Weather by month for Thimphu, the best months to go and how Bhutan's regions differ, scored from 10 years of climate data.
May, Oct
The highest month scores: comfortable temperatures, little rain and plenty of sun.
Highs 18°C to 19°C · 24–30 rain days
Apr, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Nov
Still good weather, just not quite the top months.
Highs 15°C to 22°C · 17–31 rain days
Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec
No months with tough weather, but these are only average.
Highs 9°C to 14°C · 15–26 rain days
Weather by month
Average highs and lows, rain days, sunshine and our month score out of 10.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9°C / -2°C | 15 days (80 mm) | 9.2 h/day | 4.1/10 |
| February | 10°C / 0°C | 20 days (126 mm) | 9.1 h/day | 4.5/10 |
| March | 14°C / 3°C | 26 days (192 mm) | 10.0 h/day | 5.7/10 |
| April | 17°C / 7°C | 26 days (216 mm) | 10.4 h/day | 6.7/10 |
| Best month: May | 19°C / 10°C | 30 days (329 mm) | 10.1 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| June | 21°C / 13°C | 30 days (499 mm) | 8.8 h/day | 6.9/10 |
| July | 21°C / 15°C | 31 days (632 mm) | 7.0 h/day | 6.7/10 |
| August | 22°C / 14°C | 31 days (510 mm) | 7.8 h/day | 6.8/10 |
| September | 20°C / 13°C | 29 days (384 mm) | 8.6 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| Best month: October | 18°C / 9°C | 24 days (208 mm) | 9.5 h/day | 7.1/10 |
| November | 15°C / 5°C | 17 days (103 mm) | 9.6 h/day | 6.6/10 |
| December | 12°C / 1°C | 15 days (81 mm) | 9.1 h/day | 5.6/10 |
Figures for Thimphu; the country's best months are weighted across its cities. Best months are highlighted. How we score months
Month by month
9°C / -2°C · 15 rain days · 9.2 h sun
Thimphu highs reach 8.9°C and lows drop to -1.8°C, so days are cool and nights are cold. There are around 14.7 rain days with 80mm of rain, making it one of the drier months. Skies are fairly clear with 9.2 sun hours a day. The score sits at 4.1, an ok month for clear mountain views despite the chill.
10°C / 0°C · 20 rain days · 9.1 h sun
Highs climb slightly to 10.1°C but rain days rise to 19.6, bringing 126mm of rain. Lows still dip to 0.3°C, so mornings are cold. Sun hours hold steady at 9.1. The verdict is ok, with a score of 4.5, as wetter conditions start to creep in.
14°C / 3°C · 26 rain days · 10.0 h sun
Highs reach 13.7°C and rain days jump to 25.6, with 192mm of rain falling across the month. Lows of 3.3°C mean evenings are still cool. Sun hours rise to 10, among the highest of the year. The score of 5.7 marks this as an ok transition month.
17°C / 7°C · 26 rain days · 10.4 h sun
Highs hit 16.8°C and rain days reach 26.4, with 216mm of rain. Lows are a mild 6.6°C and sun hours stay strong at 10.4. The score jumps to 6.7, a good month, as temperatures rise without yet reaching the heaviest rains.
19°C / 10°C · 30 rain days · 10.1 h sun
Highs reach 18.5°C with lows of 9.6°C, making for comfortable days. Rain days climb to 29.6 and rainfall jumps sharply to 329mm, showing the wet season building. Sun hours are 10.1. The score is 7, a good month overall despite the wetter pattern.
21°C / 13°C · 30 rain days · 8.8 h sun
Highs reach 20.7°C and lows 13.2°C, some of the warmest conditions of the year. Rain is heavy with 29.6 rain days and 499mm of rainfall, and sun hours drop to 8.8 as cloud cover increases. The score of 6.9 stays good, but expect frequent, substantial rain.
21°C / 15°C · 31 rain days · 7.0 h sun
This is the wettest month, with 632mm of rain across 30.7 rain days. Highs reach 21.2°C and lows 14.7°C, the warmest of the year, but sun hours fall to just 7, the lowest point. The score holds at 6.7, good despite the heavy, near-daily rain.
22°C / 14°C · 31 rain days · 7.8 h sun
Rain stays heavy at 510mm over 30.5 rain days, with sun hours still low at 7.8. Highs peak at 21.6°C and lows are 14.3°C. The score of 6.8 is good, but travellers should expect persistent cloud and frequent downpours typical of the monsoon.
20°C / 13°C · 29 rain days · 8.6 h sun
Rain eases to 384mm across 29 rain days as the monsoon starts to fade. Highs of 20.4°C and lows of 12.8°C remain mild, with sun hours recovering to 8.6. The score rises to 7, a good month as drier, clearer conditions return.
18°C / 9°C · 24 rain days · 9.5 h sun
This is the top-scoring month at 7.1, rated good. Rain drops sharply to 208mm over 24.4 rain days, and sun hours climb to 9.5. Highs of 17.5°C and lows of 8.5°C make for comfortable, clear conditions after the monsoon.
15°C / 5°C · 17 rain days · 9.6 h sun
Rain falls further to 103mm across 17.4 rain days, with sun hours at 9.6, among the highest of the year. Highs reach 14.6°C and lows 4.7°C, turning noticeably cooler. The score of 6.6 keeps this a good month for clear, dry air.
12°C / 1°C · 15 rain days · 9.1 h sun
Highs drop to 11.5°C and lows to 1.2°C, bringing winter cold. Rain is light, with 14.6 rain days and 81mm, and sun hours stay at 9.1. The score falls to 5.6, an ok month, good for clear skies but with a real chill in the air.
By trip type
City sightseeing
October and May are the best months for city time in Thimphu. October highs reach 17.5°C with 9.5 sun hours a day, while May sees warmer 18.5°C highs, though with more rain (329mm) than October's 208mm.
Hiking & nature
November and October suit hiking best. November is drier, with just 17.4 rain days and 103mm of rain, plus 9.6 sun hours daily. October is slightly warmer, with a 17.5°C high, but has more rain at 208mm over 24.4 days.
Keep planning
FAQ
Yes, October is the top-rated month, with a score of 7.1 out of 10. Days reach 17.5°C and rain drops to 24.4 days a month, down from over 29 in the monsoon months. Sun hours climb to 9.5, making it one of the clearer, drier windows of the year.
August works, but it is wet. It scores 6.8 out of 10, still rated good, with highs of 21.6°C. Rain falls on about 30.5 days and totals 510mm, so expect frequent showers. Sun hours are lower too, at 7.8, reflecting the cloudy monsoon pattern.
January is rated just ok, scoring 4.1 out of 10. Daytime highs reach only 8.9°C and lows drop to -1.8°C, the coldest combination of the year. Rain days are fewer, at 14.7, and sun hours sit at 9.2, so skies are often clear despite the cold.
Yes, May is one of the two best months, tied with October at a 7 out of 10 score. Highs reach 18.5°C and lows 9.6°C, comfortable for walking. Rain picks up before the monsoon, with 29.6 rain days and 329mm, so pack for showers alongside the mild temperatures.
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