Join Saga Dawa Festival May 26th 2020
17-Day Spiritual Journey through central and western Tibet to join the most significant Buddhist festival in Tibet ( The Saga Dawa Festival )
Saga Dawa festival is a highly Spiritual Journey for Spiritualism Travelers and a great Adventure Journey for Materialism Travelers.
Why Saga Dawa is important?
There is one significant reason to celebrate Saga Dawa, Lord Buddha Shakyamuni.
This is the month Buddha Shakyamuni came to our world, this is the month of Buddha Shakyamuni's enlightenment, and finally, Buddha Shakyamuni reaches the Parinirvana.
Three important festivals for a follower of Buddha Shakyamuni happen in one month making it the most important festival for Buddhists.
Best months to acquire merit
Since it is a very auspicious month so this month every Buddhist should take this opportunity to acquire lots of good merit from our body, speech, and mind.
Tibetans Spiritual activities
In this month, many Tibetans will avoid eating meat, making kora to monasteries, prostration around Jokhang Temple and Potala Palace, and chanting as much as they can.
Beauties of this festival
Many festivals are celebrated by eating lots of meat and drinking lots of alcohol and playing games but the beauty of the Saga Dawa festival is Buddhists avoid doing those things since Buddhists believe these things are creating more negative karma so Buddhist focus on doing more meditation, reading scripture and giving alms or money to beggars, in conclusion, Buddhist do all their best to train their mind with compassion. That is the main beauty of this festival.
Highlights of the Tour
You will start by exploring the holy city of Lhasa for three days with Jokhang, Tibet’s most famous temple. From there, you will explore Barkhor Square, Sera Monastery, and the Potala Palace, Tibet’s most iconic building.
From Lhasa, you will then journey through central Tibet to Yamdrok Lake, the Karo La Glacier, Gyantse, and Shigatse’s Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. You will then make your way over the Gyatso La Pass at over 5200 meters before arriving at Mt. Everest Base Camp.
From Rongphu Monastery and from the base camp itself, you will get up-close views of the world’s highest peak. From Everest Base Camp, you will explore the little-visited region of Ngari in far western Tibet. The three days trek kora with 52km is a great adventure to purify the karmic debts.
Enjoying the beauties of one of the last Kingdoms in Tibet ( The Guge Kingdom and Toling monastery in Tsaparang town ) border near Ladakh.
From western Tibet, you will then make the journey back to Lhasa, where the journey will conclude.
This is an excellent tour for Travelers who love nature, trekking, and the spiritual beauties in Tibet.
Travelers can also read our article on the Saga Dawa Festival in Tibet.
Price: 2,600 USD per person
Notes:
Below the price is two people sharing one room. If Travelers prefer to have a separate room, the cost is 500 US dollars extra.
Tour Type: 17-Day Spiritual Group Tour
Group Size: Minimum 2 People and Maximum 6 People
Tour Duration: 17 Day
Price: 2,600 USD
- All travel permits for Tibet
- English speaking Tibetan tour guide
- Pick up and drop off by airport bus
- All transportation in Tibet per itinerary, a vehicle for the trip outside of Lhasa, taxis inside Lhasa
- Vehicle tolls and vehicle repairs(if necessary)
- All administrative fees
- All meals and accommodations for your guide
- All lodging listed in the itinerary
- Breakfast each morning
- Entrance fees for the places listed in the itinerary
- One time welcome meal for the group
- One box of mineral water plus shared
- Oxygen tank in the car
- Transportation costs to and from Tibet
- Chinese visa fees and passport fees
- Lunch and dinner
- Personal expenses (laundry, photography fees, souvenirs, etc)
- Tips to the driver and guide
May 26th, 2020
Day1. Lhasa Arrival [3650m]
Upon arrival in Lhasa, you will be welcomed by your English-speaking Tibetan Guide and Tibetan Driver who will bring you to your hotel. Acclimatization to high altitude: please, drink lots of water and take plenty of rest in order to minimize altitude sickness.
Overnight at 3-star Shambhala Hotel or Gold star Shambhala Palace or 3-star Kyichu Hotel, located in the heart of Lhasa city with 200 meters from Jokhang Temple
May 27th, 2020
Day2. Lhasa Sightseeing
We begin visiting Jokhang Temple, the most sacred monastery in Tibet. It was founded in the 7th century by the first great Buddhist king Songtsen Gampo. Later you can explore the surrounding Barkhor old quarter and spend time walking around Jokhang Temple following pilgrims from all over the Tibetan plateau. In the afternoon we go to Sera Monastery, one of the three great universities of Gelugpa Sect. We will attend the debating session of the monks.
Overnight at 3-star Shambhala Hotel or Gold star Shambhala Palace or 3-star Kyichu Hotel, located in the heart of Lhasa city with 200 meters from Jokhang Temple
(B)=breakfast
May 28th, 2020
Day3. Lhasa Sightseeing
Today we visit the beautiful Potala and Norbulingka Palaces. Potala winter palace was built in the 17th century by the fifth Dalai Lama. Provides amazing views of the entire city and houses the private quarters of the Dalai Lama, numerous grand staterooms, and chapels. Norbulingka Palace is the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, built in the 18th century by the seventh Dalai Lama. It’s a tradition to do a picnic in its beautiful garden and perform opera dances during Shoton Festival (August-September).
Overnight at 3-star Shambhala Hotel or Gold star Shambhala Palace or 3-star Kyichu Hotel, located in the heart of Lhasa city with 200 meters from Jokhang Temple
(B)=breakfast
May 29th, 2020
Day4. Lhasa – Shigatse [354Km, 3840m]
The adventure starts: we drive West to reach the second largest city in Tibet. At first, we cross Kampa-la Pass [4797m] and then Karo-la Pass [5050m], where Mt. Noijin Kangsang [7206m] glacier lies near the road. In the middle, we enjoy the unreal turquoise waters of holy lake Yamdrok-Tso. Then we stop in Gyantse town, where we visit the considered best Tibetan art paintings in Kumbum Stupa inside Pelkor Chode Monastery. Also, we admire the majestic Gyantse Dzong (fortress) overlooking the valley. Finally, we reach Shigatse before dinner.
Overnight at 4 star Gesar Hotel
(B)=breakfast
May 30th, 2020
Day5. Shigatse – New Tingri [250Km, 4300m]
The journey to New Tingri involves crossing the high pass of Gyatso La [5220m] and the opportunity to view Mt. Everest and the Himalayas for the first time. Before, we visit Sakya Monastery which is the principal seat of the Sakyapa Sect founded in 1073 and one of four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Its powerful abbots governed Tibet during the whole of the 13th century until they were eclipsed by the rise of the Gelukpa Sect. Its Mongolian architecture is different from that of temples we have seen before.
Overnight at 2-star Roof of the world hotel
(B)=breakfast
May 31st, 2020
Day6. New Tingri – Rongbuk [120Km, 5000m]
Exciting day today: we continue driving towards Rongbuk Monastery, located at the foot of Everest and the highest monastery in the world. We enjoy amazing views of several peaks like Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and Mount Everest from the top of the Pang-la pass [5150m].
The new rule to protect the environment of Everest national park, Travelers can only reach the Rongbuk monastery, which is 4km before the previous camp.
Overnight at tea tent dormitory or off-season from November to March at Rongbuk monastery dormitory (No private bathroom and no shower)
( Breakfast )
June 1st, 2020
Day7. Everest Base Camp – Saga [300Km, 4490m]
In the morning we reach one of the major highlights of our trip, Mt. Everest North Base Camp [5250m] (trekking or taking the bus). After spending some time at the base of Mt. Everest we drive North West crossing high passes with enchanting views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks like Shishapangma and wild Peikutso lake.
Overnight in Saga hotel
(B)=breakfast
June 2nd, 2020
Day8. Saga – Lake Manasarovar - Darchen [490Km, 4556m]
Today we enter the semi-nomadic regions of Tibet’s far west. We will enjoy the authentic Tibetan landscapes during this long drive journey through the biggest and highest plateau in the world. We follow Yarlung Tsampo River West (also called the Brahmaputra in India) until the lake Manasarovar, one of the three most sacred lakes in Tibet. Hindus believe that whoever bathes in it will clean all their sins and provide good karma. Drive 30km to Darchin.
Overnight at the guesthouse (dorm bed without bathroom)
(B)=breakfast
June 3rd, 2020
Day9. Darchen - Tsanda - the Guge Kingdom and Toling Monastery ( 280 Km)
Today we will visit one of the last kingdoms in Tibet ( The Guge Kingdom ) Guge has located around 18km from the Tsaparang town. Tsaparang is the town where we will spend the night. Travelers can also enjoy the beauties of the Toling monastery.
Overnight in Guesthouse ( No private bathroom / No Shower)
(B)=breakfast
June 4th, 2020
Day10. Tsaparang - Tadapuri hot spring - Darchen ( 300 km )
Today we will travel to Lake Manasarovar at the Chiu monastery for the night. On the way, we will visit the Tadapuri hot spring and the monastery.
Overnight in Guesthouse ( No private bathroom / No Shower)
(B)=breakfast
June 5th, 2020
June 5th, 2020Day11. Celebrate Saga Dawa Festival at Tarboche with local Tibetans and Trek To Dira-Puk Monastery [20Km, 5-6h, 5050m]
Saga means Fourth and Dawa means Month so that is the main reason Saga Dawa is celebrating on every year Tibetan lunar calendar April 1st till April 15th and some will also celebrate till the end of April.
There is one very important reason to celebrate Saga Dawa, Lord Buddha Shakyamuni.
This is the month Buddha Shakyamuni came to our world, this is the month of Buddha Shakyamuni's enlightenment and finally, Buddha Shakyamuni reaches the Parinirvana.
Three important festivals for a follower of Buddha Shakyamuni happen in one month making it the most important festival for Buddhists.
Today our trek starts from Darchen town and traces the small trail in the clockwise circuit around Mount Kailash at an average altitude of 4700 m with a duration of 20 km.
You will pass by many local Buddhist pilgrims doing kora along your way and several Bon pilgrims in the anti-clockwise direction.
After the 4hours trek, we will reach Tamdin(4780m) where nomadic tents serve simple lunches and boil water. From there it is only 4 km to Dirapuk monastery but between these stretches has some of the best scenery of the entire kora.
Dirapuk was rebuilt in 1985 located on the north side of the Lha-Chu River facing the north face of Mt. Kailash. Dirapuk's name originally comes from the word Dira that means female yak horn and Puk means cave that in a mythical story says a female yak opened the cave.
Overnight at Dirapuk guesthouse ( No private bathroom / No shower )
(B)=breakfast
June 6th, 2020
Day12. Trek To Zutul Puk Monastery, [18Km, 6-8h, 4820m]
Today is the most challenging part of the trek where we will cross two passes, though they are not too steep, the altitude is the main reason for tiring and slow, the duration is 18 km and the altitude is 4790 m
After we cross Dikpyala 5000 m & Dromala 5500 m, the passes are remarked by heaps of prayer flags and Cairns.
Spending some minutes on the pass to view and relax is worth it, as you are on the backside of Mt. Kailash, and offers a great view of Mount Kailash.
After the pass, you will hike down into the long valley and stop lunch at Shabjay Dakpo nomadic tent.
Zuktrulpuk monastery 4790 m, also known as miracle cave is built by two Religious figures Buddhist Jetsun Milarepa and Bon Jetsun Naro Bonchung.
You can witness the spiritual beauties footprint and handprint of Jetsun Milarepa inside the meditation cave.
Overnight at the guesthouse
(No private bathroom/ No shower)
(B)=breakfast
June 7th, 2020
Day13. Trek To Darchen - Lake Manasarovar 0 Chiu monastery [30Km, 1h]
Today is the easiest day of the trek, the duration is 14 km from Zutrulpuk monastery to Darchen town. No any climbing up, it's all hiking at an almost flat altitude of around 4500m
After arriving at Darchen town, drive to Lake near the Chiu Bird monastery for the night.
Overnight at the guesthouse (No private bathroom/ No shower)
(B)=breakfast
June 8th, 2020
Day14. Chiu monastery- Saga [460Km]
After spending the morning at Lake Manasarovar exploring the lake, we will drive to Saga town. The duration is around 400km. On the way, we will stop for photos of sand dunes and beautiful nature.
Overnight at the guesthouse (No private bathroom/ No shower)
(B)=breakfast
June 9th, 2020
Day15. Saga - Shigatse [450Km]
Saga is one of the bigger towns near the Mount Kailash region. From Saga, we will drive to Namring town via the northern route enjoying the beautiful landscape.
Overnight at 4 star Gesar Hotel
(B)=breakfast
June 10th, 2020
Day16. Shigatse – Lhasa [272Km]
Today you will visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, built in the 15th century by the first Dalai Lama. Nowadays seat of the Panchen Lama. We recommend doing Kora around Tashilhunpo Monastery. Also, you can walk around the local market. After driving back to Lhasa through the southern friendship highway.
Overnight at 3-star Shambhala Hotel or Gold star Shambhala Palace or 3-star Kyichu Hotel, located in the heart of Lhasa city with 200 meters from Jokhang Temple
(B)=breakfast
June 11th, 2020
Day17. Tibet Departure
Enjoy your last hours in Tibet exploring Lhasa on your own until your guide and driver meet you at the hotel to transfer you to the airport.
Talk to our Tibet Expert
