treks
December	Cold, clear	Winter views, Trongsa festival season

Choosing by what you love

Mountain views: October to January
Flowers: March and April
Trekking: April–May and late September–November
Festivals: spring and autumn, with smaller festivals all year
Fewer visitors: June to August, and December to February
Black-necked cranes: late October to February

Weather in the different regions

Bhutan climbs from subtropical foothills in the south to glaciers in the north, so the weather depends as much on altitude as on the month. Punakha and the southern valleys stay mild in winter, when Bumthang and Phobjikha are frosty. In summer the high valleys are pleasantly cool while the foothills are hot and humid.

Even in the dry seasons, mountain weather changes quickly: a clear morning can turn to afternoon cloud. That is why we plan viewpoints and passes for the early part of the day wherever we can.

Busy and quiet times

Spring and autumn are popular, and flights and the best hotels fill early, especially around the big festivals. If you prefer quieter temples and trails, consider late November to February or the green months of summer — you trade some mountain views for more space and a slower pace.

Planning around a festival or a trek

If a particular festival is the heart of your trip, start with its dates and build the journey around them; we confirm the lunar-calendar dates each year and hold hotel rooms early, because the host valley fills quickly. For treks, the question is snow and rain rather than temperature: high passes can be closed by snow in winter and trails are slippery in the monsoon, so spring and autumn are the safest windows.

Some of our favourite journeys happen in the in-between weeks — early March, late November, even the first dry days of September — when the weather is usually kind and the valleys are quiet. Tell us what matters most to you and we will suggest the best month for it.

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