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Bhutan

Ura (Bumthang)

Cobbled hill village of whitewashed houses on the Bumthang to Mongar road

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Best time to visit Ura (Bumthang)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: April to May and October to November
  • Shoulder: March, September and December, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: January to February and June to August

Planning a specific month? AprilMayOctoberNovember

Ura (Bumthang) season by season

Winter December to February Shoulder

Dec is cold but clear; Jan and Feb bring hard frost, snow at Thrumshing La and a hushed village with bare fields.

Summer March to May Prime time

Apr and May are the best: the Ura Yakchoe dances, rhododendron forests in bloom and fresh green pastures on the hills.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Jun to Aug are wet, with mud and slides around Thrumshing La; Sep is clearer and the barley turns gold.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Oct and Nov bring crisp air, harvest in the fields and wide views back over the valley from the road pass.

What Ura (Bumthang) is actually like

Homestays in old stone farmhouses, buckwheat pancakes and butter tea, with villagers who rarely see visitors.

Things to do in Ura

The local places worth your time in and around Ura, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Ura Lhakhang

    Temple · in town

    Village temple where the Ura Yakchoe is held, when a sacred relic is shown and masked dancers fill the yard.

  • Shertang La

    Viewpoint · 6 km out

    Highest point on the drive in from Jakar; on clear mornings it looks north towards Gangkhar Puensum.

  • Thrumshing La

    Viewpoint · 12 km out

    High road pass at about 3,780 m towards Mongar, in the fir and rhododendron forest of Thrumshing La National Park.

  • Sengor

    Village · 18 km out

    Small herder settlement in the cloud forest below Thrumshing La, a noted stop for birders on the Mongar road.

Getting to Ura (Bumthang)

48 km east of Jakar, about 2 h; Bathpalathang airport in Bumthang has domestic flights from Paro. Route permit

Practical ways in: flightroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
3129 m
Country
Bhutan
Coordinates
27.4789, 90.9057

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Ura (Bumthang)?

April to May and October to November is peak season in Ura (Bumthang). March, September and December is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid January to February and June to August. Apr and May are the best: the Ura Yakchoe dances, rhododendron forests in bloom and fresh green pastures on the hills.

How many days do you need in Ura (Bumthang)?

2 days is the usual stay. Homestays in old stone farmhouses, buckwheat pancakes and butter tea, with villagers who rarely see visitors.

How do you get to Ura (Bumthang)?

48 km east of Jakar, about 2 h; Bathpalathang airport in Bumthang has domestic flights from Paro. Route permit. Practical ways in: flight and road.

Is Ura (Bumthang) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

Is there a festival in Ura (Bumthang)?

Ura Yakchoe (Apr or May). Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Ura?

Ura Lhakhang, Shertang La, Thrumshing La and Sengor. Village temple where the Ura Yakchoe is held, when a sacred relic is shown and masked dancers fill the yard.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Bhutan

All 15 destinations in Bhutan