When is the best time to visit Bhutan

when is the best time to visit Bhutan

If you want to know the best time to travel to Bhutan, you need to take into account that this country has clear climatic differences from one region to another. While the climate is temperate in the central region, the south has both tropical and subtropical climates. Added to these is the mountain climate, as more than 80% of Bhutan is situated at an altitude of over 2.000 metres.

When to travel to Bhutan

The country extends over different climatic zones: from the sub-tropical jungles of the south, passing through the mountains of the central region and ending with the glaciers in the north. Therefore, the temperatures vary not only depending on the season, but also on the altitude.

Nevertheless, if you need to decide on when to travel to Bhutan, we could conclude that both spring and autumn are the best times. If you want to have a pleasant climate it is best that you travel between March and May, during springtime. During this time, the average temperature is between 16ºC and 22ºC, the days are quite clear and temperatures are mild.

The autumn, between September and November, is also a good time to visit Bhutan. Although temperatures are a little cooler, the weather is still good. The clarity and sharpness of the light will allow you to admire the beautiful scenery better than at any other time of the year. Night-time temperatures drop significantly, but by day the temperature can reach up to 28ºC.

In contrast during the winter, that is, between December and February, the night-time temperature is around 0ºC, and the maximum daytime temperature is 15ºC. There is also quite a lot of snow. If you don’t want the cold to ruin your trip, it would be best to avoid these months.  

In the same way, the summer months from June to August are best avoided as they coincide with the rainy season. The monsoons occur throughout the country during this time, so it is best to plan your visit for another time of year. Although the temperature does not go above 28ºC, the rains are constant.

Having said that, the climate will vary depending on the zone you want to visit. For this reason, below, we look at the best time to travel to Bhutan by region.

When to travel to the central region of Bhutan

Places like the capital: Thimphu, the famous Paro Valley, as well as Zugne, Lhuntse, Jakar and Trashiyangtse all have an oceanic, subtropical, high-mountain climate which means that this zone enjoys a hot and temperate climate. Nonetheless, the summers are rather wet, as they coincide with the monsoon season.

The average temperature for this part of the country is around 16ºC and, generally speaking, we could say that the best time to travel to visit this region of Bhutan would be during the spring. If you want to plan your trip for the autumn, this is also a good time to travel, but remember that the temperatures will drop a little more.

When to travel to southeast Bhutan

If your trip includes Gelephu, Tashigag, Mongar, Nganglam or Samdrup Jonkar, you will find yourself in a humid, subtropical climate. The summers are hot and humid, and the winters are cool. In this zone of the country the monsoons also make an appearance during the summer months, between June and August.

The best time to travel to Bhutan to visit this region, therefore, continues to be spring. Between March and May, the lower temperatures mean that you will have a more pleasant trip, and you won’t have the rain. The autumn is also an option, but at night it will be much colder than in the spring.

When to travel to northeast Bhutan

Other points of interest that you could include on your trip are Laya and Chebisa, where the climate is humid and continental. Rain is present virtually throughout the year. Snow is frequent in winter, and storms make their appearance during the summer.

The average annual temperature in both Laya and in Chebisa is around 4.6 °C. Average rainfall is approximately 452 mm, with December being the least rainy month. July, on the other hand, is the warmest month, with an average temperature of 12ºC, but with the presence of the monsoon.

When to travel to Goyul and Lingshi Dzong

If you like trekking, you are certain to want to visit Lingshi Dzong, at an altitude of 4.220 metres, together with the towns of Lingshi and Goyul, with their stone-built houses and all the authenticity of their Bhutanese inhabitants.

As it has a mountain climate, here you will find an average annual temperature of 2ºC, with January as the coldest month at -7ºC, and July as the warmest at 10ºC. To visit these snowy peaks, choose to travel between March and May.

Now that you know the best time to travel to Bhutan, get your passport ready to visit the happiest country in the world.