Go on a Spiritual Adventure: Saga Dawa Festival and Kailash Mansarovar Tour (June 3-16, 2025)
The Kailash Saga Dawa Festival Tour is a once in a lifetime chance to get immersed in the spirituality and beauty of Tibet. June 3 to June 16, 2025, 14 days of cultural and spiritual experience of Saga Dawa Festival and Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage.
Join us as we visit sacred places, attend festivals and trek the Himalayas.
What is Kailash Saga Dawa Festival?
Saga Dawa is one of the most important Buddhist festivals celebrated to mark the three most important events in the life of Lord Buddha: his birth, enlightenment and parinirvana (passing into nirvana). It is celebrated on the full moon day of the fourth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, a day of great spiritual significance and joy for all Buddhists.
Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva in Hinduism and a sacred mountain in Buddhism, Jainism and Bon tradition, is the center of this festival. During the festival, pilgrims from Tibet, India, Bhutan, Nepal and beyond gather at the foot of this mountain to pay homage and perform rituals.
One of the main attractions of Saga Dawa is the ceremonial replacement of the Tarboche prayer flagpole, a tall wooden structure with colorful prayer flags. This is a symbol of spiritual renewal and hundreds of pilgrims gather to chant prayers, spin prayer wheels and offer incense.
Why this Tour?
- Cultural Immersion: The combination of Saga Dawa festival and Kailash pilgrimage is a unique cultural experience.
- Expert Leadership: Our experienced guides will ensure a safe and meaningful experience, provide deep insights and travel guide into local culture and landscape.
- Hassle Free Logistics: From acclimatization schedule to comfortable accommodation, we will take care of everything so you can focus on your journey.
- Like Minded Travelers: Travel with fellow seekers, share moments of wonder, reflection and joy.
Pre Trip Information
- Physical Preparation: The trek around Mount Kailash is physically challenging, especially when crossing Dolma La Pass. Do some cardio and strength training exercises.
- Acclimatization: High altitude can be tough. Spend a few days in Lhasa to acclimatize, stay hydrated and take it easy.
- What to Bring: Warm clothing, good trekking shoes, high quality sleeping bag and essential medicines.
- Respect Local Culture: Always respect local traditions, dress modestly and ask permission before photographing people or religious sites.
Book Now for 2025 Kailash Saga Dawa Festival Tour
The Kailash Saga Dawa Festival Tour is not just a journey, it’s a life changing experience that will stay with you after you return home. Whether you are drawn by the spirituality, cultural immersion or the beauty of Tibet, this tour will be an amazing adventure.
Book now, limited spots available. June 3 to June 16, 2025. Start your journey now!
Details of the tour
You also have the option B to start the tour from Kathmandu. Just let us know if you want to Enter and Exit Nepal.
| ARRIVE | Lhasa airport/train station | ||||||||||
| DEPARTURE | Lhasa airport/train station | ||||||||||
| MAXIMUM TRAVELLERS | 10+ people in the group (Contact us for solo or private tour price) | ||||||||||
| GENERAL INFORMATION | Festival tour | ||||||||||
| HIGHTLIGHTS |
| ||||||||||
| INCLUDED |
| ||||||||||
| NOT INCLUDED |
|
Additional information
| Physicality | 8/10 |
|---|---|
| Month | June, May |
June 3 - Day 1: Airport/Train station to Lhasa
Overnight: Banak Shol Hotel (Near Jokhang Temple)
June 4 - Day 2: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor street
Overnight: Banak Shol Hotel (Near Jokhang Temple)
June 5 - Day 3: Drepung and Sera Monasteries
Overnight: Banak Shol Hotel (Near Jokhang Temple)
June 6 - Day 4: Pabongkha to Sera Monastery Day Hiking 17km
We will take you to see the Pabongkha Monastery, an important historical monastery dating back to 7th century, and the birth place of Tibetan calligraphy, created by Tonmi Sambhota.
This experience is followed by a hike over the active Sky-burial to the Tashi Choling Monastery, and a stop at the Takten Mediation Cave (4200m). Lunch (packed lunch) will be enjoyed here, along with a taste of the cave’s blessed spring-water.
The day continues with a hike towards the Sera Monastery, where you will have a chance to capture a bird’s eye view of the Lhasa city.
Overnight: Banak Shol Hotel (Near Jokhang Temple)
June 7 - Day 5: Set out for Shigatse (3760m) via Gyangtse 360km
We arrive at Gyangtse early in the evening, and visit the Pekor Choede Monastery. Then, we will drive another 90km through the farm villages.
Overnight: Shiga Yangcha Hotel (4 Star)
June 8 - Day 6: Drive to Saga (4500m)
Overnight: Xibu Yizhan Hote (Best available)
June 9 - Day 7: Drive to Lake Manasarovar (4560m) 500km
Overnight: Guesthouse at Chiu Monastery near Lake Manasarovar.
June 10 - Day 8: Visit Chiu Monastery & Manasarovar, then drive to Darchen 40km
Early in the afternoon, we will drive to Dharchen via Leke Rashastha. Here you will find a famous Tibetan medical school where, if you want, you can consult with a Tibetan doctor about your health state. You are ready now to attend the famous Saga Dawa Festival and Kailash Kora that will take place tomorrow!
Overnight: A good hotel
June 11 - Day 9: Enjoy Saga Dawa Festival, Trek to Drirapuk (Outer circuit) - 10km
When the ceremony ends, locals do their kora (trek). You will trek along, an easy path, to the 1st Prostration Point.
Choku Gompa is considered to be the place where Buddha Shakyamuni left his imprints. Opposite the Choku Gompa was once the place of assembling for 500 Arhats – the spot where, according to the legends, Buddha Sakyamuni prayed and meditated in front of Mount Kailash.
The gradually ascending path will take you then to Driraphuk Gompa. The terrain is easy to climb, but the high altitude might make it a bit more difficult than expected.
Overnight: Guesthouse at Drirapuk Monastery
June 12 - Day 10: Trek to Dzultripuk - 22km
Dolma La Pass is a holy place where Lamas perform bardo rituals, and people symbolically leave behind pieces of their hair, nails, hats, clothes etc., hang up prayer flags and burn incense.
After reaching this point, you will descend into a long valley that takes you to Zutrulphuk Gompa, where you can visit Milarepa’s Cave. Milarepa is Tibet’s most beloved yogi, and meditating inside this cave is one of the purest and most fulfilling experiences for Tibetans. Don’t forget to learn Milarepa’s mantra – Je milazhe pa dorje la sol badep so!
Overnight: Guesthouse near ZutrulPuk Monastery
June 13 - Day 11: Trek to Darchen - 13km, then Drive to Saga 500km
Overnight: Xibu Yizhan Hotel (Best Available)
June 14 - Days 12: Drive to Shigatse 480km
Overnight: Shiga Yangcha Hotel (4 Star)
June 15 - Days 13: Drive to Lhasa 280km
Overnight: Banak Shol Hotel (Near Jokhang Temple)
June 16 - Day 14: Transfer to Airport
This is the most affordable and authentic Saga Dawa Festival tour, offered by a trusted local Tibetan travel agency. Experience quality service with us!
Trip Route: LHASA – YAMDROK LAKE – GYANGTSE – SHIGATSE – SAGA – MANASAROVAR – FULLMOON SAGA DAWA FESTIVAL – MT. KAILASH KORA – SAGA – LHASA
Trip Length: 14 DAYS COVERING BEST PLACES IN TIBET
Inclusions:
- All necessary Tibet travel permits
- Transportation
- Accommodation listed on the itinerary
- Entrance fees in the program
- English speaking Tibetan local guide
- A welcome dinner with Tibetan cultural show at the arrival day
- All the expenses for the guide and driver
- Oxygen cylinders
- First aid kit
Departure Date: June 3, 2025 (Arrival Date)
Group Type: Small Group
Price/P.P in USD: Budget tour cost (US$ 1980)
State: Available & Guaranteed!
Tour Reviews
The Saga Dawa Festival tour was better than we even thought! I still can’t believe we did so much in such a short time, but we did not feel stressed. We really loved the tour and would do it all over again in a minute! Thanks.
The Saga Dawa Festival 2017 and tour was a truly amazing adventure for us. We had sure a fantastic 16 days in Tibet, and it will be very difficult to forget Tibet, it’s people and culture. You are truly blessed people on this planet. Norbu and his team were just wonderful from the beginning and many thanks to Mutu and Tangkon. What a truly inspiring two young Tibetan gentlemen we had. We absolutely loved the Saga Dawa tour of 201 7 and all the places we visited. Adventures in Tibet are simply the Best. May Buddha and all bodhisattvas bless you all and your families.
Dearest Hiten & Jaimini, Thanks a lot for the great review for our service and it is the best gift to us forever! We truly appreciate a single of your minutes that encourage us in the future and we will surely continue ascending onto the immensely great Adventures In Tibet. Lastly, but not the least, we heartedly say it once again, Thanking You for booing your trip to Tibet with us! Hope you both have a successful life 🙂
This is a very good and efficient local Tibetan tour operator with a touch of “gold”. From the first email that I sent 5 months before the trip to finally I said ‘good bye’ to them in Tibet, they never let us down. They have both the wisdom and compassion to understand us fully and accommodate our needs, whatever they were.
I travelled by myself, but was one of five in the group of Saga Dawa Mt Kailash kora tour (16 rich days of activities). I also did pre and post Mt Kailash trip tours, covering so many places in the north and west of Tibet.
I had some difficulty adjusting to the high altitude initially so Norbu (the tour organiser) and Tadhon (our guide) took me to the hospital to be checked thoroughly (which gave me the peace of mind as I was travelling by myself) the very first day evening. I was touched by their warmth and personal care and felt being at home immediately.
The itinerary was superb and allowed us to acclimatise well before heading west from Lhasa. We also had a great view of Mt Everest and trekked to the base camp one fine morning, enroute to Mt Kailash and Manasarovar.
Another good thing about this tour organiser is that they carry a couple of oxygen cylinders that are useful at times at higher altitudes.
The highlight was the kora around Mt Kailash, which was the very first time for me and the other four in the group. Because our group is only five people, we had such a personal attention from the guide and driver all through the trip. We all finished the kora, which takes 3 days. Although the second day was really tough climbing up the Drolma La (the highest pass in the kora at an elevation of 5,650m), Tadhon (our guide) and Muthu (the driver) helped immensely to make sure we climbed OK. It was sad some people could not make the second or third days due to altitude sickness so acclimatisation and a good guide is really essential!
We all had some incredible experience in this tour and I feel much indebted to the tour organiser, guide and driver, who always gave their undivided attention and care throughout our stay.
I am really looking forward to my next kora around Mt Kailash now that I have found a home away from home in Tibet!
Norbu is excellent with organising and taking all the fine details into consideration. I highly recommend Adventures in Tibet for fellow pilgrims / tourists!
My sincere thanks and gratitude to the team of Adventures in Tibet for giving me such an unforgettable experience of Mt Kailash and Tibet in general! Thanks guys and best wishes!
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.