Bhutan Weather and Climate

Geographical location

According to COUNTRYAAH, the Kingdom of Bhutan is located in South Asia and borders Tibet to the north and the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Sikkim and Arunchal Pradesgh to the south. The Himalayas shape the landscape of Bhutan.

More than 80 percent of the country is at an altitude of over 2000 meters. The main settlement area is the front Himalayan area at altitudes between 2000 and 3000 meters. The capital is Thimphu. The Gnagkhar Puensum is the highest mountain in the country at 7,570 meters. It has never been climbed by a human.

Mountaineering is prohibited by law in Bhutan above 6000 meters, the locals suspect the existence of ghosts and gods above this limit. In 1985 and 1986 a total of four expeditions failed while attempting to conquer the summit. The Lind is being developed more intensively from year to year. For example, there are only limited contingents of flight tickets, so a trip to Bhutan has to be planned in detail.

• Abbreviation Finder: Check to see national geography, brief history, society description, domestic politics, economy overview, and a list of widely used acronyms about Bhutan.

Climate in Bhutan

In Bhutan there are clear climatic differences in different regions. In the south there is a tropical to subtropical climate. The central areas have a temperate climate. So winters are cool and summers are hot.

The intense and cold winters are typical of the Himalayas. In the south, heavy rains and floods can occur during the rainy season. In the capital Timphu there is comparatively little rainfall throughout the year. In the months of June, July and August you will find temperatures of over 20 degrees.

When to go to Bhutan

Due to the climatic differences, the best travel time in Bhutan cannot be clearly determined at first glance, but the spring and autumn months in particular are pleasant throughout Bhutan and therefore ideal for round trips. The warm to locally even hot summer months are also recommended with some restrictions, especially since it is in central Bhutan.

Nevertheless, between June and August in particular, there can be increased humidity and, especially at night, sometimes heavy rainfall. The foothills of the Indian monsoon are noticeable here. Due to slippery paths and sometimes poor visibility, the summer is therefore not recommended for demanding treks. Since you will spend most of your trip in areas of the low mountain range, the climate diagram of the capital Thimphu with about 2300 meters above sea level is a good orientation for travel planning.

Autumn is generally considered to be the season with the best visibility, even if temperatures are now noticeably lower. We therefore recommend the months of March, April and May as well as September as the best travel time in Bhutan until mid- November. In the tropical to subtropical south of the country, on the other hand, the time between November and March is ideal.

Temperatures, precipitation in Timphu (Bhutan)

	Jan	Feb	March	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Daytime temperature	11 ° C	11 ° C	16 ° C	19 ° C	21 ° C	23 ° C	24 ° C	23 ° C	22 ° C	20 ° C	16 ° C	12 ° C
Night temperature	-3 ° C	1 ° C	4 ° C	8 ° C	13 ° C	15 ° C	15 ° C	16 ° C	15 ° C	10 ° C	5 ° C	-1 ° C
Precipitation in mm	1	6	3	7	13	25	36	32	16	5	1	0
Sunrise	6:50	6:40	6:10	5:35	5:15	5:05	5:15	5:30	5:45	6:00	6:20	6:45
Sunset	17:30	17:50	18:10	18:25	18:45	19:00	19:00	18:40	18:05	17:35	17:10	17:10

Temperatures

The annual average temperature in Thimphu is 13.2 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is July (19.5 ° C), coldest month of January with mean values of 4 ° C.

Precipitation

The annual precipitation is 145 mm. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. There is no rainy season, i.e. months with more than 175 mm of precipitation. In February snowfall is possible.

Cities nearby

The following major towns are nearby and have a similar climate: Thimphu.

Highlights and attractions

A vacation in Bhutan is only suitable for individual travelers. The infrastructure is not yet well developed. The main means of transport are comparatively overcrowded minibuses. Those who appreciate adventure will love Bhutan. The main focus of activities in Bhutan are definitely hiking trips or even demanding climbing tours. The view of the Himalayas alone is an absolute highlight. Other sights are the Buddha Dordenma, the Punakha Dzong monastery and the Taktsang Palphug Monastery.