Bhutan vs Nepal vs Tibet: which is better for tourists, Nepal, Bhutan, or Tibet?

Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet are three popular destinations in the Himalayas in Southeast Asia. Lying in the same region of the long mountain range, these three unique and stunning destinations are hugely popular locations for tourists from around the world, and see thousands of visitors each throughout the year. With stunning landscapes, high Himalayan Mountains, and amazing unique cultures in all three destinations, it can be hard to decide which to go to, especially if you are unable to combine all three together. So which of these spectacular destinations is the best to visit? That really depends on what you want from the trip and what you expect from each place individually.

Best for Everest Summit and Kailash Kora Pilgrimage - Tibet

When it comes to the famous mountains of Mount Everest and Mount Kailash, there is nowhere better than Tibet for stunning views and amazing experiences. Mount Everest, which lies directly on the border between Nepal and Tibet, has two base camps, though it is only from the northern base camp in Tibet that you can get a view of the summit of the world’s highest mountain. When it comes to views of the summit of Mount Everest, the better views are normally found in Tibet rather than in Nepal, which has views from further away from the summit than those at EBC in Tibet. And when it comes to traveling to the closest place to view the mountain, the roads from Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, to EBC are a much better option for tourists than the 12-day trek you need to accomplish to reach the closest viewing point in Nepal.

Taking the challenging Mount Kailash Kora trekking

Mount Kailash, in the western Ngari Prefecture of Tibet, is the most sacred mountain for four separate religions, including Buddhism and Hinduism, and lies wholly in Tibet, some distance from the border with Nepal. The location of the famous Kailash Kora, the ultimate pilgrimage destination in Asia, Mount Kailash is one of the most outstanding tourist and pilgrimage attractions in the Himalayas. The tourist trek around the mountain, which follows the pilgrimage kora route, is a three-day adventure the like of which can be found nowhere else in the world. A spiritual journey of self-discovery, even for those non-religious trekkers, this ultimate hike at high altitudes is an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime.
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Best for Independent Travelers and Budget Trekkers - Nepal

If you are traveling on a budget, or are preferring to make your own arrangements for touring around the Himalayas, then Nepal is the best option for you. Unlike Bhutan and Tibet, independent travel is permitted throughout Nepal, and there are no restrictions on where you can go or how you can get there. Traveling around Nepal was originally done mostly by backpackers, exploring the exotic locations of this previously untraveled destination by foot and by local bus, traveling on bumpy roads in hot and arduous conditions. While the buses are generally a little better these days, the roads are still pretty bumpy in most places, but the freedom of being able to go where you please when you want is a freedom that many still yearn for when traveling the Himalayas.

The long trek to EBC in Nepal

Nepal is also a haven for those trekkers that are traveling on a budget, as trekking in Nepal is not as costly as trekking in Bhutan and Tibet, which require you to be on a pre-arranged tour and with a guide present at all times. Such additions add up to the expenses when trekking, and in Nepal, you are not required to have any of them. Being able to travel around freely means you can arrive at your trekking destination at a low cost, and while there are certain permit requirements for trekking in Nepal, they are not expensive and are easily affordable for most budget travelers. There is also no requirement to hire expensive guides and porters for the treks, and you can even manage the long trek to EBC in Nepal without needing a guide, as the trail is well marked and there are teahouses all along the route.

Best for Exploring the Hidden Kingdom in the Himalayas - Bhutan

Bhutan has long been an isolated country in the Himalayas, cut off from the rest of the world by its remote location for centuries. Protected from the north by the range of the Himalayas, and around the other sides by the vast distances of the Indian states of Northeast India, Bhutan has remained isolated to such a degree that they have managed to retain their traditional values and culture without interference from outside influences that would have changed the culture and the people.

Exploring the hidden Himalayan kingdom - Bhutan

Bhutan is still a relatively isolated and hidden kingdom in the Himalayas, and is the last true bastion of ancient traditions in Southeast Asia. Often considered to be the last Shangri-La - the isolated valley of the legendary book, Lost Horizon - Bhutan still protects its traditions, values, and culture by limiting access to the country for tourists and requiring them to be on pre-arranged Bhutan tours which have pre-set itineraries, thus restricting where tourists can go and maintaining the traditional culture and infrastructure of this ancient Buddhist kingdom.

Best for Epic Lhasa Kathmandu Overland Expedition - Tibet and Nepal

When it comes to overland adventures, there is none as spectacular as the amazing journey across the Tibetan plateau from Lhasa to Kathmandu. An expedition of epic proportions, an overland tour that starts in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa and ends in the exotic Nepali capital of Kathmandu is one of the best and most exciting journeys on the planet.

Enjoy the panoramic view of the Himalayas in Gawula Pass

Traveling across the vast Tibetan plateau, through towns and cities where the unique Tibetan culture remains untarnished by external influences and where Tibetan monks walk the streets carefully, this is the best way to explore the twin capitals of these two popular Himalayan destinations. An expansive journey, you will travel to ancient Buddhist monasteries, pass spectacular lakes and pristine glaciers, crest the world’s highest passes through the Transhimalaya, and even stop off to take a look at the world’s highest mountain. When it comes to exploring overland journeys, there is no better adventure than the tour from Lhasa to Kathmandu in Nepal.

Best for Himalayan Trekking - Nepal and Bhutan

Trekking in the Himalayas is one of the most popular activities of tourists that head for these three unique destinations in Southeast Asia and when it comes to mountain treks and amazing hikes through the largest and highest mountain range on the planet, there are no better places than Nepal and Bhutan.

With Nepal lying on the southern edge of the higher western Himalayas, and Bhutan lying on the southern side of the eastern Himalayas, both destinations have an abundance of amazing Himalayan treks that make them ideal locations for avid mountain trekkers.

Nepal lies in the area of the western Himalayas which has the higher mountains of the range, and eight of the 14 highest mountains in the world lie in this landlocked Himalayan country. From Mount Everest and Cho Oyu to Manaslu, Annapurna, and many others, Nepal has some of the best mountain treks in the world. Small wonder it is often referred to as the mountain trekking capital of the world.

Tiger's Nest Monastery in Bhutan

Bhutan may not be the mountain trekking capital that Nepal has become, but its unique form of mountain trekking in the Himalayas does make it a popular destination for avid hikers. This unique destination offers some of the best treks in the Himalayas, from the stunning Jomolhari Trek to the awesome treks around the mountains of the Bumthang District in central Bhutan. And for those that want to try and tackle the ultimate mountain trek, the world-famous Snowman trek is rated as the hardest trek in the world, stretching across almost the entire northern edge of Bhutan and taking around a month to complete.

Why not visit Tibet Nepal Bhutan altogether?

With these three amazing destinations lying close together in the Himalayas, and with a variety of different aspects that are particular to each destination, the ultimate trip would be to visit all three together. With the ability to start in Tibet and travel overland to Nepal, explore the stunning mountain treks of the country, and then take the flight from Kathmandu to Paro for exploring the amazing mountains and Buddhist Dzongs of the last Himalayan Kingdom, a combined trip to Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan is easily possible, and can be arranged without too much trouble.

With Bhutan and Tibet requiring tourists to be on pre-arranged tours, the arrangement and planning of traveling to these two destination is easy, and with Nepal being a simple place to visit for almost anyone, there is no reason why these three locations cannot be part of one giant tour of the best places in the mighty Himalayas.

Conclusion

Deciding on whether to visit Bhutan, Nepal, or Tibet can be a problem, as these three stunning destinations all have amazing aspects to them that you cannot find anywhere else in the world. And while it can be hard to choose between the three locations, you are best deciding on a single destination based on what you want to do on your holiday. However, if you are unable to come to a decision, a trip to Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan together would be the trip of a lifetime.