How to Plan a Nepal Tibet Bhutan Tour?

Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan have recently become the bucket list destinations among discerning travelers. Some of the world's highest peaks, friendly and highly spiritual people, and scenic landscapes are among features Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan have in common. Because of particular climates, geographical features, and governmental rules, traveling Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan requires timely and careful organization. You can travel within these destinations and between them by airplane, 4x4 vehicles, and trains to a certain extent. Before being able to do that, however, you need to follow specific application procedures and acquaint yourself with seasonal fluctuations. Only then you will have a great time while traveling Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan.

Required Permits and Visas for a Nepal Tibet Bhutan Tour

To be able to take a Tibet-Nepal-Bhutan tour, you need to acquire the following documents:

Permit to Visit Tibet

Obtaining the Chinese visa through the embassy or consulate is the first step toward your Tibet tour. The Chinese visa is a mandatory document for most foreign travelers visiting China and its autonomous province of Tibet. The cost of the visa depends on the traveler’s nationality, varying between a few dozen to over a hundred USD. Once you acquire the document, hire a reliable Tibet tour operator, such as Tibettour.org, to apply for the Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) for you.

Since Chinese regulations prevent travelers to tour Tibet on their own, they need to arrange an individual or group tour via a local travel agency. Provide your chosen tour operator with the scanned copy of the Chinese visa and your passport details. Note that the validity of the passport needs to be six months at least. Once we receive your Tibet Travel Permit, we will coordinate with you regarding the delivery. It needs to take place in China since the Chinese law prevents exporting the document. Besides securing the TTP for you, we can assist you in creating the itinerary, booking accommodation and transport, and else.

Travelers entering Tibet via Nepal need to apply for the Chinese Group Visa. To do so, they need to contact an authorized travel agency in Kathmandu, which applies for the group visa on their behalf. Chinese Group Visa has to include the names of at least five people who need to enter and leave Tibet at the same time and travel together.

Permit to Visit Nepal

Obtaining Nepal tourist visa is straightforward. You can contact the embassy or consulate of Nepal to apply for a Nepal visa. You can also acquire the document at Kathmandu Airport or at any border crossing open for foreign visitors on arrival. Make sure to bring USD to pay for the visa.

Holidaymakers intending to enter and leave Nepal multiple times (for visiting Tibet, Bhutan, and India, for example) can get a multiple-entry visa. The 15-day visa entitling you to enter Nepal multiple times costs 45 USD, while the price of the 30-day multiple-entry visa is 60 USD. The 90-day visa costs 100 USD. If you don't plan to travel from Nepal to Tibet or Bhutan, single-entry visas valid for 15 and 30 days cost 20 USD less.

Since you can't travel directly between Bhutan and Tibet, you will need the multiple-entry visa if your Tibet-Nepal-Bhutan tour begins in Nepal.

Permit to Visit Bhutan

To visit the Kingdom of Bhutan, you need to arrange a guided tour via a local tour operator, or an authorized foreign travel agency, first and then get a visa approval. When you get in touch with the selected tour operator, you need to set all relevant details, including the time when you enter and exit Bhutan. Once you arrange the Bhutan tour and pay all related expenses, including the 40 USD cost of the visa, the agency applies to the Tourism Council of Bhutan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

When the officials approve your visit to Bhutan, you will receive a clearance letter. Upon arrival at the airport or a border crossing, the authorities will stamp the visa in your passport. If you are a resident of the Maldives, Bangladesh or India, you don't need the Bhutan Visa to enter the kingdom.

The Best Time to Enjoy a Nepal Tibet Bhutan Tour

Albeit located next to one another, Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan feature widely different microclimates due to differences in altitudes. Hence, weather conditions tend to differ even between places that are relatively near each other. Besides the elevation, the monsoon, which comes to this part of Asia in late spring or early summer, is the defining factor. So, you need to take the weather into account before booking the tour of Tibet, Bhutan, and Nepal.

The best times for a joint visit to Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet are spring and autumn. Winter, in general, features low temperatures and some passages in the mountains tend to be blocked this time of year. High temperatures and abundant rainfall, especially in Nepal and Bhutan, will accompany your summer tour. So, plan a trip to Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan in spring or autumn to benefit from the best weather conditions.

Recommended Itinerary for a Nepal Tibet Bhutan Tour

Depending on your interests and available time, you can combine different means of transport for the efficient Tibet-Nepal-Bhutan tour.

Tibet-Nepal-Bhutan

Traveling from Tibet to Nepal overland and then flying from Kathmandu to Paro, some 50km/over 30mi away from Thimphu, is a popular way of traveling Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan.

An overland tour takes you from Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, to Kathmandu, Nepali capital, via the border crossing of Gyirong Port. In Lhasa, visit the monumental Potala Palace, a residence of Dalai Lama defining the skyline of Lhasa. Nearby Jokhang Temple incorporates several architectural styles and displays exquisite murals. Before you start heading toward Nepal, visit Sera and Drepung, two of the Three Great Tibetan Monasteries.

Upon finding Yamdrok, a lake surrounded by mountains, you will relish shifting colors of the water and the holy Nyenchen Khangsar mountain in the distance. On your way to Gyantse, you will see Karola Glacier from the road, while the Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse displays a big statue of Maitreya Buddha. From the Everest Base Camp, admire views of Mount Everest and visit Rongbuk, the world's highest monastery.

Before boarding an airplane to Bhutan, take time to explore the Boudhanath stupa and the Swayambhunath pagoda in Kathmandu. Both sites are incredibly significant Buddhist places of worship. Pashupatinath, the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu, honors Shiva and is among the top four sacred sites in Asia devoted to this Hindu deity.

After landing at Paro in Bhutan, you may visit the Kyichu Lhakhang, a temple housing Buddhist scriptures, relics and various paintings. Rinpung Dzong, a grand 17th-century fortress, features an exquisite Bhutan architecture and houses state and religious authorities of the kingdom. While in Thimphu, tour this laid-back city and visit the National Library, Late King's Memorial Chorten, and the Folk Heritage Museum. Before concluding your Tibet-Nepal-Bhutan tour, visit the Tashichho Dzong, a masterpiece of the Bhutanese architecture housing the governmental offices.

Nepal-Tibet-Bhutan

In Kathmandu, explore the Swayambhunath Pagoda, a significant Buddhist stupa that overlooks the capital of Nepal. Boudhanath is another Buddhist place of worship, boasting one of the largest stupas in Asia and featuring eyes of Buddha on each side. Don't miss Kathmandu Durbar Square, flanked by the former Royal Palace and lined with several-century old structures. For one of the most amazing sunsets in your lifetime, visit the Pashupatinath, a Hindu site devoted to Shiva.

Take a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, and visit the Potala Palace, a grand fortress housing the stupas of late Dalai Lamas. Nearby Jokhang Temple safeguards the gilded statue of 12-year old Buddha studded with jewels, which is the holiest object in Tibet. While exploring the temple's premises, pay attention to outstanding murals. Barkhor Street is an ancient street and a commercial hub that becomes the most spiritual place in Lhasa during Buddhist ceremonies.

Tibet to Nepal overland tour takes you to Yamdrok Lake, a photogenic sacred lake of Tibet surrounded by mountains. The uniqueness of the Pelkor Monastery in Gyantse lies in the fact that the monastery houses Kadampa, Sakyapa, and Gelukpa factions of Tibetan Buddhism. Enormous Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse consists of around 3,500 rooms and is an important Gelukpa learning center. Before you enter Nepal, visit the Everest Base Camp for great views of Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain. When you arrive in Kathmandu, take a flight to Paro, Bhutan.

Besides visiting historic Kyichu Lhakhang, Rinpung Dzong, Tashichho Dzong and the city of Thimpu, the highlight of your Bhutan tour should be the Taksang Lhakhang. Popular Tiger's Nest sits on an 800-meter/2,625-feet high cliff, overlooking the surrounding mountains and a nearby valley.

Bhutan-Nepal-Tibet

While traveling from the Tashichho Dzong to Punakha, have a stop at Dochu La Pass to relish scenic views of the Himalayas from this vantage point. Besides the aforementioned points of interest, add the Drukgyel Dzong and a quaint village nearby to the Bhutan itinerary.

After a flight to Kathmandu, tour Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, and Kathmandu Durbar Square. Complement your Nepal itinerary with the UNESCO site Bhaktapur Durbar Square, featuring various pagoda- and shikhara-style temples centering on the royal palace.

On your overland tour from Nepal to Tibet by vehicle, spend some time in the Langtang National Park and hopefully see red pandas, musk deer, and black bears. When you cross the Nepali-Tibetan border, visit Everest Base Camp, Rongbuk, Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, Karola Glacier, and Yamdrok Lake among other top Tibet attractions before you reach Lhasa. Before the end of your Bhutan-Nepal-Tibet trip, tour the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Sera Monastery and other top attractions in or near Lhasa. Conclusion

Touring Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan allows you to perceive and appreciate landscapes that dramatically change while approaching Mount Everest. Along the way, you will acquaint yourself with rich culture incorporating Hinduism and Buddhism and a variety of architectural styles. You will also travel along mountainous roads to admire views stretching far and wide. Autumn is the best time of the year for taking a Tibet Nepal Bhutan tour by many experienced travelers. Spring, however, lasts longer, allowing you to plan a trip to Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan with more flexibility if you plan smartly.