Tour Code: TFT-005-A
Tour Catalog: Private Tour
Trip Length: 10 days

Saga Dawa festival
Saga means fourth and Dawa refers to month in Tibetan. This festival is celebrated for whole month and is one of the most significant festival celebrate in Tibet. But the fifteenth day of the month is very special as Sakyamuni was born, attained Nirvana(enlightenment), stepped into Parinirvana(death). Tibetans believe that it would accumulate immense of merits during that particular day by giving generosity, stop killing animals, stop eating meats, monks chanting in monasteries, cham dancing and other religious activities dominate the occation.The festival is called “qiong ren jie” in chinese which means poor people’s day because Tibetan peoples’ generosity to the poor people is well known.

Schedule of Saga Dawa festival in 2009 and 2010

Day 1Arriving in Lhasa through Qinghai-Tibet train or by airplane.

Our agency will arrange a local Tibetan english speaking tour guide and a Tibetan driver to receive you from the airport or train station to yours reserved hotel in Lhasa.

Day 2Visiting Potala Palace, Jokhang and Barkhor street.(B)

In the morning section, you are going to visit the famous Patala palace, which is the land mark of lhasa and is recently considered one of the seven wonders of the world. Afternoon section, visiting Jokhang temple, built mainly for the “Jowoe” bring along with princess Wencheng from Xi’an during Tang dyansty and is grouped into world cultural heritage list by the UNESCO. Then exploring the famous old Barkhor street, enjoing shoping traditional Tibetan things around the street.
Overnight in Lhasa.

Day 3Exploring Drepung monastery and Sera monastery.(B)

Drepung monastery is situated at the foothill of a mountain and was founded by Jamyang Choeje in 1416. the monastery is divided into two different colleges that is Drepung loselling and Drepung Gomang college. The Ganden podrang is famous among them as it is the government centre during fifth Dalai lama and later moved to the famous Potala palace during fifth Dalai lama.
In the afternoon exploring the Sera monastery which was founded in 1419 by Tsongkapa’s disciple Jamchen Choeje. The whole monastery is divided into two colleges and there are Sera ‘jhe’ and Sera ‘may’ respectively. Among them “Tsokhang chenmo” where the monks from all the colleges assemble and pray together there.You can also see monks debaiting there in the courtyard at around 4-5:30 in the afternoon section.
Overnight in Lhasa

Day 4A free day is serve for you to celebrate the festival.(B)

A free day is serve for to you to celebrate and experience the the festival.You wil get good knowledge on the way of worshiping and offerings in Tibetan Buddhism. You can contribute some amount of money to poor peoples begging along the circuits. Or you may can liberate some lifes into the Lhasa river for earning virtue.

Day 5Driving towards Gyantse.spend a night in Gyantse(B)

It is better to leave early in the morning and you can take your time around the lake.A few kilometers from chushor is famous pass kangpa-la with4700m.from the top of the pass in clear weather, you can see the fabulous shade of deep torquoise. Yamdrok-yutso is shaped like coiling scorpion with deep blue in colour. Far in the distance is the huge massif of mount Nanchan kangtsang(7191m).. Leaving yamdrok-tso is a spectacular as arrriving, since you have to cross the 4960m karo-la with its awesome roadside views of the Nanchan- Kangtsang glacier. It was here that Younghusband’s British troops clashed with Tibetan forces en route to lhasa.then reached to our day’s final destination Gyantse. Relax a night in hotel.

Day 6Moving towards Shigatse and overnight in Sakya county.(B)

Chushor is about one hour way driving and then famous pass kangpa-la with4700m.from the top of the pass in clear weather, you can see the fabulous shade of deep torquoise. Yamdrok-yutso is shaped like coiling scorpion with deep blue in colour. Far in the distance is the huge massif of mount Nanchan kangtsang(7191m). just a few kilometrers driving through the shore of lake yamdrok-yutso reches Nangartse county and is the largest town on the lake side and popular stop for the night. Leaving yamdrok-tso is a spectacular as arrriving, since you have to cross the 4960m karo-la with its awesome roadside views of the Nanchan- Kangtsang glacier. It was here that Younghusband’s british troops clashed with Tibetan forces en route to lhasa. Relax a night in Sakya county.

Day 7Driving Towards Shekar and relax in Shekar.(B)

You have to cross Tso la pass(4410m) and on the long descent from this pass, the Sakya bridge is visible in the distance. The sakya county is 21km from the friendship highway. The sakya tridition is one of the four main Buddhist schools in Tibet. It was from here that the whole of Tibet was governed during the period of Sakya hegemony and you can see the largest book in the world in Sakya’s great library written in gold. The most interesting thing in Sakya sect is that the sect donot believe in reincarnation and the head of sakya sect will wear white cassock and also marry to birth their child for next generation. Take a good rest the hotel in Sakya.Then forwards to world highest pass Tso-la with 5200 m above sea level and take a good rest in Shegar.

Day 8Driving towards Everest base camp and relax a night in Shekar.(B)

Actually there is nothing good to see on the way to mount everest base camp.But in Shekar, but you along with your tour guide have have to buy entrance ticket from San chen guesthouse with 4oo yuan per jeep and 180 yuan per person. Tingri check point is about two kilometers ahead and you need to register your passport and your visa there.

Day 9Driving back to Lhasa. (B)

Overnight in lhasa..

Day 10Driving Back to airport to leave Tibet.(B)

your tour guide and driver will drop you to the airport and you are leaving unforgetable Tibet.