Tour operator in Tibet/Nepal
 

I'm looking for a tour operator to travel the Friendship Highway from Kathmandu to Lhasa. Has anyone had experience with Windhhorse Tours out of Minneapolis, with offices in various Asian locations? Or, do you have other recommendations? And what about Road Scholars for their trip to Bhutan? I'm interested in hearing pros and cons.

For Bhutan, you are required to have a Bhutan agency make arrangemnts for you. So any agency based elsewhere would still be making arrangements through a Bhutan agency and just charging you a premium.

Always try to go with international providers of repute.

tucantravel.com

adventurecenter.com

good cost effective options.

for me local operators best checked out locally

many online scammers always pay with CC never wire money

and insuremytrip.com

For a trip like this, I think you are best off with a local company operating out of Kathmandu. The big international tour companies often subcontract to a local company and just add a premium price to that.

I'd suggest you post your question over on Thorntree, the Lonely Planet forum.

totally agree with Kathie

Travel from Nepal to Tibet is pretty regulated. Foreign tourists are required to travel in groups with a guide. Independent travel is highly discouraged. Groups must apply for a Tibet Travel Permit and Visa Approval Documents from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. Application for visa and permits must be made through a recognized travel agent.

It would be better to organise this IN Kathmandu. It only takes a few days to organise and it will save you money.

Tourists are required to book a package holiday to Bhutan through an International or Bhutanese local tour operator. International operators will simply book through a local operator so it is more cost efective to book directly.

Many Bhutanese operators have offices in Kathmandu . Tour operators are required to charge foreigners a minimum of $US200 a day for services under the conditions set by the Royal Government of Bhutan. This cost includes internal transport, meals, accommodation and guides.

Not sure if this helps at all.