Best Saga Dawa Festival Tours for Westerners

Saga Dawa Festival, a significant event in Tibetan Buddhism, offers visitors an immersive experience of its profound religious atmosphere. On the 15th day of the 4th month in the Tibetan calendar, which falls on June 11th, 2025, devout followers, dressed in their finest traditional attire, flock to temples to partake in a variety of Buddhist activities, such as circumambulating the monastery, offering incense, and lighting butter lamps. At renowned monasteries like the Jokhang Temple and Tashilhunpo Monastery, you can witness monks engaged in chanting scriptures and conducting Dharma assemblies, gaining insights into the teachings and culture of Tibetan Buddhism. Additionally, you have the opportunity to engage in or observe local customs like animal release, fasting, and alms-giving, making this festival a unique window into Tibetan spiritual life.

Immerse in the Saga Dawa Festival: A Tibet Tour Through Lhasa and Shigatse

Choose our travel agency's 8 Days Lhasa Shigatse and Namtso Tour to experience Tibet's most vibrant cities during the Saga Dawa Festival. In Lhasa, the Barkhor Street and Jokhang Temple form the heart of the city's daily circumambulation routes, where thousands of pilgrims and visitors join in prayer rituals each day. Jokhang Temple hosts solemn Buddhist ceremonies, including scripture recitations, while the Longwangtan Park behind the Potala Palace becomes a lively hub for festivities. Locals gather here to picnic, sing, dance, and enjoy Tibetan outdoor gatherings for leisure, feeling the joyous spirit of the festival.  

In Shigatse, the Tashilhunpo Monastery holds grand religious assemblies, with monks engaging in scripture chanting. Devotees gather to listen to Dharma teachings, pray for peace, and admire rare thangkas and Buddha statues displayed at the monastery. Like in Lhasa, pilgrims circle Tashilhunpo and the city's prayer paths to accumulate merit and honor Buddha.  

This itinerary also covers two of Tibet's Three Great Sacred Lakes—Yamdrok Lake and Namtso Lake. During this deeply spiritual month, you'll witness pilgrims undertaking ritual circumambulations around these sacred waters, seeking blessings through devotion and meditation. Immerse yourself in the profound blend of faith, culture, and natural beauty that defines Tibet's Saga Dawa Festival.

Dive into the Saga Dawa Festival: A Tibet Tour Traversing City Landscapes and Sacred Mountains

With our 15 Days Kailash Pilgrimage Small Group Tour, you will begin by exploring Lhasa and Shigatse, where daily rituals thrive to witness bustling circumambulations at Jokhang Temple and grand monastic rituals at Tashilhunpo Monastery. The tour then ventures to Everest Base Camp, where panoramic views of Mount Everest await.  

The highlight lies in our pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, a revered symbol of divinity in Tibetan Buddhism. As the "Center of the Universe," this sacred peak attracts devotees seeking to chieve spiritual liberation through the traditional kora. During the festival, the town of Darchen, the starting point of your trek, buzzes with life, as the flagpole-raising ceremony is a spectacular event, filling the air with a festive spirit. The weather during the Saga Dawa Festival is particularly suitable for trekking. As you walk along the way, you'll be greeted by the captivating highland scenery. Snow-capped mountains stand majestically, glaciers glisten in the sunlight, and lakes mirror the clear sky, creating a natural wonderland that leaves one spellbound. What makes the coming year special is that 2026 is the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac. Devout believers hold the belief that circumambulating Mount Kailash in the Year of the Horse multiplies the merit by over 12 times compared to other years. This strong conviction will surely draw a large number of pilgrims.

Conclusion

Many seek meaning in travel. On this Tibet journey, you may find it in sacred monasteries' tranquility, pilgrims' devotion, or vast highlands' silence, weaving unforgettable stories into your soul.