Bhutan to Lhasa: How to Travel from Bhutan to Tibet in 2024/2025

Bhutan and Tibet, two of the most mysterious destinations nestled on either side of the Himalayas, attract tourists with their sacred religious culture, breathtaking mountain ranges, and the serene simplicity of local life.

But how can one travel from Bhutan to Tibet? How do you ensure a seamless transfer from Bhutan to Lhasa? This comprehensive guide provides essential tips and insights for arranging a smooth journey from Bhutan to Tibet, ensuring you make the most of your adventure in these enchanting regions.

1. You can’t Travel from Bhutan to Lhasa Directly

High up in the Himalayas, Bhutan and Tibet share a border across the world’s highest mountain. However, this shared border is not one that can be traveled over.

While it is not possible to travel directly between Tibet and Bhutan, it is not very hard to get from one place to the other. Lying on Tibet’s western border, and just a short distance from the western edge of Bhutan, Nepal is the only connecting gateway for both of these Himalayan lands.

2. The Easiest Way: Travel from Bhutan to Lhasa by Air via Kathmandu

Entry to Tibet can be done easily from Nepal by flight from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, the only airport outside China with direct flights to Lhasa,

Similarly, Nepal is one of only five countries that has permitted flights to Bhutan, which makes it a very unique country in the Himalayan region.

Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport is an important transfer hub, offering flights to both Bhutan and Tibet.

The easiest way to get to Tibet from Bhutan is to travel through Nepal, flying from Paro International Airport to Tribhuvan and then flying to Lhasa Gonggar International Airport.

Flights from Paro International Airport are not as busy as other airlines flying to Nepal. There are normally only around three flights per week from Paro to Trbhuvan, which are run by the two Bhutanese carriers, Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines.

The flight from Bhutan to Nepal normally takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes and costs from around US$ 200 for a one-way economy flight. The flight from Paro to Kathmandu must be pre-booked before your trip to Bhutan.

Flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa are the only international flights to Tibet, which take around 1 hour and 30 minutes.The flight ticket from Kathmandu to Lhasa can be booked by yourself. Please make sure you get the Tibet Travel Permit and the Group Visa before boarding the flight to Lhasa.

3. Best Bhutan to Tibet Travel Experience: Fly from Paro to Kathmandu and Overland to Lhasa

Another option for traveling from Bhutan to Tibet is to travel by flight to Kathmandu and then take the overland trip from Kathmandu to Lhasa. It is a great way to explore Everest and the Tibetan Plateau along the Sino-Nepal Friendship highway, which is one of the epic overland journeys in the world.

The trip requires you to take a bus or car to the border from Kathmandu, which takes around six hours, where your tour guide and driver will meet you for your Tibet tour at the Gyirong border. You will normally spend one night in Gyirong Town, acclimatizing to the increased elevation of the plateau, after which you will head for Lhasa, via Everest Base Camp, Shigatse, Yamdrok Lake, and any other specific places you have listed in your itinerary.

As the most popular way to enter Tibet from Nepal, the overland journey from Kathmandu to Lhasa takes 8 days with one night stay at the Everest Base Camp at 5,200 meters on the northern side of Everest in Tibet. You will appreciate a stunning view of the world’s highest peak, which you can not get either in Bhutan or Nepal.

Also, it is a perfect route for those that are intending to continue to discover the rest of China after visiting Tibet. It is highly recommended you take a Tibet train from Lhasa via the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, which is an adventure all its own.

4. Kathmandu Transit Tips for Traveling from Bhutan to Lhasa

As the transfer hub between Bhutan and Tibet, Nepal plays an important role in Bhutan Tibet tours. Please arrange 3 to 5 days in Nepal as you need time to get the Chinese Group Visa through the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu.

During your days in Kathmandu, you can stay in Thamel, the main tourist district offering a range of accommodations and convenient for sightseeing. This allows ample time to explore the rich culture and attractions of Kathmandu while ensuring all necessary travel documents are secured for your journey to Tibet.

5. Necessary Travel Documents for Traveling from Bhutan to Tibet

First, you need to apply for a Nepal Visa to enter Nepal from Bhutan. Visas to Nepal are easiest to apply for on your arrival at the airport, and take around half an hour to process. You will need to have your passport, one passport-sized photo, the completed application form, and the 30-dollar fee. Once processed, your passport and visa will be returned to you, and you will be free to enter the country.

No matter whether you enter Tibet from Nepal by flight or by land, you need to apply for a Group Tourist Visa and the Tibet Travel Permit in advance. Some other travel documents are also required for visiting different regions of Tibet, such as the Alien’s Travel Permit, for travel in Tibet outside the area of Lhasa and the Military Permit, for trips to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in Ngari Prefecture.

A Sample of Tibet Entry Permit.

It takes around 8 to 9 working days to get all necessary travel documents for visiting Tibet. So book your trip in advance. For a hassle-free trip from Bhutan to Tibet, we will handle all required Tibet travel documents on your behalf once you book your Bhutan Tibet tour with us.

6. Traveling with a Local Tour Operator is Essential for a Bhutan to Lhasa Tour

Finding the right tour operator for a tour of Bhutan and Tibet can be a tough choice. There are thousands of registered tour operators for both places, and knowing which one is the best is a complicated thing to work out. It is worth knowing that many of the tour operators for Tibet are using third-party guides and drivers for their tours, and are not operating the tours themselves.

Our local Tibetan travel guide will pick you up at Gyirong Port.

With this in mind, it pays to use someone who offers the whole package as part of their own tour and have their own staff as the tour guides and drivers whilst in Tibet. Here at Tibet Vista, with local offices in both Kathmandu and Lhasa, we offer the best services for our clients, from our professional tour advisors who will give you all the help you need in organizing your tour from day one to our experienced Tibetan guides and drivers, who will be able to give you their best service, and have an extensive knowledge of the Tibetan plateau and its people and culture.

7. Best Season for Traveling from Bhutan to Lhasa: April, May, September, and October

Traveling to two different places, with climates that are not compatible, can be a trying time when deciding when to travel. The peak tourist season for Tibet is from April to October, during which the summer months, from June to September are the monsoon season in both Tibet and Bhutan. However, while the monsoon in Tibet is not very wet thanks to the shadow effect of the Himalayas, in Bhutan, it can be a very wet and humid time of year.

The peak time for tourism in Bhutan is normally in spring and autumn, when the weather is drier, although it can get quite cold in the winter months. These months are ideal for winter tours in Tibet, during which you can explore most destinations in Tibet with clear days for mountain views.

Visiting Bhutan during the best seasons ensures you'll experience the most stunning seceneries.

So, the best time to visit Bhutan and Tibet together is in April, May, September, and October, as the weather is dry in both places and not too cold to travel comfortably in the high Himalayan Mountains. Just try to avoid the monsoon season to visit Bhutan and Tibet.

8. More Dos and Don’ts for Traveling from Bhutan to Lhasa

If you are planning a trip to Lhasa from Bhutan, then you should speak to us first, as we are one of only a few tour operators that can legally handle tours in both Tibet and Bhutan, and incorporate all the aspects of your tours into one complete package.

Traveling to Bhutan requires that you have a pre-booked tour, in much the same way as traveling to Tibet, except that the cost of the tour is all-inclusive within the Minimum Daily Fee. You will need a valid passport as well as a pre-booked tour to even get a visa for the kingdom, and without the visa, you cannot even book a flight.

It is important to keep all the documents that you were given on entry to Bhutan, as they will all be required in order for you to leave the kingdom. Losing any of the documents, including the customs declaration that you will complete on entry, can delay your exit from Bhutan whilst things are being sorted out, which would be at your own expense to re-book your flight.

Be well-prepared for your high-altitude trip in Tibet.

Altitude sickness is a serious matter in Tibet, as the altitudes in many of the places you will visit, especially Everest Base Camp, are classed as either “very high” or “extreme”. You should be aware of the symptoms of altitude sickness and watch closely for them in yourself and other members of your party.

Don’t take out of Tibet or Bhutan anything that could be considered an antique, as these artifacts are strictly prohibited. While you may not be told so when buying them, the items may cause problems with customs on leaving.

Conclusion

Visiting Bhutan and Tibet together could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the hidden gems on both sides of the Himalayas. Though sharing a border, it is not possible to travel from Bhutan to Tibet directly.

As the only transfer hub linking Bhutan and Tibet, Nepal plays an important role in your travel plans. Arranging a few days in Kathmandu to get the Group Visa to Tibet is necessary. The Tibet Travel Permit is also required for visiting Tibet.

Planning your Bhutan Tibet tour with us to get a worry-free travel experience through the best of the Himalayas.