Visit Nepal Bhutan Tibet: Avoid These 7 Mistakes in 2025

Visiting Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet on one trip offers you a diverse and panoramic Himalayan experience across the region’s top three tourist destinations.

However, despite their proximity, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet have different travel policies, seasons, altitudes, accommodations, and more. If you're planning a Nepal Bhutan Tibet trip, please be sure to avoid these 7 common mistakes!

Mistake 1: Thinking You Can Travel Independently for a Nepal Bhutan Tibet Tour

Many travelers mistakenly believe that they can explore Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet on their own, but in reality, that’s not the case.

For a Nepal Bhutan Tibet tour, Nepal is the only place where foreign nationals can travel independently whereas Tibet and Bhutan can only be visited through a guided package tour for overseas travelers.

Therefore, to smoothly visit Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet in one trip, the key is to depend on a local travel agency like us to secure your Tibet Travel Permit to visit Tibet and a Bhutanese Visa for Bhutan entry.

As to Nepal's entry from Tibet or Bhutan, there is nothing to worry about. You can easily obtain a Nepali visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport or at the Nepali land border if you plan to travel overland from Lhasa to Kathmandu. After crossing Gyirong Port, the current Sino-Nepal border, simply fill out a form, pay the visa fee, and get your visa stamped at Nepali Immigration. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Enjoy the classic 7-day Lhasa to Kathmandu overland tour to Nepal, followed by a Nepal and Bhutan tour.

Mistake 2: Plan the Nepal Bhutan Tibet Tour in the Wrong Order

Deciding the order for a Nepal Bhutan Tibet tour can make or break your journey. Some mistakenly choose Bhutan as their first destination, only to find out it is the least accessible of the three. Others assume they can directly fly from Tibet to Bhutan without transiting from Nepal, leading to unexpected travel hurdles.

So, when planning your Nepal Bhutan Tibet tour, it’s better to take easy transportation, visa processing, and altitude acclimation into consideration. Here are two of the go-to choices for you to visit Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet in one trip.

Option 1 Tibet Nepal Bhutan Route: Fly to key Tibet gateway cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, or Guangzhou, then take a flight or the scenic Tibet train to Lhasa. From Tibet, embark on the classic 7-day Lhasa to Kathmandu overland tour to Nepal. After exploring Nepal, fly from Kathmandu to Paro for the Bhutan tour and then return to Kathmandu for the onward flight home.

Fly to Beijing and enjoy a scenic Tibet train to Lhasa, and travel overland from Lhasa to Kathmandu to explore Nepal and Bhutan.

This first popular travel route helps you avoid unnecessary backtracking with easy transport, smooth visa processing, and proper acclimatization from inland China to the towering Tibetan Plateau before descending into Kathmandu and Bhutan for a seamless adventure.

Option 2 Nepal Tibet Bhutan Route: Fly to Kathmandu and explore Nepal independently. Then, fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa and travel overland from Lhasa back to Kathmandu in Nepal. From here, fly to Paro for the Bhutan tour before returning to Kathmandu for your flight home.

Start exploring three Himalayan kingdoms from Nepal, followed by Tibet and Bhutan tour.

The second travel route works especially for European, Middle Eastern, and part of Asian travelers who can easily fly to Kathmandu and obtain a Nepali visa on arrival to begin your Nepal Tibet Bhutan tour.

Mistake 3: Travelling in the Wrong Season

Some travelers planning for a Nepal Bhutan Tibet tour often make the mistake of choosing the wrong season, assuming that the nice weather in one destination means the same for the other two.

However, this is not the case. For example, June to August is the summer and peak travel season in Tibet, offering pleasantly warmer temperatures, vibrant Tibetan festivals, higher oxygen levels, and comfortable conditions due to its high altitude. Yet, the same month is the monsoon season in Nepal and Bhutan. You expect to encounter hot and sultry days, heavy rainfall, muddy trekking trails, and landslides in mountainous regions, making it less ideal for travel.

So, to find the best weather for visiting these three destinations in one trip, October to early May is the best time to hit the road for your Nepal Bhutan Tibet tour.

During these months, you can enjoy crystal-clear skies, crisp air, and perfect road conditions to admire Mt. Everest at Everest Base Camps in both Tibet and Nepal and trek to explore other Himalayan giants in Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan, and enjoy diverse outdoor activities like biking in all these three Himalayan kingdoms and for seamless border crossing between Tibet and Nepal.

Meanwhile, It’s also the perfect timing to join locals for joyous festivals along the way, such as Tibetan New Year (Losar, Feb/March), Nyingchi Peach Blossom Festival (March/April), and Nepal’s biggest festivals, Dashain (Oct.), and Tihar (Oct.) and Bhutan’s iconic masked monk dance—Thimphu Tsechu (Sep/Oct).

Enjoy the famous Nyingchi peach blossoms and amazing Laigu Glaciers in early Spring from Lhasa.

Mistake 4: Ignore Altitude Acclimatization, esp from Nepal to Tibet

Since there is no direct travel route between Tibet and Bhutan, Nepal serves as the key tourist hub connecting these two destinations. Meanwhile, as Tibet sits at a much higher altitude than Nepal, some travelers on a Nepal Tibet Bhutan tour may overlook the need for proper acclimatization when heading to Tibet.

If you plan to fly from Kathmandu (1,400m) to Lhasa (3,650m), the quick ascent may lead to mild altitude sickness within the first 24 hours for some travelers. However, there’s no need to worry. Take it easy by avoiding jumping or running and get plenty of rest and drink more water to stay hydrated, which will help your body gradually adjust to Lhasa’s high altitude. Typically, spending 2-3 days acclimatizing in Lhasa while exploring Tibet’s landmark attractions is sufficient. For extra comfort, you may consider booking a hotel with oxygen supplies.

Alternatively, if you intend to travel overland from Kathmandu to Lhasa, make sure your itinerary follows gradual acclimatization from Kathmandu Valley to the towering Tibetan Plateau.

Our expertly designed 8-day Kathmandu to Lhasa overland tour provides you with enough acclimatization days and a smooth border transfer service, plus a journey of a lifetime at Tibet Everest Base Camp. You can travel with our local experts for a 360-degree view of the mighty Himalayas from the lush Kathmandu Valley to the Roof of the World.

Embark on the epic trans-Himalayan overland tour from Kathmandu to Lhasa via Tibet EBC.

Mistake 5: Expecting Luxury Hotels & Services Everywhere in Nepal, Bhutan & Tibet

For overseas travelers who are used to staying in luxury resorts with high-quality services, you might expect the same level of comfort throughout your Nepal Bhutan Tibet tour. While luxury hotels in major tourist cities are available, don’t expect 5-star luxury hotels and services everywhere—especially in remote and high-altitude regions.

If your journey begins in Nepal, Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan, the top three tourist destinations in Nepal, offer you a wide array of accommodations including luxury hotels, budget-friendly teahouses for trekking, boutique hotels, and backpacker hostels. Learn Nepal travel faqs.

After traveling to Tibet, the most mid-range and luxury hotels center in Lhasa, Shigatse, two of the biggest cities in Tibet, and Nyingchi in eastern Tibet. As you head to the remote Everest region and western Tibet, the humble 3-star local hotels and guesthouses are pretty common and there is no tap water, showering facilities, and private bathrooms. Meanwhile, most local Tibetan hotel staff are not proficient in English and are less flexible in accommodating guests' needs and handling complaints.

For the final tour in Bhutan, most mid-range boutique hotels and luxury resorts are found in Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha. As you explore further into central and off-the-beaten eastern Bhutan, eco-friendly local hotels and homestays are more prevalent, perfect for travelers who long to embrace the countryside charm and nature, free of Wifi connecting to the modern world.

So, having the right expectations and being flexible with your travel will make your journey smoother and more enjoyable! As Lonely Planet’s recommended local travel agency, we promise to offer you extensive high-quality local hotels for you to choose from.

The cozy and famous teahouse accommodation for trekking in Nepal.

Mistake 6: Book a Nepal Bhutan Tibet Through a Third-Party Tour Organizer

Since a Nepal Bhutan Tibet tour involves handling a Tibet Travel Permit, Bhutanese visa, Sino-Nepal border transfer, transportation, and flight arrangements between Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan, many travelers make the mistake of booking through a third-party tour operator that is not locally based, which can lead to higher costs, hidden fees and a lack of local expertise and resources and tons of wasted time on coordination.

Therefore, for a hassle-free Nepal Bhutan Tibet tour, it is crucial to choose a well-established local travel agency like Tibet Vista with offices based in Lhasa, Kathmandu, Paro, and Chengdu.

You can enjoy our transparent pricing, diverse Tibet Nepal Bhutan tours, and one-stop services including visa and permit processing, local experts, local hotel booking, border transfer, flight & Tibet train booking, and local transfer and pick-up services, which saves you lots of hassles. Besides, our dedicated team will ensure you attentive and prompt service across these three amazing Himalayan destinations.

Enjoy the classic Tibet Nepal Bhutan cultural overland tour in 13 days.

Mistake 7: Assuming a Nepal Bhutan Tibet Tour Is Affordable for Everyone

Last but not least, a long journey covering Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet is not affordable for every traveler.

In Nepal, you can backpack freely and choose from many budget-friendly hotels, hostels, and homestays. However, in Tibet and Bhutan, where independent travel is not available for foreign nationals, you must book a guided tour through a local travel agency. This includes costs for travel permits, transportation, and guides. In Bhutan, in particular, the government requires international travelers to pay a minimum Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of $100 per day.

However, a great solution to fulfill your dream tour is to sign up for our budget-friendly Tibet Nepal Bhutan small group tour where you can split hefty transportation, accommodation, guide services, and entrance tickets with like-minded global travelers, enriching your travel experience without breaking your bank.

Sign up for our budget-friendly Nepal Bhutan Tibet tour for a journey of a lifetime.

Conclusion

Planning a long journey involving Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet, the top three Himalayan destinations, can be challenging for many first-time travelers. Hopefully, you find these 7 common mistakes inspirational and can work out the best travel route, and plan for your Nepal Bhutan Tibet tour. If you have more questions about a Tibet Nepal Bhutan tour, don’t hesitate to email us for free and expert travel solutions. Cheers!