Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet, the best 3 Himalayan destinations attract tourists from the outside world to explore the charming and mysterious region every year. A tour to any of the Himalayan destinations is an experience one would never forget, with high mountains, crystal clear lakes, and numerous temples and monasteries. What more if you could take a trip that could cover the best three Himalayan regions in one?

A combination trip including Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet can be done on different schedules with different travel lengths. What is the optimism Tibet for visiting Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet together? How many days are required to explore all the essentials of these Himalayan regions?

Here are the most recommended options for you to decide how many days to spend in each destination and how to make the most of your time in Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet.

Optimum Time to Visit Tibet: 7 Days

Tibet sits on the highest plateau in the world, filled with monasteries, lakes, mountains, prairies, and the unique Tibetan people. The culture of Tibet is closely intertwined with its Buddhist beliefs, and the Tibetan people live their lives in devout honor of their ancient religion.

A tour Tibet can take anywhere from 5 to 21 days, depending on what you want to see while you are there. The most popular travel route is from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp in Tibet, during which you can explore all the essentials of Tibet in one go and have one night stay at the base camp to witness the world’s highest peak in the world.

Generally, it takes 8 days to travel from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp.

Generally, a city tour in Lhasa takes at least 4 days, as you need some time to acclimatize to the high altitude once upon arrival. Sightseeing trip usually starts on the second day. You can visit the popular monasteries, like the Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery in one go. The trip to the Potala Palace is usually combined with a visit to the sacred Jokhang Temple. It takes another day.

Taking Lhasa as the starting point, you can add a day or two to visit the surrounding attractions, such as Yamdrok Lake, Namtso Lake, Ganden Monastery, etc.

The journey to other destinations in Tibet, like Mount Everest and Mount Kailash takes over weeks. The classic Everest Base Camp from Lhasa to Everest Base Camp takes 8 days while the Mount Kailash tour from Lhasa takes 15 days.

A classic 15 days Mount Kailash tour include a 3-day kora around the sacred mountain.

As a part of a Nepal Tibet Bhutan tour, 7 days is the optimum time for visiting Lhasa and making the overland trip to Nepal via Everest Base Camp. Instead of retracing your steps back to Lhasa, you can follow the Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway all the way west, crossing the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas from Lhasa to Kathmandu. This route lets you experience the highlands, snow-capped mountains, and deep valleys on the roof of the world.

7 Days Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Small Group Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Gyirong - Kathmandu

Price from USD989 p.p

Optimum Time to Visit Nepal: 5 Days

Five days is recommended for an essential Nepal tour to explore the most iconic sites. Starting in the capital, Kathmandu, one of the most exotic cities in Asia, you can visit places like Durbar Square and the Garden of Dreams. A Kathmandu city tour can take around 2-3 days to see the main highlights without being too rushed.

Kathmandu Durbar Square is a must-see attraction for all tours in Kathmandu.

A single day is enough to visit the famous sites of Pashupatinath, where the Hindu dead are cremated out in the open on the riverbank, and the exotic Tibetan Buddhist community of Boudhanath. The stunningly preserved micro-city of Bhaktapur offers a taste of what Kathmandu was like before the modern world arrived, and the old-world bazaar town of Bandipur, poised on a precipitous ridge, is packed with gorgeous boutique hotels and friendly homestay lodges.

Another day can be used to visit Pokhara, the beautiful lakeside city that sits under the glistening white peaks of the Annapurna range, where you can paraglide, meditate, or just relax on a boat or by the lake.

Visit Pokhara for stunning views of the Himalayas from the Nepalese side.

It is suggested to visit both Kathmandu and Pokhara for around 5 days to fully appreciate the culture, history, as well as stunning views of the Himalayas from Nepal.

For a jungle safari in Chitwan National Park or a pilgrimage trip to Lumbini, you may need 9 days or more to fully explore Nepal in one go.

7 Days Lhasa to Kathmandu Overland Small Group Tour

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Gyirong - Kathmandu

Price from USD989 p.p

Optimum Time to Visit Bhutan: 4 Days

It is suggested to spend at least four days exploring the mysterious and ancient Kingdom of Bhutan in Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha.

In the Bhutanese capital of Thimphu, you can visit the local sites in the area, such as Takin Sanctuary, which cares for the rare Himalayan goat-antelope, the Buddha Dordenma Statue, and Thimphu Dzong, the largest religious building in Thimphu.

Visit the Buddha Dordenma Statue of Bhutan in Thimphu.

Then, it is off to Punakha for a tour of the beautiful architecture of the Punakha Dzong and the Chimmi Lhakhang, a temple dedicated to the Devine Madman and a sacred place where people pray for children. The Gangtey Valley, a vast, U-shaped glacial valley, is the winter home to the graceful Black-necked which visit the valley from Tibet. There, you can visit the Gangtey Monastery, the biggest Nyingmapa monastery in Bhutan, and the famous dzong at Wangdue Phodrang.

Punakha Dzong is worth a visit on a tour of Bhutan.

After Punakha, you will travel to Paro, where you can spend the afternoon touring the Paro Dzong, the local religious and administrative center, and the ancient watchtower of Ta Dzong, which now houses the National Museum and is filled with ancient Bhutanese cultural and religious relics.

No visit to Bhutan is complete without visiting the famous Taktsang Monastery, also known as the Tiger's Nest Monastery. The half-day Tiger’s Nest Monastery tour involves a trek up to the viewpoint to enjoy the stunning view of the monastery clinging to the side of the sheer vertical cliff. After a short rest, it’s another brief trek to the monastery itself and the amazing views of the valley below.

4 Days Classic Bhutan Culture Tour

Tour Route: Paro - Punakha - Thimphu - Paro

Price from USD p.p

Most Tourists Spend 14 to 17 Days visiting Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet Together

The most popular Nepal Tibet Bhutan tours last between 14 to 17 days. The 14-day overland tour of the Himalayas starts in Kathmandu with three days seeing Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, and other sites. Then, taking advantage of the only international flight to Tibet, you'll fly to Lhasa, seeing a bird's eye view of Mount Everest. There are two days in Lhasa to explore its iconic sites before setting out for Everest Base Camp and spending the night under the stars in sight of the towering mountain.

Get a view of the Himalayan mountain ranges from the plane window.

Two weeks are essential for an epic overland journey from Lhasa to Kathmandu, exploring all the best of Tibet, like Lhasa, Shigatse, Yamdrok Lake, and Everest Base Camp, and getting a glimpse of the capital of Nepal in Kathmandu. These may take around 10 days.

The last four days in Bhutan are enough to explore the exotic Bhutan Kingdom, including Paro and Thimphu. Tiger's Nest Monastery is a must-see site in Bhutan, and a full day is devoted to it. After hiking up the mountain, you will see a unique view of the beautiful Paro Valley from the monastery's balconies.

Bhutan Tiger's Nest Monastery trekking tour.

For an in-depth travel experience, some tourists would like to spend more days in Bhutan, visiting Punakha and Gangtey for a panoramic view of this Himalayan Kingdom. An in-depth 17-day Nepal Tibet and Bhutan tour gives you a more complete impression of the best three destinations in the Himalayan region.

16 Days Tour three Himalaya Kingdoms by Overland: Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan

Tour Route: Kathmandu - Chitwan - Kathmandu - Lhasa - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp - Gyirong - Kathmandu - Paro - Thimphu - Paro

Price from USD3150 p.p

Visiting Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet in less than 14 days is feasible but rushed

It's possible to arrange a shorter tour of the three Himalayan destinations, but the trip is somewhat rushed. To travel to Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan in 11 days means you have to fly between the three regions.

With only 11 days, there isn't time for the overland route, so the tour flies directly between Lhasa, Kathmandu, and Paro. You can only see Mount Everest through the flight’s window as you fly over the Himalayas.

A 13-day Tibet Nepal Bhutan tour allows enough time for the overland journey across the Tibetan Plateau. It also starts in Lhasa but travels along the Friendship Highway to Nepal via Everest Base Camp. The time in Kathmandu is abbreviated but includes visiting the ancient Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, Durbar Square, and Swayambhunath Pagoda. Three or four days in Bhutan include key sites like Punakha Dzong and Tiger's Nest Monastery. s

Insider Tips: Nepal is an important transfer hub for a Tibet Nepal Bhutan tour since there are no direct flights between Tibet and Bhutan. For a smoother trip, it is recommended to schedule Kathmandu in the middle of your itinerary.

15 Day Epic Himalayan Kingdoms’ Tour

Tour Route: Paro - Thimphu - Punakha - Paro - Kathmandu - Kyirong - Everest Base Camp - Tingri - Shigatse - Gyantse - Lhasa

Price from USD p.p

Extend your Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet tour with Various Outdoor Activities

Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan are all wonderful destinations for outdoor activities, like trekking, hiking, cycling, etc. If you are interested in an Everest Base Camp trek, either in Tibet or in Nepal, you may need to spend an extra 4 to 10 days, or more, according to your trekking route.

Tingri to Everest Base Camp trek is the most popular Everet trekking route in Tibet.

As a paradise for outdoor adventure lovers, Nepal offers more to experience, such as paragliding in Pokhara or mountain biking the trails around the Kathmandu Valley. River rafting and whitewater rafting can be done on the Trishuli and Seti Rivers. Nepal also has the world's longest zip line for thrilling views of the landscapes.

Bhutan has many of the same adventure activities. Khansum Yulley is a popular white water rafting spot, or you can try more relaxed kayaking in rivers like Wang Chhu and Sunkosh. Paro has many excellent trekking routes, like the Druk Path Trek, which goes through the rhododendron forests that surround the mountain of Gangkar Puensum.

Enjoy a kayaking tour on the Wang Chhu River in Bhutan.

If you are looking for some outdoor activities during your Nepal Tibet Bhutan tour, feel free to share your travel ideas with us. Our local travel expert will help you arrange the best itinerary with activities you are interested in.

Allow at Least 4 Days in Kathmandu for the Group Visa to enter Tibet.

If you plan to visit Tibet after Nepal, you need to apply for the Group Tourist Visa to entering Tibet from Nepal. This can be only applied through the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu with your original passport.

The process usually takes 4 working days (or 3 days for urgent processing), so you need to allow for at least four days in Kathmandu before entering Tibet. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you can visit our Kathmandu office and our local staff will guide you on how to obtain the Group Visa.

Conclusion

The diverse landscapes, mysterious culture, and historical attractions of these three Himalayan destinations require some time to be fully experienced. A 14-day Nepal Tibet Bhutan tour is perfect for most tourists to explore the most important sites in these regions. If you have less time available, changes can be made to fit a shorter. By traveling by air instead of overland, or skipping visits to Chitwan or Pakhara it is possible to fit almost any schedule.

With local offices in Kathmandu and Tibet, we, at Tibet Vista, offer a full range of Nepal Tibet Bhutan tours for more options. Feel free to contact us for your lifetime journey to the best of the Himalayas.