| Kailash & the Saga Dawa festival - 14 days |
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Far beneath us, some miles away, lay the most brilliantly beautiful blue sea, the celebrated Manasarovar lake........
The foreground was flat, rolling hills and ridges sloping gradually towards the lake, all bare and tinted in the most crude colours - reds and pinks and orange - while hundreds of miles to the north and west in the violet distance there stretched range after range of low, jagged hills, all alike, and succeeding one another in endless succession. Conspicuous, and towering above them all, was the snow-capped summit of the Sacred Kailas.
In the Forests of Upper India, Thos. W. Webber, London 1902 |
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Saga Dawa Festival, May / June
This is the holiest day in Tibet , three memorable occasions coincide on this day, Buddha’s birth, death and Buddha’s enlightenment. Almost every person within Lhasa joins in circumambulations round the city and spends their late afternoon on picnic at "dzongyab lukahng" park at the foot of Potala.
Tibetans believe that one merit on this day, equals myriads of merits accumulated in a life. People keep from killing animals, refrain from eating meats and liberate animals. Sutra chanting, prayer turning, Cham dancing and other religious activities dominate the session. Sacrifices are also offered to the female deity enshrined in the temple on the islet of the Dragon King Pond, and it is a merry and festive occasion day with boating and picnicking.
In Kailash, ritual prayers are performed at Tarboche and all the other monasteries of the region, before the raising and placement of a new prayer pole, accompanied by dances and merriment. |
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Day 1: Kathmandu - Nyalam, 3750 m, 155 kms
From Kathmandu the road climbs steadily uphill out of the Kathmandu valley past, breathtaking views through a luxuriant, deep gorge shifting to a windy barren pass.
Day 2: Nyalam - Pelgu tso, 4595 m, 57 kms
Past Nyalam the road climbs to the 5120 m Thong La pass then drops down before climbing to the Lalung La pass, 5124 m. To the south there are views of Shishapangma, 8012 m.
Day 3: Saga, 4280 m
The road follows south of the Pelgu Tso, continues across the plains with stunning Himalayan views. The route then follows a narrow gorge before climbing to a pass and dropping steeply down to a ferry crossing over the Yarlung Tsangpo.
Day 4: Paryang, 4750 m, 255 kms
From Saga it is 145 km to Zhongba. The road is good & the trip can be completed in 4-5 hrs. There is also a small monastery at the western end of town on a hill. From Zhongba onwards the southern road deteriorates. There is also danger of vehicles getting stuck. But this section of the road has panoramic views of mountains on either side of the road.
Day 5: Lake Manasarovar , 4560 m, 260 kms
From Paryang to Lake Manasarovar is a long drive of 10 hrs or more. There will be several river crossings & we drive past Mayum La pass, 4600 m. The scenery is stunningly beautiful with panoramic views of the Himalayas .
Day 6: Darchen, 4560 m, 30 km / Tarboche
About 30 kms north of Lake Manasarovar is Darchen, the main gateway and the village. The monastery at Darchen, Darchen Gon, is part of the Drukpa sect. Within the dukhang (assembly hall) are new and old thangka paintings and some statues, the main image being Sakyamuni. West of the Gompa is the Mani Lhakhang that has a large, new mani prayer wheel. This is the site where the original old flagpole (a darchen is a flagpole for prayer flags) of Darchen was located. When beginning their kora around Kailash, many pilgrims often circumambulate the Darchen Gon monastery and the Mani Lhakhang before setting out. After this we drive to our camp at Tarboche, in anticipation of the festive activities of the next day.
Day 7: Tarboche
Participate in the annual flagpole raising ceremony of the Saga Dawa festival.
Day 8: Kailas circuit trek – Diraphuk, 6 hrs
This Kailash circuit covers 53 kms & can be done in 3 days. We head west in clockwise direction & after a few kilometers the trail climbs up to a cairn at 4730 m from where the southern face of Mt. Kailash comes to view.
Day 9: Diraphuk - Zutrulphuk, 4790, 6 hrs
Toady we cross Drolma Ia pass (5630 m) & Gauri Kund Lake (5608 m) where Hindus worship & immerse themselves in the icy waters of the lake.
Day 10: Darchen - Lake Manasarovar , 2-3 hrs
The final end of the parikrama is an easy 2-3 hrs walk down to where the river emerges on to the Barga plain. We complete the 3 day circuit trek of Mt. Kailash & drive 33 kms to Chiu Gompa at Lake Manasarovar . Chiu Gompa is at a fabulous location on top a hill overlooking the Lake Manasarovar.
Day 11: Paryang
Day 12: Saga
Day 13: Nyalam
Day 14: Drive via Zhangmu & across Friendship Bridge to Kodari border where you will be met by our representative. We then drive to Kathmandu. |
| Tour code / Name |
Tour cost |
Kailash & the Saga Dawa festival - 14 days
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US$ per person |
| Single room supplement |
US$ per person |
| Note: All tour costs based on twin share basis. Individual (single) travel is also possible. Please contact us for details and costs. |
Departures:
2010 May †21
2011 May †11
2012 Apr †29 |
- (†) Saga Dawa Festival at Kailash
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Cost Includes |
- Tibet visa authorization
- Tibet travel permits, monument, parks entrance fees and conservation fees
- Hotels / Guest houses on availability
- All meals
- Guided tours in Tibet as per the itinerary
- Transportation by 4WD Land Cruiser with support truck
- Airport transfers
- Fully catered camping trek supported by Nepalese (Sherpa) crew & Tibetan guide
- Required yak, yak herder and porters during trek
- Staff & equipment transportation
- Portable Altitude Chamber, first aid medical kit and other life saving equipments
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Cost Excludes: |
- Tibet Visa Fee
- Nepal visa
- Airport tax
- Insurance coverage against all eventualities
- Any international flights
- Any cost incurred in emergency evacuation due to any reason
- Kathmandu hotels and meals
- Kathmandu sightseeing tours
- Tips, and expenses of personal nature
- Any other expenses not specified in our includes column
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Note:
°Clients should reach Kathmandu at least two days before trip departure dates.
°Rates are subject to change without prior notice
°Also during the monsoon season the Arniko Highway linking Nepal-Tibet border is often disrupted by landslides. In such an eventuality any additional porter or transport charges incurred, shall be borne by clients’ themselves. |
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| Our Hotels |
- In Lhasa using the Lhasa Hotel or similar
- In Tsedang using the Tsedang Hotel or similar
- In Shigatse using the Shigatse Hotel or similar
- In Gyantses using the Gyantse Hotel or similar
- Best available hotels in other areas enroute
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| ± Standard hotel and budget hotels packages are also available. Please email us at info@abcsikkim.com |
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