The Kailash Saga Dawa Festival Tour is a special journey to the sacred Mount Kailash, aligning with the biggest Buddhist festival of Saga Dawa, which celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of Siddhartha Gautam Buddha. Held on June 11, 2025, this auspicious event attracts thousands of pilgrims from Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and across the world.
The tour typically starts in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, where travelers complete the Tibet group visa process before moving towards Tibet. The tour includes key sites such as Lake Manasarovar, Darchen, and the three-day Mount Kailash Kora (Parikrama). On the festival day, pilgrims gather at the Tarboche to witness the raising of a new prayer flagpole, a ritual symbolizing renewal and blessings.
The Saga Dawa Festival Tour is a mix of cultural spirituality and physical experiences, although it is an ideal choice for those seeking both religious significance and adventure.
Tour Overview
-Tour Date: June 2, 2025
-Duration: 14 days (including arrival day in Kathmandu to make Tibetan Visa, acclimatization and The Kailash kora)
-Starting Point: Kathmandu, Nepal
-Ending Point: Kathmandu, Nepal
-Main Highlights: Saga Dawa Festival, Mount Kailash Kora, Lake Manasarovar, Overland Journey
Saga Dawa Festival and Its Spiritual Significance
What is the Saga Dawa Festival?
Marking of birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana (passed away) of Gautam Buddha, the Saga Dawa Festival is one of the important Buddhist festivals, celebrated primarily in Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan. As per the Tibetan calendar, this festival comes on the 15th day of the fourth month of the lunar month, which usually corresponds to May and June in the Gregorian calendar.
Why is the Saga Dawa Festival Special?
- It is believed that the good deeds done by a person during this festival are multiplied many times over (some say 100000 times)
- Mount Kailash is a main pilgrim site during Saga Dawa, as thousands of pilgrims gather here to circumambulate the holy Mount Kailash.
- The Tarboche Flagpole Ceremony is a key point of the event, where a big prayer flag pole near Mount Kailash is raised.
- Experience the spiritual energy of thousands of pilgrims, Monks, locals, and international tourists.
- The festival is an occasion for offering donations, freeing animals, and reciting mantras, which are all categorized as acts of kindness, pilgrimage, and good prayers.
Where is it Celebrated?
- Tibet: Mount Kailash and Lhasa’s Jokhang Temple is a key pilgrimage site during Saga Dawa.
- Nepal: The festival is only observed in Tibetan Buddhist community places like Bouddhanath Stupa and Swaymabhunath Stupa.
- Bhutan and India: Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries and specific Buddhist communities participate in these rituals.
Kailash Saga Dawa Festival 2025
The Mount Kailash Saga Dawa Festival Tour 2025 is an important journey to Mount Kailash that aligns with the grand Saga Dawa Festival. The festival, which celebrates remembering the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of Buddha, makes the Kailash region more religiously powerful than at other times.
In the year 2025, the main day of the celebration is on June 11 at Tarboche. During the festival, you may have a special opportunity to see the typical Tibetan traditions and rituals. Witnessing the grand Buddhist celebration at Tarboche which is near Mount Kailash, where many ceremonial flagpole is raised. Due to the gathering of thousands of devotees and adventure seekers, you will experience the spiritual energy of all including Tibetan local people, Monks, and travelers from around the world.
The 9-day Kailash Saga Dawa Festival Tour starts from the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu. Based in Kathmandu our specially designed tour to reach Mount Kailash takes you through the Kerung border which is around 127 Kilometers away from Kathmandu. During the 9-day trip, the tour covers the exploration of the overland journey, the Kerung border, Kerung town, and special participation at the Saga Dawa at Tarboche including holy Lake Manasarovar, the 3-day Kailash Kora, and the physical challenge while crossing Dolma La Pass.
