Mount Kailash is a sacred site in Western Tibet, visited by thousands of Hindu pilgrims and travelers annually. It has a great mass of black rock, soaring to over 22,000 ft. Mount Kailash has the exclusive feature of being one of the world’s holiest places but the least visited. This is highly revered and circled by thousands of pilgrims each year; never been climbed through. It is against religion and has never been permitted.
Every year during the Full Moon period, an enormous mass of Tibetan people gather at Tarboche, Kailash, to attend Saga Dawa Festival. This is one of the significant religious festivals in Tibet. The Saga Dawa Festival is celebrated on the Full Moon day of the fourth Tibetan Lunar Month. The most important thing about this festival is replacing the Tarboche Flagpole, the big pole on the way to the Kailash circuit. The Flagpole is taken down annually, and a new flagpole is established. The bar replaces the event seen by all the locals and foreign tourists/pilgrims. People from different parts of Tibet visit this place, attend Saga Dawa Festival, and attach their small prayer flags to the pole as good fortune. As per the Buddhist literary sources, the Saga Dawa Festival is celebrated to highlight the day when Buddha (Sakyamuni) joined the Enlightenment.
Join our Fixed Departure Group Join-in Tours to attend the Saga Dawa Festival every year in western Tibet, Kailash. Joining this festival is to learn about Tibetan culture and festivals. Check out fixed departure dates and join our group tours from Lhasa or Kathmandu-Kerung to celebrate and enjoy this festival in Tibet.
Saga Dawa Festival Dates 2024 and 2025
The year 2024: 23rd May 2024
The year 2025: 11th June 2025
Important Notes:
Note: We expect you to arrive 3-4 days before your trip begins to process the Tibet Group Visa in Kathmandu. TGV can only be issued in Kathmandu for non-Indian nationals (Rules are subject to change).
It’s only about 50 Kilometers to reach Tarboche, the driving time is one and half-hour. Tarboche is the main place for the performance of the Saga Dawa Festival. Enjoy the Festival the whole day and drive back to Darchen. Stay overnight at the basic guest house in Darchen. Accommodation at Darchen is in high demand on that day and we may have to drive to another place if necessary. The guide will make the right decision if necessary.
Note: – This tour itinerary is based on our fixed departure group join-in tour. If you wish to make it a private one, we shall arrange and customize the itinerary as per your needs.
Hassle-free is the word. If you plan to visit these countries? Anup at Himalayan Windows is the guy you need to see. Almost a year of planning and he was on top of things every single time. Any questions? He answers. Any suggestions? He answers. Better yet? You don’t need to plan anything. Have him plan it for you! He even booked us a fine dining restaurant in which my…
Payment: A deposit of 30% of the total tour cost is required to book the tour with Himalayan Windows (HW). The remaining balance is to be paid three days prior to the departure date. Payment can be made via Wire Transfer or Credit Card. All credit card payments are securely processed and a bank fee applies.
Cancellation: For cancellations more than 30 days before the Tour Start Date, there will be no cancellation fee. If the cancellation happens within 29-4 days prior to the Tour Start Date, a charge of 30% of the total invoice amount will be applied. Cancellations occurring within 3 days or less of the start date or in the case of a no-show, 100% of the total invoice amount will be charged. Learn more about Terms and Conditions.
Accommodation: Accommodation is typically provided in twin rooms in cities, though a single supplement can be requested for an additional fee. During peak season, it can be difficult to find single or twin rooms in the mountains, so our lodges usually offer dormitory-style accommodation. Our priority is always to provide clean and safe rooms for our guests.
Meals: Our packages in Bhutan include full board meals, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. For treks, all meals are provided, but you will need to pay extra for drinking water and snacks.
Nepal Visa: If you are planning a trip to Nepal, you must have a valid passport and Nepal Visa. Depending on your country of origin, you may need to obtain a Nepal Tourist Visa before your arrival. To be eligible, your passport should be valid for a minimum of six months from your Tour Start Date. If you are planning on traveling to multiple countries on your trip, make sure to get a multi-entries Nepal Visa.
Bhutan Visa Clearance: All visitors to Bhutan must have a valid Bhutan Visa Clearance before their trip. To obtain it, you must submit a color-scanned copy of your passport, which must be valid for at least 6 months from the start date of your tour. Your tour operator will send you a Visa Clearance prior to your departure, which you must present at the Druk Air/Bhutan Airlines counter during check-in. Once you arrive at Paro Airport, your passport will be stamped with the original visa.
Tibet Group Visa (TGV): All travelers from any nation intending to go to Tibet from Nepal must obtain a Tibet Group Visa (TGV) in Kathmandu with the help of a tour operator. To ensure the successful application of the TGV, you should plan to arrive in Kathmandu 3-4 working days before your travel date. If you are coming from China, you will not require a TGV; instead, you will need a Chinese Visa and Permit. To find out more about the process of entering Tibet, please look into the Tibet entry procedure.
Nepal & Bhutan: Visiting Nepal and Bhutan at the same time is ideal as they share a similar climate. From high mountains to low land sub-tropical plains and jungles, the two countries have similar weather. The best time to visit is from March to April (spring) and October to December (autumn and early winter). During these months, the air is clean and fresh with sunny skies. January and February are colder months, while June, July, and August (summer) are typically monsoon seasons.
Tibet: It is best to visit Tibet between April and October when the weather is warm and the skies are clear. However, from November to March, it is still possible to explore certain areas like Namtso, Everest Base Camp, and Mount Kailash, as long as the roads are not blocked by snow. Temperatures during this time may be quite cold.
HimalayanWindows strongly recommends that anyone planning to travel in the Himalayas purchase Travel Insurance. This policy will provide coverage in the case of medical emergencies, evacuation, theft, loss of belongings, and last-minute tour/ticket cancellations. Having this protection in place will help ensure that your trip is safe and enjoyable.
Mount Kailash – also known as the abode of God Shiva – is one of the world's most sacred holy places. It is a peak that is believed to be Lord Shiva's home – located in western Tibet. It stands at 22,000 ft (6,705m), where thousands of pilgrims do the Kailash Mansarovar tour (yatra) every year. Mainly, people to Kora (Parikrama) of Mount Kailash start/end from Darchen and take a… Read More »