Bhutan Photography Tips for Taking Excellent Photos

Bhutan is an amazing destination for a holiday at almost any time of the year. Even in the depths of winter and the wet summer monsoon, this stunning land of high mountains and virgin forests is just as beautiful and tranquil. A photographer’s delight, Bhutan has all you need for mountain, landscape, and scenic photographs.

However, it is important to know how and when to take the right photos to get the best effects and the most stunning pictures. Here, we look at how to take the best photos in Bhutan, based on the circumstances of the average trip to this Land of the Thunder Dragon.

Choose the Right Time of a Year

The right time of year is just as important as any of the other factors in getting the right photos for your portfolio in Bhutan. Get the wrong time of year for your trip, and you will not be able to find that perfect shot to make the whole trip worthwhile.

Spring and Autumn are the Best time for Bhutan Photo Tour

When looking at the time of year to travel, generally, spring and autumn are the best times for Bhutan photo tours. While you will get great snow shots in winter and some good photos of the lushness of the monsoon vegetation, the weather from March to May and September to November is the best of the whole year.

In spring, from March to May, the weather is mild and warming up, with clear skies and almost no rainfall until around the middle of May. The air is crisp and clear, and good for bright airy shots of the mountains and panoramic landscapes. Autumn, from September to November, is also warm, though cooling down as the season progresses. The end of the monsoon season leaves the landscape lush and green, until the cooler weather starts to turn the leaves brown and red and gold as they prepare to fall. And for those colorful rustic shots of the autumn trees and scenery, late October is the best time of year to get that partially-fallen leaves look.

Main Tsechus are Held in Spring and Autumn

Spring and autumn are also the main seasons for the most important festivals in Bhutan, which are known locally as “Tsechus”. Iconic festivals that are held across the kingdom in every month of the year, there are more of these unique festivals in the spring and autumn months, when the weather is better. And with more festivals comes more opportunity to get photographs of the unique culture of this Himalayan kingdom in its traditional form.

Tsechus are unique festivals that are held on the tenth day of the month in the Bhutanese lunar calendar. The festivals are all dedicated to the celebration of the life and deeds of the Indian Sage Padmasambhava, who is known in Bhutan as Guru Rinpoche. The cham dances and celebrations all feature incidents based on the life of Guru Rinpoche, and are often moral vignettes that tell of how to live and behave. The most important Tsechus of the year are the Paro Tsechu, the Thimphu Tsechu, and the Jambay Lhakhang Tsechu.

The dances are often performed by monks, so it is important to get permission from the monastery involved before taking photos of the performers, as well as getting permission from the locals before you take their photos too. But you can photograph anything else as you like. Just remember to be respectful. These are still religious ceremonies that are important to the local people.

Black-necked Cranes Photography is Available in Winter

If you are looking for photos of the stunningly beautiful and very rare Black-Necked Cranes, then winter is the best time of year to travel to Bhutan. The cranes come south from northern Tibet to spend the winter in the mountain kingdom, arriving in November and departing for their summer breeding grounds once again in March. Throughout the winter months, you can find the cranes in several places in Bhutan, though the Gangtey Valley, also known as Phobjikha, is the most popular place to find them.

Choose the Right Time of a Day

Knowing when to take the best shots is also a good tip for photography in Bhutan, as there can be better times of day for certain types of shots. And you may find that, at certain times of the day, you cannot get near the thing you want to photograph for the crowds of tourists around it blocking the views.

Avoid the Crowds to Tiger’s Nest Monastery

The Tiger’s Nest, or Taktshang Monastery, is one of the most popular spots in Bhutan, and has visitors heading there every day of the year, almost. The trick to getting in to get the best shots of the awesome and unique monastery is to find a time when you can avoid the crowds. The best times for this are very early in the morning, as the sun comes up, or in the late afternoon, when all the tourists have already started to head back downhill. Hikers to the monastery generally start around 7-8 in the morning, and then finish early to get back down to the car park before five pm.

Punakha Dzong at Night is also Attractive

Punakha Dzong is renowned as the most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan. With its location at the confluence of the Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu rivers, and the jacaranda trees that surround the outer wall, this monastery is an amazing shot at any time of the day. However, the evening is one of the beat times of day for this shot, as the lower light gives the monastery an aura of mystery and intrigue, making it even more spectacular than ever.

Pay Attention to the Sunrise and Sunset Times

Sunrise and sunset are the phenomenal times of the day in any mountain location, and in the Bhutanese Himalayas, this is no different. The rising of the sun is a time to get some great shots of early-morning sites, while the sunset turns the mountainsides and whitewashed walls of monasteries a burnished orange color that is striking in photos.

Photograph while Trekking

If you are feeling a little more adventurous, then taking a trek along some of Bhutan’s trekking routes, for a day or two, can give you just what you need to get those excellent shots.

More Stunning Scenery Available while Hiking

One of the main reasons for Bhutan trekking tour is the stunning scenery that you hike through as you tackle the many trekking trails this high-altitude kingdom has to offer. From the beauty of the alpine evergreen forests and the primeval deciduous forests that cover the hillside and mountain slopes to the awesome views of the Himalayas and the beautiful lakes you pass on several of the country’s treks. The scenic views on the treks are second to none.

You may Encounter Wildlife on the Trail

There are a few treks in Bhutan that are dedicated to seeing wildlife, especially the birds of the kingdom. While there is no guarantee that you will cross paths with a snow leopard or a Himalayan Black Bear, and you really may not want to get too close, taking a trek through the countryside of Bhutan means you have a higher chance of spotting some of the kingdom’s rare species of animals and birds.

Advised Short Hiking Routes

There are, however, some treks that can almost guarantee that you will be able to see some wildlife or get the best views possible in Bhutan. One such trek is the Gangtey Nature Trail, which runs through the Gangtey Valley, or Phobjikha. A gentle two-hour trek, it allows you to soak up the stunning beauty of this unique valley, which is also the winter home to the rare black-necked cranes.

The 2-day Bumdrak Trek is a short one-night trek that gives you some of the best views out over the Paro Valley and the mountains of Haa Dzongkhag. Short walking days allow you to explore the scenery more. And you get to visit the small chapels and pilgrimage sites that lie above the Taktshang Monastery before descending to visit the Tiger’s Nest.

The short Saga La trek follows the traditional route of the Haa farmers to the Paro Valley for the rice planting season. The hike takes you through several valleys on the road to Paro, as well as giving you the chance to explore some of the famous monasteries of Haa, including the Jangtey or Yangthong Monastery. You also get to climb up to the Saga La Pass at 3,700 meters for the stunning views.

Rely on your Tour Guide

If you are planning a photography trip to Bhutan, then you should make sure that you let us know, so that we can provide you with a guide that has some knowledge of photography. Our guides are all local Bhutanese guides that know all about the country and its history and culture. And we have specific guides that can help with your photography tour who have specific knowledge of photography and the best spots for taking photos during the tour.

Conclusion

Bhutan is an awesome place to come to for a photography tour, and the views that you get of the Himalayas, the landscapes, and the scenery are second to none. Whatever time of year you visit this beautiful Shangri-La, you are guaranteed to find the perfect locations for your best photos, and some great opportunities for the best shots you could ever imagine. And with so many stunning attractions to photograph, you may want to bring a larger data card to store the photos.