Kailash Saga Dawa Festival Tour with Mount Kailash Kora 16 Days 15 Nights 16 Days

On the first day of the adventure, you will be flown to the hectic and soulful city of Kathmandu. After immigration and baggage collection, you will meet your tour representative before transferring to the hotel. For a first taste of local life, take a drive to see temples hidden between shops, prayer flags in the breeze above narrow streets. 

Upon checking in, you will have time to relax and settle down after your long journey. You will walk for a little while in the market area towards evening and watch local people and pilgrims.

Brief information about the Kailash Yatra will also be given at the briefing, along with guides explaining to you about the route, altitude, and a few tips to follow during the yatra. The day ends with a good dinner and sets the spirit for what will please to follow.

Saga Dawa Journey Insights: Kathmandu arrival is our entry point into a spiritual land for our journey to Kailash. In your trip briefing, our guide will help us to understand the essence of the Saga Dawa Festival, the holy significance of Mount Kailash, and the special Tarboche Flagpole Ceremony that we will see in a couple of days.

Tip: What to pack (Hand luggage): We suggest you have your Passport, Tibet travel documents, travel insurance, and Medications in your hand luggage. Try to start drinking a lot of water today for acclimatization to the altitude and for other benefits.

This morning, wake up early and drive to pay an early visit to the holiest Pashupatinath Temple (Lord Shiva). Reach the Holy Pashupatinath Temple Complex and observe the morning poojas conducted by sadhus, priests and devotees, along with the bells and Vedic chants in an atmosphere of sanctified air. Perform poojas during morning darshan and see ancient rituals performed on the sacred Bagmati River.

From Pashupatinath, proceed to the nearby Guhyeshwari Temple, a venerated center for Shakti worship and which is considered one of the 51 Shakti Peethas.

Located close to Pashupatinath Temple, this shrine represents the divine unity between Shiva and Shakti, and carries great spiritual significance for Hindu pilgrims. Dependent on time, your pilgrimage continues to Dakshinkali Temple, which is the abode of Goddess Kali, where your guide will also narrate the history, traditions, and rituals of this significant temple. While exploring the area, you will also admire the traditional Newari architecture of the temples, ancient stupas, colourful prayer flags, and bustling markets where you will find flowers, incense sticks, rudraksha malas and other prayer items. In the late afternoon, return to the hotel and relax.

The evening is at leisure to explore the beautiful streets of Kathmandu, experience the local culture or rest at your hotel, preparing for the overland journey to Mount Kailash.

Travel Tip: Dress mod­estly while visiting temples. You may not be allowed to click pictures inside many sa­cred com­plex­es, so follow your guide’s advice.

Pilgrim Tip: For any offerings you plan dur­ing Sa­ga Dawa, consider buying a prayer mala or khata (ceremonial scarf) from Kathmandu. This is where your options will be best, and prices will also be considerably lower compared to what you will find in small Tibetan towns.

We begin our day with a scenic ride to Manakamana from Kathmandu. The winding road takes you through flowing hills, rivers, and little villages of time forgotten, coming to life before your eyes.

You will reach the cable car station, walk over to take a ride towards the Manakamana Temple, enjoying panoramic views of the Trishuli River and the surrounding hill sides. At the top, a colorful temple zone filled with pilgrims and market stalls awaits.

You go through the darshan ritual at the temple, evening arati with its lamps, chants, and sounds of bells ringing while the sun is falling. You end the day with a warm dinner in calm hills after all activities are over.

Waking up early, we will start our morning off visiting the Manakamana Temple for a puja in a less focused atmosphere. After rituals, get ready for a short yet pleasant trek towards Bakreshwar Mahadev Temple.

About Bakreshwar Mahadev: Located approx. 1.5–2 km north of Manakamana Temple lies Bakreshwar Mahadev, a serene woodland shrine of Lord Shiva. Folklore has it that the area where Lord Shiva was carrying the dead body of his consort, Goddess Sati, on his shoulder across the Himalayas is somewhere nearby, where her Vak (or Bak) is believed to have fallen. The local worshippers visit this site in search of the blessing of a child with sweet speech.

The route continues through villages and forest tracks that bring us closer to the lives of the local inhabitants and their traditional way of life. Walking slowly, you’ll continue on foot to reach the temple where you can offer your prayers and take a rest for some time; then you will trek back down. You will make a stop for lunch and then drive back towards Kathmandu after you descend.

The journey back towards Kathmandu will be equally leisurely as you recall your memories.

By the evening, you will reach the hotel and relax your body, getting ready for the next section of your adventure.

This morning we will awaken at dawn (the early light), return to Kathmandu by car, and make our way toward the Nepal/Tibet border.  You will travel via the Trishuli River road as it meanders through hills, numerous villages/towns along the way, and terraced landscapes as you get closer to the Nepal/Tibet border crossing.  The road will become steeper with fewer houses and will be noticeably different in appearance as you approach the border.

At Rasuwagadhi, you will do the immigration processing in Nepal, and after that, you will proceed to the Tibet side. It may take time, and patience is required in this process. Once you are in Tibet, your Tibetan guide will meet you and drive on to Kerung. The landscape will noticeably change, with broader valleys and visible snow peaks far away. 

When you arrive in Kerung, you will check into your guesthouse and relax. It will be a noticeable elevation, so you will be taking it easy, drinking plenty of fluids, and allowing your body to begin acclimating.

After breakfast, you head further into the Tibetan plateau road to Saga. The road takes you through the calm, open land with long hills, wide valleys, and fair mountains all under a blue sky. The air will be bone dry and cool, and the delicate quiet of the plateau will be profoundly broken.

As you make your way through the mountains, you pass small Tibetan towns, herds of grazing yaks, and sometimes nomadic camps. You will be driving over high passes that provide expansive panorama views, making this the most beautiful section of your journey. 

In the afternoon, you will get to Saga, a town that is another crucial stop for pilgrims. You will check-in to your hotel, where you will rest and take it easy, followed by keeping busy with light activities to help with acclimatization.

One of the Local Tibetans would advise “Don’t walk like a horse; walk like a yak.” At high altitude, a slow steady walk saves lots of energy before Kailash Kora.

Today, you will spend your day in Saga to help your body acclimate to the altitude. Your mornings will begin gently, with a warm breakfast and no need to get out of the house in record time. The main focus today should be proper rest, short walks, and hydration. Besides that, you will take a stroll around the town to see how local Tibetan people go about their daily lives. 

Here, you will see plain houses, prayer flags, and locals busy doing their day-to-day tasks. You will be moving handsomely through the open spaces outside of town if you prefer to do so. Your guide will keep track of your physical condition and suggest preventive measures. 

You will stay away from strenuous activity and eat light foods. This day is also significant in your training to help prepare you for the higher elevations ahead. In the evening, you will sleep well and prepare to cross into round two of this journey.

Some pilgrims take back a little bottle of Mansarovar water to keep at their homes as a spiritual memento and usually fill it at a peaceful shoreline of the lake, without wading deep into the water.

You will depart from Saga this morning and continue to head towards the holy Lake Mansarovar! This trip will stretch you across the open Tibetan plateau, where there are long distances of unclaimed space. 

As you approach, the distant silhouette of Mount Kailash will start to appear and will be a highlight on the journey. The route meanders through alluvial highlands, with glimpses of rivers and pasture wildlife along the way. 

When you reach Mansarovar, it is a vast, placid lake with clear blue water reflecting the sky and mountains around. You are being set in place in a peaceful, powerful setting. You will walk the beach hearing nothing but silence and beauty. 

You will check in at your hotel by the lake and relax. The evening wil be silence to enjoy the spiritual energy of this sacred place.

Your day at Lake Mansarovar starts before sunrise, when everything feels almost deserted and silent. Along the lakeside, you will be congregating with a priest who chants and makes offerings in an actual fire for a puja and havan. You will be seated near the water, eavesdropping on prayers and meditating on your journey. 

After the rituals, you will have your breakfast and prepare to leave Mansarovar. Then, you will drive down towards Darchen, the base town for Kailash Parikrama. These roads will bring you closer to Mount Kailash, so it will be hard to miss it from this point on. The mountain will begin to loom large in your view. 

In the evening, you will arrive at Darchen, resting by the guesthouse. You will be getting your equipment ready and preparing yourself for the hike ahead of time.

Pilgrim Tip: Pack your daypack tonight. The Tarboche ceremony starts very early, and once the crowds build, returning to your accommodation for forgotten items is difficult. Bring water, gloves, a warm layer, and spare camera batteries. 

Today, you will drive from Darchen to Tarboche, the world-famous site of the Saga Dawa Festival. Upon your arrival, you will find many Tibetan pilgrims and monks wearing their traditional clothing. 

Journey to Tarboche before dawn, the gathering place for thousands of monks and pilgrims. Watch the prayer pole from the previous year being lowered, then replaced by fresh five-coloured prayer flags and finally the huge flagpole being raised with chanting, incense, horns and drums. After the ceremony, the pilgrims commence the holy Kailash Kora from nearby Yamdwar.

Take in the ambiance, take part in the rituals and interact with pilgrims from distant lands. The guide will also give you insights into the festival and its relation to the Buddha. After visiting the place, you can drive back to Darchen, take a halt there and rest for the onward journey the following day.

Note for 2027: On June 18, 2027 (Friday), the Saga Dawa Festival is celebrated at Tarboche. During this holiest ceremony, the annual Tarboche Prayer Flag Raising Ceremony will be conducted on the 10th day of your trip for the fixed departure of June 13, 2027, as it will allow the pilgrims to participate in the event before taking the holy Kailash Kora.

Note for 2028: On June 07, 2028 (Wednesday), the Saga Dawa Festival is celebrated at Tarboche. Pilgrims come every year to Tarboche on festival days for the festival on the 10th day of the fixed departures starting on June 02, 2028, in time for the ceremony before proceeding with the Kora (holy circuit) around the holy Mount Kailash.

Note for 2029: In 2029, the dates for the Saga Dawa Festival are to be confirmed based on the Tibetan luni-solar calendar. The Saga Dawa Festival Departure in 2029 is tentatively scheduled so that Day 10 coincides with the Saga Dawa Festival, allowing all pilgrims to observe the festival before embarking on the Kora. Official departure dates will be published once the Tibetan calendar is announced.

• Travel Tip: Get there before sunrise for a prime position during the ceremony. Bring a warm base layer to shed as the sun rises; respect any religious practices; do not stand directly in front of any worshipper; get permission from anyone you photograph, especially monks or pilgrims; and never walk over the prayer flags.
• A secret photography spot: Most people make the rush to get in front of the flagpole to see the ceremony; instead, the more seasoned photographers know to head up slightly where the ceremony can be photographed with Mount Kailash and the thousands of pilgrims in the background. Light works best between sunrise and mid-morning.
• Cultural secret: The first circle of the flagpole is usually for monks and senior devotees, so give them respect, give them some room, step back, and you’ll be able to take in the whole ceremony better.

The day will start with a drive to Yamdwar, the symbolic beginning of Kailash Parikrama. This is where you will offer prayers before moving further to begin your trek. You start walking on a trail that heads through the valley towards Mount Kailash. The trail will be wide and not very steep, a gentle beginning to the kora.

As you proceed further, you will find Mount Kailash coming nearer with whatever little distance you cover, the shape of the north face is getting more and more defined. You will be sharing the road with other pilgrims, yaks hauling supplies, and local guides. It will feel as if the atmosphere has a mission. 

Regular breaks for rest and hydration will be scheduled. By late afternoon, you will arrive at Dirapuk, where you'll stay overnight. You can enjoy one of the most direct and strongest views of Mount Kailash from here, before you take a break.

Insider’s tip: Many Tibetan pilgrims undertake the Kora in silence. This section of the trek is to be considered one of reflection, and as such, there is an incredibly hushed feel about it.

Get up very early, this day of your circumambulation is likely to be the most challenging of the whole tour. You will start walking early in the morning after having breakfast. The path gradually ascends towards Dolma La Pass, which is the highest altitude during the whole parikrama.

Due to the height and the steep trail, you will proceed at a slow and steady pace, stopping to admire the prayer flags that flutter all the way and to observe pilgrims leaving offerings on the sacred stones.

Reaching the summit, the Dolma La Pass is a wonderful spiritual sight to behold; colourful flags will greet you along with a rewarding sense of having reached the peak of your kora.

Following this break for a few minutes, you’ll proceed with the challenging descent of the same route, and soon after having crossed the sacred lake Gauri Kund, the path becomes gradually less steep as you approach your destination - Zuthulpuk. Arriving at the guesthouse in the late evening, your body will be sore but your spirit enriched by a tough yet rewarding day. A great alternative to the guesthouse here would be to take an early departure and make it to the hot springs at Tirthapuri after the descent.

Travel tip: The colourful prayer flags are never taken home as souvenirs. Each flag is personally tied and holds significance, and they should never be removed or disturbed by visitors.

You can look forward to a gentle walk today as we depart Zuthulpuk on the last day of your Kailash Parikrama. The terrain to walk on today will be mainly very flat and will give your body a chance to recover after all the physical exertion you have gone through. Along your walk, you will be surrounded by this huge valley, which has running water from the many streams that run through it and lots of boulders and prayer flags placed throughout the trail.

As you continue on the kora and get closer and closer to the end, you will begin to feel a greater sense of accomplishment. Once you reach your final destination, your transport will be waiting, and you will have time to rest before continuing back to Saga after lunch.

Again, the journey back to Saga could be considered somewhat meditative. You will have an opportunity to reflect back on the spiritual and physical challenges of the last few days in a quiet and private manner. 

You will be up early and start the long journey back towards Kerung, with blooms on the tor with new flora. Once again, you will cross the Tibetan plateau, where open views across an expanse and of distant mountains are familiar sights along the route. You will have breaks and meal stops throughout the tour. 

The landscape will gradually transform as you get closer to Kerung, where it will be greener and more populated. You say goodbye to Tibet, get through customs and get back to Nepal. This may take a little while, so you will want to be patient. 

After all the formalities, you resume your journey to Kathmandu. The ride back will not be so much fun as you prepare to enter the busier world again. In the evening, you will check into your hotel and enjoy a pleasant stay in Kathmandu after the long travel day.

This day will serve as a buffer for delays along the way. If everything goes as planned, your day will be a slow-paced day in Kathmandu. You can have a relaxed breakfast and give sufficient break to your body after this arduous journey and trekking process. You have the option of going to the neighboring markets for shopping that includes handmade products, prayer items, and souvenirs. 

Additionally, you can also revisit temples or take a peaceful walk through the towns. This would be a day for you to rest your body physically and contemplate your experiences of Kailash and Mansarovar. Your guide will be available in case there are any plans to work out. That night you all get together for one more get-together: a good bye supper with shared tales and memories.

Given that your booked flight departs from today you could make the most of an early bird breakfast at your hotel before preparing for your departure flight. After check-out, you must be able to make a final inventory check of your belongings and must have all the required travel documents ready. Our local representative will make the appropriate transportation arrangements for your transfer to the airport with plenty of time for security and check-in.

Once you arrive at the airport, you’ll go through the departure procedures to prepare for your flight. You’ll come home with vision, unity through nature, and an experience that illustrates your Kailash Yatra and Saga Dawa Festival.Based on your scheduled departure, you may avail of breakfast before departure from the hotel today. You’ll perform a final check on your possessions and also ensure that all travel documents required for your journey are in order.

Your tour representative will arrange your transfer to the airport to ensure you have adequate time for check-in and security clearance.

Once you arrive at the airport, you’ll go through the departure procedures to prepare for your flight. You’ll come home with vision, unity through nature, and an experience that illustrates your Kailash Yatra and Saga Dawa Festival.

Pilgrim Tip: Make sure to have any holy water brought back from Lake Mansarovar placed into a tightly sealed container in your checked luggage so that there are no accidents. Check your particular airline’s rules and limits concerning carrying liquids in your carry-on baggage in order to avoid spillage and pass through the airport safely and securely.