Paro Bhutan Weather: Climate, Temperature and Best Time to Visit Paro Bhutan

Generally, the weather in Bhutan varies depending on the seasons as well as on the altitude. However, the seasons are generally the same throughout the country, even in the lower sub-tropical areas of the kingdom.

In Paro, in the northwest of Bhutan, the spring and autumn are relatively short seasons, while the summer and winter re much longer. Paro lies in a low-altitude valley, and is warmer than much of the northern area of the kingdom, with warmer summers and milder winters than in the Bhutanese capital of Thimphu. However, as the Dzongkhag lies in the higher parts of the country, the range of temperatures between winter and summer is high. In the height of summer, it can reach as high as 22°C, while in the depths of winter, it can drop to as low as -2°C.

General Weather Condition of Paro, Bhutan by Month

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	July	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Min. Temp (°C)	-1.2	-0.5	3.9	7.4	10.5	13.3	14.5	14.1	12.9	8.1	2.9	-0.2
Max. Temp (°C)	11.3	12.6	15.9	18.8	20.4	21.4	21.9	21.6	21	19.3	15.6	12.6
Rainfall (mm)	13	23	54	97	174	346	428	331	250	85	15	4
Clear Days	29	29	28	27	25	28	26	26	28	29	30	30

Paro in Spring (March, April and May)

Spring in Paro runs from around the beginning of March to the middle of May, and is a short season, despite being one of the two main peak seasons for Bhutan’s tourism industry. Daytime temperatures generally run from around 15-16 degrees in early March to as warm as 20 degrees by the middle of May. However, nights can still be pretty cold at the start of spring, running at around 3-4 degrees throughout March.

While it may not be the rainy season yet, Paro does see some rain in the spring months, ranging from around 54mm in March and increasing to as high as 174mm for May. With this higher chance of rain as the season progresses, it is advisable to bring a raincoat for the showers. Clear days are predominant, though, throughout the spring, dropping from 29 days in March to around 25 days in May. With warmer daytime weather it is ok to bring lighter clothes, though hiking boots are better on the rough roads and tracks and warm sweaters or a jacket are a good idea for the evenings.

Paro has a wealth of things to see and do in the peak seasons, and with less rain, trekking along the Druk Path trek or taking the hike up to the Taktshang Monastery are popular activities in spring. An historic town with several sacred sites and historical buildings, spring is a great time to tour the temples such as the Chumbu Monastery, the Drukgyel Dzong, the Rinpung Dzong, and the famous Paro Dzong.

Paro in Summer (June, July, and August)

Summer in Bhutan, which runs from June to August, is the hottest time of year, as well as the wettest. Temperatures in the summer months reach their peak in July, getting as high as 22 degrees on average for the month, with daytime highs of 21-21.5 degrees in June and August. Nights are also warmer, with temperature ranges from 13 degrees in June to as high as 14 degrees in July and August.

The monsoon rains, which come up from the Indian Ocean on the Southwest Monsoon, start to get heavier in June, and June and July are the wettest months of the year, reaching rainfall averages of 346mm to 428mm for the two months respectively. As August rolls around the rains begin to dissipate, though they can still reach as much as 331mm through the month. Yet while it may be the height of the rainy season, the predominance for rain to fall in the late afternoon and evenings means that you can still get as many as 26-28 clear days in each month.

This is the rainy season, and while you may have mostly clear days through the months, rain showers can come at any time, so it is essential to bring wet weather gear in case it rains while you are out and about. The pleasant warmth of the summer also means lighter clothes, and less of a need to wear warmer jackets in the evenings, though it is still a good idea to bring them, just in case.

While it is possible to visit most of the major attractions in Paro in the summer months, there may be places that you cannot get to easily if it has been raining heavily. It is also not advisable to take the treks in the summer months, as the trails can get wet and muddy, making them slippery and dangerous. Many of the temples are accessible still, and being inside in places such as the National Museum of Bhutan is best if you are not into rainy days.

Paro in Autumn (September, October and November)

Autumn in Bhutan generally runs from early September to mid-November, and is the second peak season for Bhutanese tourism. With more sunny days and around 28-30 clear days throughout the month, temperatures are still pleasant, with highs ranging from around 21 degrees in September to 19 degrees and 15 degrees in October and November. September’s nights are still mild, dropping to only around 12-13 degrees, but in October you can expect the nights to see temperatures of 8 degrees, dropping to as low as 3 degrees in November. This is when you are going to need those warmer sweaters and jackets more, and the raincoat less.

September sees a huge drop in the amount of rain that falls, dropping to around 250mm for the entire month, and dropping even more drastically as autumn rolls into October and November. October sees the rains drop to as little as 85mm for the month, dropping drastically to as little as 15mm through November.

Autumn is one of the best seasons in the year for trekking in Paro, as well as whole Bhutan, and the trails are open once again, as the rains are gone and the trails are drier now. October is one of the best months for taking on such great treks as the Druk Path or the famous Jomolhari Trek, and the trail up to the Taktshang Monastery is dry enough to traverse safely again.

Paro in Winter (December, January and February).

December in Bhutan is the start of the winter months, when the weather gets colder and snow can fall in the higher areas of the mountains. However, in Paro, a lower valley than most, the winter is relatively mild, with daytime temperatures from December to February ranging from around 11 to 12 degrees. Nights are dramatically colder, though, and temperatures in December and February are usually close to freezing once darkness falls. January is the coldest month of the year in Paro, during which the temperature can even get down to as low as -2 degrees, making warm sweaters and jackets essential.

Rain is almost unheard of in Paro in winter, with rainfall in December dropping to around 4mm for the whole month. January and February do see a little rise in rainfall, reaching as high as 13mm to 23mm in each month. However this is negligible still, and you can expect to see as many as 29-30 clear days in each month in winter.

While some countries do not recommend trekking in the winter, Bhutan has a range of winter treks that can be done best in this drier cooler season, including the Druk Path trek, the Jomolhari Loop and Base Camp Treks, and if you are really adventurous, the longer Jomolhari Laya Gasa Trek. Winter is also a good time to tour around the temples and climb up to Taktshang, as the views and sights are more stark and clear in the winter weather.

When is the best time to hike to the Tiger’s Nest in Paro?

Paro is one of the unique areas of Bhutan that is available all year round and sees a lot less rain that the capital or the favored trekking areas further east. Taking the trek to the Taktshang Monastery, also known as the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, can feasibly be done at any time of the year, though it can sometimes be unadvisable to attempt the steep climb in the wettest months of the year.

For the best views and clearest skies for trekking up to Taktshang, April to May and October to November are the best times of the year. Winter in Bhutan is also a great time to take this trek, as long as it is not too cold, as the ground can freeze easily in January. But a good pair of hiking boots and a couple of trekking poles can help you get over any frozen or icy patches to allow you to get to the top at the coldest time of year in Paro.

What is the weather like during the Paro Tsechu Festival?

The Paro Tsechu, the major festival in Paro in the Bhutanese calendar, normally occurs in February or early March, and is an ideal time of year to visit. While February can be a little cold at night, dropping to almost freezing, the daytime is comparatively warm, and can get as high as 12-14 degrees for the festival, depending on exactly when it falls. This time of year sees almost no rain, so you are unlikely to get wet, and with warm-ish temperatures for the days, and often plenty of sunshine as well, you are guaranteed to find this one of the most enjoyable festivals of the year in Bhutan.

Conclusion

Paro is definitely one of the best places for all Bhutan tours if you are looking for a year-round tourist destination in the northwest of the kingdom. Located in a valley that lies well under the 3,000-meter mark for colder weather and snow, Paro has a much milder climate than Thimphu and Bumthang, though not as mild and warm as Punakha. A great place to experience the amazing Bhutanese religious culture and the amazing views of the northern mountains, Paro is the first place you will see when you come to Bhutan.