Small group or private
16 Days Himalayan Countries Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan Tour
16 Days $1,890 per person Overview Itinerary Tips & FAQ Lhasa Potala Palace EBC (5,200m) Kathmandu Boudhanath Paro (Bhutan) Tiger’s Nest Thimphu Punakha This comprehensive Himalayan countries tour combines the greatest…
- 16 Days / 15 Nights
- Lhasa → Potala Palace → EBC (5,200m) → Kathmandu → Boudhanath → Paro (Bhutan) → Tiger's Nest → Thimphu → Punakha
- 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 Monastery, Drepung Monastery
- Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Gyantse → Shigatse
- Shigatse → Everest Base Camp (5,200m)
- EBC Sunrise → Gyirong Valley
- Gyirong Border → Kathmandu
Day by day
Lhasa → Potala Palace → EBC (5,200m) → Kathmandu → Boudhanath → Paro (Bhutan) → Tiger's Nest → Thimphu → Punakha
Day1
Arrive Lhasa — Rest and Acclimatize
Airport pick-up and hotel check-in. Rest for the day.
Day2
Lhasa — Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street
Explore Lhasa’s iconic cultural and spiritual landmarks.
Day3
Lhasa — Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery
Visit Drepung and Sera Monasteries, including the famous afternoon monk debates.
Day4
Lhasa — Yamdrok Lake — Gyantse — Shigatse
Drive to Shigatse via Yamdrok Lake, Karola Glacier, Gyantse Kumbum and Tashilunpo Monastery.
Day5
Shigatse — Everest Base Camp (5,200m)
Drive to Rongbuk Monastery and EBC. Night at the foot of the world’s highest mountain.
Day6
EBC Sunrise — Gyirong Valley
Sunrise over Everest. Drive through the spectacular Gyirong Valley toward Nepal.
Day7
Gyirong Border — Kathmandu
Cross into Nepal and drive to Kathmandu.
Day8
Kathmandu — Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, Durbar Square
Full day sightseeing at Kathmandu’s greatest landmarks.
Day9
Kathmandu — Swayambhunath, Bhaktapur
Visit the Monkey Temple and the extraordinary medieval city of Bhaktapur.
Day10
Fly Kathmandu to Paro, Bhutan
Fly to Bhutan with spectacular Himalayan views from the plane.
Day11
Paro — Tiger's Nest Monastery (Paro Taktsang)
Hike to the legendary Tiger’s Nest Monastery clinging to a 3,120m cliff. One of the world’s most iconic sacred sites.
Day12
Paro — Thimphu
Drive to Bhutan’s unique capital Thimphu. Visit the Buddha Dordenma and Folk Heritage Museum.
Day13
Thimphu — Punakha Dzong via Dochula Pass
Drive over the Dochula Pass (108 chortens) and visit the spectacular Punakha Dzong at the river confluence.
Day14
Punakha — Paro
Return to Paro through Bhutan’s beautiful valley scenery.
Day15
Paro — Free Exploration
Final day to explore the Paro valley, visit the National Museum or shop for Bhutanese handicrafts.
Day16
Paro Departure
Transfer to Paro International Airport for your departure.
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.
