Best time to visit Bhutan

The summer months – June, July and August – are monsoon season in Bhutan; a time of very heavy rain when, over three months, half a metre of rain falls in Thimphu, up to a metre falls in the eastern hills, and the mountains become obscured by thick cloud.

A consideration that may help you brave the weather or not is Bhutan’s calendar of tshechus and events: there are none, or very few tshechus held during January, February, June, July and August.

If you are planning a last-minute holiday, be aware that the peak months of September, October and November are the busiest, and flights may be booked up far in advance – to see Bhutan in glorious autumnal colours, it’s best to book early.

March and April are a wonderful time to see Bhutan in bloom. Temperatures are pleasant and the valleys are bursting with nature.

Although May brings higher humidity, this attracts fewer visitors, so prices as well as crowd numbers are lower. The rhododendrons are still in bloom too, making this a picture-perfect time for photographers and nature lovers.

December is a cold month in Bhutan, but the skies are blissfully crisp and clear and the valleys are sunny with far-reaching views across the Himalayas – well worth it for those who can brave the chill.