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Bhutan

Royal Manas National Park (Panbang)

Bhutan's oldest national park, explored by raft from a riverside village

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Best time to visit Royal Manas National Park (Panbang)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

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

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryMarchNovemberDecember

Royal Manas National Park (Panbang) season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Dec to Feb is the best: mild sunny days, low clear rivers for rafting and good odds of hornbills and golden langurs.

Summer March to May Prime time

Mar is still good; Apr and May turn hot and humid, though the rivers stay raftable before the rains arrive.

Monsoon June to September Do not go

Skip Jun to Sep: swollen rivers stop rafting, the long road from Gelephu suffers slides and the forest crawls with leeches.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Oct is warm and green as the rivers drop; by Nov rafting, mahseer fishing and guided walks in the park are back in full swing.

What Royal Manas National Park (Panbang) is actually like

Bamboo cottages on the Mangde Chhu, community river guides, mahseer fly fishing and almost no other travellers.

Things to do in Royal Manas National Park

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

  • Drangme Chhu

    River · in town

    Gentle 11 km rafting run from below the Nishioka Bridge at Panbang to the boat crossing into the park, fine for first timers.

  • Mangde Chhu

    River · 2 km out

    The stronger river, meeting the Drangme Chhu just below Panbang; bigger rapids for skilled rafters and bamboo cottages on its banks.

  • Marang Jungle Camp

    Activity · 2 km out

    Tented camp of the River Guides of Panbang by a Drangme Chhu tributary, base for rafting trips and catch and release mahseer fishing.

Getting to Royal Manas National Park (Panbang)

Gelephu, with Drukair flights from Paro and Kolkata, is 6 to 7 h by road. Enter at Gelephu; route permit needed

Practical ways in: road

Trip facts

How long to stay
3 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
164 m
Country
Bhutan
Coordinates
26.8504, 90.9617

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Royal Manas National Park (Panbang)?

November to March is peak season in Royal Manas National Park (Panbang). April to May and October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to September. Oct is warm and green as the rivers drop; by Nov rafting, mahseer fishing and guided walks in the park are back in full swing.

How many days do you need in Royal Manas National Park (Panbang)?

3 days is the usual stay. Bamboo cottages on the Mangde Chhu, community river guides, mahseer fly fishing and almost no other travellers.

How do you get to Royal Manas National Park (Panbang)?

Gelephu, with Drukair flights from Paro and Kolkata, is 6 to 7 h by road. Enter at Gelephu; route permit needed. Practical ways in: road.

Is Royal Manas National Park (Panbang) expensive, and does it get crowded?

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

What are the best things to do in Royal Manas National Park?

Drangme Chhu, Mangde Chhu and Marang Jungle Camp. Gentle 11 km rafting run from below the Nishioka Bridge at Panbang to the boat crossing into the park, fine for first timers.

Nearby, and where to go next

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