Saga Dawa Festival 18 Days

Saga Dawa Festival Tibet Tour Package
- Overview
- Full Itinerary
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Saga Dawa Festival Tibet Tour Package OV
The SAGA DAWA is one of the most important and cherishable Tibetan Buddhist festivals, held each year on the full moon day of the fourth lunar month of the Tibetan calendar, to celebrate Sakyamuni's enlightenment." This astounding festival is also known as the Festival for Releasing Living Things, and during this festival, Tibetan people do not eat meat and kill any living things in the fourth month of the Tibetan year in order to concentrate their efforts on worshipping. A legend says on the 15th day of the fourth month of the Tibetan year Sakyamuni was born, became a Buddha and died. On this day each year, the people will dress in their splendid attire and sing and dance and have a picnic or gathering in Lingka.We start our epic journey with a stunning flight over Everest to Lhasa, where we spend several days visiting the city's main landmarks including the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple. From Lhasa we have a spectacular drive westwards across the desolate Tibetan Plateau to Lake Manasarowar and further on to the holy Mount Kailas. The mystical importance of the place undoubtedly relates to its extraordinary appearance and unique location and is one of the high points of the Tibetan plateau, from which great rivers of the Indian sub-continent flow. We join the many Tibetan and Indian pilgrims on the challenging circuit around the Mt Kailas, then at Darboche, below Mt Kailas, we will witness the incredible Saga Dawa flagpole raising ceremony.
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Short Itinerary |
| 26 May 2012 Day 01 Onboard flight to Kathamndu. Day 02 Arrive to Kathmandu. Day 03 Kathmandu Valley sightseeing tour. Day 04 Kathmandu sightseeing. Day 05-06 Fly to Lhasa. Day 07 Drive to Gyantse. Day 08 Drive to Shigatse. Day 09-10 Drive to Kailash. 04 June 2012 Day 11 Saga Dawa Festival. Day 12 Trek around Mt Kailash. Day 13 Lake Mansarovar. Day 14 Lake Mansarovar. Day 15-16 Drive to Zangmu. Day 17 Drive to Kathmandu. Day 18 Departure |
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Trip Cost > |
6375$/P
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International Flights > |
$1850/Person
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Regional Flights > |
$415/Person |
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Travel Innsurance > |
From $250/P |
Cost Includes:
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Cost Excludes:
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| - All airport transfers. - Hotel accommodation on twin sharing basis. - Daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. - North Face Tents during the treks. - Private vehicles. - Local English Speaking Tour Escort/guide. - All sightseeing with entry fees. - Tibet Travel Permit. - Visa assistance in Kathmandu. - All applicable govt. taxes. |
- All flights. - All applicable airport taxes. - Special entry fees for camera / video camera. - Laundry, telephone calls, drinks, etc. - Tips. - Travel and Personal Insurance. - Passport and Visas. - All other services different from above mentioned. |
Sector
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Hotel/Camping
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Nights
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| Kathmandu | Dwarik's | 04 |
| Lhasa | Bramaputra Hotel | 02 |
| Gyantse | Hotel Gyantse | 01 |
| Shigatse | Wutse Hotel | 01 |
| Kailash | Tents | 08 |
Saga Dawa Festival Tibet Tour Package IT
Day 01 Arrive Kathmandu.Meet our representatives at the airport, transfer to the Hotel, a pre-trek briefing in the evening collect passport for your Tibet visa application and permits. Explore and wander the city on bicycle or by taxi.
Day 02 Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing and Cultural Tour.
After heart breakfast in the morning, the main briefing by the Guide about the pros and cons of the day. Explore the incredibly unforgettable historical and religious sites and experience the unique culture and lifestyle. The KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE is one of the astoundingly superb historic sites amidst myriads of temples and you will be surprise by the living goddess Kumari from the small window. The SWOYAMBHUNATH, the monkey temple, with all seeing eyes overlooking the valley. The PASHUPATINATH, the most important Hindu temple and BOUDHNATH, one of the largest Buddha stupas of the world are unparallel religious sites Main briefing by the Guide about the pros and cons of the trip in the evening and the final preparation and making arrangements for the trek. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 03 Kathmandu sightseeing.
After breakfast, we will visit the BHAKTPUR DURBAR SQUARE & PATAN DURBAR SQUARE is the amazing preservation of ancient culture two different styles. After the completion of sightseeing, cherish the excellent bookshops, colourful handicrafts and fascinating bars and restaurants in the fabulous streets of Thamel area.
Day 04-05 flight to Lhasa.
This is one of the most spectacular and breathtaking hour long stunning flights in the world as it takes us just east of the Everest massif, with unrivalled views of the remarkable Kangshung face of Everest. Transfer to the hotel after arrival at Lhasa Airport - around two hours drive.
2ND Day sightseeing, we appreciate and cherish the cultural treasures of LHASA with visits to the JOKHANG, the most sacred temple in Tibet built in 7th century when Buddhism was first introduced into Tibet, the NORBULINGKA, the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lama, and the widely known POTALA PALACE, where chapels, tombs and the living quarters of the Dalai Lama are located including visits to the Drepung and Sera, two of the most important and impressive Buddhist monastries in Tibet. Overnight in Lhasa hotel.
Day 06 Drive to Gyantse.
From Lhasa we drive down the Kyichu Valley to the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) before ascending to the Khamba La (Khamba Pass) at 4900m. The views are superb – in the foreground is the vast freshwater Yamdrok Tso, the Turquoise Lake, while to the south the snow-capped ranges merge with the main Himalayan range. We drive around the lake before crossing the Karo La (5200m) to reach GYANTSE where we visit the remarkable octagonal chorten, the Kumbum (or Pango Chorten) built in 1444. We make overnight at hotel in Gyantse.
Day 07 Sightseeing in SHIGATSE (3900 m).
Here we visit the famous Tashilhunpo Monastery, founded in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama. Since the time of the 5th Dalai Lama in 1642, the abbot of Tashilhunpo has been known as the Panchen Lama (literally the ‘Great Scholar’). Over the generations, the Panchen Lama became established as the chief spiritual and temporal adviser of the huge western portion of Tibet known as Tsang, and at times was even considered a rival to the Dalai Lama. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 08 - 10 Drive to Kailash.
The drive to Kailas is spectacular and exciting as we reach to the trading town of Saga where we reach close to the shores of the Tsangpo River to our sheltered camp on yak herder’s pastures. We move further to tracks traversing a number of sandy sections en route to the settlement of Samsang. Our views of the Himalaya are magnificent and spectacular and we make our way slowly to Tarboche and our camp immediately below Kailash. We complete the drive to Tarboche at the base of Mt Kailash.
We witness the arrival of many Tibetan pilgrims who may have spent up to a month travelling across Tibet to attend the Saga Dawa festival. An ideal day to explore the trails in the vicinity of Mt Kailash and treks for the unparallel views of the South Face of this sacred mountain. On the day before the full moon the huge ceremonial pole is lowered to the ground and all the prayer flags removed in preparation for the full moon day. Overnight on tents.
Day 11 SAGA DAWA Festival At Kailash.
After the full moon the monks offer their prayers and blessings to the huge gathering before the ceremonial pole is slowly lifted by means of support poles. The event takes several hours creating a feeling of awe and expectation before the pole is finally put into place. This is undoubtedly a high point on the Tibetan Buddhist calendar for it is said that the way the pole tilts when it is finally erected will determine the cultural prosperity of Tibet for the following year. After the festival we commence our trek following the more devout pilgrims to commence the ‘KORA’ or pilgrimage around Mt Kailas – the KORA, around the base of Mt Kailas. We follow in the footsteps of the pilgrims that takes us past a dome outcrop known as “Padmasambhavas Tomb’ before the valley widens out below the Dri Puk Monastery. It takes between four to five hours to complete with a magnificent camp below the North Face of Kailas.
Day 12 Trek around Mt Kailash.
We ascend to the Dolma La (5750 metres), enroute the trail passes an area referred to as Shive Tso which is marked by a large collection of discarded clothing where pilgrims are said to undertake a symbolic death, leaving an item of clothing behind before proceeding to the pass. The final 200 metres climb to the pass is less strenuous while on the pass the pilgrims pay homage to the gods of the pass. It is a very special occasion particularly at this time of the year. We descend on the far side of the pass to the Tukje Tso, ‘The Compassionate Lake’, in a spectacular setting beneath huge rock cliffs before descending further to the eastern valley and a grassy camp.
Day 13 Complete Trek Around and Transfer to Lake Mansarovar.
We now descend down the mystic valley to the small monastery of Zutrul Puk. The site known as the miracle cave marks the place where the celebrated Buddhist teacher Miilerepa performed miracles in a contest with the high priest of the Bon Po, the original animistic religion introduced to Tibet before Buddhism. Miilarepa won the contest but consented for the followers of Bon Po to continue their own pilgrimage around Mt Kailas in an anti clockwise fashion. A tradition that still holds today. From Zutrul Puk it is a further two to three hours trek across the open plains and past lines of fabulous mani walls and colourful prayer flags to the road head where our vehicles transfer us to the magnificent shores of Lake MANSAROVAR (4727 m/230 km). We camp alongside the Lake.
Day 14 Walk Along the Shores of Lake Mansarovar.
A very rewarding day to savour the spectacular landscape and surrounding on this renowned Lake, with opportunities to walk along the bewitching shores of the Lake and also visit some of the nearby mystic monasteries. We continue to camp alongside the Lake.
Day 15-16 Drive to the border town of Zhangmu.
Our drive to Zhangmu follows the first two and a half stages to Saga before we cross the Tsangpo by local ferry and head to our third camp. This section of the drive takes in irresistible panoramic views of the stunning Himalayas including Shishapangma (8012m). We reach the main Lhasa to Kathmandu highway and commence the breathtaking drive through the awesome Sun Kosi Gorge to the border town of Zhangmu where we stay for the night.
13 June Day 17 Drive to Kathmandu.
After completing Chinese immigration and customs formalities, we transfer our gear by our vehicle down the eight-kilometre stretch that leads to the Friendship Bridge and Nepal. Re-entry visa is required at this border, so please have your documentation ready. After clearing Nepal’s customs and immigration, our chartered bus will complete the drive to Kathmandu. Celebration in the evening. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 18 Departure from Kathmandu.
The trip concludes upon check out from the hotel and with the departure from Kathmandu.
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Trip Info
- Arrival Info:
Our representative will be arriving at the airport you will be landing. Please look for a board with your name or South Asian Holidays. Upon welcome greetings, you will be transfered to hotel. - Hotel Info:
Hotel we book are carefully selected and located in the city center unless you requested different hotel by name and category. - Guide Info:
We carefully select our guides who knows the route well and lead several group for the same trip you booked.





