How to Plan an Incredible Family Trip to Japan in 2024/2025. Learn more.

3-Week Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan Tour

An Epic Himalayan Journey

This is a once-in-a-lifetime tour for adventurers who would like to travel from the jungle to the roof of the world, witness the big contrast between the south and the north of the Himalayas, and also experience Himalayan cultural communication and integration.

It is recommended to travel from the south to the north so that you can witness the awe-inspiring landscape formed by a colossal collision of plates, adapt to changes in altitude gradually, and benefit from a more-cost-effective way.

However, with us, your preferences always design the trip. Let your personal travel adviser craft an exclusive Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan tour to your specification.

  • Days:21±
  • Best For:Adventurers
  • Departure date: up to you
  • Highest altitude:5,200m/17,060ft
  • Sample price:US$ 7,599 each (2 per room)*
  • Flights:the ones mentioned are included

The price is based on a group of 4 people, because the minimum number for a china visa appication in Nepal is 4. Check with your personal travel advisor for details.

Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

Suggested Route for an Nepal Tibet Bhutan Tour

nepal tibet bhutan tour map

Tour Highlights

Here are the awesome attractions, the most must-do activities selected by Asia Highlights (AH Hand-Picked), and exclusive cultural experiences offered by Asia Highlights (Only With AH) included in this tour:

Travel back to the Middle Ages when the ancient palaces come into sight one by one.

the colorful temples in Kathmandu

Walk around Boudhanath Stupa as medieval merchants did before traveling across the Himalayas.

people walking around the white pagoda

Talk to a sadhu in Pashupatinath Temple to have your fortune told, and be blessed by a monk at the foot of Mt. Everest.

a sadhu in kathmandu
the tag of ah hand picked

Dive into the jungle, which is a gift for rhinoceroses fed by warm air from the Indian Ocean.

the rhinoceroses in the jungle

Enjoy a moderate hike to pay your respect to the Himalayas and explore the villages.

house with green roof and the snow mountain

Witness the Annapurna Range "waking up" in the charming morning sunlight.

annapurna sunrise

Meditate as the founder of Tibetan Buddhism is reputed to have done at 'Tiger Lair Temple'.

the temple on the cliff

Explore one of the five great canyons in the Himalayan Mountains.

a man on the meadow

Stand in front of the "apex" of the Roof of the World

the mountain Everest

Experience a local Tibetan family's house.

visit a Tibetan family
the tag of ah hand picked

Sip a cup of sweet tea at a hidden nunnery behind Barkhor Street in Lhasa.

drink tibet butter tea
the tag of ah hand picked

Suggested Itinerary for Inspiration

Your preferences design the real journey. We're ready to create a wonderful tour for you.

Day 1
Kathmandu Arrival

Arrive at Kathmandu. Meet our representative and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy your free time to acclimatize during the rest of day.

Day 2
Kathmandu | The First Sights of Kathmandu
breakfast
  • Start your day in Durbar Square with stories about mysterious Kathmandu. Appreciate the spectacular art and architecture there.
  • Visit the sacred Hindu shrine Pashupatinath. It would be a good opportunity to see how the local people practice their religion and have a conversation with a sadhu.
  • Continue to Boudhanath Stupa to feel the piety of Tibetan Buddhism.
  • Visit 'Monkey Temple' at the end of the day. Hinduism and Buddhism combine perfectly there.
the eyes on the pagodas
Be attracted by the big eyes
Day 3
Kathmandu to Chitwan | Explore Tharu Village
breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Fly from Kathmandu to Chitwan in the morning.
  • Explore Tharu Village in the afternoon, and see the ethnic people of this area.
  • Enjoy a short presentation about Chitwan National Park given by a wildlife expert. Or enjoy Tharu Cultural Dances.
Chitwan National Park
Chitwan National Park
Day 4
Chitwan | Jungle Safari
breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Visit the Crocodile Conservation Project. The naturalist will show you around, providing information about various methods and programmes being undertaken to increase Gharial population in the wild.
  • Enjoy a boating tour in a traditional Patela boat, which will take them down serenely along the Rapti river, which will also have aquatic birds, Gharials and other animals on the river banks.
  • Ride a jeep through the wilderness, experiencing the local wildlife for themselves. You will observe bi floras and faunas, like the one-horned Rhinoceros, countless species of deer, bisons, and if lucky, even the Royal Bengal Tiger
a rhinocerose is drinking water
Experience a jungle safari
Day 5
Chitwan to Pokara | Phewa Lake
breakfast
  • Fly from Chitwan to Pokhara in the morning.
  • Visit the Davis Falls. See the meltwater from the mountains plunge into the underground plunge pool, and maybe encounter a lovely rainbow.
  • Then, explore Gupteshwor Mhadev Cave for the huge stalagmites worshiped as a Shiva Lingam (
  • Have a delightful boat ride on Phewa Lake in the late afternoon.
phewa lake
Enjoy a boat ride on Phewa Lake
Day 6
Pokhara | One-Day Hiking Tour
breakfast

Drive from Pokhara to Kande and start treking to the Australian camp(2060m/6,760ft), which takes approximately 2 hours (one way). The Australian Camp is surrounded by forest, from where we can see green hills and the views of the Himalayas called Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchare, Annapurna, and Pokhara's Phewa Lake.

houses and snow mountains
Enjoy a moderate hike for Annapurna
Day 7
Pokhara to Kathmandu | Annapurna Sunrise
breakfast
  • Get up early and drive to Sarangkot for a beautiful sunrise over the Annapurna Range before flying to Kathmandu.
  • Explore Patan Durbar Square in the afternoon, including Krishna Mandir, Patan Museum, some beautiful temples, and a monastery.
snow-capped mountains
Enjoy a breathtaking view at sunrise
Day 8
Kathmandu to Paro | The First Sight of Bhutan
breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Arrive in Paro and meet your Bhutanese guide at the airport. Transfer to your hotel in Thimphu.
  • Visit the Buddha Dordenma and the Memorial Chorten on the way. Both of them are landmarks of Thimphu. For many Bhutanese, this large Tibetan-style chorten is a place where they perform their daily worship.
a white pagoda
The Memorial Chorten
Day 9
Thimphu | Explore the Heart of Bhutan
breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Visit Bhutan's most important dzong, Tashichho Dzong, in the morning. It is the headquarters of the central government, just like the White House in America, Downing Street in Britain, and Zhongnanhai in China.
  • Visit the Folk Heritage Museum to discover Bhutanese folk heritage and its rural history.
  • Then enjoy the exquisite handicrafts in the National Institute for Zorig Chusum ('creative science/craft 13').
  • Lastly, make stamps with your own photos and put them on postcards for your family and friends in Bhutan Post Office Headquarters.
Tashichho Dzong
The 'White House' of Bhutan, Tashichho Dzong
Day 10
Thimphu to Punarkha | Punakha Dzong
breakfast
  • Visit Simtokha Dzong on the way to Punarkha. It is also known as Sangak Zabdhon Phodrang ('Palace of the Profound Meaning of Secret Mantras'). People believe that it was the first dzong built in Bhutan.
  • Enjoy a stunning 360-degree panoramic view of the Himalayan mountain range at Dochula Pass.
  • Explore the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan — Punakha Dzong. It is also the most important dzong in Bhutanese history and is known as 'the palace of great happiness or bliss'.
  • Car ride:75km/45 miles 2 hours
Punarkha Dzong
Punarkha Dzong
Day 11
Punarkah to Paro | Paro Dzong and the National Museum
breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Drive from Punakha to Paro in the morning. Visit Paro Dzong, which has a long and fascinating history.
  • Afterward, you will visit Ta Dzong, which houses the National Museum of Bhutan. The museum has a fascinating collection of arts, relics, religious thangka paintings, household items, arms, handicrafts, stuffed animals, and Bhutan's famous stamps, among others.
  • Car ride: 115km/69 miles 3 hours
the ancient buildings in Bhutan
Paro Dzong, the 'fortress on a heap of jewels'.
Day 12
Paro |Taktsang Monastery
breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Visit the unbelievable Taktsang Monastery (this takes approximately 5 hours on a round-trip walk). It is famous for the 13 Taktsang or 'tiger lair' caves in which Padmasambhava meditated ('Born-from-a-Lotus', a.k.a. Guru Rinoche, was the founder of Tibetan Buddhism). It is worth hiking all the way there to explore one of the top 10 monasteries in the world.
  • On the way back, you will visit Kyichu Lhakhang ('Kyerchu Temple'), which marks the introduction of Buddhism to Bhutan.
Paro Taktsang
Explore the incredible Taktsang Temple
Day 13
Paro to Kathmandu
breakfast

Fly back to Kathmandu, and use your free time to explore the city, or just have a break after 12 days of the itinerary.

Day 14
Kathmandu to Syabrubesi | Get into the Interior of Himalaya
breakfast
  • Drive to the Nepal-China border. Enjoy the spectecular scenery along the way. You will also go pass the LangTang National Park.
  • Stay overnight in a guest house in Syabrubesi. Get ready to go across the border tomorrow morning.
  • Car ride:140km/84 miles 6 hours
Himalaya Mountains
Discover the interior of Himalaya
Day 15
Syaprubesi to Gyirong | Cross the Border
breakfast
  • Drive from Syaprubesi to the border. You guide will help you to finish the procedures of crossing the border.
  • You Tibetan guide will meet you when you cross the birdge on the border.
  • Then drive to Gyirong Town.
  • Car ride: 40km/24 miles 2 hours
the building at Gyilong port
Cross the border to enter China
Day 16
Gyirong to Dingri | Everest Base Camp
breakfast & lunch
  • Drive to Dingri via Mt. Everest Base Camp.
  • Enjoy the scenery along the way. Catch the breathtaking vista of Mt. Shishapangma (14th highest in the world), and stop at Pekutso Lake.
  • Stand in front of Mt. Everest. Pay your respects to the roof of the world.
  • Visit Rongbuk Monastery near EBC, and witness the hard life of the monks and nuns there. Talk with a monk. He will be happy to answer your questions about his life and study.
  • Car ride:480km/288 miles 11 hours
mt.everest
Stand in front of the Mt. Everest
Day 17
Diring to Shigatse | Tashilunpo Monastery
breakfast & lunch
  • Drive from Dingri to Shigatse in the morning.
  • Visit Tashilunpo Monastery in Shigatse, which is the residence of Panchen Lama. It is also one of the top six Gelug ('Yellow Hat') School monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism.
  • Car ride: 250km/150 miles 4.5 hours
Tashilunpo Monastery
Visit Tashilunpo Monastery
Day 18
Shigatse to Lhasa | The Lake Yamdrok
breakfast & lunch
  • Leave for Lhasa via Gyantse. View the fabulous scenery of the Karola Glacier.
  • Be impressed by the beauty of Lake Yamdrok. Have a lakeside picnic if the weather is nice.
  • Car ride: 350km/210 miles 6 hours
the Lake Yamdrok
Pilgrimage to the Holy Lake, Yamdrok
Day 19
Lhasa | The highlights of the Holy City
breakfast
  • Walk all the way up to the Potala Palace. Enjoy the resplendent chambers, exquisite wall paintings, and the stories about the king of the Tubo Kingdom and the Dalai Lamas.
  • Have a walking tour in the afternoon. Visit Jokhang Temple and explore Barkhor Street, including its local market, admire traditional Tibetan architecture, and take afternoon tea in peaceful Ani Tsangkhung Nunnery.
Potala Palace
Potala Palace
Day 20
Lhasa | The Spirit of Tibetan Buddism
breakfast & lunch
  • Visit Norbulingka ("Lhasa's Summer Palace")in the morning. Stroll in the park with the local Tibetans
  • Enjoy a visit to Drepung Monastery. Learn about the biggest school of Tibetan Buddhism: the Gelug School.
  • In the afternoon, visit Sera Monastery. Watch a monks'debate and enjoy their special "debating dance".
monks debate
Watch monks'debate
Day 21
Lhasa Departure
breakfast

Say goodbye to Tibet. Transfer to the airport for your flight back home or to another destination in China.

Ideas for Making This Trip Uniquely Yours

Special experiences can be added to brighten a honeymoon trip, a family vacation, a birthday, or satisfy personal interests.

snow-capped mountains
Appreciate the Himalayas in a Hidden Resort

For couples

Paragliding from Sarangkot to Pokhara
Paragliding from Sarangkot to Pokhara

For adventurers

monks sitting under the tree
An Extension to Lumbini

For culture fans

rafting
White Water Rafting

For adventurers

red helicopter and snow mountains
Helicopter Tour for Mt.Everest

For adventurers

Hand-Picked Hotels

We select hotels with style and local features. Let us know your preferences and we'll find your ideal hotel.

Hotle with pagodas
Hotel with Nepalese pagodas
Hotle with the view of Annapurna
Hotel with the view of Annapurna
Hotle with the view of Everest
Jungle Lodge in Chitwan
the hotel room with the view of the forest
Hotel surrounded by the forest
the hotel building with bhutanese style
Hotel with Bhutanese style
the green roof of hotel lobby
Hotel with Tibetan style

Our Service Includes:

21 days from
US$7,599
per person (based on 4 persons and 4-star hotels)
  • Private transfers and English-speaking tour guide
  • All guided sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary
  • Hotel accommodation for 20 nights
  • Flights and trains mentioned in the itinerary
  • Breakfasts at hotels and lunches mentioned in the itinerary
  • Governmental taxes

Tour code: ah-mtc-11

Inquire now! Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.

How would you travel?

What's your hotel choice?

When would you travel?

I prefer to be contacted via:

Why Asia Highlights (10,000+ reviews & 98.8% 5-star rating)

  • Save Your Time:
  • Less research, more enjoyment!
  • Real-time 1V1 expert planning
  • Maximize Your Flexibility:
  • Personal local guide and ride
  • Explore at your own pace
  • Celebrate Your Journeys:
  • Specially-crafted family adventures
  • Celebrate milestones with style!

Get Inspired with Some Popular Itineraries

At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.

More Travel Ideas and Inspiration

Start planning your tailor-made tour with 1-1 help from our travel advisors. Create My Trip
4.9 ExcellentTrustPilot rating TrustPilot Logo

Sign up to Our Newsletter

Be the first to receive exciting updates, exclusive promotions, and valuable travel tips from our team of experts.

Click to sign up

Why Asia Highlights

Customize Your Tour

Customize Your Tour

  • Travel Advisors Rooted in Asia
  • Instant Response, No More Waits!
  • Direct Connections, Supreme Values
Maximize Your Flexibility

Maximize Your Flexibility

  • Your own personal guide and ride.
  • Explore at your own pace.
  • Unparalleled flexibility, impossible on a group tour.
Ensure Your Satisfactory

Ensure Your Satisfactory

  • The Top 20% nationwide guides at your service.
  • 20% more space on your group's transportation.
  • 24/7 emergency support.
Celebrate Your Journey

Celebrate Your Journey

  • Family adventures
  • Celebrate milestones with style!
  • Photographer service for special moments

Where Can We Take You Today?

Rated 4.9 out of 5 | 98.8% Excellence
China Highlights International
Travel Service Co., LTD
Featured on
China Highlights was featured on these medias.

Address: Building 6, Chuangyi Business Park, 70 Qilidian Road, Guilin, Guangxi, 541004, China