Bhutan · month by month
January
Tip for January
Base yourself in Punakha, which is 10 °C warmer than Thimphu, and make day trips up to the passes.
Prices and crowds
Low season: many hotels offer lower rates and festival-week crowds are absent.
Where to go in January
The old capital where two rivers meet below a great dzong
A wide glacial valley where black-necked cranes spend the winter
Hot springs and a frontier dzong at the top of the Mo Chhu
Build your own route Tell us your dates, who is coming and what you want to see. We draw the route and price it three ways. Start Working to a budget? Give us a number per person. We will tell you honestly what it buys, and where to save. Start Ask someone who has been A first plan and price within one working day. No payment to start. StartPackages at their best in January
per person, twin₹37,500 Build your own route Tell us your dates, who is coming and what you want to see. We draw the route and price it three ways. Start Working to a budget? Give us a number per person. We will tell you honestly what it buys, and where to save. Start Ask someone who has been A first plan and price within one working day. No payment to start. Start
Questions people ask
Good to know
Is January a good time to visit Bhutan?
January is cold and dry, with clear skies and the best mountain views of the year from Dochula and Chele La. Thimphu nights fall below freezing, but Punakha and Wangdue in the lower valleys are mild and pleasant. The black-necked cranes are in Phobjikha. Snow can close Chele La and slow other passes, so keep a spare day. Gasa's hot springs are at their busiest with Bhutanese families.
What is the weather like in Bhutan in January?
Thimphu −3–12 °C, dry, clear; Punakha 5–17 °C. Conditions differ by altitude and coast, so check the forecast for each stop a week before you travel.
Where should we go in Bhutan in January?
We suggest Punakha, Phobjikha and Gangtey, Gasa. Base yourself in Punakha, which is 10 °C warmer than Thimphu, and make day trips up to the passes.