Nepal Tibet Bhutan Tour

Climate and best Time for Nepal Tibet Bhutan tour

 It’s quite remarkable that the three mysterious kingdoms of Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan have weather that is somewhat alike. The central areas of Kathmandu, Paro, and Thimphu in Nepal and Bhutan have subtropical climates significantly shaped by monsoon rains.

On the other hand, Lhasa in Tibet has a climate similar to that of Mustang and Manang in Nepal, which is dry, arid, and well-protected from monsoon downpours.

However, all three nations experience dry weather during the autumn season from mid-September to early October and in spring from March to June making it an ideal time for sightseeing tours like our Nepal Tibet Bhutan Tour.

In autumn, the leaves of the lush forests in Nepal and Bhutan turn the most beautiful shades of yellow and orange that carpet the forest floors gloriously. The skies are fully open with sporadic clouds. While the hot dry days in Lhasa suddenly cool down to milder heats between 15 to 20 degrees Celsius.

In spring, the new blooms of firs, and rhododendrons reveal the enchanting landscapes of Nepal and Bhutan. While in Lhasa, the milder 25 degrees Celsius and open blue skies unveil the full beauty of this charming land.

The summer from June to late August is the most beautiful time for a Lhasa visit with sporadic rainfalls. However, in Kathmandu, Paro, and Thimphu, the rain can reach up to 50 to 70 cm thoroughly soaking the cities with hovering dark clouds in the sky.

The winter from mid-December to late February in Kathmandu, Paro, Thimphu, and Lhasa offers the best shiny days with cold nights and mornings. Being the least tourist period, you will have the advantage of fewer tourists and more discounts available.

Nepal Tibet Bhutan Tour Difficulty

 Our Nepal Tibet Bhutan tour is an orientation journey into the magical lands of the three astounding nations. In Nepal, your tour will be solely focused on Kathmandu Valley and Nagarkot at relatively lower elevations.

When you move into Lhasa, a sudden altitude shift will be experienced when your days are spent above 3500 m height. To address the issue of changing altitude, we have a rest day and two days of sightseeing tours in a comfortable private vehicle, with only brief walks around the monasteries.

In Bhutan, the altitude is generally lower like in Nepal, with the exception of the hike to Tiger’s Nest Monastery, which is slightly challenging yet manageable.

Throughout your journey, a comfortable private vehicle with a professional driver will facilitate your travel across all cities, while you will enjoy restful nights in high-quality tourist hotels.

Therefore, our Nepal Tibet Bhutan tour is the simplest way to explore these intriguing cities all in one single journey.

Who can participate in this journey?

The three countries are known to the world not only for their stunning landscapes, majestic mountains, and rich mysticism but also for being among the safest destinations in the world with the lowest crime rates.

Each of these nations displays a harmonious blend of nature, spirituality, modernity, and tradition. From the modern bars, and lounges to religious and centuries-old palaces, temples, and Gompas, from the English-speaking educated helpful, and friendly people to nomadic herders, you will get everything in this single trip.

Therefore, whether you are a solo female traveler, a retiree, a newlywed couple, or a family with children, we invite you all to take part in our Nepal Tibet Bhutan Tour trip without any hesitation.

Altitude Sickness and Acclimatization

 Kathmandu, Paro, and Thimphu are located at elevations below 3,000 meters, where the air contains a high concentration of oxygen. In Paro, we will temporarily reach an altitude above 3,100 meters during our exploration of the Tiger’s Nest Monastery.

On the other hand, Lhasa is situated at an elevation greater than 3,500 meters, where the oxygen levels are lower compared to those in Kathmandu and Bhutan. This difference in altitude may lead to altitude sickness, the conditions will be mild, with a very low chance of severe complications.

In our years of experience, we have noticed that very few participants experience headaches, body aches, restlessness, or sleep disturbances. Breathing difficulties are also reported but only by a few participants.

Therefore, our guide advises all participants to prioritize rest on their arrival day in a new city. The walking and sightseeing tours will commence the next day, which will help facilitate your acclimatization to the new air and altitude.

To ease the acclimatization process and prevent altitude sickness, you can take Diamox when in Kathmandu. Give your body plenty of fluid especially water and carry water bottles so you can drink in between the excursion.

Accommodation, Food, and Drinks

We have tried to manage every detail and expense associated with our Nepal Tibet Bhutan Tour. Almost all costs related to your accommodation, meals, transportation, and permits are included in our itinerary cost.

In Kathmandu, Lhasa, and Bhutan, you will enjoy stays in comfortable three-star hotels equipped with private bathrooms, hot showers, and internet access. During the booking process, we have also ensured that these hotels provide stunning views of the cities right from your room windows.

In Kathmandu and Lhasa, a bed and breakfast service will be available in the mornings, while lunches and dinners will be left to your own choice. This will let you experience the remarkable cuisine of these cities according to your taste. In Bhutan, full board meals will be provided three times each day.

The cuisines in all three nations are both international and local flavors. Dishes are available to suit all preferences, whether you prefer spicy or mild, vegetarian or non-vegetarian.

Transportation

All transportation during our Nepal Tibet Bhutan Tour will be conducted in private vehicles, which may include a minibus, van, car, or bus, depending on the size of the group.

The service also covers airport transfers in the cities on your arrival and departure days in Kathmandu. Additionally, your flights to Lhasa and Paro will be arranged in economy class.

Currency, Money exchange, and Credit Cards

Nepal uses the Nepalese Rupee (NPR) as its official currency, while Lhasa uses the Chinese Renminbi Yuan (RMB), and Bhutan operates with the Ngultrum, although Indian Rupees (INR) are also accepted.

Currency exchange services are available in all three countries at various private and government bank counters. You can also change your home currencies at the airport on our arrival.

If you do so in Paro, remember to retain the money exchange invoice so the excess local money can be returned on your departure. Since your first visit and stop in between the Nepal Tibet Bhutan Tour will occur in Kathmandu, it will be easy and wise to exchange all the needed money here through banks such as Himalayan Bank, State Bank of India (SBI), and Standard Chartered.

Calculate the budget for your personal expenses, beverages, lunches, and dinners in Kathmandu and Lhasa. The average needed cost per day for each person will be around $25 to $30.

Regarding credit cards, Visa and MasterCard are accepted at major retail stores, hotels, and restaurants. In Kathmandu and Lhasa, certain e-wallets and mobile applications are also available for payment. In Kathmandu, options such as eSewa, Khalti, and Fonepay can be utilized, while in Lhasa, WeChat Pay, Apple Pay, and Alipay are accepted.

Communication and Internet

It is always wise to go for an economical communication option when traveling abroad. Instead of relying on roaming services, you can consider using the local operators of the respective countries.

In Kathmandu, use the NTC or NCELL SIM cards, in Lhasa, go for the China Unicom, China Mobile, or China Telecom cards and in Paro and Thimphu, you can use the  Bhutan Telecom SIM cards. Both Nepal and Bhutan offer 4G services, while Lhasa provides access to 5G.

Don’t worry as our respective guide in each country will help you acquire the local SIM cards.

In Kathmandu, Bhutan, and Lhasa, WiFi connectivity is not an issue, and several facilities may offer free WiFi access. In Lhasa though, a VPN app is required to access YouTube, Twitter, Gmail, Instagram, Google, WhatsApp, and Facebook.

And, in Paro and Thimphu, it will be more practical to purchase 10 GB of mobile data for 94 Bhutanese Ngultrum.

Rules and Regulations for Nepal Tibet Bhutan Tour

Engaging in the Nepal Tibet Bhutan tour involves following particular guidelines and regulations, along with obtaining necessary special permits.

The essential rule to follow is to arrange your tour through a licensed travel and tour agency for access to Bhutan and Tibet. Foreigners cannot travel alone in Tibet and Bhutan, no matter what information is available online.

In both Lhasa and Bhutan, you must travel in the company of a registered professional driver and guide, with all transportation to be conducted in a private vehicle. By booking your tour with a reputable travel agency (such as ours), you will receive a package that includes transportation, accommodation with breakfast, a guide, entrance fees to attractions, and all required permits.

Another critical thing to consider is the timeline. The permits and visas necessary for Lhasa and Bhutan require at least 15 business days for processing.

So, you must reserve your  Nepal Tibet Bhutan tour one to two months ahead of time. After you finalize your travel program and confirm the tour, you will not be able to make any changes or customizations. Since all the information will already be sent for registration in the respective permits.

Additionally, please remember that as part of a group, all members must arrive in and depart from the country at the same time.

And, you must posses a passport with the effectiveness of at least six months and should have a minimum of two blank pages. Additionally, for the Tibet permit and Visa, we request from you passport-sized photographs that are 51 mm by 51 mm, taken without makeup or glasses, and set against a white background.

Permits and Visa for Nepal Tibet Bhutan Tour

Gaining entry in Nepal is simpler compared to Tibet and Bhutan. Let’s look at the Visas and permits we will be needing for our Nepal Tibet Bhutan Tour.

• Tourist Visa for Nepal

To land in Kathmandu, you only need to have a tourist Visa which conveniently can be obtained as you arrive at TIA. Simply, complete the online application form on the Nepal Immigration Office website, print it out, and bring it with you to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

Now, choose the days of your stay and pay the fee ( 15 days: $30, 30 days: $50, and 90 days: $125) and get the Visa.

• Permits for Lhasa

To enter Lhasa, we need two sets of essential documents: the Chinese Group Visa and the Tibet Travel Visa or Permit.

• TTP (Tibet Travel Permit)

To explore Lhasa without restrictions, the first requirement is the Tibet Travel Permit, which must be obtained through an authorized tour operator in Tibet.

Here, we want to inform you that we work with our licensed travel partner in Tibet who will submit the necessary application to the Tibet Tourism Bureau in Lhasa with your photos and scanned or photocopied passports.

Once the application is processed, an invitation letter will be issued to us, and our respective Tibetan guide will collect the permit and present it at Lhasa Airport on your arrival.

• Chinese Group Visa

For this Visa, all group members of the Nepal Tibet Bhutan tour must visit the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu in person at the same time.

Each participants are required to submit their photographs, original passports, and fingerprints. The passports will be kept for three days while the visa is being prepared. A single white document, issued in Chinese, will be provided as the Visa for the entire group (justifying the name of course).

• Bhutan Tourist Visa

Bhutan has a selective approach when it comes to providing entry to foreign travelers. Citizens from India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives enjoy unrestricted access, while individuals from other nations have some restrictions as explained above.

It is also interesting that the visa application for Bhutan is not handled at the Embassy but through an authorized tour operator or their representative overseas.

We work with a licensed travel partner in Bhutan who will present your documents to the Bhutan Tourism Department. After your application is approved, the visa will be granted on your arrival at the airport by immigration officials, requiring a payment of 20 US dollars.

Protocols to Follow when traveling in Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan

Public smoking is restricted in Kathmandu, Bhutan, and Lhasa. There are specific locations, particularly in Lhasa, Paro, and Thimphu, where smoking is allowed.

Likewise, travelers can bring up to 200 cigarettes per person through the airport, which may incur expensive taxes and customs duties. If you happen to bring more than 200 cigarettes, additional custom fine will have to be paid.

Bhutan has stricter rules, and failing to provide a customs receipt could result in your imprisonment. Regarding alcohol, you may bring up to one liter of alcoholic beverages, and drinking is allowed in restaurants, bars, and hotels, but of course, you should avoid drinking and driving.

In Kathmandu, police officers are generally friendly towards tourists, and many do not object to having their photos taken. However, the situation is different in Bhutan and Lhasa, where photographing military and security personnel is generally prohibited. If you do, jail or some conflicts may arise.

Therefore, please seek permission before taking photographs, particularly in monasteries. It is also important to remember that when visiting the monasteries in Bhutan and Lhasa, your attire should be appropriate. The long-sleeved tops and long trousers are appropriate for both men and women.

And, please do not take any items related to the exiled Dalai Lama while in Lhasa, and do not publicly mention his name,  especially when military personnel are present.