Samlha Tours & Travels

Time to begin planning your vacation

1) Think about what you want to do when visiting Bhutan.

If you already know what you want to do while you’re in Bhutan—for instance, go hiking, go to festivals, see a black-necked crane, sign up for a strenuous mountain bike race, etc.—this will help you choose the best time of year to engage in that activity.

The entire year is your oyster if you don’t have a specific schedule in mind and are simply looking for a general cultural experience or to find comfort, contentment, or perhaps enlightenment. Something that all passengers ought to be aware of (if you aren’t aware of it now. Please bear with us) is that Bhutan has peak and off-peak tourist seasons.

Peak travel months for Bhutan are March, April, May, September, October, and November. Daily rate: $250 USD

Benefits of peak season: finest time for trekking, best opportunity to see major events, and flora in full bloom               

December, January, February, June, July, and August are off-peak months. daily fee of $200

Benefits of visiting during off-peak season include reduced daily rates, fewer visitors, and more intimate festivals.

2) Be aware of the dates.

Now that you’ve chosen the activities you want to do while you’re there, you can choose the exact time of year to go, which will help you determine the best dates to fly. We often advise a 7-day plan (at the very least), as that is just about enough time to tour Bhutan’s major valleys.

 

As DrukAir (Royal Bhutan Airlines) only travels to a select number of locations (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Singapore), and some sectors don’t have daily flights, we recommend adding some flexibility to your itinerary.

3) If your travel dates coincide with the busiest times of year

If you plan to travel to Bhutan between March and May in the spring and September and October in the fall, we strongly advise that you make travel arrangements at least three months in advance, especially if you wish to attend one of the major festivals like the Paro or Thimphu Tshechu.

Due to the peak tourist season and the relatively low capacity of airlines and hotels, reservations frequently fill up rapidly. Just keep in mind that the earlier you book, the better, especially if you plan to go during the busiest time of year.

4) If your travel dates fall outside of the busiest times of year

Congratulations if you’re travelling between June and August and December and February, which are off-peak months. During this time, the daily tariff is reduced to $200 USD. Additionally, since you won’t need to reserve as far in advance as you do during the busiest times, you can book later and take a bit more risk. We’ll need at least two weeks’ notice in order to plan everything and get your visa ready.    

5) How to begin the booking process

Send us an email with your data so that we may make a Drukair tickets reservation (free of charge) to hold your seat(s) for up to 30 days after you have your dates and a broad idea of any festival, trek, or activity you wish to participate in. Even better, if you already know which package you want. Don’t worry if you’re unsure of what you want. If you have a specific itinerary in mind, we can create it.