When to Visit Bhutan
Spring and autumn bring the clearest skies and the festivals; winter and monsoon each have their own quieter appeal. Here is what to actually expect in each season.
- Spring March to May Clearest skies, mountain views and the big festivals
- Autumn Late September to November Clear skies and Thimphu Tshechu
- Winter Quiet and clear Cold in the high valleys
- Monsoon June to August Rain in the lower valleys. Our quietest season
Tell us whether you want spectacle or intimacy and we will time your journey to match. If you want Bhutan without another traveller in sight, the monsoon is our quietest season.
When is the best time to visit Bhutan?
Spring and autumn bring the clearest skies, the best mountain views, and most of Bhutan’s major festivals. Winter is the quiet season.
- SpringMarch to MayClearest skies, the best mountain views and most of the major festivals. Paro Tshechu draws the largest crowds.
- AutumnLate September to NovemberThe same clear skies and mountain views. Thimphu Tshechu draws the largest crowds.
- WinterQuiet and clearQuiet and cold in the high valleys but strikingly clear. A good season for guests who want the country without the queue.
For more on weather, festivals and crowds in each season, read our season by season guide.
The same SDF applies in every season. Work out your total with our free Bhutan SDF calculator.
Month by month notes: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
What is Bhutan like during the monsoon?
June through August brings rain to the lower valleys, particularly in the south, and can make trekking above 3000 metres genuinely difficult, with swollen rivers and slippery trails. Central and eastern Bhutan see less rain than the west. It is our quietest season, and for a guest who wants Bhutan without another traveller in sight, it has its own appeal.
Which festivals are worth planning a trip around?
Paro Tshechu in spring and Thimphu Tshechu in autumn are the two most visited, with masked dances, family crowds, and a genuine sense of occasion. Smaller festivals, Punakha Drubchen, Jambay Lhakhang Drup in Bumthang, and others across the calendar, offer the same colour with a fraction of the visitors. Tell us what draws you, spectacle or intimacy, and we will time your journey to match. (See our festival calendar for specific dates.)
Is Bhutan cold? What should I expect from the weather?
It depends entirely on where and when. Paro and Thimphu sit at roughly 2200 to 2300 metres and stay temperate through most of the year, cold in winter mornings but rarely severe. Higher valleys and trekking routes above 3500 metres are genuinely cold year round, especially at night. We will tell you exactly what to expect for your specific dates and route.
For what to wear in each season, read our guide to what to pack for Bhutan.
Where to go next
Not sure which season suits you?
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