Bhutan Monsoon Season: Is that really a bad idea to visit Bhutan in June, July and August?

Bhutan is one of the most spectacular tourist destinations in the world, and nowhere has the Himalayas been more beautiful than in the Land of the Thunder Dragon. However, June, July, and August are known as the monsoon season in Bhutan. The monsoon season in Bhutan means plenty of rainfall, several hundred millimeters a month in many areas, which does not make it a great time to visit this beautiful Himalayan kingdom.

Of cause, the monsoon season is not an ideal time to visit Bhutan. But it doesn’t mean you can’t go to Bhutan in the rainy season. Even in the monsoon season, not every day gets rainfall, and many of the days throughout June, July, and August can be bright and sunny, sometimes with no rain at all. You can still find plenty of things to do while in Bhutan during the rainy season.

How about the Monsoon season in Bhutan

The monsoon season in Bhutan, generally from June to August, is the wettest part of the year, and is also normally the hottest as well.

Rainfall of Bhutan Major Destinations in Monsoon Season

From June to August, heavy rains occur in many parts of Bhutan, especially in the popular tourist destinations of Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, etc. In Paro and Thimphu, the average rainfall for the three months is normally around 340mm-380mm per month, give or take. In the Bumthang Dzongkhag, this is usually a little lower, averaging around 280mm-290mm per month throughout the monsoon season. However, in the popular hiking area of Punakha, the rains are a little heavier, averaging around 640mm per month. With its lower altitude, Punakha is prone to higher rainfall and warmer temperatures in the summer monsoon months.

Temperature of Bhutan Major Destinations in Monsoon Season

Temperature-wise, the summer in Bhutan is generally the warmer period of the year, and the monsoon season sees higher temperatures and increased humidity. In Thimphu and Paro, you can expect temperatures of around 21-22°C throughout the summer. In Bumthang, around the valleys, temperatures can get as high as 22°C through June and July, dropping a little in August to around 21°C. And in Punakha, the warmer lower altitude means that the average temperatures in the monsoon season are normally as high as 26-27°C during the daytime. It can get a little colder at night in the kingdom, even in summer. However, the average temperature difference from day to night is usually no more than 7-8°C.

A Better Time to Visit Bhutan during Monsoon Season

For the best time to travel in the monsoon season, the early part of June and the last week of August are the best options, running on into early September for even better weather in Bhutan. Across the country, July is normally the wettest month of the year, reaching up to around 743mm of rainfall in July in Punakha.

Special Things to do while visiting Bhutan in Monsoon Season

For those that are traveling in Bhutan in the monsoon season, this is definitely not a time for trekking and hiking. Instead, this is the time to explore the unique and amazing culture of the Bhutanese people, including the devotion of the entire country to Tibetan Buddhism. Bhutan is rife with cultural locations, from the amazing and ancient Dzongs which cover the countryside to the beauty of some of the most awesome Lhakhangs in the world.

Meditation in a Local Monastery

One of the best options for discovering more about the religion of the kingdom is to spend some time meditating in the Buddhist monasteries that can be found all over Bhutan. Meditation in Tibetan Buddhism is an important aspect of the journey towards enlightenment, and while you may not reach Buddhahood in one week, you will find the act of meditating inside a monastery filled with other meditating monks refreshing and somewhat enlightening in itself.

Yoga or Hot Stone Bath in the Hotel

Many of the hotels in Bhutan have activities you can also take part in, including yoga classes and the famous Bhutanese Hot Stone Baths. Yoga is an excellent way to stay fit and supple, and can be done by anyone of any age, so feel free to sign up for a class. The Hot Stone Baths are unique to Bhutan, and use stones and water from the nearest river, with the stones being heated in a fire, and then dropped into the bath to heat the water.

Local Homestay

If you are looking to delve a little deeper into the Bhutanese Buddhist culture, you can opt for a homestay option, where you can stay in the home of a local family for the night, living in the same way as the average Bhutanese does. You will learn all about the local style of cooking, with lots of chilies, and learn how the real Bhutanese people live.

Is it safe to visit Bhutan in Monsoon Season?

Generally, it is very safe to visit Bhutan in the monsoon season, as long as you stick to the well-trodden and oft-visited areas of the kingdom. Most of the places in the west of Bhutan, from Paro and Thimphu to Punakha and the Haa Valley, are relatively safe areas to stay in. The western areas are generally higher in altitude, and have less rain, whereas in the central and eastern areas, the monsoon rain is generally heavier.

However, travel to central and eastern Bhutan is less likely, as the central and eastern areas are more prone to mudslides and landslides in the heavy monsoon rains. Overland travel can often be hampered by the heavy rains in central Bhutan, making driving through areas where landslides and mudslides are common a lot more dangerous. If you are traveling to Bhutan in the monsoon season, it is best to stay in the west of the kingdom.

And while the western regions may be safer for traveling into in the monsoon season, it is advisable not to go hiking in the western forests in the rain, as this can be a little dangerous in places. While there are fewer landslides in the western districts of Bhutan, it can still happen if the rain becomes heavier, especially in July, the wettest month of the year. Ideally, hiking anywhere except possibly up to the Taktshang Monastery in Paro is unadvisable. Muddy trails, heavy rain showers, and loose or slippery ground can .make hiking very dangerous, especially where there are no roads or access is limited.

More Travel Tips for Visiting Bhutan in Monsoon Season

Be aware of Bhutan Flight Delays and Cancelations in Monsoon Season

Bhutan in the rainy season does actually require a little more careful planning than in the peak seasons or the winter months. The monsoon season means more rain and more clouds, which can seriously affect the number of flights that are able to take off or land at the Paro International Airport. Lying at a high altitude in the Paro Valley, the airport is designated as one of the hardest to land at in the world, and only selected pilots are qualified to do so. And even in good weather, the pilots land using visual landing techniques rather than instruments. When it rains hard, and clouds cover the area around the airport in Paro Dzongkhag, flights are often cancelled, and rescheduled on another date. If you are coming into Bhutan for your monsoon-season trip, then you should have a "Plan B", just in case the flight gets cancelled. You should also ensure that you have enough spare time to cover the delay in getting to Bhutan for your trip, so that you can still take it on another date a little later when the weather clears.

Prepare Proper Rain Gear

Another part of the careful planning is the use of good rainproof clothing for the trip. What you should bring in terms of rain gear depends on when you are coming, and you will need to be better prepared for July than for June or August. The rains can come at any time, though normally they do tend to fall in the late afternoons and evenings in general. In order to be well-prepared for any eventuality, it is advisable to bring a raincoat at least for the lighter months and better wet weather gear for the month of July. If you are only traveling when it is not raining, then a light raincoat is fine for the light showers or unexpected rainfall. However, if you are not worried by the rain, then prepare good waterproofs to cover your completely so you can better enjoy the rainy days.

Pay Attention to the Temperature Changes during a Day

While the weather generally stays relatively warm from June to August, it can change dramatically with very little notice. Strangely, you will sometimes see very cold spells throughout the year, and the temperatures can drop without notice, making it cold enough to need warmer clothing. Incidentally, rain and getting wet can make you feel cold, even in the warmer months, and it is essential to remain as dry as possible, as getting wet without drying off properly can cause illness and colds.

Conclusion

While some may consider it a bad idea to travel to Bhutan in the monsoon season from June to August, there are things that you van only find in the wetter months of the year. This includes the lushness of the scenery in the rainy summer months. For some, the pull of the cheaper prices is a good enough reason to travel in summer, and if you do not mind a little wetter weather occasionally, then summer can be an interesting time in the Land of the Thunder Dragon.