2 Weeks
Duration
Mt. Kailash, Ngari
Location
8/10
Physicality
Lhasa and Beyond, Mt. Kailash
Destination

SAGA DAWA FESTIVAL TOUR OFFER for 2024!

Saga Dawa Festival Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024 (Tibetan Lunar Calendar: April 15 Full-moon)

Travel Date: May 15 – May 28

Travel Duration: 2 Weeks

Authentic Saga Dawa festival tour organising by local Tibet travel experts! Guaranteed Departure! 

Kailash Saga Dawa Festival tour 2024 celebrates the birthday of Buddha, the most important event in the Buddhist world. The festival takes place every year on April 15 (May 23, 2024), according to the Tibetan lunar calendar, but the entire month of April is dedicated to a series of fascinating and crucial events for Buddhists.

The festival takes place at the base of Mt. Kailash, and includes various cultural and traditional manifestations held in the proximity of Dharpoche. When the festival ends (after about 3 hours), participants will attend a kora (trek) and set a big prayer pole around which they will be saying prayers.

Mt. Kailash is the most sacred mountain in Tibet, so the region is crowded with pilgrims all year round. An overwhelming number of Tibetans and travellers come here by various means of transportation to celebrate the Kailash Saga Dawa Festival. The flagpole areas are situated at the foot of the holy mountain. Read our blog on Saga Dawa Festival and tibet travel guide before you planning this trip.

Mt. Kailash Saga Dawa Festival tour 2024 details

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
  • Historical sights in Lhasa
  • Yamdrok lake and Karola glacier
  • Sights in Gyangtse, the cultural town
  • Panchen Lama’s Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse
  • Lake Manasarovar
  • Saga Dawa Festival
  • 3 days full-moon trekking around holy Mt. Kailash, 42 kilometers
INCLUDED
All necessary Tibet travel permits Transportation
Accommodation (hotel & guest house) All entrance fee
Pick-up & drop-off Professional Tibetan tour guide
A welcome dinner (with Tibetan cultural show) Mineral water
Oxygen tanks in the vehicle First aid & kit
NOT INCLUDED
Meal (Breakfasts included in Lhasa & Shigatse)
Yaks, horses and porters
Any domestic & international train/flight fare (We can help upon request. No booking fee is being charged once the trip is confirmed)
Personal expenses

Just feel free to send us an inquiry on the right side bar now. Adventures In Tibet Travel Tour is your right place. You can also book similar Kailash tour on Yulkor, the largest Himalayan travel agency. You may also like to buy Tibetan products on our shop page. Check our Festival dates and up-coming festival tours to make your holiday memorable in your life. You may also consider reading top challenging tours on our blog.

Additional information

MonthJune, May
1

May 15 - Day 1: Airport/Train station to Lhasa

Upon arrival you will welcomed by our tour guide and transferred to your hotel in Lhasa. You will spend the day as you prefer, and take your time to acclimatize to the high altitude of 3650 meters. Around 6:30pm, your guide will take you to one of the best local restaurants to enjoy a welcome dinner with our staffs.

Overnight: Heritage Hotel (Tibetan Styled)

2

May 16 - Day 2: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor street

The day starts with a visit of the historically famous Potala Palace, the Johkang Temple and a stroll along the crowded Barkhor Street. These places date back to the 7th century, and were built during the reign of Tibet’s 33rd King, Songtsen Gonpo, 647 A.D.

Overnight: Heritage Hotel (Tibetan Styled)

3

May 17 - Day 3: Drepung and Sera Monasteries

We will visit the Drepung and Sera Monasteries, housed by two of the three largest gelugpa schools in central Tibet. The monasteries were founded during 14th century. We recommend attending the monks’ debate held in the courtyard and admire the gigantic chapels.

Overnight: Heritage Hotel (Tibetan Styled)

4

May 18 - 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: Heritage Hotel (Tibetan Styled)

5

May 19 - Day 5: Set out for Shigatse (3760m) via Gyangtse 360km

We will set out for Gyangtse, a rich cultural city in central Tibet, in the morning. During this journey, we will enjoy Yamdrok Lake with its deep blue water, from the top of the Kampala pass (3975m), and then we will head to the Karola Glacier(4960m) from the shore of Yamdrok Lake.

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: Gesar hotel in Shigatse

6

May 20 - Day 6: Drive to Saga (4500m)

We will set out for Saga county with a distance of 480km. You will cross highest mountain passes to reach Himalayan ranges.

Overnight: Saga Hotel or similar

7

May 21 - Day 7: Drive to Lake Manasarovar (4560m) 500km

We will depart in the morning on a 500 km journey, on a smooth road to Lake Manasarovar, the victory lake in the Ngari region. We will also cross several rivers and Mayumla Pass (4600m), from where we can admire the spectacular panoramic views of the Himalayas. If we are lucky, we will see wild animals enjoying their life, free, on the world’s highest plateau.

Overnight: Guesthouse at Chiu Monastery near Lake Manasarovar.

8

May 22 - Day 8: Visit Chiu Monastery & Manasarovar, then drive to Darchen 40km

Today you will have the rare opportunity to talk with Guru Rinpoche in his cave, in Chiu Monastery at Manasarovar. While walk near the Lake, you will enjoy the chance to dip into its cold purifying waters.

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: Guesthouse.

9

May 23 - Day 9: Enjoy Saga Dawa Festival, Trek to Drirapuk (Outer circuit) - 10km

The Saga Dawa Festival is held at Darpoche, the start point of Kailash Kora. During the celebration, Tibetans hang their prayer flags on a vertical prayer flag pole. Lamas circulate around the prayer flag while reciting special prayers.

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

10

May 24 - Day 10: Trek to Dzultripuk - 22km

Around Kailash, you will encounter the most difficult section of your trek, especially when you will have to climb from Driraphuk Gompa, 5000 meter altitude, to Dolma La Pass, at 5670 meters.  The atmospheric pressure is one-half over the pressure of sea level, so it is recommended to slow down to 3-5 steps, alternated with deep breaths (only 50% of oxygen) rather than collapse somewhere along the way.

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.

11

May 25 - Day 11: Trek to Darchen - 13km, then Drive to Saga 500km

The last section includes a fairly easy walking itinerary from Zutruphuk Gompa to Darchen.  The Kailash pilgrimage officially ends at Dakini Dancing Ground, with a fantastic view over Lake Manasarovar in the background. Then, we will be crossing the grasslands drive back to Saga.

Overnight: Saga Hotel. or similar

12

May 26 - Days 12: Drive to Shigatse 480km

We will be crossing the grasslands, and come back down east to Saga.

Overnight: Gesar hotel in Shigatse

13

May 27 - Days 13: Drive to Lhasa 280km

Today is dedicated to a long journey to Lhatse along the northern route.

Overnight: Gesar hotel in Shigatse

14

May 28 - Day 14: Transfer to Airport

Transfer to airport, so you can connect to your next destination. Your Saga Dawa Festival Tour officially ends here.

This is the most cheapest and authentic Saga Dawa festival tour with local Tibetan travel agency! Quality service!

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:

  1. All necessary Tibet travel permits
  2. Transportation
  3. Accommodation listed on the itinerary
  4. Entrance fees in the program
  5. English speaking Tibetan local guide
  6. A welcome dinner with Tibetan cultural show at the arrival day
  7. All the expenses for the guide and driver
  8. Oxygen cylinders
  9. First aid kit
Departure Date Group Type Price/P.P in USD State
May 15, 2024 (Arrival Date) Small Group Budget cost (Contact us) Available &  Guaranteed!

Just send an inquiry from the right side form and we will do the rest.

Saga Dawa Festival tour
Trip to Lhasa, Potala
Trip to Tibet
Shigatse Tashi Lhunpo
Yamdrok Youtso Lake
Kailash and Manasarovar
Saga Dawa Festival tour

Tour Reviews

5.00 based on 3 reviews
November 13, 2015

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.

June 21, 2017

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.

June 22, 2017

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 🙂

September 3, 2018

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!

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