Best Time to Visit Nepal Bhutan and Tibet: find the best travel time to Nepal Tibet Bhutan altogether

Lying side by side in the mighty Himalayas, Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan are close neighbors in more ways than location. Tibet shares its borders with both Nepal and Bhutan, with Nepal to the west and Bhutan to the south, and each has influenced the other in many ways over the millennia. While Nepal and Tibet have influenced each other in terms of food, culture, and religion, Bhutan has been influenced hugely by Tibet, in Tibetan Buddhism, which was brought to the isolated Himalayan kingdom in the eighth century. A trip to these three unique Himalayan destinations is the ultimate tour of the world’s highest mountain range, and is the ideal tip for exploring the culture, religions, and stunning landscapes. However, these three destinations are somewhat different in their climates and peak seasons for tourism, so it is essential to plan carefully to find the best time to visit Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet together.

Best Time to Visit Nepal Bhutan and Tibet Altogether - Spring and Autumn

For those visiting Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan together, the best time of year is normally in the spring and autumn seasons, which run generally from April to June and late September to the end of November. This is the time when the weather in all three destinations is at its optimum for all styles of tours, from trekking and climbing to sightseeing and relaxing, and the temperatures are pleasant and comfortable.

Best Time to Visit Nepal - March to May and September to November

Nepal is one of those unique locations that has no “best time” for traveling to the country, and the right time to visit the country depends on the destinations you are planning on traveling to and the activities you intend to take part in whilst there. Whether you are heading there for trekking, mountaineering, sightseeing, or adventuring and jungle safaris, Nepal has an ideal time for each, though certain times of year are optimal for all kinds of activities.

Nepal trekking in autumn

For those heading to Nepal for trekking, the best time to travel is in the spring and autumn, from March to May and September to November. This is when the skies are clearest, the weather is mild yet not too cold, and there is almost no chance of rain in the mountain regions to the north. Some of the best trekking trails, around Mount Everest and the Annapurna Range, are done in the spring and autumn, which are the peak seasons for tourism in Nepal in general.

However, winter and summer can be good times to visit too, depending on what you are hoping for. Certain parts of the Himalayas, especially in the area of Upper Mustang, are better trekked in summer, as there is very little chance of rain in these high desolate regions, and spring and autumn can sometimes still be too cold to trek safely. Winter is also a good time for those traveling to the southern areas of Nepal, where the lowland Terai gives way to dense tropical jungles. The area around Lumbini and Chitwan is popular in the winter months, as the temperatures are mild and the weather is dry and clear. This is a great time for elephant safaris and trekking in the lowland hills of Nepal, especially for those that are not into high-altitude treks.

Best Time to Visit Tibet - April to November

Tibet is another place that can be visited throughout the year, though there is a best time to visit the plateau region for the ultimate in high-altitude holidays. The main season for traveling to Tibet runs from April to November, covering the spring, summer, and autumn seasons on this vast open plateau at the Roof of the World.

Enjoy the stunning vista of the Himalayas at Gawula Pass in November

The peak season for tourism in Tibet is the summer, from June to September, which is also the monsoon season in Tibet. However, due to the high altitude, as well as the shadow effect of the Himalayas, very little rain actually falls in the daytime in Tibet, especially in the higher areas in the west, and what little rain that dens fall, comes in the late afternoons and evenings, leaving the days free for hiking and sightseeing.

Tibet’s optimum time for trekking is normally in the spring and autumn, from April to May and September to November, when the skies are most clear, the weather is dry and bright, and the temperatures are not too hot or cold. Contrary to what most people believe, Tibet is not cold all year round, and the summer months can get as high as 25 degrees in the hottest months.

Best Time to Visit Bhutan - April to May and September to November

Bhutan’s landscape and climate is somewhat similar to that of Nepal, with high mountains fringing the northern border and the altitude dropping as you head south. The peak seasons for tourism in Bhutan are from April to May and September to November, which are the spring and autumn seasons. This is when the air is clear and bright, skies are cloudless for most of the days, and there is little chance of rain across the high areas of the country. Most of the trekking in Bhutan is best done in spring and autumn, with the temperatures being mild enough for the hikes in the mountains to not be too cold.

Tiger's Nest trekking in autumn

Bhutan can be visited in the summer months, as the rains of the southwest monsoon often fall in the late afternoons and evenings, and in the winter months, areas such as Punakha and Wangdue Phodrang are a little milder than the areas around Thimphu and Paro, making it a great time for an off-season sightseeing holiday.

Best Time for Nepal Tibet Bhutan Holidays and Festivals - All Year Round

Festivals are a major part of the culture of all three destinations, and when traveling to Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan, you can be almost certain that there is a festival in each location in every month of the year. In Tibet, festivals are major events in Tibetan Buddhism, and from the first festival of the Tibetan calendar, Losar, to the end of the Tibetan year, you can find interesting festivals throughout each month, including the famous Saga Dawa Festival, the Ongkor Festival, and the delicious Shoton (yogurt) Festival.

Nepal has a different type of festival, and with most of the population being Hindu, has more festivals than both Tibet and Bhutan put together throughout the year. Hindu festivals are bright and colorful affairs, and there is a festival somewhere in Kathmandu at any given time of the year, so it is easy to arrange a trip around the major festivals of the country. Many of the festivals also incorporate aspects of Buddhism in the Hindu festivals, and vice versa, so it pays to find a good festival to attend to explore the combination of rituals and celebrations of both religions together.

Bhutan has more than 100 festivals throughout the year, and there is no month of the entire year when there is not a festival, with the major festivals, known as Tsechus, being held in every Dzongkhag and major city in every month of the Tibetan calendar. From the amazing Thimphu and Paro Tsechus to the outlying festivals of the far eastern districts, which have more authentic ceremonies and are much more interesting, there is always a festival somewhere in Bhutan at any given time of year.

Bhutan Tsechus festival held in the Dzongkhag

Best Time for Nepal Tibet Bhutan Trekking - September to November

If you are traveling for trekking in the Himalayas, then the best time for all three destinations together is from March to May and September to November. With high mountain climates for all three destinations, the best time to take on one of the many treks in these three locations is in the spring and autumn seasons, which coincides with the peak tourist seasons in both Bhutan and Nepal. While spring and autumn are not the peak period in Tibet, they are the best time for trekking, as the weather is at its best, with clear skies and almost no rain across the entire plateau.

Combining the three destinations for trekking is actually best in the autumn season, after the rains of the monsoon have passed and the landscape is still lush and green, giving you better views of the beauty of the Himalayas at their fullest. The fall season is also a good time for the beauty of the falling leaves, with their varied colors, which makes trekking a greater pleasure. Temperatures are also a little warmer than in the early part of spring, and last longer into late autumn, allowing for a longer trekking window at this end of the year.

Best Travel Time to Nepal Tibet Bhutan with Lower Tour Costs - Winter

Winter in all three destinations is the best time for a trip to Bhutan, Tibet, and Nepal for those traveling on a budget. In Tibet, the winter is still possible for a visit to the plateau, as the weather is not as cold as many people believe, and the central and eastern areas of the region are warmer than in the west. While temperatures can get down to below freezing, a few warm sweaters and a good jacket can make it comfortable enough even for a visit to Mount Everest.

Nepal and Bhutan have milder climates in the lower altitude areas in the winter months, and in Nepal, the area of the Kathmandu Valley and the outlying areas such as Chitwan and Lumbini are warm enough to be comfortable even without warm sweaters in the winter months. The sub-tropical climate of the south and the Kathmandu Valley make it a very nice time for sightseeing.

Bhutan has a major difference when it comes to low and high seasons, and while the cost of the Minimum Daily Package is 250 dollars per day in the spring and autumn, in the winter months, it is just 200 dollars per day, which makes this the best time for a budget trip to the kingdom.

Conclusion

Traveling to Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan together is the ultimate in Himalayan tours, and is a lifetime trip for anyone with a love of high mountains, lush green valleys, vast open plains and prairies, and the shimmering lakes of the plateau. If you are planning a trip to Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan together, then there is no better time to travel to all three destinations than in the spring and autumn seasons, when you can be sure of a great time in the mighty Himalayas.