Nepal Tibet Bhutan Tour

After landing in Kathmandu and clearing the customs apply for your visa at the airport. This will be easy and fast as well. Our representative will welcome you and transfer you to the hotel. In the evening take a stroll around and take a glance at local culture here.

*Please note that entering Tibet from Kathmandu, it is necessary to apply for a Tibet Visa at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, which typically takes a minimum of 4 working days to process. As part of this process, your original passport will be retained by the Chinese Embassy, and you will also need to visit the embassy for biometric verification. During this period, while your Tibet Visa application is being processed, you will have the opportunity to do sightseeing tours around Kathmandu. We will apply your Tibet Group visa today, if not possible (or if late arrival), will do next day.

Overnight at Kathmandu.

After the breakfast, about half an hour's drive from your hotel will see you at the heart of Patan or Lalitpur city. One of the three major cities of the Kathmandu valley, Patan is known for the arts and architecture in its streets, monuments, and temples. The Patan Durbar Square is your first destination here. Some of the highlights of the Durbar (Palace) region are the beautiful Krishna Mandir, Bhimsen and Vishwanath Temples, and beautiful courtyards. Also, visit the Tibetan Refugee camp and painting shops while you are in Patan.

Patan Museum Opening Hours- 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM on all days.

Entrance Fee of Patan Durbar Square

Note:- These entry tickets are valid for a day and allow you multiple entries to the square where you can enjoy exploring the major historical and cultural attractions.

Following the Patan city tour, we will visit a couple of more sites in Kathmandu. We will visit the Kathmandu (Basantapur) Durbar Square within a short drive from the hotel. The temple of 'Living Goddess Kumari', Taleju Temple, Hanuman Dhoka Palace, and street markets for handicrafts are some of the main attractions of Kathmandu Durbar Square.

Kathmandu Durbar Square Opening Hours: 9:00 A.M.to 5:00 P.M. (all days during the week)

Entrance Fee of Kathmandu (Basantapur) Durbar Square

Note:- The Museum ticket counter closes one hour before the closing of the Museum. These entry tickets are valid for a day and allow you multiple entries to the square where you can enjoy exploring the major historical and cultural attractions.

Visit the Ason Market and Thamel area before returning to the hotel. Overnight at Kathmandu.

The first day in Kathmandu begins with sightseeing around Swayambhunath Stupa. Have breakfast and then, we head towards the stupa. This stupa is popularly known as ‘Monkey Temple’. Enjoy the breathtaking views of the Kathmandu Valley from the hilltop. In the surroundings of the Stupa, there are numerous Buddha statues, a big Vajra, small chaityas, a small museum, and monasteries. You can see many monkeys roaming around the premise. The huge spiral stupa with wisdom eyes symbol and beneath is a big white dome looks very impressive. The fragrance of butter lamps and incense creates the surrounding atmosphere more blissful.

From Swoyambhu Stupa, drive to Thankot and take a cable car ride to Chandragiri Hill. Enjoy the panoramic views of the Himalayas, Kathmandu Valley, and the surrounding countryside. Visit the Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple and experience the spiritual atmosphere of this sacred site. Relax and rejuvenate in this tranquil setting, and take in the fresh air and sunshine.

Overnight at Kathmandu

You will visit some destinations in Kathmandu before heading to Bhaktapur today. After breakfast head towards the Pashupatinath Temple. A quick drive will take you to this Hindu temple complex on the banks of the Bagmati River. Dedicated to God Shiva, you can explore around 500 small and big temples in this area. Next, we will take a brief drive to the Boudhanath Stupa. Explore the Tibetan-inspired streets and try some popular snacks in Boudhanath.

From Boudhanath, it is about an hour's drive towards Bhaktapur city. The name Bhaktapur translates as 'The city of devotees' and it is the more culturally preserved of the three cities in Kathmandu. The brick-paved alleys lead us to Bhaktapur Durbar Square. The fifty-five windows palace, Nyatapola Temple, and Pottery square are the main attraction of the Bhaktapur tour.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square Opening Hours- 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM on all days.

Entrance Fee of Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Foreign nationals: NPR. 1800
SAARC nationals: NPR. 500
Chinese: NPR. 500

Note: The free entry below 10 years childrens of each national and one entry for the group leader is free if the group is 11-20 people.

Note:- These entry tickets are valid for a day and allows you multiple entries to the square where you can enjoy exploring the major historical and cultural attractions.

In the evening take a short drive to Nagarkot, a small town on the hills of the outskirts of Bhaktapur. Overnight at Nagarkot.

We will start our day early with a beautiful sunrise view over the Mountains from Nagarkot. An observatory tower here at an altitude of 2,175 meters gives us the perfect view of the Himalayas. Starting from Mt. Dhaulagiri in the west we can have a great view of Everest (8,848m.), Lhotse (8,516m.), Cho Oyu (8,201m.), Makalu (8,463m) in a clear sky from here. After the sunrise, we will return to the hotel for breakfast.

From Nagarkot, we will drive for a couple of hours out from the valley and visit the Namobuddha monastery. The monastery is one of the most beautiful ones in Nepal with many legends linked to it. We can take a short nature walk in the premises and enjoy the landscape from Namobuddha. If you are here from March to May, you can get a fantastic view of blooming Rhododendron forests surrounding the area. Next, we will head for the ancient town of Panauti. Also, one of the most preserved cultural areas near Kathmandu, Panauti showcases you the traditional farming lifestyle of the locals. We will visit some of the old temples here and head towards Dhulikhel, specially for Mountain Views. In the evening, drive back to Kathmandu.

Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu.

*Your Tibet group visa will be ready. Collect your original passport and visa from Chinese embassy of Kathmandu and start the remaining tour.

We have a morning flight to Bhutan today. After leaving Kathmandu, a brief flight will take us to Paro Airport. Your Bhutanese guide will meet you at the airport and you will take a short drive (1.15 hour) to Thimphu. Along the ride, the guide will brief you through the Bhutan part of the tour.

Stop halfway on the way to the Paro-Thimphu highway, and visit the 16 ^th-century old Tachogang Lhakhang temple. The temple means the hill of the excellent horse. You need to cross an old bridge to visit the temple. From the bridge, enjoy the scenic views of the villages.

After arriving at the Bhutanese capital, you will explore some of the major attractions around Thimphu today which include the Giant Buddha Dordenma Statue, Third King Memorial Stupa, National Library of Bhutan, Bhutan Postal Museum, Folk Heritage Museum, Thimphu Dzong, Takin Zoo, and more. In the evening explore the local market and get closer to local culture and commerce.

Overnight at Thimphu.

Head towards Punakha after breakfast today. The drive is about two and a half hours long and passes through the Beautiful Dochula Pass. We will stop at the pass and spend some time at the royal botanical garden and Druk Wangyal Chortens. The pristine view of the Himalayas in clear weather is one to behold. We will continue the journey to Punakha following the stop.

The Chhimi Lakhang temple on the way will be our first stop. This unique temple is also known as 'the temple of the divine madman'. The Punakha Dzong is next on our list. One of the most beautiful and historically significant fortresses in Bhutan, Punakha Dzong is one not to miss here. Lastly, we cross the oldest and longest Punakha Suspension Bridge where we can witness the beautiful views of the river and valleys. We will return to Thimphu after the Punakha Tour in the evening.

Overnight at Thimphu.

After breakfast, drive back to Paro. The Hike to Taktsang Monastery is a proven delight for travelers to experience nature and spirituality as a whole in Bhutan. The hike might be challenging for some but it truly is worth a couple of hours' hike from Paro. You can have a slow and gradual walk with breaks in the midway shops.

Once there, witness the majestic view of the pristine Taktsang monastery carved into a giant cliff. Know the legends of the great Guru Padmasambhava and explore the beautiful monastery. Also, visit the caves inside the monastery and interact with the monks there. Return from the hike and rest for a while in your hotel. Visit the beautiful Drukgyel Dzong, Paro Dzong, National Museum of Bhutan, and Kyichu Lhakhang Temple to end your Paro tour. Overnight at Paro.

You will leave Bhutan and return to Kathmandu through a flight. After Landing in Kathmandu you can go for some popular local activities in this lively city. Cruise through some of the markets here, and try some local cuisine and drinks. In the evening enjoy the nightlife of Thamel visiting some bars accompanied by local Music. Rest for the day or can do short hike.

Overnight at Kathmandu.

Our overland tour starts today from Kathmandu to Kerung/Gyirong. We will do all the necessary preparations and leave the valley following the Trishuli highway. The road is smooth in the first segment in the hills followed by some gravel segments. Similarly, we will also face some off-road portions as we get near to the Chinese border. In the way, we will stop for lunch at local settlements and continue driving in this scenic highway. After reaching Kyirung, we will have our documents checked at both Nepalese and Chinese immigration offices and drive to our hotel.

Overnight at Gyirung.

You will start for the longest and most scenic drive of the whole trip to the Rongbuk monastery near EBC. The landscape shift is wondrous as we shift into more barren and snow-covered regions from here. We will drive pass Pelkutso lake and a vast grassland in the first portion of today. Taking small short stops to admire nature and view, we will continue our drive to the Gyawula Pass (5200 m). A bit windy, but absolutely beautiful, we can view the Himalayas clearly from here. From the pass, it is a couple of hours to reach Rongbuk monastery.

*Important Note:
- Accommodation in Rongbuk/EBC is very limited. Since Rongbuk is a remote area, expect the accommodation to be very basic. There are a few guesthouses that provide twin-sharing rooms with bunk beds and the bathroom is also outside the guesthouse.
- In Shegar/Tingri, The best options are locally 3-star hotels with attached bathrooms. We will provide you with the highest one. We recommend to stay in Shegar instead of Rongbuk. Shegar to Rongbuk Monastery distance 100KM with 2 hours driving.
- If you will stay at Shegar/Tingri, next day early morning drive to Rongbuk Monastery to view sunrise with Mt. Everest then drive to Shigatse.

Overnight at Shegar or Rongbuk Monastery.

We will wake up early for a breathtaking sunrise of a lifetime from the Rongbuk monastery over Mt. Everest. After this amazing experience, we will explore the monastery premises for a bit before continuing our road journey to Shigatse. We will be traveling in a bit bumpy road for the first part of the trip. From here we will stop at the small Tingiri town. The views of Cho Oyu and Everest is majestic from the town here. Next, it is a couple of hours of highway drive to the G318 National highway milestone (5,000 m) in Lhatse, and there we'll take some pictures. After driving to Shigatse from Lhatse, we will freshen up and visit Tashilupo Monastery. This monastery, which is the seat of the Panchen Lama of Tibet is also one of the most significant ones here.

Overnight at Shigatse

Today will be the last day of driving exploration in Tibet, and we will cover many cultural destinations in the way. The road is in good condition, and we will make shortstops in the small farmer villages lying in the way. After reaching Gyantse, we will take a brief exploration tour of some majestic sites here. This heritage-rich town has a lot to offer, and we will visit the Perklor Monastery, Kumbum stupa, and GyantseOld Street here. The next portion of the drive takes us beside the Holy Yamdrok Lake (One of the three significant holy lakes in Tibet). We will also enjoy the views of Manak Dam Lake and Korola Glacier before reaching Lhasa in the evening.

Overnight at Lhasa.

You will kick off the Lhasa tour with a visit to the beautiful Potala Palace. Located within a short drive this palace was the home of Dalai Lamas, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. Exploring the UNESCO world heritage site witness the wonderful sculptures, Chapels, Thangkas, Murals, and many more. Explore the allowed sections of this massive palace and spend some time in the ponds and park behind it.

Opening Hours and Ticket Prices for Potala Palace-

• Opening hours: 9:30 A.M - 15:00 P.M
• Entrance fee: 200 CNY from May to October and 100 CNY from November to April.

Sera Monastery is next on our list which is among the biggest Gelug university monasteries in Lhasa. Within a short drive from Potala, you can get closer to the lifestyle and culture of local monks here. Explore the chapel, courtyard, and other beautiful components of the monastery in your visit.

Opening Hours and Ticket Prices for Sera Monastery-

• Opening hours: 9:00 A.M - 16:00 P.M
• Entrance fee: CNY 50/Person (all year round)

Towards late afternoon we will head towards Jokhang Temple. Jokhang Temple is the spiritual center of Tibet holding many beliefs and significance. The temple architecture is beautiful and is inspired by Vihara and Nepalese styles. The Barkhor square in front holds different memories of historic events and celebrations as well. Explore artifacts and paintings of different periods here in the temple. Overnight at Lhasa.

Opening Hours and Ticket Prices for Jokhang Temple-

• Opening hours: 11:30 A.M.-17:30 P.M. (opened for all tourists).
• Entrance fee: CNY 85/Person and photograph permit CNY 90 before they take a picture inside the temple.

Our Lhasa tour continues and we will visit the remaining major destinations here today. Starting the day we will take a short drive to Drepung Monastery after breakfast. This expansive monastery houses some of the oldest Buddhist writings, Murals, and Thangkas. Visit the courtyards and chapels alongside the Nechung Oracle temple nearby. We will visit the Mentshekhang (Chinese traditional hospital) next today. Learn more about some of the Tibetan ancient diagnostics and medicine while you are here.

Opening Hours and Ticket Prices for Drepung Monastery-

• Opening hours: 9:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.
• Entrance fee: CNY 60/Person.

In the afternoon we will head towards another UNESCO world heritage site, the Norbulings Palace. Norbulingka was the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas. You can visit the major buildings, chapels, and monuments in this palace. The garden surrounding Norbulinga palace is another attraction of the beautiful palace. Spend some time there before returning to your hotel. Overnight at Lhasa.

Opening Hours and Ticket Prices for Norbulingka-

• Opening hours: 9:30 A.M.-5:30 P.M.
• Entrance fee: 80 CNY in peak seasons, 60 CNY in off-seasons.

In your spare time here enjoy a quick souvenir shopping session in the markets of Lhasa. Join us for a farewell and share your experience and suggestions alike. With some wonderful stories and memories to return, you will conclude this amazing tour with Asia Experiences. We will drop you off at the airport before your prefer flight time to your next destination.