Tibet Local Immersion & Homestays Tours & Trip Packages

Tibet Local Immersion & Homestays Tours & Trips

99 Tibet trips. Tours from 44 tour companies. 889 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

24 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Local Immersion & Homestays
Delhi to Kathmandu
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4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’re very committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and contribute to important initiatives like climate action.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Agra, Chitwan National Park, Delhi, Durbar Square, Himalayas, Kathmandu, Taj Mahal, Tibet, Varanasi

Highlights

  • Bigger and more beautiful than any photo can capture, the Taj Mahal is a triumph of Mughal architecture that promises to inspire even the most seasoned travellers.
  • Learn to whip up some central Indian staples during a cooking demonstration at home with friends in Orchha; the perfect opportunity to experience an authentic slice of Indian family life.
  • See pilgrims praying and bathing along the ghats of the sacred Ganges River during an unforgettable sunrise cruise in Varanasi – one of India's holiest cities.
  • Stay in a lodge and wake to the calls of the jungle in Chitwan National Park, then embark on a safari in search of rhino, deer, monkeys, and a wide array of birdlife.
  • Spend a memorable night at a Madi Valley Homestay – an Intrepid project that provides sustainable incomes and encourages local communities to conserve the wilderness and wildlife around them.
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Themes

Cultural, High Adventure, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food Tour” and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide, Micol, was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of good information. It seems Micol knew many of the staff of the venues we visited, including the pasta making class we attended. Our group of 11 travelers was extremely compatible, which greatly added to the fun and enjoyment."

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Mountains & Mystics of India
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1/5 Terrible
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’re very committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and contribute to important initiatives like climate action.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Delhi, Himalayas, Rishikesh, Tibet

Highlights

  • The colonial charm and cool mountain air of Shimla Hill Station and a scenic ride on the World Heritage-listed ‘toy-train’ is the perfect way to experience this Himalayan hideout.
  • Explore the home of the Dalai Lama – Dharmasala. This highland haven is the ideal place for an enlightening experience of Tibetan spirituality, culture, and history.
  • Witness a unique ‘performance’ of the flag ceremony at India and Pakistan's Wagah border – a daily practice conducted since 1959, drawing crowds for its unconventional and ostentatious practices.
  • Learn about Sikhism on an included visit to the one of most sacred monuments of the faith – the luminous Golden Temple in Amritsar.
  • Breeze through the self-proclaimed ‘Yoga Capital of the World’ in Rishikesh, walking along the holy Ganges, and explore the crumbling beauty and famous mural-lined walls of the Chaurasi Kutia ashram.
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Themes

Cultural, High Adventure, Local Immersion & Homestays, Digital Detox

What travelers are saying

"We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food Tour” and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide, Micol, was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of good information. It seems Micol knew many of the staff of the venues we visited, including the pasta making class we attended. Our group of 11 travelers was extremely compatible, which greatly added to the fun and enjoyment."

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Classic Nepal
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4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’re very committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and contribute to important initiatives like climate action.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Bhaktapur, Chitwan National Park, Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Mount Everest, Pokhara, Tibet

Highlights

  • Beginning and ending in Kathmandu, there's more than enough time to discover the Nepali capital's staggeringly rich cultural and artistic heritage.
  • Take a jeep safari with a local guide in Chitwan National Park – a beauty brimming with exotic wildlife – and you may be lucky enough to spot rhinos or elusive leopards and tigers.
  • Visit a Tibetan refugee camp and get to know the community before taking on a cooking demonstration to learn how to create traditional momos (steamed dumplings).
  • Discover world-class mountain scenery and explore the hill-perched Buddhist Peace Pagoda of laid-back Pokhara.
  • This is the perfect trip for those who want a cultural insight into Nepal without strenuous trekking, with plenty of inclusions, free time and comfortable accommodation in each destination.
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Themes

Cultural, High Adventure, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food Tour” and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide, Micol, was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of good information. It seems Micol knew many of the staff of the venues we visited, including the pasta making class we attended. Our group of 11 travelers was extremely compatible, which greatly added to the fun and enjoyment."

Trip dates & details
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Highlights of India & Nepal
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4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’re very committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and contribute to important initiatives like climate action.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Agra, Chitwan National Park, Delhi, Durbar Square, Himalayas, Jaipur, Kathmandu, Taj Mahal, Tibet, Varanasi

Highlights

  • Rise in the cool half-light of dawn and watch the sunrise while you glide over the River Ganges on a small riverboat.
  • Stay in a riverside jungle lodge in Chitwan National Park, then embark on a safari in search of rhinos, Bengal tigers, monkeys, and more.
  • Join pilgrims during a visit to the birthplace of Gautama Buddha in Lumbini, where evidence of a shrine dated before 550 BC was uncovered in 2013.
  • Enjoy a relaxing evening at a community homestay in the Madi Valley, a lush Nepalese valley bordered by forest and river.
  • Immerse yourself in the holy city of Varanasi, exploring the Old City by day and soaking up the atmosphere of a candle flower ceremony as the sunsets.

Themes

Cultural, High Adventure, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food Tour” and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide, Micol, was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of good information. It seems Micol knew many of the staff of the venues we visited, including the pasta making class we attended. Our group of 11 travelers was extremely compatible, which greatly added to the fun and enjoyment."

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Nepal: Women's Expedition
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4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’re very committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and contribute to important initiatives like climate action.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Chitwan National Park, Himalayas, Kathmandu, Pokhara, Tibet

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.
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Themes

High Adventure, Local Immersion & Homestays, Trekking & Expeditions, Women Only

What travelers are saying

"We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food Tour” and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide, Micol, was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of good information. It seems Micol knew many of the staff of the venues we visited, including the pasta making class we attended. Our group of 11 travelers was extremely compatible, which greatly added to the fun and enjoyment."

Trip dates & details
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Tibet: Beijing to Kathmandu Overland
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4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’re very committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and contribute to important initiatives like climate action.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Beijing, Chengdu, Kathmandu, Lhasa, Potala Palace, Shigatse, Tibet

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!
  • With a Tibetan leader by your side, it’s a great opportunity to gain true local insight and understanding of the Tibetan culture and the modern life on the plateau .

Themes

Cultural, High Adventure, Local Immersion & Homestays, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food Tour” and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide, Micol, was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of good information. It seems Micol knew many of the staff of the venues we visited, including the pasta making class we attended. Our group of 11 travelers was extremely compatible, which greatly added to the fun and enjoyment."

Trip dates & details
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Highlights of China & Tibet - 12 days
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Chengdu, Lhasa, Xian

Highlights

  • Beijing - Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Pearl markets, Jade Carving Factory, Hutong area of Beijing and Chinese Acrobatic Show
  • Badaling and Juyongguan - 2 UNESCO listed sections of Great Wall of China
  • Xi’an - UNESCO - listed Terracotta Warriors, Clay warrior workshop, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, City Wall and bike ride, Muslim Quarter.
  • Lhasa – Potala Palace, Norbulinka Palace, Jokhang Temple, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Barkhor Bazaar. Yamdrok Lake, Kamba-la pass
  • Yamdrok Lake and Kamba-la Pass - cradled by snow capped mountains
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Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"First time we (mom and daughter) have done a tour and first time with on the go tours. What a special trip we had doing the 13 day Casablanca to Essaouira Morocco tour (26 Nov - 6 Dec 2023). We started the first 8 days doing the totally Morocco tour and the last few days at our own pace with down time in Essaouira. Jamal our guide led the tour from start to finish and took us safely on a culture filled journey. His knowledge of the country, it’s history and people was informative and inspiring. Every request was “no problem” and delivered with a smile and happy demeanour. Everything in Morrocco was “no problem” and we felt safe and looked after. We were driven in a comfortable coach with enough stops along the way to not feel long by our competent driver Suleman. The hotels, Riad and Dar were extremely comfortable with exceptional service. We would not have had the same experience travelling on our own, we felt as though we truly experienced Morocco. Everything was a highlight for us and we will definitely book another on the go tour in the future. If you wanting to see true Morocco we would strongly recommend doing this tour."

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Lhasa Mt Everest & Mt Kailash Kathmandu Group Tour
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Chitwan National Park, Everest Base Camp, Kathmandu, Lhasa, Mount Everest, Tibet

Highlights

  • Visit the most famous Potala Palace
  • Visit the main monastery in Gyantse - Pelkor Chode Monastery
  • Visit Zutulpuk Monastery
  • Enjoy the spectacular vista of Mt. Naimonanyi
  • Enjoy the sunrise of Everest Peak

Themes

Climbing & Mountaineering, Local Immersion & Homestays, Trekking & Expeditions, Religious, Holy Land

What travelers are saying

"We have done the 8 days Lhasa - Shigatze - Mt Everest tour, and added a couple of days of private tour at the end. Our contact person, Beatrice, was wonderful. She helped us at every step, including a last minute hotel change. (I recommend staying at the Shang Bala hotel in Lhasa. We "upgraded" to the 4 -Point Sheraton first. Big mistake. The Shang Bala is nicer, more interesting, and at a much better location. Cheaper too.) Our guide was Dhargye. He took care of us during our trip, explained Tibet and its history, culture, and in general made the trip very enjoyable. Thank you, Dhargye!"

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Local Immersion & Homestays
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Tibet Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
889  Reviews
See all Tibet tour reviews
Excellent
474
Great
84
Average
4
Disappointing
1
Terrible
0
A

Anonymous

Aug 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Annapurna Circuit

This trip was excellent-the first Himalayan experience, a highly thought-of trek through brilliant mountain and remote scenery in mostly ideal weather conditions ...

A

Anonymous

Mar 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Annapurna Circuit

Fantastic trip. Great people, scenery, culture and views. Very well organised and was very well looked after by trip leader and whole exodus team. Visiting poon hil...

A

Anonymous

Mar 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Amazing trekking experience.

Namaste! When we decided to book this trek we considered several things - costing, availability, timings and fitness level; and upon reflection, we chose the right...

A

Anonymous

Mar 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Annapyrnna Circuit

A great holiday. Excellent leader, good group, great weather, excellent views, lovely locals. Getting to the top of the Thorong la Pass and the high mountains all a...

A

Anonymous

Mar 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Annapurna circuit

I have just returned from a very exciting three week trip to Annapurna circuit. Every day was different and full of adventure. With excellent guide in Gum, we all ...

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Tibet Tour Selection Trips

  • To travel to Tibet, you must be part of a tour group; no individual travel is permitted
  • Book well in advance, allowing plenty of time to get a Tibet entry permit (check with your tour company about the need for a Chinese visa, since you may enter on a group visa).
  • Even if you sharply disagree with China’s policies toward Tibet, it’s prudent to keep your thoughts to yourself or risk being expelled
  • The best months to travel to Tibet are May through October, when the weather is warmer and oxygen supply greater
  • Avoid the Tibetan new year months of February and March
  • To see both Lhasa and journey to Mt. Everest (with time spent in Nepal at the beginning and end of the tour), count on spending at least two weeks, longer if trekking.
  • If you’re prone to altitude sickness or have breathing difficulties, keep in mind that you’ll be traveling to areas likely ranging from  11,000-21,000 feet above sea level, where oxygen levels are low
  • Lodging outside of Lhasa tends to be quite basic, often lacking hot water or Western-style toilet facilities.

Additional details

Tibet by Train

One of the most popular ways to explore Tibet, for railphiles and regular tourists alike, is by train. The Qinghai-Tibet train was only built in 2006, and now connects Tibet with the rest of China. The the railway itself is the tallest in the world, running over the Tanggula Mountains at any impressive height of 16,640 feet.

The railway is not just an incredible feat of engineering, it also has some incredible views. The rail runs over the Kunlun Mountains, Tanggula Mountains, as well as the Amdo, Nagqu, and Damxung prairies.

The train journey lasts 48 hours, and as a result there are sleeper cars.There are multiple options for comfort, depending on how well you like to travel.

When to Travel to Tibet

Tibet is a mountain nation set mainly on a plateau resting amongst sky puncturing peaks, including the tallest point in the world, Mount Everest. This high altitude leads to generally colder, but varying, weather. One thing you can expect no matter the season is strong sunshine, dry weather, and a heavy drop in temperature at night.

One month you cannot visit Tibet at all is March, when it is closed to visitors for Tibetan New Year. However, the rest of spring is a good time to visit as most of the winter ice has melted and you will beat the summer tourist rush.

In summer, the weather is the warmest and the air has the highest level of oxygen. Not only this, but some of Tibet’s most famous festivals occur during this time. The famous Shoton Festival, Ganden Thangka Festival, and the self-explanatory Nagqu Horse Racing Festival all take place during this time.

This makes it a very popular time for tourists to visit, so be prepared to book your train tickets and tour groups well in advance, they can be sold out quickly. If you want to learn about Tibet’s unique and fascinating culture, be sure to make it to at least one of these festivals by going on a festival tour of Tibet.

How to Travel Tibet on a Budget

Because of Tibet’s remoteness, harsh climate, and the limited numbers of permits mean that visiting Tibet can be more expensive than visiting other places in China. However, it is still possible to cut costs in several ways.

Firstly, taking a train into Tibet, instead of a flight, is one good way to cut costs. Several trains from multiple cities make daily trips to Lhasa, and booking a “hard sleeper” ticket, instead of a higher quality soft sleeper, can help cut the cost of that ticket alone.

Booking a group tour is also a great way to split costs, so by being on Stride you are already headed in the right direction. When looking at your tour options, you can also reduce costs by choosing lower-end housing options. Compare tours with budget or basic level accomodation.  

One area that we encourage you not to cut costs in, however, is your food. It may be tempting to skip having full meals or complex, protein-rich dishes, but the environmental conditions in Tibet mean that you are you going to keep up your strength.

Luxury Tibet Tours

Luxury Tibet Tours usually focus on cultural, historical, and culinary aspects of Tibet rather than trekking. While seeing stunning mountain views and isolated Tibetan villages may still be a part of your tour, it is hard to make camping on an extended hike in freezing weather luxurious, and so you can expect this part of the Tibetan experience to be skipped over on your 5-star tour.

Many luxury tours of Tibet are based in Lhasa, the autonomous region/country’s capital (depending on your political views). In Lhasa, there are many incredible restaurants and five star accommodation options.

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