Best Time To Visit Bumthang

What is the best time to visit Bumthang?

The best time to visit Bumthang is September to November, then March to May. Autumn is the stronger of the two: clear skies, and it carries Jambay Lhakhang Drup with its midnight fire ritual.

Bumthang is the driest valley in Bhutan, because the Black Mountains shadow it. Even in the monsoon it takes less rain than Paro or Thimphu.

It is also the coldest. At 2,470 metres January averages under 4°C with nights near -4°C, so December to February is for people who want empty valleys and will dress for it.

Getting here means the Pele La and Yotong La passes from Trongsa, at 2,900 to 3,400 metres. Add a day either side in winter and in the monsoon.

Monthly Weather in Bumthang

Month	High/Low (°C)	Rain
January	4°/ -8°	9 days
February	5°/ -6°	13 days
March	8°/ -4°	21 days
April	9°/ -1°	27 days
May	11°/ 4°	27 days
June	15°/ 7°	26 days
July	14°/ 8°	31 days
August	15°/ 8°	31 days
September	12°/ 7°	30 days
October	11°/ 2°	17 days
November	11°/ -0°	1 days
December	6°/ -6°	3 days

Bumthang Travel Packages

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11 Nights / 12 Days

Western and Eastern Bhutan: 12-Day Immersive Cultural Journey

Phuentsholing(2N) → Thimphu(2N) → Punakha(1N) → Tonga(1N) &...

₹42,500/person

10 Nights / 11 Days

Fascinating Bhutan Holiday Package

Paro(2N) → Thimphu(1N) → Punakha(1N) → Phobjikha(1N) → Tr...

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More about Best Time to Travel to Bumthang

Peak Season in Bumthang: September to November

September to November is the best window. The monsoon clears through September, days sit around 15°C to 20°C and the skies are at their cleanest of the year.

Nights turn cold quickly: by late November the valley is dropping below freezing after dark. This is also the festival stretch, so book early for the Jambay Lhakhang dates.

Spring in Bumthang: March to May

March to May is the second season. Days warm through the teens, rhododendrons come out on the higher slopes and the Ura valley greens up.

Ura Yakchoe falls in May in the Ura valley, an hour from Jakar. Late spring brings the first afternoon showers as the inter-monsoon builds.

Winter in Bumthang: December to February

December to February is the coldest place in a Bhutan itinerary. January averages 3.8°C with nights near -4°C and a record low of -13.5°C, and snow falls at this elevation.

It is also the driest and clearest month of the year. Come now for empty monasteries and the lowest prices, and expect the high passes in to be slow after snow.

Monsoon in Bumthang: June to August

June to August is the monsoon, but Bumthang gets off lightly. July is the wettest month, but it still takes less rain than the western valleys do, and days stay mild in the high teens.

The problem is the road, not the rain. The passes from Trongsa are landslide-prone now, and the drive from Thimphu is a long two days. Fly into Bathpalathang if you can.

Why Bumthang Stays Dry: The Black Mountains

Bumthang is the driest of Bhutan's four main valleys. The Black Mountains sit between it and the monsoon, so the rain falls on the western side and Bumthang gets the shadow.

That is why it is the answer for a Bhutan trip with fixed monsoon dates: pair it with Punakha for warmth and skip the wettest western valleys.

Festivals in Bumthang

October or November: Jambay Lhakhang Drup, at the 7th-century Jambay Lhakhang. Its midnight Tercham fire ritual is the most distinctive thing in the Bhutanese festival calendar, and it is the single best reason to time a trip here.

Mid-October: Jakar Tsechu at Jakar Dzong
May: Ura Yakchoe in the Ura valley
June or July: Nimalung Tsechu
All are lunar-timed, so confirm the dates before booking.

Best Time to Visit Bumthang by Interest

Jakar Dzong, Kurje Lhakhang and the temple circuit: September to November, then March to May
Jambay Lhakhang Drup and the fire ritual: October or November
Ura Yakchoe: May
Clearest skies and fewest people: December to February, if you can take the cold
Trekking the Bumthang Owl Trail: October to November, then April
A Bhutan trip during the monsoon: Bumthang and Punakha

Events in Bumthang

Nomad Festival

23rd February 2020

A day-long festival, the Bhutan Nomad Festival is usually held each year during the last week of February. Located in the Bumthang Dzongkhag province of Central Bhutan, Nagasphel, is the main venue of (Read More) the festival.