Spring season- March, April and May:
Spring is the favourite time to visit Bhutan. Nature lovers who are keen on local flora should consider visiting Bhutan end of April or in May. Flowers would be on full bloom then. You can time your visit with Gomkora festival in Trashigang and Paro spring festival. In mid may the Jacaranda blossom in Punakha goes very well with the Dzong. With the sky still blue and no rain treks like Jomolhari trek, Yaksa trek, Laya Gasa trek and Drukpath trek can be done so beautifully. Further spring is also cultivation season and you would see farmers around the country busier. You can’t help taking pictures in Bhutan especially with lush green valley in spring.
Summer- June, July and August:
If you like to avoid the higher tariff and the cold of winter, consider visiting Bhutan early June. If monsoon is late which is the case now with change in weather pattern, the whole of June will be great for traveling. Monsoon will be on its earnest in July. Having said so, our personal experience with monsoon in Bhutan has been limited to afternoon light shower once every 2 to 3 days. Some outlying district such as Gangtey can be given a miss as the country road can be swollen with mud. Summer often offers vibrant green foresting and flourishing paddy fields against a backdrop of clear blue sky after the rain. Western Bhutan visit of Paro , Thimphu, Wangdi and Haa valley cannot be hampered by monsoon as road network in those places are well developed and fully set.
The summer season sees a lower level of tourists as many have the misconception that Bhutan may experience a rainy deluge similar to many parts of South Asia. This is definitely not true. Though it is dubbed the monsoon, Bhutan experiences relatively light rain with most rainfall confined to the late afternoon and does not affect most traveler itinerary.
Fall-September, October and November:
Fall is another high and crowded season for Bhutan. Beside the mild weather in autumn the colorful forest and crops make a perfect time to visit Bhutan. It is also harvesting season too.
Thimphu Festival usually takes places at the end of September or early October.
Black-Necked Crane Festival - Stay with a local villager in the beautiful valley of Phobjika and witness the one day Black-Necked Crane Festival in late-september. The Thimphu Tshechu is a grand affair in the modern capital of Bhutan. Just like Paro Tshechu, good hotels would be fully booked and service level do suffers.Thimphu tshechu also occurs about the same time as Wangdi tshechu and the chance to attend 2 festival on one trip is always very tempting but WATCH out for the crowd.
Another crowded festival calendar, this time in central Bhutan is the Jakar, Jambay Lhakhang Drup & Prakar Tshechu.
Throngs of travelers pay homage to the Switzerland of Asia at this time to attend the mysterious Jambay festivities which is fabled for its bon-fire dance of 20 masked and naked dancers.
If you would like to attend this festival, do be prepared to stay in some less comfortable hotels too.
Winter- December, January and February:
To avoid the crowd and catch the Black-Necked Cranes, winter would be the time to go. To catch Himalayan blue sky without paying the additional tariff, consider visiting Bhutan in December. The temperature will not be too cold yet as lowest temperature usually takes places near the end of January. In January or February, Paro and Thimphu may experience a one day snow which melts away soon. The whole of the surrounding mountains peaks remain covered by snow Punakha Dromche & Tshechu in February - The Punakha Dromche & Tshechu is week long celebration of the founding of Bhutan in the 1600s.
The festivities take place around the ancient capital and most beautiful dzong in Bhutan. The mild weather of lower Punakha also makes this town a great winter escape for the Bhutanese.
Trongsa Tshechu - The Trongsa Tshechu takes place in the Trongsa Dzong, is an intimate affair with only a small handful of attending travellers. This festival has some of the most elaborate festival costume for the dancing lamas.