The Kingdom of Bhutan is a small landlocked country located in the southern foothills of the Himalayan mountain range, sandwiched between the People's Republic of China in the north and the Republic of India in the south. It is a sovereign nation, with a total land area of 38,394 km² and a total population of 735553 (2017).
The climate in Bhutan is extremely varied, which can be attributed to two main factors-the vast differences in altitude present in the country and the influence of North Indian monsoons.
Climatic Zones of Bhutan
Southern Bhutan has a hot and humid subtropical climate that is fairly unchanging throughout the year. Temperatures can vary between 15-30 degrees Celsius (59- 86 degrees Fahrenheit). In the Central parts of the country which consists of temperate and deciduous forests, the climate is more seasonal with warm summers and cool and dry winters. In the far Northern reaches of the kingdom, the weather is much colder during winter. Mountain peaks are perpetually covered in snow and lower parts are still cool in summer owing to the high altitude terrain.
Seasons: Bhutan has four distinct seasons in a year.
The Indian summer monsoon begins from late-June through July to late-September and is mostly confined to the southern border region of Bhutan. These rains bring between 60 and 90 percent of the western region's rainfall. Annual precipitation ranges widely in various parts of the country. In the Northern border towards Tibet, the region gets about forty millimeters of precipitation a year which is primarily snow. In the temperate central regions, a yearly average of around 1,000 millimeters is more common, and 7,800 millimeters per year has been registered at some locations in the humid, subtropical south, ensuring the thick tropical forest, or savanna.
Bhutan's generally dry spring starts in early March and lasts until mid-April. Summer weather commences in mid-April with occasional showers and continues to late June. The heavier summer rains last from late June through late September which are more monsoonal along the southwest border.
Autumn, from late September or early October to late November, follows the rainy season. It is characterized by bright, sunny days and some early snowfalls at higher elevations.
From late November until March, winter sets in, with frost throughout much of the country and snowfall common above elevations of 3,000 meters. The winter northeast monsoon brings gale-force winds at the highest altitudes through high mountain passes, giving Bhutan its name - Drukyul, which means Land of the Thunder Dragon in Dzongkha (the native language).
Average Temperatures in Bhutan
It should be noted that average temperatures are recorded from valley floors. There can be considerable divergences from the recorded figures depending upon elevation.
Month
Values in
Celsius
Paro
Thimphu
Punakha
Trongsa
Bumthang
January
Max
Min
9.4
-5.8
12.3
-2.6
17.0
4.3
13.0
-0.2
10.8
-5.1
February
1.5
14.4
0.6
19.0
7.8
13.9
0.4
10.0
-1.4
March
14.5
16.4
3.9
22.8
10.4
16.7
4.4
16.2
3.5
April
17.6
4.6
20.0
7.1
26.2
12.9
20.1
6.6
18.7
May
23.5
10.6
22.5
13.1
29.1
17.7
21
11.6
21.3
9.5
June
25.4
14.1
24.4
15.2
29.2
22.2
13.6
13.5
July
26.8
14.9
25.9
15.6
30.4
20.5
25.3
15.3
24.1
August
14.7
25.0
15.8
20
23.8
15
23.0
13.7
September
23.4
11.7
23.1
27.5
19.1
22.6
14.2
21.6
12.1
October
7.4
21.9
26.1
21.8
19.5
5.9
November
1.4
17.9
5.0
9.6
19.8
6.4
16.1
-0.5
December
11.2
-1.7
-1.1
6.3
The following information acts as a guide when traveling to Bhutan. This practical advice is not a comprehensive list but should provide some useful information for you as you plan your travelling.
Travel / Medical Insurance: The Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan has initiated a travel and medical plan solely for our visitors. Travel insurance can be provided through your Bhutanese tour operator or international partner. You may also visit the Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan website at www.ricb.com.bt for more information.
Money: Bhutan’s currency is the Ngultrum (Nu.) It is at par with the Indian rupee which is widely accepted in the country. In addition, POS (Point of Sale) services are available nationwide, meaning visitors can pay by credit card at most hotels and handicrafts stores.
Banking: Financial institutions in Bhutan have been greatly enhanced and today we have a number of banks that cater to the needs of the people. Some of the banks that you can avail of while in Bhutan are the Bank of Bhutan Limited, the Bhutan National Bank, the Druk PNB and the Tashi Bank. Traveller’s cheque can be easily withdrawn and exchanged for local currency. Many of these banks provide internet banking facilities.
Electricity: All major towns are well connected with electricity that runs on 220/240 volts with round hole two-pin and three-pin power outlets.
It is recommended that you bring flat-to-round pin converters for your electronics if necessary, however, most hotels offer multi plug sockets. Bhutan is a carbon neutral destination. Our energy is clean and green generated by hydro power.
Photography: Bhutan offers immense opportunities for photography especially during outdoor sightseeing trips. However you should check with your guide before taking pictures or filming inside Dzongs, temples, monasteries and religious institutions as in some area photograph/filming is not permitted.
You are free to capture images of the landscape, the panoramic views of the mountain ranges, rural life, flora and fauna, distinctive Bhutanese architecture and the exterior of Dzongs and Chortens.
Shopping: Some popular handicraft items available for purchase are hand-woven textiles of raw silk or silk, carved masks of various animals, woven baskets of cane and bamboo, wooden bowls known as Dapas, handmade paper products or finely crafted gods of silver. Other items you may be interested in are the exquisite Buddhist thangkha paintings or Bhutan’s wide array of colourful and creative postage stamps. You can come across these items in the many handicraft shops in and around Thimphu and in other major towns. Please remember that buying and selling of antiques is strictly forbidden in Bhutan.
Gratuities: Tipping is a purely personal matter. We leave it up to you as to whether you want to give a gratuity to your guides and drivers. However, if doing so, we recommend that you place the gratuity in an envelope.
Communications: The country has a good network of telecommunication facilities. Most hotels and cafe’s offer Wi-Fi internet access. Bhutan has a comprehensive mobile (cell) phone network with global roaming also assessable.
Clothes & Other Paraphernalia: With great altitudinal variations, weather is quite mixed in Bhutan. So be prepared to face the unforeseen weather conditions. We expect visitors to dress modestly and respectfully especially if you are planning a visit to the monasteries, Dzongs and other religious institutions. Long pants and long sleeved tops should be worn when visiting such places. As a mark of respect, be kind enough to remove your hats, caps etc. as you enter religious and administrative premises, institutions and in any other place that you come across with the national flag being raised.
Measures, Weight & Time: Bhutan ascribes to the metric system and most weights are measured in gram (g) and kilogram (kg). The standard time is 6 hours ahead of GMT.
Health Inoculations: Before embarking on a trip to Bhutan, please seek advice from your doctor with regard to vaccinations and appropriate medication you should have prior to your travels. As a minimum you should have tetanus, typhoid and hepatitis A inoculations.
Precautions: Bhutan is one of the safest countries in the world however you should still exercise caution when visiting. Please ensure that your belongings especially your passports, cameras, wallets and purses are properly secured. Please refrain from leaving such items within sight or in locked vehicles while sightseeing.
Avoid drinking tap water which has not been boiled or ice cubes in drinks at all times as most water sources in Bhutan are untreated. One can easily acquire affordable treated and bottled water.
Also, Bhutan has a duty to protect its citizens from drugs and tobacco products. To do this we need your help and cooperation. Please co-operate if stopped and asked about your baggage. Please do not carry tobacco goods in excess of the set limit.
Public Holidays: Public holidays are observed throughout the nation. However, each Dzongkhag has its own list of regional holidays that are observed especially during the annual Tshechus (Religious festivals). For such a list, please contact your service provider or travel agent.
All tourists (excluding Indian, Bangladeshi and Maldivian passport holders) who wish to travel to Bhutan require a visa and must book their holiday through a tour operator or one of their international partners. The tour operator will take care of Visa arrangements for visitors.
Entry and Exit by Air: Entry into or Exit from Bhutan at present by flight is normally the Paro airport only. We only have two Airlines in the country, the Drukair (Govt. airline) and Bhutan Airlines (Private airline). The Drukair operates the flight to and fro from Bangkok, Singapore, Delhi, Kolkata, Kathmandu, Bagdogra and Guwahati. Yet, Bhutan Airlines operates to/from above few places only. You could book these flights to and from Bhutan through us/at your end too.
Note: – The airfares are quite high compared to most airlines. And you must always keep ample time in-between your flight departure from Paro and onward international flights as at times the flight may be delayed to/from Bhutan.
And for those who wish to tour Eastern Bhutan, there is also an option to fly with our Bhutan flights to/from Guwahati Airport (one way only) through Assam in India as this airline is quite close to Eastern part of our country.
Entry and Exit by Road: Entry and exit point by road is Phuentsholing through west Bengal– India with nearest airport at Bagdogra and by air to Paro. The drive to/from between Phuentsholing (border) and capital, Thimphu/Paro airport will be around 5 hours, 160 km one way. So this road trip to and from Bhutan can be connected easily with a trip to the North Indian hill-stations like, Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong.
Or you can fly via Guwahati Airport in India and then enter or drive to Samdrup Zongkhar, Bhutan via road in south-east Bhutan which is normally good only if you like to tour Eastern part or driving to the western part from the east which will minimum take about 11-12 days trip through the kingdom.
And we will always use a comfortable transportation with skilled driver based on your group sizes for your driving safely around the country.
Passport Validity: You must be in possession of passports with a minimum validity of 6 months from your date of travel. You must travel with the same passports, which you have provided us earlier for the process of your visa. If you travel with a new one, the number, which was there in your visa approval letter does not tally and will result in detention of your passport at the airport.
Bhutan Trekking and Tour seasons: Spring Season: March, April and May (flower blooming time) has warm weather with mostly sunny days. Sometime light rain could be expected between March-April end. May is much warmer with some flowers bloom which is a best month for high altitude treks.
Autumn Season: September, October and November (changing of forest colors). During these months the skies may be clear and you can catch the rare glimpse of the great Himalayan mountain ranges due to the great weather.
So the spring and fall seasons in Bhutan are best seasons for all type of Tours and high altitude Trekking. Birding tours is good from March-May and September-mid to starting November also.
Winter Season: December, January and February (not for high altitude treks). It’s still a good time to visit for cultural tours, day hikes and low altitude winter treks. Though it’s a winter season, yet the weather will be generally very good with clear blue skies for the vistas of snow-capped mountains. It will be dry sunny days with cold mornings and evenings. The lowest temperature in winter is around minus 1-2 Degree Celsius at night in most places. The high altitude treks route will remain closed due to heavy snow fall and icy trails.
Summer monsoon season: June, July and August. Being summer, these three months will experience some rainfall. Yet the rainfall is not that bad every time, so we do organize cultural tours with day hikes and short trekking too. Botanical tours will be very good during this season as we grow varied species of plants and flowers. Long treks may not be advisable during this time frame, yet 3-4 days treks are still good in the summer too. The mountains view are not that visible in the summer.
Time Zone: Bhutan being tiny country has only one time zone. The country’s Standard time is 6 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), one hour behind Bangkok time, 30 minutes ahead of the Indian time and 11 hours ahead of the standard New York time. Bhutan’s time matches with Bangladesh time.
Guides: All guides are licensed by the Tourism Council of Bhutan after training only. Our guides speak good English normally. French, Japanese, Chinese, Italian and German speaking guides can also be arranged on extra cost. And we carefully choose only skilled with good attitude and knowledgeable guides for working with our guests. This’s one of the main services we focus on.
Women Travelers: Bhutan does not have a class system generally and the gender equality is considered widely. So Bhutanese women have equal rights as men, for instance rights at home to official works. Thus most of our Bhutanese women hold higher position in the government, politics or a good business entrepreneurs. So there is no danger and harassment for women if any woman wishes to travel alone. In case of the loving matter, women must make clear and frank views from the beginning if you come across a proposal. Otherwise, it’s safe even for a solo woman’s trip through out the country.
Gay and Lesbian Travelers: We also welcome Gay and lesbian travelers. Like most Asian, Bhutanese also think that whatever that happens in their private area, and the one that emerges from different cultural background is not the general concerns. So exposing your intimate relations in the the public has to be controlled or it’s not good culturally. But just holding each other hands by the same gender while walking and hugging, may not be a bad thing. Even some of our people do hold each other hands sometime just to show their love as a friends, brothers or sisters. This may be quite popular among Bhutanese teenage girls and boys also. The LGBT’s right is also been legalized by the National Assembly in 2019.
Food or Meal Types: Bhutanese delicacies are rich with spicy chilies and cheese. Hotels and guest houses offers delicious Chinese, Continental, Bhutanese and Indian cuisines as meal plan. We provide suitable dishes to western taste in the above range and every effort will be made to accommodate the individual dietary preferences of your own to trekking groups. Eating meals in the local restaurants may not be good in most local restaurants. So we suggest you to choose a proper one through your guide if you like to taste the local cuisine. Otherwise, most of our Bhutanese dishes will be provided in your hotels also.
Language: Dzongkha, the Language of Dzong belongs to the Tibetan Linguistic family originally spoken in western Bhutan. It is now the National Language. And there are about 21 different local dialects spoken in the country. English is widely spoken in the main towns and it is the principle medium of instruction in schools throughout the kingdom.