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Tibet Cultural Tour

Saga DawaSaga Dawa festival

Saga Dawa (Tibetan) is the most significant event of the year for Buddhists as three of the most essential events in Buddha’s life (birth, enlightenment and passing into Parinirvana) took place on the full moon day of 4 luna month.

According to the scriptures it is not the day of Buddha’s conventional birth but his entering the womb of the mother in other words the day of his conception. According to Buddhism the first coming into contact of the consciousness of a being with the cells of the parents in the womb of the mother is considered to be the actual birth, the very starting point of this life or rebirth. So, Buddha’s entering the womb of Queen Mahamaya of the Shakya Royal Family on the full moon day of the Vesak month is regarded as Buddha Shakyamuni’s birth. Buddha’s conventional birth in Lumbini took place on the 15th day of the month of Magha (Sanskrit) or Chu Dawa (Tibetan).

At the age of 35 Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Vajraasana and at the age of 80 he performed his last deed of entering into Parinirvana in Kushinagar, these both events happened on that same day.

This month is regarded as the holiest time of the year. It is also known as ‘bum gyur dawa’ in Tibetan, meaning (the month which multiplies by 100000 whatever wholesome or unwholesome action is performed during this month has a 100000 times stronger effect than at other times)

During the whole month Buddhists have celebrations and pay homage for Buddha Shakyamuni. Most auspicious ceremonies are taken place in Holy mountain Kailash region in Tibet as it’s believed that on Saga Dawa day Buddha Shakyamuni is comingfrom the heaven to the top of Kailash and people get blessed. People put auspicious huge prayer flag known as Darpo Che performing religious ceremonies.

For the year 2006 the date of Saga Dawa festival is 11 June.

We welcome you to join our trip to the sacred land of Tibet, Mountain Kailash and Mansarovar Lake on the holiest time of the year and to fill bless of joining the spirit of Saga Dawa festival on this fantastic Holy Land.

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Itinerary of the trip:

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu. Transfer to the hotel. Rest. Sightseeing tours in Kathmandu valley.

Day 01: Flight Kathmandu - Gongkar Airport and drive to Lhasa – the capital of Tibet. (60Km., 3600Mt.). O/N in the Hotel.

Day 02: In the morning visit Potala Palace – the symbol of Tibet, it keeps memory of historical events of Tibet. In the afternoon Jokang temple - an important pilgrimage sight. O/N in the same Hotel in Lhasa.

Day 03: In the morning visit Drepung monastery which used to be one of Tibet's largest monastic universities. Located in the hills on the northern outskirts of Lhasa, it was established in 1416 as an institute of higher Buddhist education by Khenpo Lekden, a direct disciple of Lama Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), The First Dalai Lama was also a disciple of Lama Tsongkhapa, and the Second Dalai Lama built a residence in Drepung, called the Ganden Potrang, which remained a hereditary seat of all subsequent Dalai Lamas.

In the afternoon Sera monastery. Most interesting times to visit the monastery is in the afternoon when monks, after finishing their morning scripture classes, can be seen debating in the courtyard. O/N in the same Hotel in Lhasa.

Day 04: Drive to Gyangtse via Yamdrok holy lake and Nanchen Kangsang glacier.
O/N in the Hotel.

Day 05: Morning visit to Palchoe monastery and Kubum Pagoda Stupa. In the afternoon drive to Shigatse and Visit to Tashi Lhunpo monastery , seat of the Panchen Lama - the second Lama after Dalai Lama, and Old market of Shigatse.

Day 06: Drive to Lhatse. O/N in the guest house.

Day 07: Drive to Sang Sang. O/N in the Hotel.

Day 08: Drive to Saga. O/N in the tent.

Day 09: Drive to Baryang. O/N in the tent.

Day 10: Drive to the sacred lake Manasarovar. Lake Mansarovar has deep spiritual iand religious significance for the people of the trans-Himalayan region, both Hindus and Buddhists. Making a round of the lake and taking a dip in its freezing water is believed to purify one’s soul from sins and the body from sickness. O/N in the tent.

Day 11: Drive to Darchen (55Km., 4700Mt.). O/N in the basic Guest House.

Day 12: Main Day of Saga Dawa festival. Raising of 13 meters’ tall flagpole( Darpo Che) in Tarboche.
Trekking to Tarboche to join pilgrims for Saga Dawa celebrations of raising the new flagpole. This can be a slow and complex process as the angle of flagpole predicts the fortune of Tibet for the following year.

Day 13: Kailash Kora (3 days).
Trek to Dira Phuk (18 Km., 4900Mt.) O/N in the tent.
The giant snow-topped pyramid of Kailash stands apart and distinct from those around it, dominating the landscape. The 53-kilometer kora of Mount Kailash is one of the most sacred of pilgrimage circuits in the world. To complete a kora is the goal of Buddhists, Hindus, Jains and Bön-Po for whom the Mountian is sacred. They believe that a single kora cleans the sins of a lifetime and 108 koras guarantee enlightenment and entering Parinirvana.

The entire route of kora is lined with prostration points, caves to check you sins, drink or bath yourself in sacred waters, make offerings and hang prayer flags.

Day 14: Trek to Zutrul Phuk (20 Km., 4750Mt.) passing Dorma-La 5635mt. Dorma –La pas is the highest point, both physically and spiritually.O/N in the tent.

Day 15: Trek to Darchen (14Km.) and drive to Lake Manasarovar. O/N in the tent.

Day 16: Drive to Baryang. O/N in the tent.

Day 17: Drive to Saga. O/N in the tent.

Day 18: Drive to Nyalam. Nyalam is the edge of the Tibetan Plateau. O/N in the Guest House.

Day 19: Drive to Friendship Bridge. The road descends sharply towards the Nepal border, with the descent landscape changes from the treeless to the lush green one. End of the trip in Kathmandu.

The above Package includes the following services:
- Airport transfers.
- All the luggage transfer.
- All necessary special permits for Tibet.
- Full camping organizes in Tibet (camping tents, kitchen tent, kitchen equipment, etc.)
- Professional English speaking guide in Nepal and Tibet, porters in Tibet, Yaks and Yak men's during the Parikrama (kora) of Kailash.
- Transportation by deluxe 4500 Land cruiser and support truck in Tibet.
- Oxygen.
- Food 3 times a day prepared by our cook during camping according to the program.
- Chinese Visa
- Flight ticket Lhasa - Kathmandu.
- National grass land fee at Pekutso
- All the entrance fees for the monasteries, Gompas and other sights according to the program. Immigration fee in the border

The above Package does not include:
- Accommodation in Kathmandu.
- Food in Kathmandu
- Nepal re-entry visa after your trip to Tibet (we recommend you to issue a double entry visa upon arrival in Nepal).
- Airport tax
- Insurance of any kind, rescue evacuation cost
- Expenses of personal nature such as donation, laundry, telephone calls, tips, alcoholic and soft drinks, etc...
- Lunch and dinner while staying in lodges and hotels according to the program
- Any extra cost due to events of unavoidable circumstances such as landslide, road blockage, flood snow, political unrest, flight cancellation, delay arrival, sickness or accidents, etc.

For detail information and cost contact us