Traveling to Bhutan is good throughout the year. Each season and period offers different travel experiences. However, in terms of pleasant weather, decent nature scenery and popular festival events, the best travel times for Bhutan are spring (March, April, May) and autumn (September, October, November).
Bhutan travel time can be categorized into three seasons based on the tourist flow in the respective seasons. They are as follows.
High season (March-May, September-November)
March to May is when rhododendron blooms. Most of the hills are covered with colorful rhododendrons. The valleys come alive with a variety of flowers and plants in full bloom. The temperature is mild; The skies are clear, it doesn’t rain and there are many festivals across Bhutan.
From mid-September to November, you also get clear blue skies and Himalayan views without any rain. The climate is temperate and very pleasant for outdoor activities. The annual Thimphu Festival is a big draw in autumn. Black-necked cranes migrate from the Tibetan Plateau to Phobjikha Valley from late October. They stay there until early February. Every November, a festival is celebrated in the courtyard of Gangtey Gompa to celebrate the arrival of these birds.
Both spring and autumn are excellent times for trekking in Bhutan. Trekking is a wonderful way to see the beautiful scenery of this small Himalayan country. These seasons provide perfect weather for mountain trekking.
As spring and autumn are the busiest tourist seasons, it is suggested to book and confirm the tour in advance with a Bhutan tour operator like us so that we can reserve our seats to reach Bhutan on Bhutan Airlines and confirm rooms in good hotels.
Shoulder Season (December-February)
The season usually includes snowfall in the upper Himalayas and to a lesser extent in the lower valleys from late January to February. Even though the nights and mornings are a bit chilly, the daily weather is still pleasant. The days have lots of sunshine and clear blue skies. Popular festivals are celebrated at Dochula Dargah, Punakha and Bumthang in winter. Bhutan tour fee in winter is comparatively lower than in high season.
Low season (June-August)
Unlike the Indian subcontinent, Bhutan does not experience heavy rainfall during the monsoons (June, July and August), this time being marked with sporadic showers during the afternoon. The climate is pleasantly warm and the valleys are lush with greenery. Although not the best time for some treks, you can indulge in cultural tours, white water rafting, and short walks. Some festivals like Eko Literary Festival and Ha Summer Festival also take place during monsoon. The flowers are at their peak at high altitudes during this season, however, trekking is not recommended as you will encounter a lot of leeches along with the rain as you walk up the hill. In low season you get the lowest tariff rate of the year in Bhutan tour.