Kailash Saga Dawa Festival Tour

Depart early from Kathmandu for a scenic 7-8 hour drive via Trishuli and Syabrubesi, with a lunch stop en route. After completing immigration at Rasuwagadhi, cross the Friendship Bridge into Tibet, meet your Tibetan guide, and continue to Kyirong town (25 km). Check into your guesthouse and rest to begin acclimatizing. Overnight at hotel in Kyirong.

Today is a rest day in Kyirong to help with altitude acclimatization. You can take a leisurely hike to the Milarepa Cave, a serene and sacred spot associated with the famous Tibetan yogi, Milarepa. The hike offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. If you're feeling up to it, explore the beautiful landscapes around Kyirong, or simply rest and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the town. This day is designed to allow your body to adjust to the altitude (2,700 m) before continuing your journey. Overnight at hotel in Kyirong.

Today, you will drive from Kyirong to Saga, covering a distance of approximately 232 km. The journey takes about 7-8 hours, passing through beautiful Tibetan landscapes, high plateaus, and small villages. Saga is located at an altitude of around 4,450 meters (14,600 feet), so it’s important to rest and acclimatize upon arrival. Check into your guesthouse, relax, and take it easy to adjust to the altitude. Overnight at hotel in Saga.

Today, you will embark on a long but scenic drive from Saga to Mansarovar. The journey covers 496 km and takes about 8-9 hours. You will pass through Paryang (4,558 m), a small town known for its peaceful surroundings and high-altitude landscape. Continue your drive through the Tibetan plateau, with stunning views of the vast open land and distant mountains, until you reach Mansarovar (4,600 m), one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world and an important pilgrimage site in Tibet. Upon arrival, check into your guesthouse and rest to acclimatize to the altitude. Overnight at guesthouse near Mansarovar.

After some peaceful hours at the shores of the sacred Lake Manasarovar with the snowy massif of Gurla Mandhata 7694m just across the lake, we drive 40 km to Darchen which serves as the base for Mt kailashkora ( circumambulation). The Kora is 53 km in total and completed in three days. O/n in a Guest house.

Attend the Saga Dawa Festival at Tarboche, then continue your trek to Dirapuk. The main celebration takes place near Darchen, marking the start of the Kailash Kora (circumambulation). Trek to Dirapuk (15 km – 7–8 hours) at an altitude of 5000m. This is one of the most exciting days, walking along stunning rocky cliffs, waterfalls, and under a clear blue sky. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Today marks the completion of your Mount Kailash Kora. After an early breakfast, begin a relatively easy 5 km trek (2–3 hours) from Zuthulpuk back to Darchen, the official endpoint of the pilgrimage circuit. At Darchen, your vehicle will be waiting to transfer you to Saga. The drive covers approximately 536 km and takes about 8–9 hours, passing through the vast and beautiful landscapes of the Tibetan plateau. Upon arrival in Saga (4,450 m), check into your hotel and rest after completing this spiritually significant journey.

After breakfast, begin your return journey with a scenic drive from Saga to Kyirong, covering approximately 232 km in about 5–6 hours. The route offers stunning views of the Tibetan plateau, high mountain passes, and remote villages, with the landscape gradually becoming greener as you approach Kyirong. Upon arrival in Kyirong (2,700 m), check into your hotel and relax for the evening. Overnight at hotel in Kyirong.

After breakfast, begin your journey back to Kathmandu. The drive from Kyirong to the Friendship Bridge will be in a Tibetan vehicle. Once you cross the Friendship Bridge into Nepal, you will transfer to a Nepalese vehicle for the continuation of the journey. The drive from the border to Kathmandu is approximately 175 km and takes around 7-8 hours, depending on road conditions and stops. You’ll pass through scenic landscapes, small villages, and the beautiful countryside of Nepal before arriving in Kathmandu. Upon arrival, your tour concludes, and you'll be dropped off at your hotel. End of the tour.