Kailash Full Moon (Saga Dawa) Festival Tour

Mount Kailash- A Pilgrimage Site

Mount Kailash is a sacred site in Western Tibet; visiting thousands of Hindu pilgrims and travelers every year. It has a great mass of black rock soaring to over 22,000 ft. Mount Kailash has the sole feature of being one of the world’s holiest places but least visited. This is extremely venerated and circled by thousands of pilgrims each year, never been climbed though. It is against religion and never been permitted.

Full Moon Tour – Saga Dawa Festival

Every year during the Full Moon period, a big mass of Tibetan people gather at Tarboche, Kailash to attend Saga Dawa Festival. This is one of the very important 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 huge pole that lies on the way to the Kailash circuit. Every year, the Flagpole is taken down and a new flagpole is established in the place. The pole replacing the event seen by all the locals and foreign tourists/pilgrims. People from different parts of Tibet visit this place and attend Saga Dawa Festival and attach their small prayer flag 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) join the enlightenment.

Join our Fixed Departures (2020/2021) to attend the Saga Dawa Festival

Join our Fixed Departure Group Join-in Tours to attend Saga Dawa Festival every year in western Tibet, Kailash. Joining this festival is to learn about Tibet culture and festivals. Check out fixed departure dates and join our group tours either from Lhasa or Kathmandu-Kerung to celebrate and enjoy this festival in Tibet.

Planning mount Kailash tour attending Saga Dawa Festival in 2020 or 2021? Here are the dates below:

The year 2020: Saga Dawa Festival falls on 5^th June 2020 

The year 2021: Saga Dawa Festival Falls on 26^th May 2021

Important Notes:

• It is suggested to book your Full Moon Tour at Kailash as early as possible. Hundreds of people attend the special event, the Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) can limit the permit issuance. So, it is wise to confirm your trip a few months prior to the festival date. Travel itinerary can be customized as per your requirement; however, some additional costs can be entertained for any private trips.
• In 2021, We will leave for the Kailash tour from Kathmandu on 22 May 2021 (Saturday) as soon as we get the Tibet Group Visa (TGV)–  as the required TGV processing time is minimum of 3-working days at the Embassy of China in Kathmandu. And we must need your original passport for the application. Therefore, your arrival in Kathmandu on 18th May (Tue) before 12 pm is a MUST. During your free time in Kathmandu, you may go for a short hike or tour around Kathmandu. We will request your original passport, one Passport-Sized Photograph, and a Completely filled-in Application Form (Visa Form will be provided by the Embassy).