Kailash Saga Dawa Festival Adventure Tour

Journey overland to Tibet and cross the "roof of the world" to Kailash ' Asia's most sacred mountain ' in time for the amazing Saga Dawa Festival. You'll embark on a demanding multi-day trek around the holy mountain, which is said to bring good luck to whoever completes it, then join pilgrims and celebrate the renewal of the Tarboche flagpole. Explore Lhasa and experience unparalleled vistas of Mt Everest at its base camp. Full of cultural treasures, remarkable Buddhist monasteries, and the colourful markets of Kathmandu, this adventure truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Highlights

Witness pilgrims replace the Tarboche flagpole, hike the ancient Kailash kora, visit spectacular palaces and incredible monuments, spot Everest from the Rongbuk Monastery.

What's Included

Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Local Living Moment: Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse, Rongpu Si. Great Wall entrance. Forbidden City tour. Trans
Tibetan railway. Kumbum visit. Potala Palace visit. Jokhang Temple visit. Sera Monastery visit. Yamdrok Tso visit. Sakya Gompa visit. Pelkhor Chode Monastery visit. Kailash kora. Lake Manasarovar visit. Saga Dawa festival experience. Border crossing support. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

Accommodation

Hotels/guesthouses (11 nts), very basic guesthouses (7 nts, possibly multi
share), sleeper train (2 nts).

Meals Included

4 breakfasts

Transport

Train, plane, private bus, 4x4, walking.

Group Leader Description

Your G Adventures group trip is accompanied by a G Adventures Chief Experience Officer (CEO) in China. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. You will also be accompanied by a Tibetan translator/guide outside Lhasa.

Emergency Fund

Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD $200 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex. a natural disaster) require a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!

Solo Travellers

We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi
share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

Spending Money

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

What to Take

What you need to bring depends on the trip you have chosen and the countries or regions you are planning to visit. We suggest that you pack as lightly as possible as your are expected to carry your own luggage. As a rule we try not to have to walk more than 15
20 mintues with your bags which is why we recommend keeping the weight of your bags between 10
15kg/22
30lb. Suitcases are not recommended for G Adventures trips! Most travellers carry a backpack or rolling bag of small to medium size (no XXL ones please!) as they need to fit under the beds when travelling on sleeper trains. You will also need a day pack/bag to carry water, cameras and other electronics like ipods and mobile phones. Do not bring any knives or swords into China (gifts or otherwise). If they do make it into the country, they will not be permitted on trains. If you purchase a knife or sword while travelling elsewhere before arriving in China your best option is to post/mail it home before entering the country as no post/mail companies in China will accept it as a parcel.