The Best of the Mountain Kingdoms: Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

For US citizens, a China Tourist Visa is required in advance for this program. A China transit visa is NOT allowed for this program. You MUST begin the China Visa process three months prior to your program start date. Road Scholar will email detailed instructions to all participants three months prior to your program start date, along with the deadline to secure the China visa. Once you receive this email, you may then begin the process to apply for your China Visa. The China Visa must be in your possession no later than 5 weeks prior to the start of your program start date. The visa must be obtained by this deadline in order to be included on the Group Permit going to Tibet. IMPORTANT: If you do not have the China Visa by the deadline you will be unable to go on the Mountain Kingdoms Program.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 0 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

United States citizens don’t need a visa for any of the countries you’ll be visiting. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

There are no vaccinations required to enter these countries unless visitors are coming from a contaminated area. However, it is always a good idea to check with your personal physician before going abroad. Routine vaccines, such as those for Covid-19, influenza, chickenpox (or varicella), polio, MMR, and DPT, should be up to date. Malaria pills are a consideration. Please check with your physician or travel clinic for other considerations. When traveling to altitudes ranging from 7,000 to 12,000 feet, such as in Tibet and Bhutan, it is advisable to consult your personal physician well in advance of travel for health advice. In preparation, begin exercising as far in advance of travel as possible. Cooler, drier air at high altitude contains less oxygen than at sea level. A regular routine of walking, swimming and climbing stairs or other aerobic exercise will help build stamina. As well as being in good physical condition, practice increasing your respiratory rate, which will help you to acclimate to the reduced oxygen at high altitude. The better cardiovascular shape you are in prior to your trip, the better you will be able to withstand exertion at elevation. Practice drinking plenty of water as hydration is important. If you require a wheelchair to get through an airport, you are not fit enough to participate in this program.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on November 22, 2026

Start of Trip:  2:00 p.m. hotel check-in available; 6:00 p.m. orientation followed by welcome dinner.

Getting to the site: Only participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare and who are arriving on the in-country commencement date will be provided with an arrival transfer from Beijing airport to the first program hotel. Participants who have not purchased Road Scholar airfare, or who are arriving early, are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements and for covering the costs involved. The easiest way to get from either of Beijing's airports to the first hotel is via taxi. At the end of this information packet you will find a document with instructions including the name of the hotel shown in Chinese characters. Hotel check-in is available from 2:00 p.m. on Day 3. If you arrive earlier in the day, the hotel can store your luggage at the front desk until check-in time. If you are arriving to the program on an earlier date or arriving on the program date and would like to check in earlier, we suggest booking a pre-program night with the hotel directly or a third-party website, and request a standard room rate.

End of Trip: 8:00 a.m. breakfast followed by transfers to the airport for flights home; 12:00 noon hotel check-out.

Getting to the airport: Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare and who are departing on the final day of the program will be provided with a departure transfer from the last program hotel to the airport. Participants who have not purchased Road Scholar airfare, or who are staying on longer, are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements and the costs involved. The airport hotel in Bangkok has an airport shuttle that has to be pre-arranged when you check in, or you can take an airport taxi. The Group Leader can assist you with making arrangements when you check in to the final program hotel. Hotel check-out is 12:00 noon. If you depart later that day, the hotel can store your luggage at the front desk until you leave. If you wish to check out much later or if you depart after the official program end date, we suggest booking post-program nights with the hotel directly or via a third party website.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Participants who have not purchased airfare through Road Scholar are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements to the first site at the beginning of the program, as well as from the last site at the end of the program. The Information Packet Road Scholar sends in advance of the program includes details needed to make your transfer arrangements. If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call (800) 241-1404. Please note: In the unlikely event Road Scholar must make changes to the program's arrival or departure details, we will notify all participants as soon as possible. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline.