Small group or private
15 Days Tibet Nepal Bhutan Himalaya Exploration Tour
15 Days $1,600 per person Overview Itinerary Tips & FAQ Lhasa EBC (5,200m) Yamdrok Lake Kathmandu Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Thimphu Punakha Dzong Our 15-day Tibet–Nepal–Bhutan In-depth Tour takes you to explore the…
- 15 Days / 14 Nights
- Lhasa → EBC (5,200m) → Yamdrok Lake → Kathmandu → Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) → Thimphu → Punakha Dzong
- Moderate pace
- Best: April to June and September to October
- No Deposit — Ever
- Cancel Free Before Permit Issued
- Full Refund except $100 Permit Fee
- Bring 7, Your Spot Is Free
- Our Own Office in Lhasa, Since 1999
The trip at a glance
- Lhasa → Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
- Lhasa → Sera, Drepung Monasteries
- Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Gyantse → Shigatse
- Shigatse → Everest Base Camp (5,200m)
- EBC → Gyirong Valley → Border
- Gyirong → Kathmandu
Day by day
Lhasa → EBC (5,200m) → Yamdrok Lake → Kathmandu → Paro Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) → Thimphu → Punakha Dzong
Day1
Arrive Lhasa — Rest
Airport pick-up and acclimatization.
Day2
Lhasa — Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
Explore Lhasa’s iconic landmarks.
Day3
Lhasa — Sera, Drepung Monasteries
Visit Drepung and Sera Monasteries.
Day4
Lhasa — Yamdrok Lake — Gyantse — Shigatse
Drive to Shigatse via Yamdrok Lake and Gyantse. Visit Tashilunpo Monastery.
Day5
Shigatse — Everest Base Camp (5,200m)
Drive to Rongbuk Monastery and EBC. Night at the world’s most famous base camp.
Day6
EBC — Gyirong Valley — Border
Sunrise at EBC. Drive to the Nepal border via the Gyirong Valley.
Day7
Gyirong — Kathmandu
Cross into Nepal and drive to Kathmandu.
Day8
Kathmandu Sightseeing — Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, Durbar Square
Full day exploring Kathmandu’s UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Day9
Kathmandu — Swayambhunath, Patan
Visit the Monkey Temple and medieval Patan Durbar Square.
Day10
Fly Kathmandu to Paro, Bhutan
Fly to Paro, Bhutan — an extraordinary flight over the Himalayan range.
Day11
Paro — Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang)
Hike to the legendary Tiger’s Nest Monastery perched on a 3,120m cliff face. One of the world’s most sacred Buddhist sites.
Day12
Paro — Thimphu
Drive to Thimphu, Bhutan’s unique capital. Visit the Buddha Dordenma statue and Folk Heritage Museum.
Day13
Thimphu — Punakha via Dochula Pass
Drive over Dochula Pass with 108 chortens and snow-peak views. Visit Punakha Dzong.
Day14
Punakha — Paro
Return to Paro through the scenic Bhutanese countryside.
Day15
Paro Departure
Transfer to Paro airport for your departure from Bhutan.
Meals: Breakfast Tibet Permit — Required for All Visitors Every visitor to Tibet must hold a Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) permit. It is mandatory, cannot be obtained on arrival, and differs by nationality. We handle the full application once you book — please allow at least 15 days before your departure date.
What is included
Included
- Tibet Entry Permit and Alien’s Travel Permit
- Nepal and/or Bhutan entry visa assistance
- All entrance fees for tourist sites listed in the itinerary
- Professional English-speaking tour guide throughout
- All ground transportation as listed
- All accommodation listed in the itinerary
- Tourist accident/casualty insurance
Not included
- Single room supplement — free of charge for any group booking 5 rooms or travelling with 10 or more.
- International flights
- Meals not specified in the itinerary (lunch and dinner unless specified)
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Personal expenses (laundry, snacks, optional activities)
- Visa fees for China, Nepal or Bhutan
Photos from this route
Questions travellers ask
How large will my group be?
Join-in departures run with a minimum of 3 travellers — usually 3–8 pax, and never more than 16. You choose the departure date, the starting point and the itinerary length that suits you; guests on different day counts travel together on the shared legs, and each group leaves when their own itinerary ends. If you prefer, this route can also run as a private tour for your own party only. A 3–8 group costs a little more per person and is quieter, with more freedom to change the day on the road; a 3–16 group costs less per person and gives you more people to travel with.
Which permits does this tour need?
We arrange all required Tibet permits for you as part of the booking — you only need a valid passport. Depending on the areas visited this can include the Tibet Travel Permit (TTB), the Aliens’ Travel Permit (PSB), the Frontier Pass and, for sensitive areas, a Military Permit.
How do I get to the starting point of the tour?
The tour starts in Lhasa. You can reach it by flight or by the Qinghai–Tibet railway — either way we meet you on arrival. Many travellers fly in and take the train out (or the other way round) to see both faces of the plateau. We are happy to advise on flights and train tickets as part of your booking.
Can this tour be customized?
Yes — every tour on this site can also run as a private departure with your own dates and pace, arranged by our own office in Lhasa. Send us your dates, group size and interests and we will adapt the itinerary around you.
Before you send your inquiry
- No deposit — ever. Your dates are held with a free inquiry, and nothing is due until we confirm. On fixed group departures, book early to secure your seats.
- Cancel free before your Tibet Travel Permit is issued — full refund, every dollar.
- After the permit is issued: the USD $100 permit fee is non-refundable, everything else is refunded. Refunds within 7 business days.
- Bring a group of 7 and your spot is free (7+1).
- Single room supplement — free of charge for any group booking 5 rooms or travelling with 10 or more.
- Tell us your dates and route on the form below — you will have a written itinerary and an item-by-item quote within 12 hours, with no obligation to book.
- Prices depend on group size, hotel standard, season and how you travel into Tibet, so we quote each trip individually rather than from a price list.
- Hotel details — the exact hotels we use — come with your quote. Ask below for the standard you would like and we will match it.
- A Lhasa-based Tibet tour operator since 1999 — our own guides, vehicles and office in Lhasa, 7,200+ travellers from 40+ countries, 4.9★ on TripAdvisor.
