Best Time to Visit Bhutan: Month-by-Month Guide

Seasons at a glance

Season	Weather	Good for
Spring March–May	Mild days and cool nights. Some haze over the high peaks by May.	Rhododendrons and jacarandas in flower, the Paro and Punakha festivals, trekking
Summer June–August	Monsoon, with rain most afternoons. Warm and humid in the low valleys.	Green landscapes, few visitors, the Haa Summer Festival, wildflowers
Autumn September–November	Dry, clear and sunny. The best mountain views of the year.	Trekking, the Thimphu and Jambay Lhakhang festivals, photography
Winter December–February	Cold nights, often below freezing at altitude, with bright clear days. Snow on the high passes.	Black-necked cranes, Punakha in its warm valley, quiet sites, clear skies

Month by month

January and February

These are the coldest months, but days are often crisp and clear. Phobjikha is home to its wintering cranes, and Punakha, at about 1,250 m, stays mild. The Punakha Drubchen and Tshechu usually fall in February or March. Treks are closed by snow, but cultural touring is very pleasant if you pack warm layers.

March and April

Peak spring season. Rhododendrons flower across the hills, and the Paro Tshechu, one of the year's biggest festivals, usually falls in March or April. Hotels in Paro fill up around the festival, so book early.

May

Warm and green, with fewer visitors than April. Haze can hide the high peaks, but it is a good month for walking and lower treks before the rains.

June, July and August

The monsoon brings rain most afternoons, especially in the south. Mornings are often clear, the countryside is at its greenest, and prices and crowds are at their lowest. Landslides can slow some roads, and we build extra time into the plan. The Haa Summer Festival is held in July.

September

The rains taper off and the valleys are lush. The Thimphu Tshechu usually falls in late September or October, a few days after the Thimphu Drubchen.

October and November

The best months for clear Himalayan views and for trekking, including the Druk Path and Jomolhari routes. Autumn festivals continue with Jambay Lhakhang Drup in Bumthang and the Black-Necked Crane Festival in Phobjikha on 11 November. This is the busiest time of year, so book flights and hotels well ahead.

December

Cold and clear, and quiet after the autumn rush. The Druk Wangyel Festival is held at Dochula on 13 December, and it is a good month for photography and for the cranes.

For trekking

The best trekking months are April to early June and late September to November. Most high treks close from December to February because of snow, and summer trails are wet, muddy and full of leeches at lower altitudes.

For festivals

Tshechu dates follow the Bhutanese lunar calendar, so they move every year. See our festival calendar, and ask us for confirmed dates for your year of travel.

The best time to visit Bhutan