Tibet Tours & Trips 2020

18 trips to Tibet tours from 47 tour companies. 834 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

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Style Style Small Group Tour Small groups are usually defined as between 10 and 24 travelers, often less. If you're the kind of person who enjoys more intimate experiences and personal service this is a good choice. All else being equal you will pay a premium for this style vs a larger group tour.
Private Guided Private tours give you the undivided attention of a guide, and often involve special access to sites and unique experiences not available to larger groups. This is a great option for families, couples, and small friend groups. Expect to pay a bit more for the extra service.
Self Guided Tour A travel company plans your itinerary and arranges all the logistics including lodging, local activities, and transportantion. You have the flexibility of a solo trip while still getting the convience and time savings of expert planning. Get 90% of the benefits of a tour, without a guide.
Group Tour Groups are between 25-60 people, typically ~30-40. Usually there will be many opportunities to split off and enjoy meals and excursions in smaller groups. This is the most economical way to travel, saving up to 40% versus booking the same itinerary yourself.
River Cruise These vessels are smaller than most ocean cruisers, limiting which amenties are available. Passenger counts can vary. One of the biggest advantages of a river cruise is the ability to dock at smaller ports and local villages.
Small Ship Cruise Small ship cruises usually have a max passenger count of 500. The primary purpose of these trips is to spend time off the vessel in local ports (e.g. Mediterranean) or experiencing nature (e.g Galapagos or Antarctica). Cabins can vary from budget to luxury.
Large Ship Cruise This is the "floating city" experience, with multiple ways to enjoy your vacation aboard the ship as much as on land. Ships are multiple floors, provide several activities, culinary, and shopping options. They often make fewer stops and have less time available for shore excursions.
Retreats Similar to a self guided tour but staying in one location only with activities and day outings included as a part of the stay.

Price

Duration Dropdown

Travelers Age

Lodging Level Lodging Level Camping Typically involves most nights sleeping in tents (sometimes permanent tented sites) or in rustic cabins and lodges.
Basic - 2 star You'll stay in no-frills, but clean and comfortable, hotels or guesthouses. A 'Basic' trip might also involve a few nights of camping.
Value - 3 star Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.
Premium - 4 star 3 to 4 star western hotel equivalents. While not all lodging will be 'luxury' they will be quite comfortable by western standards.
Luxury - 5 star The highest level of comfort and service. All accomodations are in four or five star hotels, boutique lodges or high-end homestays.

Physical Level Physical Level Very Easy Minimal walking - motor vehicles available for all major parts of trip.
Easy Normal generally flat walking in urban or suburban environments.
Moderate Walking or physical activity half to most of day - no carrying equipment.
Strenuous All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.
Extreme Very challenging all day hiking and backpacking carrying significant equipment.

Theme

Attractions & Cities Visited

Activities & Interests

Travel Style Travel Style Flexible schedule A lot of free time, with very few inclusions. Ideal for independent and/or low-key travelers and cruisers.
Full schedule For those looking to maximize their sight seeing time. You thrive on a packed day’s schedule from 8 am to 6pm, with some (but limited) free time. Most activities and meals included.
Balanced schedule You will have solid amounts of both free time and structured time with some activities and meals included.

Flight & Transport Inclusions

Solo Friendly Solo Friendly Good for Singles Trips that specifically cater to travelers looking to meet other singles.
No Single Supplement Trips where single supplement is usually not required for solo travelers.

Supplier (Company)

Countries Visited

Continents Visited

Rivers & Seas Visitied

Stride Gives Back Stride Gives Back This trip visits a destination impacted by climate change. When you opt in to the Travelstride Gives Back program, we will donate 10% of our net revenue to organizations that help mitigate climate change in these destinations and across the globe. Learn more

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Annapurna Circuit Trek

Intrepid Travel
Preferred
Has very high quality customer experiences and demonstrated commitment to responsible travel practices. read more
15 days
$ 107 / day
$ 1,600
From : $ 2,160
The strike-through price reflects either the high season trip price or the average price a traveler pays for a similar itinerary when the components are booked separately.
Travel Style : Array Full on
Physical Level : Very challenging all day hiking and backpacking carrying significant equipment. Hard
Lodging Level : Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
Highlights
  • Ascend to the clouds and reach an altitude of 5416 metres as you cross the Thorung La Pass along the Annapurna Circuit. Testing your mind and body, this is one hell of an accomplishment.
  • Uncover a different side of the Himalayas, trekking past terraced rice fields, oak and rhododendron forests, there’s a diverse array of nature that awaits in the Annapurna region.
  • Learn about life in Nepalese mountain communities, get to know locals and meet other trekkers while you stay in teahouses in the small communities along the way.
  • Discover Nepal’s compact capital in Kathmandu. With a limited amount of time spent here to discover its bazaars and temples, why not extend your stay beforehand to get a real feel of Nepalese culture.
  • Spend time in the peaceful haven of Pokhara after your trek has finished. Relax with your small group on the banks of Phewa Lake and take in the mountainous surrounds that you have conquered!
Visits:
Pokhara, Tibet, Himalayas, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Everest Base Camp Trek

Intrepid Travel
Preferred
Has very high quality customer experiences and demonstrated commitment to responsible travel practices. read more
15 days
$ 98 / day
$ 1,470
From : $ 1,985
The strike-through price reflects either the high season trip price or the average price a traveler pays for a similar itinerary when the components are booked separately.
Travel Style : Array Full on
Physical Level : Very Hard
Lodging Level : Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
Highlights
  • In addition to immense rugged mountains, witness everything from still alpine lakes and glacial plains to frothy rivers and valleys covered in pink blossoms, depending on the season.
  • A trek like this is the bonding experience of a lifetime and the genuine comradery formed between members of your small group will stay with your forever.
  • Get your first glimpses of the mighty Himalayan range on the included flight from Kathmandu to Lukla – the famous airport in the sky.
  • Hike with an experienced and passionate English-speaking local leader as well as a team of guides and porters who will introduce you to rich Sherpa culture.
  • Intrepid partners with local mountaineering and porter welfare programs, so you can trek easier knowing that while our porters are taking care of you, there’s someone looking out for them.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Seven Women. Donations help them empower marginalised women in Nepal by providing cooking lessons, skills training and educational classes.
Visits:
Everest Base Camp, Kathmandu, Tibet, Himalayas, Nepal
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Everest Base Camp & Annapurna Circuit Trek

Intrepid Travel
Preferred
Has very high quality customer experiences and demonstrated commitment to responsible travel practices. read more
30 days
$ 106 / day
$ 3,180
From : $ 4,180
The strike-through price reflects either the high season trip price or the average price a traveler pays for a similar itinerary when the components are booked separately.
Travel Style : Array Full on
Physical Level : Very Hard
Lodging Level : Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
Highlights
  • This trip combines two of the world’s great classic treks. Experience breathtaking scenery and the comradery of trekking with a small group as you challenge yourself to reach new heights.
  • Get your first glimpses of the might Himalayan range on the included flight from Kathmandu to Lukla – surely one of the most dramatically located airports anywhere.
  • Compare and contrast the terrain of both the Everest and Annapurna ranges. Here's how they match up: intrepidtravel.com/adventures/annapurna-vs-everest/
  • You’ll be accompanied by an experienced trek leader along with assistant guides and porters, who will not only give you all the support and guidance you need along the way, but also introduce you to the rich local Sherpa culture.
  • We operate our treks according to standards that provide respectful, safe and fair working conditions not only in Nepal, but on all our trips globally. For more information on porter welfare, see intrepidtravel.com/au/porter-policy
  • Have the opportunity to support our partnership with Seven Women by taking part in Urban Adventures in Kathmandu before or after your trek – an organisation that socially and economically empowers marginalised women through literacy programs, skills training and income generation. Donations through The Intrepid Foundation are matched dollar for dollar: theintrepidfoundation.org/seven-women
  • After testing your body and mind, take a few days to unwind and reminisce among the temples and pagodas of Pokhara and Kathmandu
Visits:
Everest Base Camp, Kathmandu, Pokhara, Tibet, Himalayas, Nepal
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Into Nepal: Walks & Wildlife

Exodus Travels
Preferred
Has very high quality customer experiences and demonstrated commitment to responsible travel practices. read more
13 days
$ 214 / day
$ 2,779
From : $ 3,752
The strike-through price reflects either the high season trip price or the average price a traveler pays for a similar itinerary when the components are booked separately.
Travel Style : N/A
Physical Level : All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included. Moderate
Lodging Level : Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
Highlights
  • Enjoy sunrise at the Poon Hill summit with views of majestic peaks
  • Experience traditional culture in the Gurung village of Ghandrung
  • Relax with a post-trek stay in the lakeside city of Pokhara
  • Visit a Tibetan refugee village and learn how to make traditional momo dumplings
  • Join an expert naturalist for a wildlife-watching adventure in Chitwan National Park
  • Ride a dugout canoe down the Rapti River in search of crocodiles
Visits:
Kathmandu, Tibet, Nepal
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Premium Nepal

Intrepid Travel
Preferred
Has very high quality customer experiences and demonstrated commitment to responsible travel practices. read more
9 days
$ 269 / day
$ 2,419
From : $ 3,266
The strike-through price reflects either the high season trip price or the average price a traveler pays for a similar itinerary when the components are booked separately.
Travel Style : Array Full on
Physical Level : Walking or physical activity half to most of day - no carrying equipment. Easy
Lodging Level : Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
Highlights
  • Beginning and ending in Kathmandu, there's ample time to discover the capital's staggeringly rich cultural and artistic heritage.
  • Soak up wild surroundings during a two-night Feature Stay in a first-class jungle oasis on the banks of the Rapti River, opposite Chitwan National Park.
  • Get an intimate look at Nepali culture and cuisine during an unforgettable Exclusive Experience; a cooking class with the Seven Women, a social enterprise helping disadvantaged women in Nepal.
  • Pay a visit to a Tibetan community during an Exclusive Experience where you’ll learn about local life, enjoy a traditional cooking demonstration and sit down together for lunch.
  • Marvel at the panoramic views of Himalayan peaks from Sarangkot Viewpoint and admire the Annapurna Range and Fishtail Mountain (Machhapuchhare).
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Seven Women. Donations help them empower marginalised women in Nepal by providing cooking lessons, skills training and educational classes.
Visits:
Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Pokhara, Tibet, Mount Everest, Nepal
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Best of India

Intrepid Travel
Preferred
Has very high quality customer experiences and demonstrated commitment to responsible travel practices. read more
19 days
$ 136 / day
$ 2,584
From : $ 3,488
The strike-through price reflects either the high season trip price or the average price a traveler pays for a similar itinerary when the components are booked separately.
Travel Style : Array Mixed
Physical Level : All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included. Moderate
Lodging Level : Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
Highlights
  • The Taj Mahal is not only a sumptuous masterpiece of Indian architecture, but also a truly meaningful stop on any traveller’s journey. Here's what you need to know about your visit: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/taj-mahal-travel-guide/
  • Overlooking the picturesque scene of Moata Lake, the monumental Amber Fort is one sight that will forever be under India’s protection
  • Experience authentic Rajasthani luxury with a heritage stay at the lavish Bhanwar Vilas in Karauli
  • Old and New Delhi fuse to create a city that pays homage to past empires, while wrestling with its modern identity
  • The colonial charm of Shimla Hill Station offers a great introduction to the Himalayas, and the World Heritage-listed ‘toy-train’ is a great way to get there
  • As the home of the Dalai Lama, tranquil Dharmasala is the ideal place for an enlightening experience of Tibetan spirituality, culture, and history
  • Learn about Sikhism on a visit to the faith’s most sacred monument, the luminous Golden Temple in Amritsar
  • Breeze through the self-proclaimed ‘Yoga Capital of the World’ in Rishikesh and walk along the banks of the holy Ganges River
Visits:
Agra, Delhi, Himalayas, Jaipur, Jama Masjid, Rajasthan, Rishikesh, Tibet, India
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Nepal: Women's Expedition

Intrepid Travel
Preferred
Has very high quality customer experiences and demonstrated commitment to responsible travel practices. read more
13 days
$ 103 / day
$ 1,340
From : $ 1,809
The strike-through price reflects either the high season trip price or the average price a traveler pays for a similar itinerary when the components are booked separately.
Travel Style : Array Full on
Physical Level : Very challenging all day hiking and backpacking carrying significant equipment. Hard
Lodging Level : Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
Highlights
  • Enjoy a five-day hike in the incredible Annapurna Mountains, wholly supported by an all-female crew of leaders, guides, assistants and porters.
  • Get to know the locals during a Madi Valley homestay run by women working to alleviate the human impact on the surrounding wilderness and wildlife.
  • Visit an NGO working to abolish the practice of Chhaupadi – the illegal but socially common practice of forbidding women to enter their homes, kitchens, schools and temples during their menstrual cycle as they're believed to be rendered temporarily impure.
  • Learn how to create traditional dishes while supporting a unique social enterprise that has changed the lives of disadvantaged women and learn the secrets to creating the perfect MoMo during a cooking class at a Tibetan refugee camp.
  • Swap stories and learn about the lives of local Buddhist nuns as you visit an all-female monastery challenging patriarchal Buddhist traditions.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Seven Women. Donations help them empower marginalised women in Nepal by providing cooking lessons, skills training and educational classes.
Visits:
Chitwan National Park, Kathmandu, Pokhara, Tibet, Himalayas, Nepal
View Trip

Tibet: Beijing to Kathmandu Overland

Intrepid Travel
Preferred
Has very high quality customer experiences and demonstrated commitment to responsible travel practices. read more
15 days
$ 269 / day
$ 4,040
From : $ 5,454
The strike-through price reflects either the high season trip price or the average price a traveler pays for a similar itinerary when the components are booked separately.
Travel Style : Array Full on
Physical Level : Very challenging all day hiking and backpacking carrying significant equipment. Hard
Lodging Level : Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
Highlights
  • Like everything else it does, China’s ancient history is on a grand scale – see it first-hand, with time to explore and walk the epic Great Wall’s Mutianyu section.
  • Sit back and relax on one of the world’s greatest train journeys – a marathon 45-hour ride to the literal Roof of the World, passing by incredibly mountainous and remote terrain, and the occasional grazing yak!
  • Immerse yourself in Tibetan culture, from the spiritual side – explored on monastery visits, pilgrim trails and a monk-led meditation session – to traditional daily life, experienced at a momo-making class and Tibetan family home.
  • Climb phenomenal mountain passes and thrilling peaks on your scenic overland journey to see the mightiest of them all – Mt Everest – and visit the world’s highest monastery on your way!
  • Relax in lovely Thankot after an epic journey in Tibet and enjoy a short hike to Indradaha, admiring the snowy peaks of Langtang, Ganesha and Manaslu.
Visits:
Beijing, Kathmandu, Lhasa, Tibet, Potala Palace, Chengdu, China, Nepal
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Nepal & Bhutan Journey

Intrepid Travel
Preferred
Has very high quality customer experiences and demonstrated commitment to responsible travel practices. read more
18 days
$ 345 / day
$ 6,205
From : $ 7,632
The strike-through price reflects either the high season trip price or the average price a traveler pays for a similar itinerary when the components are booked separately.
Travel Style : Array Mixed
Physical Level : Walking or physical activity half to most of day - no carrying equipment. Easy
Lodging Level : 3 to 4 star western hotel equivalents. While not all lodging will be 'luxury' they will be quite comfortable by western standards. Comfort (4*)
Highlights
  • Witness the world-class mountain scenery of Everest from a heavenly viewpoint, with a breathtaking scenic flight.
  • Take a jeep safari with a local guide in Chitwan National Park, a place brimming with exotic birdlife and game - you may be lucky enough to spot rhinos or elusive leopards and tigers.
  • Explore Nepal's diverse architecture, from the stately Newari dwellings in Bandipur to the hill-perched Buddhist Peace Pagoda in laid back Pokhara.
  • Journey to Taktsang, commonly known as the Tiger's Nest, the small monastery clinging to a rocky cliff 900 metres above the valley floor, and soak in its magnificence.
  • Hike to the top of Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, a monastery built to bring peace to the world, and enjoy breathtaking views of the valley and surrounding rice terraces.
Visits:
Bhaktapur, Chitwan National Park, Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Mount Everest, Paro, Punakha, Thimphu, Tibet, Pokhara, Thimpu, Himalayas, Bhutan, Nepal
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Everest Base Camp & Gokyo Lakes Trek

Intrepid Travel
Preferred
Has very high quality customer experiences and demonstrated commitment to responsible travel practices. read more
19 days
$ 114 / day
$ 2,163
From : $ 2,920
The strike-through price reflects either the high season trip price or the average price a traveler pays for a similar itinerary when the components are booked separately.
Travel Style : Array Full on
Physical Level : Very Hard
Lodging Level : Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
Highlights
  • This is one of the world’s great classic treks, with the additional challenge of reaching Gokyo Lakes. Experience breathtaking scenery and the comradery of trekking with a small group as you challenge yourself to reach Base Camp and beyond. You can read more about what to expect here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/everest-base-camp-trek/
  • Get your first glimpses of the might Himalayan range on the included flight from Kathmandu to Lukla – surely one of the most dramatically located airports anywhere.
  • You’ll be accompanied by an experienced trek leader along with assistant guides and porters, who will not only give you all the support and guidance you need along the way, but also introduce you to the rich local Sherpa culture.
  • We operate our treks according to standards that provide respectful, safe and fair working conditions not only in Nepal, but on all our trips globally. For more information on porter welfare, see https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/porter-policy
  • Stay in a lodge near the world’s highest freshwater lake system in Gokyo, sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists and sure to stun any of those lucky enough to see them in person.
  • You’ll forget the ache in your body and the chill on your nose the second you’re warming your hands over a bowl of momos, but the memories of Himalayan vistas and the feeling of accomplishment will last a lifetime.
  • There’s nothing like the bonds you form with your fellow trekkers and guides – they’ll support you when you’re feel like you can’t go on and be there to pinch you if you can’t believe the views.
  • Have the opportunity to support our partnership with Seven Women by taking part in Urban Adventures in Kathmandu before or after your trek – an organisation that socially and economically empowers marginalised women through literacy programs, skills training and income generation. Donations through The Intrepid Foundation are matched dollar for dollar: https://www.theintrepidfoundation.org/seven-women
Visits:
Everest Base Camp, Gokyo Lakes, Himalayas, Kathmandu, Tibet, Durbar Square, Nepal
View Trip

Premium Nepal & Bhutan

Intrepid Travel
Preferred
Has very high quality customer experiences and demonstrated commitment to responsible travel practices. read more
17 days
$ 432 / day
$ 7,340
From : $ 9,909
The strike-through price reflects either the high season trip price or the average price a traveler pays for a similar itinerary when the components are booked separately.
Travel Style : Array Full on
Physical Level : All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included. Moderate
Lodging Level : Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
Highlights
  • Experience two incredible Feature Stays – a stylish and elegant resort right on the border of Chitwan National Park, and a traditionally beautiful and eco-conscious resort tucked away in the gorgeous valley of Paro.
  • Get an intimate look at local culture with Exclusive Experiences, including a cooking class with the Seven Women social enterprise, lunch with a Tibetan community in Nepal, and a conversation with a senior monk at a monastery in Bhutan.
  • Witness world-class mountain scenery during a breathtaking Mount Everest flight and a picturesque hike through the inspiring landscapes of Pokhara.
  • Come face to face with rare and fascinating wildlife in the breathtaking Phobjika valley, including a visit to a protection and information centre for black-necked cranes, a Premium Exclusive Experience.
  • Climb to the teetering monastery of Taktsang (the Tiger's Nest) 900 metres above Paro’s valley floor and take in once-in-a-lifetime views.
Visits:
Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Mount Everest, Paro, Pokhara, Thimphu, Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal
View Trip

Bhutan Expedition: Hike the Trans Bhutan Trail

Intrepid Travel
Preferred
Has very high quality customer experiences and demonstrated commitment to responsible travel practices. read more
11 days
$ 399 / day
$ 4,388
From : $ 5,924
The strike-through price reflects either the high season trip price or the average price a traveler pays for a similar itinerary when the components are booked separately.
Travel Style : N/A
Physical Level : Very challenging all day hiking and backpacking carrying significant equipment. Hard
Lodging Level : Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
Highlights
  • Take in panoramic views of Himalayas from the Dochula Pass which sits more than 3000 metres above sea level and is home to many fluttering prayer flags.
  • Hike along the Divine Madman Trail which is believed to be a trail followed by Drukpa Kuenley, a famous Buddhist monk, missionary and poet who came to Bhutan from Tibet.
  • The country’s biggest Dzong, a complex of fortified buildings which served as a Buddhist school, is in Trongsa. Explore this magnificent site at the end of your hike from Chendebji.
  • Explore the remote, lush and beautiful Tang Valley and Mebar Tsho (Burning Lake) which is famous for being one of the most serene places in Bhutan to meditate.
  • Journey to Taktsang, commonly known as the Tiger's Nest, a small monastery clinging to a rocky cliff 900 metres above the valley floor, and soak in its magnificence.
Visits:
Himalayas, Kathmandu, Paro, Punakha, Thimphu, Tibet, Bhutan
View Trip

China, Tibet & the Yangtze (2021)

14 days
$ 557 / day
$ 7,799
From : $ 9,347
The strike-through price reflects either the high season trip price or the average price a traveler pays for a similar itinerary when the components are booked separately.
Travel Style : Array Relaxed
Physical Level : Walking or physical activity half to most of day - no carrying equipment. Easy
Lodging Level : 3 to 4 star western hotel equivalents. While not all lodging will be 'luxury' they will be quite comfortable by western standards. Comfort (4*)
Visits:
Beijing, Shanghai, Lhasa, Tibet, Three Gorges, China
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17 Day Amazing China with Tibet

17 days
$ 286 / day
$ 4,859
Travel Style : Array Mixed
Physical Level : All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included. Moderate
Lodging Level : Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
Highlights
  • Small groups of maximum 22 travelers guaranteed
  • Flights Los Angeles-Beijing, Shanghai-Los Angeles Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices
  • Airline taxes & fuel surcharges
  • All intra-flights: Beijing-Xian, Chengdu-Lhasa, Lhasa-Chongqing & Yichang-Shanghai
  • 15 nights First Class accommodations
Visits:
Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Lhasa, Shanghai, Three Gorges, Tibet, Xian, Yangtze River
View Trip

12 Day Classic Nepal

12 days
$ 242 / day
$ 2,899
Travel Style : Array Mixed
Physical Level : All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included. Moderate
Lodging Level : 3 to 4 star western hotel equivalents. While not all lodging will be 'luxury' they will be quite comfortable by western standards. Comfort (4*)
Highlights
  • In ancient Patan, "City of Fine Arts", tour the square filled with Hindu Temples and Buddhist monuments
  • Visit Durbar Square, the ancient palace of Hanuman Dhoka and the Temple of Kumari in Kathmandu
  • Marvel at the Buddhist Stupa of Swayambhunath, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Overnight at a jungle resort in Chitwan National Park, adjacent to the Indian Tiger Reserve
  • Explore the International Mountain Museum with its exhibits focused on technique, equipment, and materials for hiking
  • Tour the Pokhara Valley with its natural wonders including cascading Devi's Falls
  • Spiritual journey to the World Heritage Site of Pashupatinath, a world-famous Hindu shrine
  • Visit the Boudhanath Stupa, set in the octagonal Mandala design
  • Travel to medieval Bhaktapur, known as the "City of Devotees," dating back to the 13th century
  • Explore the village of Nagarkot and interact with the local people
†Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates
Visits:
Bhaktapur, Himalayas, Kathmandu, Pokhara, Tibet
View Trip
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Top Tibet Attractions & Experiences

Top Tibet Experiences

    • First setting eyes on the stunning Potala Palace, the former home of the exiled Dalai Lama, perched on a hilltop in the capital, Lhasa
    • Viewing the famed golden Buddha statue in Lhasa’s Jokhang Temple
    • Watching the Buddhist monk debates at Sera Monastery outside Lhasa
    • Trekking or riding to Everest Base Camp for close-up views of the world’s highest peak
    • Staying overnight in small villages to encounter traditional Tibetan life
    • Taking a series of high mountain roads or trails for incredible Himalayan vistas
    • Watching the endless expanse of prairie on the Tibetan plateau as you ride the Qinghai-Tibet Railway

Top Tibet Attractions

834 Tibet Tour Reviews - Summary 98% Recommend

4.8 out of 5
Excellent 700
Great 117
Average 7
Disappointing 4
Terrible 6
Value
4.8
Guide
4.8
Activities
4.8
Lodging
4.8
Transportation
4.8
Meals
4.8

Tour Reviews Write a Review

Pros, cons and tips

4.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Guide 3.0
  • Activities 3.0
  • Lodging 5.0
  • Transportation 3.0
  • Meals 4.0

This is a review of the Uniworld China + Tibet + Yangtze tour in June, 2019, taken by my wife (80) and me (77). Since knowledge of a reviewer helps readers to judge the applicability to themselves: we are both former academics, normally spry and immersed in cultural, political, and healthful life activities, but we sometimes found the trip daunting, as discussed below. We resist aging, but not always with full success.

The tour had pluses and minuses.

The biggest minuses:
• My wife’s breathing difficulty in our 3-night stay in Lhasa, Tibet (she spent the whole time breathing oxygen and couldn't go on any outings)
• The (inevitable) problem of touring a totalitarian country where citizens are intimidated from talking honestly about the full scope of their lives

The biggest pluses:
• Our guide, Kevin, who was outstandingly attentive, helpful, supportive and patient. He went out of his way to help in difficult situations (like my wife’s breathing problems in Lhasa).
• We were also quite appreciative of Tiger’s brief stint with us.
• With a few exceptions, our baggage was always handled by others. And the exceptions weren’t overwhelming. Apparently for a group, the weight of any individual bag just gets averaged in with all the other group bags being checked. (Some travelers handled their own carry-ons.)

Most of the other people on the tour were quite amiable and unassuming—not always the case when you travel with people whose financial position has to be pretty good to afford this kind of trip (that financial position too often drives unwarranted expectations of privilege and reverence [if that’s not redundant…]).

The accommodations and included breakfasts (and many other meals) were luxurious, though we ourselves didn’t need them to be THAT nice (in this we’re probably exceptions from other travelers—and in this case, a number of our co-tourists had taken multiple Uniworld tours, so they knew and liked what they'd be getting); indeed, we had to learn to stop tanking up at breakfast just because so many goodies were offered, buffet-style. Had we realized those luxuries were part of what we were paying for (and in retrospect we SHOULD have realized), we might have taken a different, cheaper tour. Ironically, what most drew us to the Uniworld trip were the chance to visit Tibet and the expectation that at such a high cost we’d always be getting outstanding, highly informed guides (which wasn’t always the case; as retired academics, we’re unusually demanding in the critical analysis of what we want to hear).

GENERAL NOTES:

We spent several days on our own before the tour (in Beijing) and at its end (in Shanghai). These were quite valuable to us. Perhaps because of time, the Uniworld tour took us to few museums. We are museum junkies, and visited several during our non-tour times. Among other things, Beijing has a terrific national museum, an interesting (partly because of its political subtext) museum about women and children, and an extensive arts district. Shanghai has its own major museum and a tour of the city’s past relationship with Judaism that gives you a more general sense of the troubling antithesis of glitzy life highlighted elsewhere.

I’ve traveled to many parts of the world, and I’ve always been able to learn at least local alphabets and some minimal language skills. China is the first place I’ve gone where I could do none of the first and only a few words (probably wrongly intoned) of the latter. This was extremely frustrating, especially when we toured on our own. Few people outside the major international emporia (I never quite got used to how many upscale stores were in all places we visited) speak English (why should they?). The one ameliorating factor was that many people (especially store employees) had phone apps that did good to excellent translations between spoken English and spoken Chinese. You should have one for your own use.

In major cities, signs quite often include English, so that you can at least know where to shop and what you're looking at. Prices (which you can often negotiate) are typically typed into a calculator.

Perhaps even more than in the West, people are glued to smart phones. Pretty much everyone, it seems, uses an app that includes texts, phone use, and a payment facility, so that people seem to may carry little or no cash or credit cards. No one seems to care—or maybe everyone is just resigned to—that the government can monitor this app and know a ton of stuff about you. As a foreigner, however, you are unlikely to be able to use this app because you need to have a compatible bank account (probably meaning from a Chinese bank).

No matter how you travel in China, you'll see the amazing efforts to accommodate the expansion cities, so that a “town” of which you've never heard might have a million or more people. On the tour, you'll see almost only architectural and shop glitz that the government and cities bask in. You might get very brief glimpses of poverty.

While on the one hand the Chinese government talks a good game and takes some important steps vis-à-vis the climate crisis, on the other hand they still use an enormous amount of fossil fuel for electricity generation. I was also struck—dismayed—by the fact that from all appearances, people only drink bottled water (Westerners are warned against tap water, but I don’t know if local people build up an immuinity to its problems). Especially in warm weather, I can only guess at the billions of single-use plastic bottles that are used every day by the population of 1.4 billion (plus large numbers of visitors). On rare occasions, like at an airport, you might see a place to refill a water bottle (I assume that water is safe).

Please note that in criticisms like the previous paragraph, I do not intend a holier-than-thou American attitude. I am even more critical of what our government does—or more importantly, doesn’t—do vis-à-vis the climate crisis.

THE PEOPLE

Almost everyone was pleasant and upbeat. We mostly moved among middle- (and presumably upper-)class people; we encountered many others, but they were kind of in the background (just as in capitalist countries), and while we made it a point to notice their existence, we had no meaningful interactions with them.

The westernization of outward behavior was almost palpable. My wife had visited 10 years ago and regularly commented on the difference. My impression is that the young (teen-agers, young adults) are especially into western fashion and culture—and to what to me was a surprising extent, seemed to be able to afford indulging that taste.

For what it’s worth, my observation was that people are quite materialistic, focus their lives on that, and increasingly able to afford to indulge themselves. Outwardly, at least, they have little concern with the strictures of their government. Tiananmen Square seems to be in the distant past. Treatment of Moslems and Uighurs (not unlike our current treatment of immigrants and Moslems or our like history of racial and ethnic conflicts) was far away. So far as I could tell, people like Americans (though we’re also bizarre outsiders—there are occasional instances of Chinese people, especially ones who live far from the cities we visited, walking up to a foreigner and asking to take a photo together (this happened to me on the Great Wall, with some pretty young guys).

SECURITY

This abounds. You need to carry your passport everywhere. You'll encounter frequent security checks where you have to put whatever you're carrying through a scanner and show official IDs. In Lhasa, these checks were even present as you wove your way through street markets.

At every airport check-in, you not only go through a security scanner, but you then step up on s short stool so that someone with a hand scanner can go over every inch of your body. (I have sometimes wondered whether proliferation of security folk, including regular police, in nations like this is a clever device for combining meaningful security with full employment.)

The government must have an incredible volume of disk space and incredibly fast computer programs to be able quickly to access information about any given citizen or visitor. Check-in at airports always includes a live photo of you. I’m sure if anyone in the security services had wanted to track me down at any time, it wouldn't have taken more than a few seconds. (For each accommodation where you stay, you have to register with the police. Hotels typically do that for you.)

IN-COUNTRY TRAVEL

We had 4 in-country flights (part of the reason for what Uniworld charges), and much as we wanted to visit the places to which we flew, the time and effort involved in getting from to shuttle bus (then sometimes a long walk) to hotel to airport to check-in to security to boarding to flying to disembarking to shuttle bus to the next hotel became overwhelming.

The tour included 3 nights in a luxury boat on the Yangtze River. This was quite pleasant and included a night’s visit to a show (I don’t remember exactly which one, but when on our own my wife and I went to a couple of shows in Beijing—well worth it even if they're not something to your normal taste). Here, we had some down time. At our ages, we needed more of that. I got sick while on the boat and got what seemed like pretty good medical care.

(By American standards, medicals for my wife in Lhasa and for me on the Yangtze boat were low but not miniscule.)

By American standards, taxis are cheap. They were pretty easy to find in Beijing. (The “universal” app includes signups with services like Uber.) But in Shanghai, they were extremely rare, and we had to get help from strangers to order one. As you would expect, this is especially hard when it’s raining and you're a very long walk from your hotel. Among maybe a dozen or two cab rides during our entire stay, we had two bad experiences with cabbies; I advise photographing the driver’s information and the meter area. I found that this significantly mitigated the problems.

We took the metro in Beijing. After brief adjustment, it was very easy to use. The main difficulty is that stations are far apart, so on (say) a rainy night, you will still need an umbrella and endurance. Shanghai seems to have an equivalent subway system, but we never used it there.

LHASA

Part of the altitude problem my wife (and a few of our fellow travellers) had appears to be the flight’s forcing a lack of transition from sea level to an altitude over 2 miles. (On the other hand, a slower, staged transfer probably would have added cost to an already expensive trip—and maybe loss of a day’s touring.) Especially for older folk, however, I think this is a relevant concern.

I don’t know why, but although I could feel very mild pressure in my breathing, I was fine for the entire Lhasa visit. I had a different disappointment (perhaps idiosyncratic to myself, an academic and non-religious person): if I remember correctly, our entire stay involved visiting Tibetan religious locations. I quite support SOME such visits—religious history is central to human existence—but I would have liked to see aspects of other Tibetan cultural history.

Because of Beijing political issues with Tibet, filing out your Chinese visa involves the charade of not mentioning you're going there (if you do mention it, your visa apparently will be denied).

And a warning re Lhasa (and at least the Great Wall): there can invite lots of climbing, and a number of us, especially some of the older people (even when altitude wasn’t an issue), chose to climb minimally (just enough to get a sense of where steps were going and what the resulting view would be). Kevin and other guides were totally understanding—indeed, we were offered climbing options.

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Operator Uniworld

Darjeeling , Sikkim & the Singalila Ridge

4.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Guide 4.0
  • Activities 4.0
  • Lodging 4.0
  • Transportation 4.0
  • Meals 4.0

This trip is wonderfully varied with each day having something different to
the last. The accommodation throughout is very comfortable especially if you
love an adventure. There are highlights such as heritage and eco hotels and
lodges , and full service camping with roomy tents . In March and the
beginning of April the weather included sunny days in the cities of Delhi and
Calcutta , contrasting with cold fresh nights on camp , with a hail shower .
The hotel in Delhi has a pool and relaxation facilities , and for anyone
arriving earlier , there is time for city tours to see the sights . The
drives from the plains to the Himalayan hill stations revealed beautiful
rivers , terraced tea plantations and habitations on high and steep slopes .
We visited colorful Buddhist temples and the Unesco World Heritage site of
the Toy Train at Darjeeling .
Being woken at 0500 and being lead by Rajeev our leader , to the top of the
ridge near the Kalijar campsite to see the sunrise lighting up Kachenjunga ,
the 3rd highest mountain in the World , and seeing the whole range of the
Himalayan snow capped mountains in front of us , which included Mount Everest
in the distance . Rajeev was tremendous in pointing out and naming each
individual summit . The team took the trouble to ensure we even had cups of
tea and had lots of time to savour the amazing view and take photographs.


Rajeev was excellent in leading our group which had walkers with varied
experience , and walking pace . He gave detailed information about the region
, farming methods , his country and the mountain ranges , and answered our
many questions . He is a very capable leader .


Come prepared to try out different food , and with fitness preparation for
walking to summits on fairly steep slopes. Bring a camera too !


I think the highlights wee often the optional parts of the trip like walking
to the summit of Singalila , and seeing the Everest range on a clear day so
make the most of these . The 16 Zoe's , a cross between a Yak and a cow ,
were the fantastic animals that carried our camping gear for us , and the
team of herdsman and cooks provided an amazing service during our camping
trek .


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Operator Exodus Travels

Breathtaking Bhutan

5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Guide 5.0
  • Activities 5.0
  • Lodging 5.0
  • Transportation 5.0
  • Meals 5.0

This is a trip of a lifetime to the most beautiful place on the earth. Such
beauty from the people, the environment, the culture and from the expert care
of the team who show you their fantastic country.
We were lucky enough to go on the Thimphu Festival departure - and were even
luckier to get to the Gangtey Monastery to see the festival up in the glacial
valley - it was spectacular!

To have been able to see the festival in Thimphu, to learn and understand
more about the culture - to then be lucky enough to experience another
festival high in the mountains was just a magical and beautiful occasion - we
then walked through the valley back to the hotel.

This was the best experience during the trip, but a trip of epic experiences,
included of course was the walk to the Tigress Nest Monastery, all of the
Dzong's which I adored and just learning and seeing this great country.


Kemey was wonderful. Patient, knowledgable, flexible and very very kind. He
made the trip for all of us, he packed the days with so many activities and
made sure we had everything we needed.

Thank you Kemey for showing us the heart of Bhutan.


The September trip was certainly not cold in any way - so don't pack too many
warm clothes, instead take lots of layers as you move from high passes to
tropical valleys in the same day.

Change more money than you think you need at the start, there is very little
opportunity to do this during the trip (or if you do the rate is very bad).

Sit back and enjoy the spectacular scenery - the team will take care of you.


If you are thinking about this trip and are not sure I would urge you to book
it and just go.

This is a magical land, with the most friendly beautiful people - I want to
go back again for more festivals and for the flowers in spring.


Read more
Operator Exodus Travels

Bhutan March 2018

4.0
  • Value 4.0
  • Guide 4.0
  • Activities 4.0
  • Lodging 4.0
  • Transportation 4.0
  • Meals 4.0

Bhutan is a beautiful country, the air is very fresh and the in the main is
very clean - an antidote to Kathmandu!
This is a trip that takes in the cultural highlights of Bhutan as well as
letting you see and walk in the beautiful countryside.
The people are friendly and welcoming - browsing the shops and markets is
easy -if you have been to India you will know what I mean ! There is no hard
sell!
There is a fair ammount of travel but this is quite relaxing and there are
plenty of stops.
Food is always buffet style and becomes very monotonous - you could try
asking for an a la carte menu and pay extra, otherwise it is noodles, rice,
veg and, if you are not vegetarian some rather poor quality meat dishes - and
you get this twice a day! My food highlight was a large bowl of scrambled
eggs at the Tigers Nest! Take snacks!
Too many to name one, I loved the festival, the climb to Tigers Nest
Monastery and being blessed by the head Lama there, discussions with our
guide Kunzang who was so knowledgable and informative about his country, the
walks in the countryside, all of the Dzongs, nunnery......too much!


Kunzang was the most amazing guide I have had on an Exodus trip, he was a
very gentle man, caring, considerate and very knowledgable. If we made a
request he would try his best to ensure it was achieved, for example he
managed to get the hotels to make dhal for the vegetarians amongst the group!
Also he just looked after everyone so well. I must also say that our driver,
Yeshay was excellent, and also joined in with the group.


As I said, take snacks, also, the weather was in the main bright and sunny
and I know some people had taken lots of warm clothing - however it did get
cold in Gantey and so you will need something...maybe layer up. Also do not
forget something with long sleeves for the monasterys.
In Kathmandu our guide took us to a cultural show with food on the 1st night
and this was very poor value and to be avoided - he also took us to a place
called the Ship on our last night and this was not brilliant! The food in the
hotel is much better if you do not want to go out and there are lots of
places in Thamel - research it and make a suggestion to the group!!


Bhutan is amazing and I would recommend a vist - the flight into the airport
is not for the feint hearted!!


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Operator Exodus Travels

A pleasurable assault on one's senses....

5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Guide 5.0
  • Activities 5.0
  • Lodging 5.0
  • Transportation 5.0
  • Meals 5.0

A crazy, exciting and fascinating trip to Northern India. The trip was
amazing, full of surprises, and took us into lesser known areas and small
villages.
So many highlights and so many experiences, ranging from Kulfa ice-cream
brought to our hotel one day, to advice on the best place to purchase a
singing prayer bowl, to a visit to see His Holiness the Dalailama.....and
loads more too! Much of the trip was off the beaten track and I felt we were
honoured to be able to meet some truly lovely people at various places
en-route, including at a Tibetan children's orphanage and a village with it's
own health centre, recycling project, and support for women.


Our guide, Phillippa, has, along with her family, lived in India for many
years and consequently has acquired a wealth of knowledge and contacts, which
assured us of a very full experience


The trip is described as leisurely...it is however "full-on", with some very
early starts on occasions. Overall, a fantastic, rewarding experience not to
be missed! Dave


Go there! You won't regret it!


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Operator Exodus Travels

Imperial China and Yangtze River Cruise

5.0
  • Value 5.0
  • Guide 5.0
  • Activities 5.0
  • Lodging 5.0
  • Transportation 5.0
  • Meals 5.0

We have just returned from this busy and full on trip. As other reviews have
said 'China is big!' We saw and experienced so much - from the different
styles of food, transport and sites. Our guide was informative and shared
lots of information regarding Chinese culture and history as well as the
amazing development that has occurred during the last 20 years.
Realising just how far China has come and how far it plans to go. This is awe
inspiring rather than inspirational. The infrastructure projects, buildings,
size of cities, numbers of travellers/ tourists/people. Reading about it
can't really prepare you for the reality.


Dragon was extremely good at managing expectations and ensuring the whole
group navigated the busy schedule. He was professional, funnyGo patient and
very good at helping us make the most of the opportunities available. This
included where to stand on the boat to get the best view, upgrading our
dining option on the Yangtze cruise to avoid the scrum in the dining room. We
enjoyed hearing his anecdotes of growing up and life in China.


Be prepared for the crowds but don't let them put you off as the Chinese were
always friendly, helpful and good natured. Take mosquito repellent and wear
comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking but it is all manageable. Use
the 'farmers' to carry your bag on to the cruise boat there are a lot of
steep steps down to the river. Have an open mind and be willing to go with
the flow. Foot massages were great (especially the ones on the cruise).
Enjoy!


We met lots of interesting travlleling companions and the group size of 16
worked well with a mix of couples and singles, so there were always people to
hang out with if you wanted to. Go for it - you won't be disappointed


Read more
Operator Exodus Travels

All Tibet tours, river cruises, expedition cruises, and adventure trips. Find the best guided trips and expert planned vacation and holiday packages. Average rating of 4.8 for all Tibet trips.

18 trips from 47 tour companies with 834 reviews

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