Best of the Himalaya Tour

The Best of the Himalaya Tour by Himalayan Trekkers comprises the main destinations in the lap of the younger mountain range, mainly the central and eastern part of the Himalayas.

This is a nearly a full month trip that covers Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, and northeast India. Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, and North East India are neighbors in more ways than one, lying side by side in the formidable Himalayas. Nepal and India, both are multi-lingual, multi-cultural, and multi-religious countries with similar cultures and traditions while Tibet and Bhutan remain mystical and mysterious to many people in the world.

The journey of the Himalayas begins with the exploration of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Kathmandu Valley. The thriving capital of Nepal, Kathmandu is a unique blend of unity in diversity with the highest population throughout the country. A Kathmandu trip is ideal for those who want to encounter a mix of modern influences and historic cultural heritage that have been preserved in their original form. Overall, the gateway to Nepal with the only international airport in the country, Kathmandu valley offers an experience of art, architecture, history, culture, nature, and, adventure, all in itself.

Then you will get a wonderful introduction to Shangri-La and Tibet's mysterious worlds. This trip provides a unique glimpse into the Tibetan people's culture and traditions, from the stunning plateaus and valleys to the historical Buddhist temples and communities. You will visit Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse, Shegar, and Rongbuk in Tibet. Rongbuk also has an Everest base camp from the Tibet side. 

Furthermore, you will also visit Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Haa Valley, and Phuntsholing in Bhutan. Bhutan can be described as a country with wonderful monasteries, rich culture, and spicy cuisines. The country of “the Thunder Dragon” is also considered “the Last Shangri-La” due to its wealth and sense of commitment to nature and the environment. It is also the only country in the world that emits no carbon. 

Finally, you make your way out of Bhutan via Phuentsholing to make the exploration the around, Himalayan part of India, i.e. to the northeast part. You will visit Darjeeling, Gangtok, and Kalimpong. These towns are a few of the most beautiful places in the country with natural diversity which attracted the British during the Anglo Gorkha War. The British East India Company brought many changes to these places; they established tea plantations, a Himalayan railway, and private schools in British Style attracting travelers from all around the world. 

This trip includes all kinds of weather, people, culture, traditions, foods, and the glamorous natural beauty of the South Asian region. This journey is a twenty-five-day journey. The starting point of this journey is Kathmandu and the ending point is Delhi. You probably spend 6 days in Nepal, 8 in Tibet, 6 in Bhutan, and the last 5 days in India. The tour is ideal for those planning a multi-country tour of the Himalayas, hills, cultures, and traditions in a single timeframe that saves Time, Budget, Interest, and Energy.

Best of the Himalaya Tour offers a combination of experiences from 4 different countries at a very reasonable cost that involves the cost of a flight. This tour is also fully customizable. To learn more or have any questions, feel free to email us. 

Note: 

1. The permits and entrance fees for the temples, monasteries, or heritage sites mentioned as per the itinerary are all included in the package cost. Also, the 250 USD per day tariff in Bhutan is covered in the package.

2. Nepal is the main gateway to Tibet. Also, only Nepal has direct flights to Gonggar International Airport in Lhasa which is short and scenic.

Highlights of Nepal Tibet Bhutan & North East India Tour

• Opportunity to get a glimpse of once hidden Himalayan Kingdoms: Nepal Tibet India Bhutan in a single trip
• Explore Nepal, a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious country and the home of the highest peak, Mount Everest. 
• Discover significant cultural and historical wonders of Kathmandu Valley listed in UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Admire the landscape and the grand Buddhist Monasteries of the “Roof of the World”
• Enjoy the serenity in the holy Yamdrok Tso Lake in Tibet
• Wonderful chance to be in the lap of the highest peak in the world, Everest on the northern side 
• Get amazed by the only carbon negative country, Bhutan, and its only capital with no traffic lights
• Take in the picturesque dzongs, fortress, and markets of the “Land of Thunder Dragon”
• Get insight into the different forms of Buddhism and its teachings 
• Relish the green Darjeeling surrounded by the tea plantation everywhere
• Witness a sunrise view over the Kanchenjunga Peak from Gangtok
• Overall a hassle-free multicountry trip with the wonderful and laid-back itinerary 

Best Time for the Best of the Himalaya Tour 

All four countries Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, and northeast India share a four-season climate system. But, they have different traveling peak seasons depending upon different activities and altitudes. Summer is usually the greatest time to visit Tibet because the weather is the hottest, despite some minor rainfall due to the "monsoon" season. However, it is monsoon season in Nepal, Bhutan, and India at that time, and the rain is considerably stronger and more frequent there than in Tibet.

While the winters in Nepal, Bhutan, and India are relatively mild, making it a good season to travel, the winters in Tibet are much colder and do not provide the best vacation experience, leaving only autumn and spring. The weather during these in all four sites is ideal for all types of activities, from trekking and climbing to sightseeing and relaxation, and the temperatures are pleasant and comfortable throughout this period.

However, all seasons except winter are great for this particular combined trip to Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, and India. Also, the best recommended months from the three seasons are April, May, June, July, October, and November.

Visa Requirements for the Best of the Himalaya Tour 

Nepal Visa: All foreign travelers except Indian nationals require Nepal Visa to enter Nepal. One can get the visa on arrival at the airport or at the borders, online, or via the Nepal Embassy or Consulate in their respective countries. However, a few countries such as Afghanistan, Cameroon, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria, Palestine, Somalia, Syria, and Zimbabwe need to get a visa before they travel to Nepal. 

Also, we recommend you obtain Online Nepali Visa (eVisa) or get one from the Nepal Diplomat to make the process easier and prevent long lines at the airport.

Tibet Visa: Once being a restricted region, Tibet accepts only visitors with Tibet Travel Permit and Chinese Group Visa as per the Chinese immigration regulations. Travelers only obtain both travel documents from an authorized travel agency. For this, you have to confirm the trip first.

Once you confirm the trip and sign the contract, you need to send us the photos of your passport. Then we will gather your travel information and submit your Tibet Permit application to Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB). It takes around 3-4 weeks to send the Visa Invitation to the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu from TTB. However, we suggest you apply for the Tibet Permit a couple of months prior to secure your flights as flights from Kathmandu-Lhasa/Lhasa-Kathmandu are limited. This also helps you to travel within a comfortable time frame.

Next, once you arrive in Kathmandu, we will collect your original passport and personal photo, and visa fee and fill out the application form and submit it to the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu. It takes around 3-4 working days to collect the Chinese Group Visa. So, we suggest you arrive at least 4 days earlier before entering Tibet.

We then collect your Chinese Group Visa and hand it over to you, after which you can either fly or drive to Tibet as per the itinerary. For the Tibet Travel Permit, your Tibetan guide will collect it from TTB before receiving you. He/she will carry the permit throughout the journey in Tibet and display it at the required points.

Bhutan Visa: Bhutan visa applications cannot be processed through embassies, are not available online, and there is no Visa on Arrival service. The only option to secure a visa for Bhutan is to book a tour with a registered tour operator or travel agent sending an electronic copy of your passport photo and scanned copies of your passport. After your trip confirmation, the application is submitted on your behalf by your tour operator. 

Once the complete payment of your holiday (including a USD 40 visa fee) has been wire sent and accepted in the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) bank account, the visa will be processed. The visa clearance will be completed within 72 working hours after it is received.

You will be needed to show your visa clearance letter at the point of entry, after which the visa will be stamped into your passport.

Indian Visa: For the Indian Visa, travelers themselves need to obtain the visa. Once the trip is confirmed, we suggest you apply for the Online Indian Visa at least a month prior to the trip departure as the processing time may take a week to more, sometimes a month depending on the visa regulations.

In case, travelers could not get the Indian Visa prior the departure, they can apply for the Visa upon arriving in Nepal if there is sufficient time and condition applies. However, it might affect the itinerary days as the visa process can take 7 to 30 days.