13 Days Classic Tibet Nepal Bhutan Group Tour

Our staff will greet you at Lhasa Airport/Railway to transfer you to the hotel. From Lhasa Airport to downtown Lhasa, it usually takes about 1 hour; from Lhasa Railway Station, about 20 minutes. After being transferred to the hotel, you will be free to wander around the city on your own but try not to overtax yourself for the rest of the day. The first day's well-rest is crucial to acclimatize to the high altitude. Remember to drink lots of water, eat light, and not have a shower if you can help it.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

After breakfast in the hotel, the tour guide will take you to Drepung Monastery, the biggest Tibetan monastery that housed more than 10,000 monks in the past. Drepung means Rice Heap in the Tibetan language. The entire monastery is large in scale and the white buildings cluster and cover the hillsides. It's the highest-ranking monastery in the Gelug Sect.

In the afternoon you will first visit the Tibet Museum. Here you can see life scenes, exquisite clothing, house architecture, and festival customs, etc. to explore the special and mysterious Tibetan customs. Then you will visit Norbulingka, which is a typical Tibetan-style royal garden, the summer resort of the Dalai Lama.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Meals:Breakfast

Today, you will go to the famous world heritage Potala Palace. It’s situated on the Red Hill of central Lhasa. Potala Palace is the highest ancient palace in the world, reaching 3,767.19m (12,359.55ft) at the topmost point. The most valuable collections of Potala Palace are the gilded burial stupas of former Dalai Lamas and the meditation Cave of the 33rd great king of Tibet.

In the afternoon, take an easy visit to Jokhang Temple in the center of Lhasa old town. Jokhang Temple is the most sacred temple in Tibet and it is always bustling with earnest local pilgrims. After you visit the temple, you'll have time to walk around the Barkhor Street, which is one of the most devotional circuits as well as the crowded central market of Lhasa since the early days. As a symbol of Lhasa, it is also a must-see place for visitors.

Stay overnight in Lhasa

• Meals:Breakfast

We will pass by Kampala Pass (4,790m) on the way from Lhasa to Shigatse and visit Yamdrok Lake, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. Standing at the lakeside, you can see its blue water shimmering with charming light, as well as the snow-capped holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar (7,191m) in the distance.  

Next we will pass and enjoy the Karola Glacier on the roadside. It is about 300m from the main highway on your way to Gyantse.

Then visit the main monastery in Gyantse - Pelkor Chode Monastery, famous for its exquisite architecture and intact murals and statues.

Stay overnight in Shigatse

• Meals:Breakfast

In the morning, you will visit the home of Panchen Lama - Tashilhunpo Monastery and then drive to Lhatse, a small town located 150 km from Shigatse, and you may have lunch in the local restaurant. After a short rest, you will go ahead to Tingri by passing through Tsola Pass (4,600m), and Gyatsola Pass (5,248m), with countless prayer flags flying in the wind. In the late afternoon, you enter Mt. Everest National Nature Reserve. Afterward, you will ascend to Gawula Pass (5,198m), where you can enjoy the panorama of the Himalayas. Then you will drive along the new zigzag road to Everest Base Camp (5,200m) to stay overnight. If the weather is good, you can have a clear view of the sunset of Golden Everest Peak.

Stay overnight in Nomad Tent (Dorm Bed) / Guesthouse

• Meals:Breakfast

You can get up early and enjoy the sunrise of Everest Peak at the lodging area if the weather is good. After that, you will go to the Rongbuk Monastery, which is the highest monastery in the world. Then drive to Gyirong, the border that connects Tibet & Nepal. On the way, you can enjoy the breathtaking vista of Mt. Shishapangma and Peikutso Lake. After passing the Ghungtang Lhamo (5,236m), we will arrive in Gyirong in the late afternoon.

Stay overnight in Gyirong Town

In the morning, your guide will take you to the border of Nepal and our driver from Nepal will meet you on the other side. Then transfer to your hotel in Kathmandu. The rest of the day is for you to wander around the area or rest in your hotel.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu

Today, we will explore the Kathmandu City. The guide will take you to visit the famous Kathmandu Durbar Square, the Royal Palace Square in the city which is surrounded by ancient buildings from the early 16th century. The magnificent architecture, exquisite decorations, and the intensity of historical items give a great insight into Nepali culture.

After that, continue the tour to visit the Swayambhunath Pagoda which is one of the oldest Buddhist sites in Nepal. Swayambhunath is a huge golden stupa festooned with prayer flags that flutter in the breeze, on a hill that overlooks the entire city. Then make your way to Patan City, the second largest city in the Kathmandu Valley area. Patan City has one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Nepal dating back to the 12th century and is a great place to explore the Buddhist culture of Nepal.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu

• Meals:Breakfast

Today, we are going to visit the ancient Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, and Boudhanath, one of the largest stupas in Asia, and a focal point for Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. Set on the banks of the Bagmati River, Pashupatinath is one of Nepal’s famous UNESCO sites, and the sunset over the temple roofs is spectacular. Then head to Boudhanath, located on the ancient trade route. It is a place of meditation and part of the spiritual journey around Kathmandu. As one of the largest stupas in the world, it has been the site of many Tibetan prayers over the centuries.

Stay overnight in Kathmandu

• Meals:Breakfast

Jenpalegso La (Welcome to Bhutan)! On arrival, meet your private guide and driver who will stay with you for the rest of your trip. You will start in Thimphu. The drive is one hour by road. Thimphu is a charming city, probably the smallest capital in the world, resting in the heart of the Himalayas.

In the afternoon, visit the landmark - National Monument, which is not only to commemorate the late king but also for world peace. It is also the place where Thimphu people's daily koras are most concentrated. Locals believe that the kora can wash away previous sins.

Stay overnight in Thimphu

• Meals:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning you will be driven from Thimphu to Punakha, crossing the Dochu La Pass at 3,100 meters, where you are able to see the 108 beautiful Chortens, also known as Druk Wangyal Chortens. It's to commemorate those who lost their lives in the suppression of the Assamese rebels in southern Bhutan and to pray for world peace. In Punakha, you will visit the most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan Punakha Dzong, which was built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. After visiting the Dzong, you will get back to Paro.

Perched above Rinpung Dzong, the ancient Ta Dzong is a watchtower. It was built in 1649 to protect the undefended Dzong. And it was renovated into a National Museum in 1968. The unusual round building was built in the shape of a conch shell, with 2.5m-thick walls. The watchtower suffered damage in the 2011 earthquake but reopened in 2016 as the nation's premier museum.

Stay overnight in Paro

• Meals:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning you will trek from the bottom of Paro Valley to the Taktsang Monastery, perched on the side of the mountain. Taktsang (commonly known as Tiger's Nest) is the most sacred site in Bhutan and one of the top ten super temples in the world to go. Located at an elevation of 3120 meters, Taktsang is the birthplace of Bhutanese Buddhism. Guru Rinpoche flew here from Tibet on the back of a tigress, which was the manifestation of his divine consort Yeshe Tsogyal.

You can ride a horse or walk to Tiger’s Nest. It is a challenging trek so you will gain merit with every step. The view from the Paro Valley to the monastery is worth your climb. The hike starts from a gentle forest with some prayer flags. After passing a creek and some water-powered prayer wheels, the trail starts getting steeper.

On halfway up the monastery, there is a nice teahouse with great views of Taktsang Monastery that makes a welcome stopping point. You can get some tea and take a break here. You can continue climbing to the viewpoint, which's the best place to take photos of Taktsang. From here, you will walk down a series of steep stairs to a waterfall to achieve your final ascent to the entrance. Here you will be required to leave your backpacks, cameras, and phones.

In the afternoon, you will visit Kyichu Lhakhang, the oldest temple in Bhutan. After visiting today’s attractions, if time permits, the tour guide can also take you to visit the ordinary market in Paro, where you can buy some handicrafts with Bhutanese characteristics.

Stay overnight in Paro

• Meals:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel, take you to the airport, and help you check in for your flight from Bhutan.

• Meals: Breakfast