
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.
19 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
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
Kathmandu arrival transfer to hotel - welcome drink, briefing Kathmandu: 5 Star Deluxe hotel Radisson, Crown Plaza or Similar
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.
Backpack for 3 days Mount Kailash Circuit 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:
Relax-do not exert, be excited, make rest if need Om Namo Shivaya ! Jaya Bhole Nath !! Har Har Mahadev!!!
What our client's says about Kailash yatra and tour operator