There is never a bad time to visit Bhutan, so plan your visit based on the experience you want to have.
Winter is the only time you can see the Blacked Neck Cranes in Bhutan, in the Phobjikha Valley, and though it will be cold, the skies are crystal clear, and there are fewer visitors.
Spring is a beautiful time with the blooming of the wildflowers, painting the valleys with colour.
Summer is monsoon season, so it can be wet, and the mountains are often under cloud.
Autumn / Fall, the leaves turn and the valleys blaze with autumn reds and golds. This is the peak time for tourists.
If you want to experience something really special, take a look at the Festival calendar and plan your trip to witness an unforgettable Tshechu and take in the best of the season.
take in a Festival
Festivals (Tshechus), are held in fortresses (dzongs) and monasteries (lhakhangs), can last up to four days, and are held on auspicious days in the Bhutanese calendar. They are big social occasions, with everyone dressed up in their finest clothes. It is well worth including one in your itinerary, to experience the drama of the dancing, the exuberant and colourful costumes, set against the dramatic backdrop of the fortress or monastery.
Festivals are an essential part of Bhutanese culture, and the most common type of festival is the Tshechu, which is a Buddhist festival honouring Guru Rimpoche (the saint responsible for introducing Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century).
For Buddhists, watching these dances is essential for gaining enlightenment and it is considered to be a blessing to be able to watch. Dances are performed by monks, and local men and women, who practice for weeks ahead of the festival.
The colourful Tshechus are part of the oral history of Bhutan, where values, spiritual beliefs, and mythology are passed on through the masked dances, leading up to the unveiling of a huge thangka (silk applique painting) of an important deity.
Seasons
