The Saga Dawa Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the 4th Tibetan month, is one of the most important religious festivals celebrated in Tibet. This auspicious day is marked by three important events in Buddha's life: his birth, nirvana and parinirvana (death). Since the Saga Dawa festival falls on the holiest month of the Tibetan calendar, it is believed that good deeds and prayers are multiplied a thousand times during this event. So we can see the devotees immersed in prayers with a view to appeasing the god.
During the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar, many people refrain from killing animals and display their generosity by giving out alms to everyone who comes asking for it. Not an ostentatious celebrations everywhere though, you can easily realize the festive spirit all around during the Saga Dawa festival. If you manage your trip to Tibet around during this festival, take an opportunity to be a part of the huge crowd that visits the Dzongyab Lukhang Park at the foot of Potala for a late afternoon picnic. In fact, this has become some sort of a yearly ritual for the people in Tibet.
The other fascinating event during this Saga Dawa festival is Tarboche flagpole replacing practice. Presided over by a Lama (a Buddhist preacher/teacher), this exotic event entertains people from all parts of Tibet. Bringing small prayer flags to attach to the big flag that comes up with the combined help of the onlookers that come to witness the event the Tibetans gather here for this exhilarating event every year.
Mixed with the features of carnivals, this festival provides with both participants and spectators with a soothing experience. The thrill that is embedded with celebration leaves a cathartic effect on both participants and viewers.
You will first arrive at Kathmandu Airport and stay at a Hotel. During the formalities for your visa and permit for Tibet Tour, we provide you with sightseeing in the Kathmandu Valley in which you will visit the Durbar Square, the Swoyambhunath, the Boudhanath and the Pashupatinath, all included in the World Heritage sites.
The next day you will either take a drive or a flight to Lhasa. In Lhasa you will meet our local staff/representative who will escort you to the hotel. It will take about 2 hours for the group to reach the hotel. Spend the first day acclimatizing the altitude as Lhasa is situated at an elevation of 3650m much higher than Kathmandu that is situated at an elevation of 1200m above sea level. Spend the night at the hotel there.
The next day,you will be visitingJokhang Temple, a huge building structure; Barkhor Street, and Potala Palace, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama, which was originally built in the 7th century by the king Sotsen Gampo and rebuilt to the present size by the 5th Dalai lama in the 17th century. You will be visiting Norbulinka palace and Drepung Monastery in Lhasa. You will then take drive to Shigatse (3900m), the second largest city of Tibet, the next day. The next day will will be driving for about 7 hours from Saga to Prayang.
Then you will drive from Prayang to Hor Quo (4560 m). It normally takes 6 hours to reach Hor Quo from Prayang.After you reachMayum River you will stop for lunch. After lunch your drive continues for few more hours until you reach Hor Quo (4560 m). You will drive past Mayum-La Pass (5200m). This day you will reach your destination: Mount Kailash. This is how you will eventually be a part of the fabulous gathering of the Saga Dawa Festival in Tibet.
Satori Adventures has designed a 14-Day package for the Saga Dawa Festival Tour. Since this festival is celebrated mostly in May according to the English calendar, this trip is planned targeting the exact time of celebration. And since it is somehow fixed, the itinerary is almost always fixed as well.
Highest access: (4,900m/16073ft)
Duration: 14 Days
Group Size: 01-10 persons per Group.
Co-ordinates: 31.7056° N, 86.9403° E
Location: Tibet
Country: Nepal/Tibet
Airport: KTM (TIA)
Departure From: KTM
Grade: Moderate
Accommodation: Three star to five star as request
Meals: During The Trek (B,L,D) , B/B plan in Kathmandu and Tibet Hotel.
Transportation: Private car,Flights
Best season: April to November
Major Activity: Tibet Tour
Include Activity: Sights trips of Kathmandu
Culture: Tibetian
Mode of Travel: Tea House
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1350/4429ft.)
Upon your arrival at the Kathmandu airport, Satori representative will waiting for you with your placard, and assist you to transfer pre booked hotel in Thamel. Later, check-in at the hotel pre-decided for your stay. In the evening, take a leisurely stroll to explore the nearby areas of Kathmandu. Later, return back to the hotel for a lavish dinner and night stay.
Day 02: Preparation and visa collection day at Kathmandu (1350/4429ft.)
Early in the morning, after having breakfast, you will be proceeded to explore the Boudanath Stupa, Swoyambhunath Temple and Kathmandu Durbar Square. Rest and preparation at Kathmandu.
Day 03: Kathmandu to Syprubeshi (1460m/4790ft)
Early in the morning, after breakfast, drives to the Syprubeshi (1460m/4790ft) which takes approximately six to seven hours Drive. Overnight at Tea house accommodation.
Day 04:Syprubesi to Tingri (4,348m/14,268 ft):
After breakfast you will drive from Kerung height to Tingri (4348m/14,268ft) hotel accommodation.
Day05:Drive from Tingri to Saga 4500m/14761ft 6/7 hrs,)
After breakfast you will drive to Kerung to Saga via Lhatse which is 390km takes 6-7hrs on private Vehicles. On the way you will pass several lakes, towns and high plateau nomadic sites. Guest house accommodation.
Day06:
Drive from Saga to Manasarovar (4590m/6-7hrs)
After breakfast you will drive to Manasarovar from Saga which is 277km and
takes 6-7 hrs on private vehicles. Mansarovar is the highest lake which is the
Pilgrimage, attracting religious peoples from Nepal, India Tibet and many other
neighboring countries.Explore Chui Gumbha and Hot spring near Manasarovar.
Day07: Drive from Mansarovar to Derapuk(5000m/16401ft)
Early in the morning you will explore the lake of Manasarovar then we start driving to Derapurk which is 40 Kilometers to Darchen then drive to Derapuk.
Day08:
Drive from Derapuk to Juthulpuk
(4750m/15581ft)
Today you will drive from Derapuk to Juthulpuk (4750m/15581ft) by crossing Dola
Ma pass of 5613m. You will walk to the base of Dolma La and Gauri Kunda. You
will reach juthuluk Monastery and overnight.
Day09: Drive from Juthulpuk to Darchen
This Morning you will visit at juthulpuk Monastery then walk for 6 kilometers which takes 2 hours then drives for 07 kilometers which takes around 30 minutes. Today you will celebrate Saga Dawa Festival.
Day10: Drive from Darchen to Tarboche
Today is the final day of Saga Dawa festival in Tarboche Valley, Explore the Saga Dawa Festival, Crowded of Tibetan lamas perform special activities base of their culture.
Day11: Drive back to Tarboche to Saga
Today you will drive back to Saga from Taroche. Hotel accommodation.
Day 12: Drive from Saga to Kerung
Today you will drive to Kerung from Saga, Hotel accommodation.
Day 13: Kerung to Kathmandu (1400m/4593ft.)
After the immigration formalities from China side, we will collect Nepal Visa from and drive to Kathmandu, transfer to hotel.
Satori Adventures has not able to include the cost of each package in the company website. Many of our clients have the same query: why Satori Adventures has not included the price in the package. To provide you service in reasonable cost and attempt to address your each requirement we desired to provide you with some information which directly affects the cost and also helps us breakdown the cost. That’s why, we have decided to clarify our customers that due to following reasons we have not included the cost in our website and package:
Please feel free to contact Satori Adventures for any information about in your selected package.
Satori Adventures and Expedition aims at giving proper information to many travelers, trekkers and climbers who have some confusion regarding the booking process of the trip in Nepal. Satori Adventures therefore desires to provide guideline for the first-time visitors or travelers so that they can comfortably start the process to book the selected package legally. Before starting the booking process we always advise our trekkers, travelers and climbers to intelligently check whether the company is genuine and whether they are fully safe to travel in the company’s guidance. We ask them to be acquainted with the company they want book their holiday trip with. Is the company genuine and authorized from Government of Nepal, Office of the Company Registrar, Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepal Rastra Bank ‒Central Bank of Nepal (authorized for foreign currency), Permanent Account Number (PAN), and the Department of Cottage & Small Industries). Are they financially secured and environmentally conscious? We advise them to make sure about these formalities because there are some companies in Nepal that have been running business without abiding by the rules and regulation of the Government. Some companies were once registered but by now their licenses have already been expired and yet they have providing the services illegally.
On many occasions, Government of Nepal and Trekking Agency Association of Nepal have found that many foreigners’ tour operators, NGOs and INGOs have been involved in directly operating tours, trekking, and mountaineering holiday adventures without having government license and abiding by the Government rules. It has been also found that many individuals, freelance guides and porters have been arranging trips illegally by creating their own personal website. We have observed that many trekkers and climbers face a host of problems once they arrive in Kathmandu as they lack adequate information. Many of them file complaints to Government of Nepal and Trekking Agency Association of Nepal for legal action such as the refund of the advanced payment. There is hardly any justice given to the cheated clients. Thus, so as to prevent all these probable problems we request our travelers to check the company before booking any trip to the Himalayas.
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Satori Adventures Pvt. Ltd.
P. O. Box-21378, Naya Bazaar, Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: +977-1-4965127
+977-1-4951250
Email: info@satoriadventuresnepal.com
Fax: +977-1-4965127
Mob: +977-9851031006
www.satoriadventuresnepal.com