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Saga Dawa means in Tibetan ‘fourth month’ (according to Tibetan Calender ) and this month is considered as very special to every Tibetan Buddhist followers in the world. As per to Buddhist Philosophy, in this particular month with same day 15th with different years, Lord Buddha was born, Passed away and Enlightened. This is why Saga Dawa is celebrated as a festival with lots of ritual activities at where Tibetan Buddhists are exited.
Kailash Saga Dawa Festival has become very special due to thousands of believers come to celebrate together from every corner of Tibet. These many pilgrimages manifest different ritual activities based on their diverse cultural and tradition at Darchen, the base of Mt. Kailash. Among the ritual activities, standing up the Darchen (an enormous Spiritual Flag Pole) by the pilgrimages unitedly is the most special. This celebration may end in almost 3 hours and every pilgrimages join for circumabulation of Mt. Kailash. This circumambulation may take 3 days to complete.
Explore more by visiting there during this special occasion.
Our guide will greet you at airport/ train station. They will transfer you to your Hotel. Our staff will give you a brief orientation about this trip and the rest of the day will be your own to take rest.
Accommodation: Lhasa
This morning, we are visiting Potala Palace for a detail learning about this magnificent building’ s architect and stories and followed by visiting mystery Jokhang temple. Have a look around Barkhore Street to enjoy different artifacts, spiritual equipment and the global visitors to this Holy City, Lhasa.
Accommodation: Lhasa
Right after your breakfast, our guide will escort you to visit Drepung and Sera Monasteries which are the biggest and oldest Gelugpa sect’s monasteries from many other monasteries. Ramoche Temple is another essence to this day.
Accommodation: Lhasa
This morning, we will drive to Pabongkha Monastery, birth place of Tonmi Sambhota, the creator of Tibetan Calligraphy.
From there, we are hiking over the active Sky-burial to Tashi Choling Monastery pause for lunch at Takten Mediation Cave (4200m). Hike continues towards the Sera Monastery, where you can capture the panoramic view of the Lhasa city.
Overnight: Lhasa
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: Shigatse
After 6 hours of drive, we will reach to Rongbuk Monastery through gushing rivers and highly elevated passes with altitudes over 5000 meters, and catch a glimpse of 4 majestic mountains peaks that reach over 8000 meters; Mt. Lhotse 8516m, Mt. Everest 8848m, Mt. Qowo O-yag 8201m, and Mt. Makalu 8463m.
Overnight: Rongpuk Guest House or Tent guesthouse
Enjoy the sunrise from the top of Mt. Everest and do a short hike of 8km to the base camp, (Option: You can also go to EBC in a local Eco-bus). Then set off to Saga county 380km after lunch at Rongbuk.
Overnight: Saga
This morning, we will enjoy a smooth drive to Lake Manasarovar, which is also known as victory lake in the Ngari region. On the way, we must have enjoyed crossing several crystal clean rivers and Mayumla Pass (4600m). Through this pass, we can admire the spectacular panoramic views of the Himalayas. If we are lucky, we may spot wild animals enjoying their free life free in the plateau environment.
Overnight: Lake Manasarovar
Our trip continue with a visit to Guru Rinpoche Meditation cave at Chiu Monastery, Manasarovar. Followed by taking pleasure from the fascinating view of lake Manasarova. Hindus believe that you could purify yourself after drowning in this holy lake. Soon after enjoying the beautiful lake, we are leaving to Darchen. At here, you will find a Tibetan medical school where, you can consult a Tibetan medicinal doctor about your health status.
Overnight: Darchen
Today will be a busy day since you are taking part in the Saga Dawa Festival holds at Darpoche, the start point of Kailash Kora. During the celebration, lay people hang their prayer flags on a vertical prayer flag pole. Lamas circulate around the prayer flag with recitation of special prayers.
After the end of the celebration, everybody joins for a complete kora (circumambulation by feet). You are also trekking along with them. Gradually, we will be ascending path to Drirapuk Gompa. We are taking rest at here for the night.
Overnight: Drirapuk
This will be the most challenging trekking due to the high altitudes of Dikpala (5000m) and Dormala (5600m) passes. Yet, you will observe the best view of Mt. Kailash from these two high snow capped peaks. Then, we will climb down through a beautiful long valley and stop for lunch at the Shabjay Dakpo nomadic tent.
Trek continues to Zultul Puk for the night stay. Zultul Puk Monastery (4790m) was built by two important religious figures, Jetsun Milarepa and Naro Bonchung. You could spot the footprint and handprint of Jestun Milarepa inside the cave.
Accommodation: Zultul Puk
Today, you could cover up it easily from Zutruphuk Gompa to Darchen. The Kailash pilgrimage ends here. From Dakini Dancing Ground, we can have pleasant view of Lake Manasarovar. After so much different experiences, we are driving back to Saga.
Overnight: Saga
We will be crossing the grasslands, and come back down east to Saga.
Overnight: Shigatse
Today is dedicated to a long journey to Lhatse along the northern route.
Overnight: Lhasa
Our guide will drop you off at airport/ train station to continue with your journey. Thank you for choosing us!
Note: If your arrival time is different from others and you don’t want to wait for the free shuttle bus, then we can arrange private airport pick up/transfer for additional cost CNY400. It is free for train station pick up / transfer. Please let us know your arrival time and detail information of flights/train.
