Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park

National Park Biodiverse Bhutanese park protecting Himalayan forests and rivers

A large protected area in central Bhutan named for the fourth king, covering subtropical forest, high pastures and alpine ridges. Visitors come for trekking, village homestays, birdwatching and Himalayan wildlife encounters along remote valley roads.

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Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park is a large protected area in central and southern Bhutan named for the fourth king of Bhutan. The park conserves extensive tracts of broadleaf and conifer forest, river valleys and alpine meadows across a mountainous landscape.

The park contains a variety of habitats spanning lowland riverine forest to higher-elevation subalpine and alpine zones, and supports traditional rural communities, seasonal grazing areas and wildlife corridors. It is used for conservation, controlled tourism and local livelihoods, including trekking routes and nature observation.

The protected area was designated in the late 20th century and is managed as part of Bhutan’s national network of parks and protected areas, with emphasis on integrated conservation of biodiversity and local communities. It is administered across several districts, including Zhemgang.

Geographically, the park sits in central Bhutan, covering valleys and ridges in and around Zhemgang District and adjoining districts, and connects with other protected areas in Bhutan’s conservation system.

  • Access and permits: Travel within the park and to some higher or remote valleys typically requires local permits, guides or arrangements through licensed tour operators in Bhutan.
Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park
27.1667, 90.4333
Permit required; tourists must visit Bhutan with a licensed tour operator

Tips for Visiting Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park #

  • Foreign visitors must travel to Bhutan through a licensed tour operator and obtain the required permits in advance-coordinate your itinerary with a Bhutanese tour company that handles park access and permits.
  • Plan trips for spring (April-May) or autumn (September-October) for clearer weather and flowering seasons; these windows offer better visibility on higher trails and more reliable road conditions.
  • Build extra time into travel plans for long drives and mountain passes inside the park-many lodges and villages used as bases are remote, so overland travel can take longer than map distances suggest.

Best Time to Visit Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park #

Spring and autumn are the best times to visit for trekking and clear weather; the monsoon brings heavy rains that limit access.

Spring (flowering, good trekking)
March-May · Lowlands ~10-25°C; higher elevations cooler
Mild temperatures at lower elevations and rhododendron blooms; good visibility and trekking conditions in many areas.
Monsoon (wet, restricted travel)
June-August · Lowlands ~15-25°C; higher elevations cooler and wet
Heavy rain and leeches in some zones; many trails are muddy or slippery and travel can be disrupted.
Autumn (clearest skies)
September-November · Lowlands ~10-20°C; colder at altitude
Generally dry with excellent visibility - one of the best periods for trekking and wildlife viewing.

Weather & Climate near Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park #

Climate

Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park's climate is classified as Subtropical Highland (Dry Winter) - Subtropical Highland (Dry Winter) climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 3°C to 22°C. Abundant rainfall (1569 mm/year), wettest in July with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 84 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
NovemberDecemberJanuary
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
30°
Warmest Month
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 12°C and lows of 3°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.

67 Good

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
12°
70%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

15 mm
Rainfall
1.1 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.9
UV Index
Moderate
10.5h daylight

February

February is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 4°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.

63 Good

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
13°
65%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

23 mm
Rainfall
1.0 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.2
UV Index
High
11.1h daylight

March

March is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

65 Good

Comfort

12°
Feels Like Cool
12°C
Temperature
16°
61%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

48 mm
Rainfall
1.9 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.5
UV Index
High
11.9h daylight

April

April is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 10°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

59 Acceptable

Comfort

14°
Feels Like Cool
14°C
Temperature
10° 19°
68%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

88 mm
Rainfall
1.9 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.6
UV Index
Very High
12.7h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 13°C. Significant rainfall (154 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

55 Acceptable

Comfort

17°
Feels Like Cool
17°C
Temperature
13° 20°
78%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

154 mm
Rainfall
1.7 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.8
UV Index
Very High
13.4h daylight

June

June is mild with highs of 22°C and lows of 15°C. Heavy rain (281 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

61 Good

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Mild
18°C
Temperature
15° 22°
85%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

281 mm
Rainfall
1.9 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.8
UV Index
Very High
13.7h daylight

July

July is mild with highs of 22°C and lows of 16°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (381 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

61 Good

Comfort

19°
Feels Like Mild
19°C
Temperature
16° 22°
88%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

381 mm
Rainfall
1.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.9
UV Index
Very High
13.6h daylight

August

August is the warmest month with highs of 22°C and lows of 16°C. Heavy rain (283 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

61 Good

Comfort

19°
Feels Like Mild
19°C
Temperature
16° 23°
86%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

283 mm
Rainfall
1.6 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.9
UV Index
Very High
13.0h daylight

September

September is mild with highs of 21°C and lows of 15°C. Significant rainfall (183 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

55 Acceptable

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Mild
18°C
Temperature
15° 21°
86%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

183 mm
Rainfall
1.4 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.6
UV Index
Very High
12.2h daylight

October

October is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 12°C. Regular rainfall (92 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

67 Good

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
12° 19°
79%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

92 mm
Rainfall
1.1 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.5
UV Index
Very High
11.4h daylight

November

November is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 8°C. Light rainfall.

81 Excellent

Comfort

12°
Feels Like Cool
12°C
Temperature
16°
75%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

12 mm
Rainfall
1.2 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.1
UV Index
High
10.7h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 4°C. The driest month with just 9 mm.

71 Very Good

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
14°
73%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

9 mm
Rainfall
1.0 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.9
UV Index
Moderate
10.3h daylight

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