3 Week Nepal Tibet Bhutan: how to plan a Nepal Tibet Bhutan tour for three weeks?

Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan all lie in the range of mountains at the roof of the world known as the Himalayas. The highest mountain range in the world, these three unique destinations are the most exclusive and popular destinations in the region. A trip to Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan together is one of the most iconic adventures in Asia, and brings you to experience three unique cultures in one trip. Traveling between these three outstanding destinations, experiencing the local culture and religions, and touring around the major attractions of each destination together is the best way to learn more about the people of the Himalayas as a whole, and each individual place on its own. And with three weeks of travel ahead of you, you are going to have ample time to explore the best of the Himalayas.

Nepal Bhutan Tibet Itinerary for Three Weeks - what to do in Nepal Tibet Bhutan 3 weeks?

A tour of Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan over three weeks gives you ample opportunity to explore the cultures and religions of these three unique destinations in more depth.

In the first part of the tour, you will travel to Nepal, and spend several days sightseeing around the Kathmandu Valley, as well as other places. In Kathmandu itself, you will travel to the Durbar Square, the location of the royal palace of the former kings of Nepal, as well as the Kumari Temple, known as the hose of the virgin goddess. Then you can travel on to the Monkey Temple, known as Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath Temple, one of the most important Hindu temples in Nepal, and Boudhanath, the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal.

Kathmandu Durbar Square in Nepal

Outside the Kathmandu Valley, you have the chance to travel to Chitwan and visit the famous national park, the first of its kind in Nepal. There you get to take a safari through the jungle to see the elephants, rhinos, crocodiles, and rare Bengal tigers that roam the jungles. You can also enjoy a canoe idle along the Rapti River, and experience traveling through rapids along the river, as well as getting chance to see the mugger crocodiles, freshwater dolphins, and water birds that live along the river.

In Lumbini, you will get to explore the World Heritage Site of Lumbini Garden, and visit the Maya Devi Temple, which was built on the site where it is said Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was born. Then it is off to Pokhara, the location of Phewa Lake, the most beautiful lake in Nepal. Lying beneath the massive Annapurna Range, this small town is ideal for relaxation after a long trek around the mountains.

After Pokhara, you will head back to Kathmandu for the flight to Lhasa, in Tibet, and on your arrival, you will be greeted by your guide and driver and transferred to your hotel in the city.

The first days of the Tibetan leg of the tour are spent in Lhasa, exploring the city and its many attractions. You will get to visit the iconic Potala Palace, the former residence of the Dalai Lama, and the 7th century Jokhang Temple, which houses one of the oldest statues of Buddha in existence, which is said to have been blessed by Buddha himself more than 2,500 years ago. You will also get to visit the monasteries of Sera and Drepung, two of the most important monasteries of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism.

Outside Lhasa, you will travel first to Gyantse, passing by the beautiful Lake Yamdrok and Karola Glacier, before arriving in Gyantse to see the Pelkor Chode Monastery. The monastery is home to the Gyantse Kumbum, a 32-meter stupa that is the only one of its kind in Tibet. The stupa has nine levels, and 108 chapels, which contain hundreds of mosaics and images of Buddha. Then it is onto to Shigatse, Tibet’s second city, to visit the Tashilhunpo monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama.

We made it to Everest Base Camp

After Shigatse, you will head for the amazing Everest Base Camp (EBC), where you can get the best views of the world’s highest mountain. The base camp lies at an altitude of around 5,100 meters, and sites close by the famous Rongbuk Monastery, the highest monastery in the world. You can get great photos of the mountain at sunrise and sunset, as the sun’s rays turn the slopes of the mountain burnished orange.

After EBC, you will head for the border, and cross into Nepal at Gyirong Port, entering Nepal at Rasuwa Gadhi, before continuing on down to Kathmandu once more. From Nepal, you will fly to Paro International Airport in Bhutan, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Thimphu, the nation’s capital. Before the drive to Thimphu, you will get chance to visit the famous Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest and holiest temples in Bhutan, and the Rinpung Dzong, the home of the administrative center of Paro and the Monastic body.

In Thimphu, you will get to do some sightseeing, to visit the Thimphu Memorial Chorten, dedicated to the memory of the third King of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, as well as the National Library and Archives of Bhutan, National Folk Heritage Museum, Hand-made Paper Factory, and the School of Arts and Crafts. Later, you will visit the famous Tashichho Dzong, which combines the Buddhist monastery with the government offices and the palace of the Druk Gyalpo, the Dragon King of Bhutan.

Punakha Dzong in Bhutan

After Thimphu, you will travel over the high Dochula Pass (3,100m), and on to Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan. In Punakha, you will get to pay a visit to the Punakha Dzong, reputed to be the most beautiful monastery in the kingdom, lying on the confluence of the Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu rivers. Then you will visit the national museum and the Drukgyel Dzong, before heading pack to Paro. In Paro, you will take the trek up to the famous Taktshang Monastery, known as the Tiger’s Nest, which is the site where it is believed Guru Rinpoche landed when he first came to Bhutan from Tibet in the 8th century.

Best Time to Take 3-week Nepal Tibet Bhutan Tour

Knowing when to travel is one of the main concerns for tourists, especially when you plan on visiting more than once destination. Fortunately, the best times to travel in these three locations coincide with each other in such a way that allows you to explore all three at some of the best times of year possible.

The best times to travel to Nepal and Bhutan are in the spring and autumn seasons, from March to May and September to November. The weather in spring and autumn is similar in both countries, which makes it the ideal time to travel between them together. In spring, the temperatures can still be a little cold, but are comfortable enough with a warm sweater or jacket until it warms up in May. The autumn temperatures are the reverse, with it being warmer at the start of the season, gradually getting a little chillier towards the end. However, warm clothes makes it comfortable enough.

Visit Bhutan in spring

The advantage of spring and autumn, aside from warmer temperatures than winter, is that there is almost no rain to spoil your trip. The monsoon season in both countries runs from June to August, so you can avoid getting wet in the peak seasons. Spring and summer also have clear skies for most of the days, which allows you to get better views of the massive mountains of the Himalayas, one of the main reasons to travel to these destinations.

Traveling in Tibet is best done in the spring, summer, and autumn seasons, when the weather is at its best for touring around the sights and trekking in the mountains and valleys of the plateau. The best time is normally from April to October, and while summer is also the monsoon season, there is little rain on the plateau even in the monsoon season, and what little that does fall happening in the late afternoon and evening, it is a great time to visit the plateau. The summer is also a lot warmer, which makes it more comfortable for travelers, as the plateau can get cold in the spring and autumn seasons, especially at night. However, while the spring and autumn may not have the warmer temperatures of summer, it is not so cold that you cannot travel comfortably with a warm sweater, and is the best time for clear skies and great views of the stunning mountains.

Overall, the best time to visit all three destinations in one trip is in the spring and autumn, from April to May and September to October, as you will have decent weather in all three destinations. You will also have comfortable temperatures for sightseeing, and even trekking if you are an avid fan of hiking in the mountains.

Travel Visa and Permits Needed for Visiting Bhutan Tibet Nepal

Nepal does not have the requirements for permits to travel that Tibetan and Bhutan have, and you are free to travel around this landlocked Himalayan nation as you please. You are also able to use public transport, which is one of the options that makes Nepal one of the cheapest places to visit in the world.

Bhutan and Tibet both have requirements for tourists to be on pre-arranged tours, as independent travel is not permitted in either location. In Tibet, you will need to have the Tibet Travel Permit in order to enter the region and travel in the area of Lhasa. Outside Lhasa, you will need the Alien’s travel Permit, the Restricted Areas Permit, and the Frontier Pass in order to visit the various regions of Tibet outside Lhasa, and the permit you need depends on the destination you are touring to.

Tibet Travel Permit

Bhutan is the same, and you need the entry permit to get in and visit Paro and Thimphu, and a separate permit for the different areas of Bhutan that you intend to visit. You will also need a permit issued by the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) in order to visit the monasteries in the kingdom. However, all of the permits you need for both Tibet and Bhutan are provided by the travel agency you are using for the tour, and are obtained once you have booked the tour, to be ready for when you arrive.

Visas, however, are required for all three destinations, and you will need to make sure you know how to obtain the visa for each. For Bhutan, the visa is arranged by your travel agency once you have booked and paid for the Bhutan tour. The agency will make the application on your behalf, and your visa will be issued into your passport on your arrival at Paro International Airport. An approval letter is sent to your email address for you to use to book and board the flight to Paro.

Visas for Nepal are easy to obtain, and you can apply for the entry visa yourself once you arrive at Kathmandu Airport. The process is relatively simple, and takes around an hour. Once approved, your visa will be stamped into your passport and you will be allowed to enter the country.

Tibet is a little different, as there is no actual visa for Tibet as it is part of China. However, you will need to have a visa to enter Tibet, no matter which direction you enter from. The visa for entry to Tibet via mainland China must be obtained personally in advance of your trip from the Chinese Embassy in your home country. Applications normally take 3-5 days to process, and the cost varies from country to country. For those that are traveling to Tibet from Nepal, you will not need the normal visa, and instead a Group Visa will be applied for by us on your behalf once you arrive in Kathmandu. The visa, which can only be used for entry from Nepal to Tibet, takes around three working days to process, so you need to be in Kathmandu at least five days before your expected departure date for Tibet.

Cost for Nepal Tibet Bhutan Tour Three Weeks

The cost of a three-week tour of Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan depends on when you are traveling and where you want to go when you get there. The cost of the Bhutan leg of the tour is set for low and high seasons, and the only additional cost would be an upgrade of the standard three-star hotels. In Nepal, the cost depends on where you stay, where you travel to, what you do whilst there (such as trekking, kayaking, etc.), and what time of year you travel. The low seasons in Nepal, summer and winter, can be a lot cheaper for tourists on a budget, but the peak seasons are not really that expensive anyway.

In Tibet, the cost depends on the tour you choose, the duration of your stay in the region, the hotel accommodation required, and where you are going to visit whilst in Tibet. The further and longer you travel, the higher the cost, and the cost of the accommodation depends on the quality of hotel or guesthouse you require for your Tibet tour. The costs for Bhutan and Tibet also depend on whether you are traveling alone or with a group, as group travel makes the tour cheaper, with the costs of the driver, guide and vehicle being shared among the members of the party.

Conclusion

A trip to Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan together for three weeks gives you much more time to explore these three amazing destinations. With plenty of time to spend in each, you will have chance to learn and understand the religions and cultures of these unique locations much better, and glean a deeper understanding of the true depth of the devotion of these outstanding people to their beliefs and traditions, most of which date back thousands of years. A trip to Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan for three weeks is like no other vacation you can find on the planet.