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Best time to visit Bhutan: month by month
Short answer
October to November and March to May are the best times. Autumn brings clear skies and Himalayan views with highs of about 17-20°C in the data, and spring brings rhododendrons and festivals at 16-20°C; these are the busiest and priciest months. June to August is the monsoon, with around 29-30 rainy days a month.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 12°C | 3°C | 13 | low |
| Feb | 12°C | 3°C | 21 | low |
| Mar | 16°C | 7°C | 25 | medium |
| Apr | 19°C | 10°C | 28 | high |
| May | 20°C | 12°C | 27 | medium |
| Jun | 23°C | 15°C | 29 | low |
| Jul | 23°C | 16°C | 30 | low |
| Aug | 23°C | 16°C | 29 | low |
| Sep | 22°C | 14°C | 24 | medium |
| Oct | 20°C | 11°C | 20 | very high |
| Nov | 17°C | 7°C | 11 | high |
| Dec | 14°C | 4°C | 12 | medium |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Highs of about 16-20°C and lows of 7-12°C; rhododendrons bloom and the Paro Tshechu is held, but haze can hide the peaks.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
The monsoon: about 23°C by day with almost daily rain, cloud and landslide delays; lush and quiet.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Rain eases from about 24 rainy days in September to 11 in November; clear skies, highs of 17-22°C and the Thimphu Tshechu.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cold and clear: about 12-14°C by day and near freezing at night in Paro, but Punakha stays mild and views are excellent.
Events worth planning around
- Paro Tshechu, usually March or April (lunar calendar)
- Thimphu Tshechu, usually September or October (lunar calendar)
- Punakha Drubchen and Tshechu, usually February or March
- Black-necked Crane Festival in Phobjikha, 11 November
When to avoid
June to August brings heavy monsoon rain, cloud and road delays. If you dislike crowds, avoid the main tshechu festival dates, when hotels and flights sell out early.
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Common questions
What is the best month to visit Bhutan?
October and November for clear mountain views, or March to May for flowers and festivals.
Is it worth visiting Bhutan in the monsoon?
It is green and quiet, but June to August brings almost daily rain, cloud and road delays.
When are Bhutan's festivals?
The big tshechus follow the lunar calendar: Paro usually in spring and Thimphu usually in autumn. Check the dates for your year.