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Saga Dawa Festival from Lhasa 2026

Saga Dawa Festival from Lhasa, a deeply spiritual month for Tibetan Buddhists, culminates on the full moon (31 May 2026), commemorating Buddha's birth, enlightenment and nirvana. In particular, pilgrimage tours are popular from Lhasa to Mount Kailash (near Darchen), where new prayer flags replace old ones for good fortune at Yam Dwar Darchen, attracting pilgrims to perform Kora (circumambulation) and compassion acts. Typical journeys involve a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, acclimatization in Lhasa, and holy sightseeing in Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple with local market Bharkhor. We drive across Lhasa to Lake Manasarovar and then to Darchen for the Kailash Kora and Tarboche flagpole rituals, which emphasize generosity, prayer, and merit. The Monterosa Treks and Expedition agency organize Saga Dawa festival from Lhasa every year. Key Aspects of Saga Dawa

Significance: The festival commemorates Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and nirvana, making it a powerful time for spiritual practice. Activities: A pilgrim performs kora (circumambulation) around sacred sites, lights butter lamps, hoists prayer flags, chants prayers, and gives alms. Merit-Making: It is especially beneficial on the full moon day (Saga Dawa Darchen) to do good deeds, be generous (such as releasing animals) and avoid harm.

The Lhasa to Tarboche Yam Dwar Journey
Lhasa (Start): Acclimatize and visit key monasteries such as Jokhang and the Potala Palace in Lhasa
To Lake Manasarovar: Keep going until you reach the sacred Lake Manasarovar on your way to Mount Kailash.
Darchen/Yam Dwar: Darchen is the gateway to the Kailash circuit, which is one of the highlights of the festival.
Meeting point: We will welcome you when you arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport at Kathmandu according to your schedule.

Itinerary  

Sagadawa Festival19 May 2026 Day 01: Arrival Kathmandu 11:00 AM or before
20 May 2026 Day 02: Full day guided sightseeing Kathmandu
21 May 2026 Day 03: Preparation Kathmandu & Kailash Brief
22 May 2026 Day 04: Fly to Gonggar airport & drive to Lhasa
23 May 2026 Day 05: Full day sightseeing in Potala, Bharkor
24 May 2026 Day 06: Drive Lhasa to Shigatse 3782m.- Hotel
25 May 2026 Day 07: Drive Shigatse to Saga 4640m. - hotel
26 May 2026 Day 08: Drive to New Donga and overnight stay
27 May 2026 Day 09: Drive to Manasarovar & drive Darchen
28 May 2026 Day 10: Drive to Yam Dwar & walking to Dirapuk
29 May 2026 Day 11: Walking to Dolma La pass & Zuthulpuk
30 May 2026 Day 12: Walking to Chongdo & drive to Darchen
Checking in hotel, after lunch & drive Astapada, explore south
face of Mt. Kailash and Nandi Parvat, back to hotel in Darchen
31 May 2026 Day 13: Morning drive to Yam Dwar / Tarboche
Attend Saga Dawa festival Tarboche / Yam Dwar - Kailash
Afternoon drive to Manasarovar Lake for full moon night, stay
01 June 2026 Day 14: After breakfast drive to Prayang & Saga
02 June 2026 Day 15: Drive to Shigatse and overnight staying  
03 June 2026 Day 16: Drive to Kerung Bridge and Kathmandu
04 June 2026 Day 17: Transfer KTM airport for final departure

Cost: minimum 10 persons or more

Per Person USD 4200 (Double / Twin Sharing basis)
Per Person USD 4600 (Single Room Basis)

Extra cost if required for Kailash:
Horse ride during the Circuit 1 horse for 3 days USD 400
Horse ride during the Circuit 1 horse for 4 days USD 515

(Directly payable to the Tibetan guide)
Porter for carrying small bag for 3 days round Kailash USD 190
Porter for carrying small bag for 4 days round Kailash USD 220

Cost Includes

  • Sagadawa FestivalKathmandu arrival transfer to hotel - welcome drink, briefing
  • Kathmandu hotel will be bed & breakfast, other places meal
  • Full day guided sightseeing in Kathmandu valley/city around
  • KTM - Lhasa - KTM fly in and fly out from Gonggar airport
  • Tibetan guide for Kailash tour from Lhasa, Nepali team leader
  • Supporting cooking team- assistant Nepali tour staff Kailash
  • Life, medical insurance- Nepali team leader Kailash tour staff
  • Cook (who can prepare vegetarian meals only for Kailash tour  
  • Support truck carrying Kailash food, luggage and Nepali staff
  • Oxygen cylinder, mask - regulator Kailash for emergency use
  • Yak and Yak man for mount Kailash round Mt. Kailash circuit
  • All entrance and conservation fee of Nepal and mount Kailash
  • Duffel bag, completed certificate for Mt. Kailash (if required)
  • Travel permit & Police Kailash tour for all tourist, Nepali staff
  • Baggage allowed per person 30 kg total travel for Kailash tour
  • Traveling with group 1 Medical Doctor with necessary medicine

Cost Excludes

  • Nepal tourist visa and re - entry visa
  • China visa for Kailash Manasarovar
  • Your tour and travel Insurance for all
  • Emergency rescue by jeep / Helicopter
  • Bar and beverage bills for Kailash
  • Persona sleeping bag and Jackets
  • Personal equipment for Kailash tour
  • China visa make in your home country
  • Tips for driver Nepali guide, staff
  • Riding Horse for Kailash Round
  • (Direct payable to horse herder)

Hotel in Nepal

Kathmandu: 5 Star Deluxe hotel Radisson, Crown Plaza or Similar

Hotel in Tibet

Lhasa Tibet: 5 Star Hotel Shangri La (Full Meals) Shigatse: 5 star Gesar Hotel New Build (Full Meals) Saga: 4 star 4 star Northern Holiday hotel or Similar Manasarovar Lake: Guest house or mud houses Darchen: 4 star Himalayan Kailash Hotel Dirapuk: Normal Guest house (Parikrama first day) Zuthulpuk: Normal guesthouse (Parikrama second day) Kerung valley: 4 star Hotel Pilgrim Inn or similar

Note: 3 nights in 3 places like Manasarovar Lake, first day of circuit - Dirapuk and second day of circuit -Zuthulpuk will have a dormitory bed room and very basic toilets available.

Packing list for Kailash Yatra

  • Sagadawa FestivalBackpack for 3 days Mount Kailash Circuit
  • Enough warm clothing for Mount Kailash tour
  • Basic medicines (minor injuries or lifesaving kits)
  • Regular medicines that you have been prescribe
  • Toiletries kit (Shop, Shampoo, and Toothpaste brush)
  • Water bottle / Thermos flask, hot water (2 litters)
  • Sport shoes good for walk, gloves, torch light
  • Woolen socks (minimum 4 pairs), Sunglasses
  • Thermo cot undergarment, sun lotion, cold cream
  • (Shirt, pants which is easier to be while do Round)
  • Rain coat or Umbrella, walking stick for 3 days 
  • Sweets, Zinger/garlic candies, dry fruits and etc

FITNESS

  • Kindly consult your doctor and get yourself examined for Spiritual Kailash Manasarovar tour
  • As Holy mount Kailash & Lake Manasarovar is situated at high altitudes please start exercises
    like walking, jogging, yoga meditation and other breathing exercises in order to have a make
    successful holy tour

INSURANCE

  • Kindly get yourself a Travel medical insurance for this Kailash Manasarovar tour. Please make sure you cover yourself for emergency evacuation (helicopter), road transportation and hotel accommodation in the insurance.
  • Every tourist has Life, Medical, Rescue Jeep or Helicopter insurance before getting enrolled in Kailash Tour. Do insurance in your home country.

HEALTH PRE-CAUTION

Oxygen is less at higher altitudes. The inclement weather and high altitude induces certain illness generally not encountered over the plains. Headache, nausea, lassitude, lethargy, breathlessness, general uneasiness [malaise], high irritability, light loss of balance, disorientation, incoherence and insomnia are a few. It is common to all irrespective of age, sex and physical fitness. Gradual acclimatization is the best answer. Tranquilizers, sleeping dose and strong antibiotics must be avoided. Some symptoms indicate that the body mechanism is readjusting to new environments. The best idea is deliberately slow down all the activities and follows the following rules:

  • Sagadawa FestivalRelax-do not exert, be excited, make rest if need
  • Reduce talking each other
  • Walk slowly – adopt one third of your speed and space.
  • Keep your load light.
  • Walk for 30 minutes and rest for 5 minutes
  • Whenever you feel uncomfortable, just stop; rest and relax.
  • Ignore the sudden outbursts of fellow pilgrims and avoid arguments.
  • Observe silence with a smile.
  • Never go too high and too fast.
  • Consume plenty of liquids; never proceed with an empty stomach.
  • Chant a prayer or visualize everything around to suit your pleasant thoughts or put on the earphones and listen to your favorite music, chanting etc.
  • Be careful not to catch a cold. It is better to be over-clothed than under-protected.
  • Avoid taking baths or drinking water from Lake Streams or rivers, as your system is not conditioned for this.
  • Protect yourself against dust and direct sunshine during the long stretches of driving. Face, feet and hands must be well protected.
  • The uneven ground, steep slope and slushy banks are full of potholes. Do not combine walking and sightseeing together.
  • Always listen to your guide or the one with experience. Never leave the group.
  • On this trip, over exertion is to be avoided and drinking plenty of fluids is recommendable. During winter

Notice:

  • Safe & Thrilling Tour to Kailash and Manasarovar with highly professional escorts.
  • Our company Monterosa Treks and Expedition (P) Ltd never compromise with high quality service, if quality you will get cheaper price but then service quality will also go down. We have a 33 years' record till now and zero casualties.
  • Our company is your Kailash Manasarovar Yatra / tour dream holiday!!

Om Namo Shivaya ! Jaya Bhole Nath !! Har Har Mahadev!!!

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