 Uncommon Journeys into the Soul of Bhutan
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Climate & Season
(with Average Monthly Temperature in Degree Centigrades)
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Though Bhutan has four distinct seasons, it is hard to generalize the weather since mountain climate varies enormously from one region to another. It varies with the altitute and can reach extremes of heat and cold within a day’s travel. Depending on the altitude, you may be freezing on top of a pass and 2 hours later you may be sweating in a sub-tropical jungle.
The central valleys, where most cultural tours take place
(Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Wangdi, Tongsa, Bumthang, Mongar, Tashigang, Lhuntse) ................................
Best seasons to visit this region are: spring and autumn. In gerneral, valleys of Punakha, Wangdi, Mongar, Lhuntse and Tashigang with relatively lower altitude are warmer than the other valleys in this region.
Spring lasts from mid March to mid June with temperatures warming gradually to 20-25 degree celcius by day and 12 degree celcius by night. This is one of the most beautiful time of the year as the whole kingdom comes to life with the spectacular flaming red, pink and white of the rhododendron, magnolia and numerous other wildflowers in bloom.
Autumn, which lasts from mid September to mid December, is possibly the most rewarding time to visit Bhutan. The days remain lovely with crisp clear skies. Visitors can enjoy stunning views of snow-capped Himalayan mountains, particularly during the month of November and December. In October and November, a riot of color envelopes the valleys of Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Mongar and Lhuntse - the gold of ripe rice paddy in the fields is splashed with the pink of wild cosmos, and all the grey shingle roofs of farmhouses have red chillies drying on them. Higher up in the valleys of Bumthang, Rukubji and Haa, the fields are now a brilliant patchwork of pink buckwheat, yellow mustard and crimson amaranth. Druing this time, the temperature remains 20-25 degree celcius during the day and drops to 8-10 degree celcius by night.
Winters are quite dry with some snow and lot of sunshine. During sunny days, in most valleys, the daytime temperatures remains between 12 and 16 degree celcius, while evenings and mornings are very cold. Clear skies in winter months is the best time to view the snow-covered peaks of the high Himalayan mountains.
In Summer, from mid June to August, most valleys in this region receive abundant rain. However, in most valleys in this region, the rain falls mainly in the late evenings and at night. Temperature in most valleys remains between 28-32 degree celcius during the day and 18-20 degree celcius at night. Sun often comes out from behind the clouds and the days are very pleasant.
Northern region - where most treks take place (Laya, Lunana, Lingshi) ......................................
This high altitude region on the slopes of the high Himalayan ranges, inhabited between 3,500 and 5,000 meters, is characterized by harsh climate with continues snow during the winter months from December to mid March. By end of November, most passes that connect these region with the lower central valleys remain closed by snow.
The region truly offers a stunning look at nature’s most spectacular Himalayan landscape during the trekking seasons in spring and autumn. The days are warm and pleasant with lot of sunshine. Nights are cold and the temperature may drop even below freezing - but then, you are already in your warm sleeping bag!
During summer, there is abundant rain and it becomes difficult to cross the icy cold swift flowing streams to get to this region from the lower southern valleys.
The sourthern region is tropical. It is hot, humid and rainy in summer, but cool and pleasant in winter.
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| Average Monthly Temperature (in Degree Centigrades) |
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Places
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Jan (Max/Min)
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Feb (Max/Min)
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March (Max/Min)
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April (Max/Min)
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May (Max/Min)
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June (Max/Min)
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Paro (2280m or 7480 ft.) |
9.4/-5.8
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13.4/-1.5
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14.5/0.6
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17.6/4.6
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23.5/10.6
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23.4/14.1
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Thimphu (2320m or 7610 ft.)
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12.3/-2.6
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14.4/0.6
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16.4/3.9
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20.0/7.1
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22.5/13.1
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24.4/15.2
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| Punakha (1250m or 4100 ft.) |
16.1/4.2
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19.6/5.3
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21.2/9.2
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24.4/11.9
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27.2/14.8
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31.2/19.5
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| Wangdi (1250m or 4100 ft.) |
17.0/4.3
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19.0/7.8
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22.8/10.4
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26.2/12.9
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29.1/17.7
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29.2/20.1
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| Tongsa (2120m or 6955 ft.) |
13.0/-0.2
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13.9/0.4
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16.7/4.4
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20.1/6.6
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21.0/11.6
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22.2/13.6
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| Bumthang (2580m or 8465 ft.) |
10.8/-5.1
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10/-1.4
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16.2/3.5
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18.7/3.9
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21.3/9.5
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22.5/13.5
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| Mongar (1600m or 5250 ft.) |
15.5/8.2
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15.9/8.3
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20/11.6
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22.8/14
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25.1/17.4
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26.1/19.5
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| Tashigang (1150m or 3772 ft.) |
20.4/10.5
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21.7/11.5
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24.8/14.4
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28.3/17
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30/20.6
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30.7/22.6
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Places
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July (Max/Min)
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August (Max/Min)
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Sept. (Max/Min)
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October (Max/Min)
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November (Max/Min)
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December (Max/Min)
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Paro (2280m or 7480 ft.) |
26.8/14.9
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25.3/14.7
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23.4/11.7
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18.7/7.4
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13.9/1.4
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11.2/-1.7
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Thimphu (2320m or 7610 ft.)
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18.9/13.4
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25/15.8
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23.1/15
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21.9/10.4
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17.9/5
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14.5/-1.1
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| Punakha (1250m or 4100 ft.) |
32/21.6
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31.4/19.8
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29.9/20.4
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27.8/18.9
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22.3/13
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15/7.9
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| Wangdi (1250m or 4100 ft.) |
18.4/16.2
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29.1/20
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27.5/19.1
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26.1/14.7
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22.6/9.6
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19.1/6.3
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| Tongsa (2120m or 6955 ft.) |
25.3/15.3
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23.8/15
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22.6/14.2
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21.8/11.7
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19.8/6.4
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18.2/2.5
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| Bumthang (2580m or 8465 ft.) |
14.1/10.9
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23/13.7
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21.6/12.1
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19.5/5.9
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16.1/-0.5
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12.3/-2.3
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| Mongar (1600m or 5250 ft.) |
16.1/15.8
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25.4/19.6
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24.7/19.4
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22.7/15.8
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19.9/11.2
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15.7/9.5
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| Tashigang (1150m or 3772 ft.) |
31.5/23.1
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30.2/22.7
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30/23.9
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29.1/17.7
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26.1/13.6
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23/11.6
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Insiders' Bhutan Travel
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