Bhutan

Bhutan Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Bhutan in January.

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Thimphu Paro Punākha Wangdiphodrang

Considering a trip to Bhutan this January and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:

What to Expect in Bhutan in January

Bhutan offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In January, one might encounter temperatures that range from cold to mild, and precipitation levels ranging from low to high. It's the height of winter.

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from cold in Drugyel Dzong at 3°C (37°F) to mild in Thimphu at 15°C (59°F). At night it cools down to -2°C (28°F) in Thimphu and -11°C (12°F) in Drugyel Dzong. While January might be the chilliest month, Bhutan offers areas with temperate climates year-round, ensuring visitors always have a delightful experience.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Bhutan, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From low snow/rainfall in Thimphu with an average of 7 mm (0.3 in) to high snow/rainfall in Punākha with 139 mm (5.5 in).

Explore Bhutan by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Best Places to Visit in Bhutan in January

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Bhutan.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Bhutan

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Bhutan?

Temperature range in Bhutan (January)

Precipitation variation in Bhutan (January)

Thimphu

In January Thimphu generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 15°C (59°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -2°C (28°F) and low monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
17°C (63°F)
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-2°C (28°F)
0°C (32°F)
Monthly snow/rainfall
4 mm (0.2 in)
7 mm (0.3 in)
10 mm (0.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
0 days
a single day
a single day
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Thimphu →

Drugyel Dzong

In January Drugyel Dzong generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C (37°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -11°C (12°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
6°C (43°F)
3°C (37°F)
4°C (39°F)
Min temperature
-8°C (18°F)
-11°C (12°F)
-9°C (16°F)
Monthly snow/rainfall
36 mm (1.4 in)
45 mm (1.8 in)
67 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
a single day
a single day
a single day
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Drugyel Dzong →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Bhutan.

In our records: Bhutan January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Bhutan in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • Based on our data, the coldest January night in Bhutan dropped to -27°C (-17°F) in Thimphu on January 17, 1994.
  • In our records, the coldest January daytime high in Bhutan was -15°C (5°F) in Thimphu on January 10, 1991.

Popular cities in January

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Bhutan in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Thimphu 15°C (59°F) -2°C (28°F) 7 mm (0.3 in)
Paro 5°C (41°F) -8°C (18°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
Punākha 7°C (45°F) -4°C (25°F) 139 mm (5.5 in)
Wangdiphodrang 9°C (48°F) -1°C (30°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)
Drugyel Dzong 3°C (37°F) -11°C (12°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)

Bhutan weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Bhutan in January?

In January, Bhutan generally has pleasant weather conditions. Thimphu sees daytime temperatures near 15°C (59°F), with nights cooling to roughly -2°C (28°F).

What is the average temperature in Bhutan in January?

Average temperatures in Bhutan during January range from a nighttime low near -2°C (28°F) to a daytime high around 15°C (59°F) in Thimphu.

Does Bhutan get a lot of snow/rain in January?

January is on the drier side in Bhutan. Thimphu averages only about 7 mm (0.3 in), with most days staying dry.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Bhutan?

In our view, January might not be the best time to travel to Bhutan with often poor weather in Thimphu.

Generally speaking, March, April, May, June, September, October and November provide perfect weather in Thimphu.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Bhutan.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Bhutan? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Bhutan.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.

Visit Bhutan

The best travel time for Bhutan is in early spring and in October and November when the festivals take place. Bhutan is without doubt one of the most special bucket list destinations in the world.
Must visit in Bhutan →