Bhutan is no ordinary place. It is the last great Himalayan kingdom, shrouded in mystery and magic, where a traditional Buddhist culture carefully embraces global developments.
Evergreen trees cover the mountains, which are peppered with Buddhist temples. Glacial rivers cut through the valleys, and the fresh, piney air is delightful. Bhutan has beautiful luxury hotels and lodges, but it’s the people who make a trip there so memorable. They are incredibly jovial and have even been named the world’s happiest people according to the Gross National Happiness Index!
Bhutan is arguably the most intriguing of the Himalayan kingdoms because travel access was prohibited until 1974, and even then, the number of tourists was still quite small. Due to Bhutan’s geographic isolation and protection from the powerful Himalayan peaks, the traditional way of life has mostly remained without significant change.
Archery is still considered to be the national sport in Bhutan, and the graceful, polite people continue to wear traditional clothing, including exquisite wraparound skirts called “kira” for ladies and checked, floor-length belted robes called “Gho” for men. In the dzong or monasteries, locals gather for vivid local festivals, and mask-dancers perform in the temples. We will be happy to plan a cultural trip of Bhutan around one of these festivals.
Bhutan has stunning scenery, including monasteries that hang over cliff faces and are frequently shrouded in mist, as well as untouched pine forests, fertile valleys, and high, rough mountain passes. These features combine to create a varied and exhilarating location for Bhutan trekking or an active vacation. Luxury travel to Bhutan is always a memorable and interesting experience. One of the last bastions of Tantric Mahayana Buddhism, the “Land of the Thunder Dragon” is characterized by its white-walled dzongs, which house communities of monks who study there, as well as by the furnishings in peoples’ residences and the elaborately painted wall decorations.
Bhutan’s first democratic elections took place in 2008, and over the past three decades, the country has seen a steady and cautious increase in tourism. Bhutan hotels range from humble guesthouses and inns to spectacular luxury hotels, making it the ideal location for a luxury custom vacation there. There are now a number of these hotels, with more on the way. Bhutan is best visited between October and December, when the weather is sunny and fresh with no humidity. The winter months of January and February are cooler, and until April the weather is dry and pleasant. Rhododendrons are well-known for their beautiful late spring blooms, which cover the valleys in colour.
Best Time to visit Bhutan
Bhutan is often thought to be best visited in the spring, between March and May, or in the fall, between September and November. The weather is typically pleasant dry and mild during these months, and the naturally stunning scenery is at its most breathtaking. It can be freezing chilly in the winter and rainy in the summer (the annual monsoon tends to hit between June and August)
Best Time
March – May
Late September – November
Monsoon Season
June to August / early September
Festival Season
All year round, although most popular in February to April & September to November
Rhododendron Season
April to July
