Saga Dawa in Tibet
Saga Dawa is the holiest month of the Tibetan year. It remembers the Buddha’s birth, his enlightenment and his passing into nirvana, which Tibetans say all fell on the full moon of the fourth Tibetan month. For the whole month, people all over Tibet walk the kora around their temples, holy mountains and lakes, and good deeds are said to count many times over. In 2027 the full moon day is expected around 18 June.
What Is Saga Dawa?
Saga Dawa is a festival of the whole Tibetan people, and nobody organises it. In their spare time, nearly everyone — drivers, farmers, shopkeepers, old people and children — walks the kora, the holy circuit, one behind the other in a long, loose line around the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple and the old town of Lhasa. They turn prayer wheels in their hands, always clockwise, and carry a few biscuits or sweets for the way. There are more prostrations on the ground than at any other time of the year, and people give money to the beggars along the route.
During Saga Dawa most Tibetans do not eat meat, and almost no animals are killed; the meat in the markets is from before the month began. Some people still keep the old custom of buying live fish and setting them free in the river.
When Is Saga Dawa in 2027?
Saga Dawa is the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar. In 2027 the holy month falls mostly in June, and the most important day, Saga Dawa Duchen on the full moon, is expected around 18 June 2027. The exact dates are set each year by the Mentsekhang, the Tibetan medicine and astrology institute in Lhasa, so please check with us before you book flights.
The Full Moon Day: Saga Dawa Duchen
The 15th day of every Tibetan month is a holy day, and many Tibetans do not eat meat on it all year round — but the 15th day of Saga Dawa is the holiest of all. The kora starts on the first day of the month and goes on to the last, at any hour, but on the full moon day and in the early mornings there are many more people. The biggest circuits in Lhasa are:
- Around the Potala Palace, past the long rows of prayer wheels.
- The Barkhor, the circuit around the Jokhang Temple in the old town.
- The Lingkor, the long outer circuit around the whole of old Lhasa.
Saga Dawa Beyond Lhasa
Saga Dawa is biggest in Lhasa, but it is kept everywhere. In towns and villages across Tibet, wherever there is a temple, a shrine, a holy mountain or a clear lake, people walk the kora around it. Driving out of Lhasa in Saga Dawa, you often see local people walking around a holy hill beside the road.
Mount Kailash is the greatest kora of all — the holiest place of pilgrimage, which Tibetans hope to reach at least once in their life, and come to from far away. On the Saga Dawa full moon, thousands of pilgrims gather at Tarboche, where the kora begins, to watch the great prayer flagpole raised with new flags. The Kailash kora season runs from late April to the end of October. See the best time to visit Mount Kailash.
Can Visitors Walk the Kora?
Yes, and it is one of the best ways to feel Tibet. You can join the local people and walk the kora with them. A few things to remember:
- Always walk clockwise. Walking the other way is bad manners.
- Be careful about giving money. We suggest you don’t. If you would like to give money or food to a beggar, do it quickly — as a visitor, you may soon be surrounded.
- Walk at the pilgrims’ pace, and step around people doing prostrations, not over them.
Food and Restaurants in Saga Dawa
Most Tibetans do not eat meat during Saga Dawa. Restaurants in Lhasa stay as usual, because they serve visitors from outside Tibet as well, so you will still find both meat and vegetarian dishes. Trying the vegetarian Tibetan food for a day is a nice way to share the month with the people around you.
Is Lhasa Crowded During Saga Dawa?
Not for visitors. Saga Dawa is a local festival: the kora circuits are full of pilgrims, but it makes little difference to hotels, sights or permits. June is the start of the main season, when hotels are getting busier, but permits take the usual time and the crowds of tourists are still small. Mount Kailash is different: on the full moon day the guesthouses around the mountain are full, so a Kailash trip at Saga Dawa should be booked early.
Weather in June
June in Lhasa is about 24°C in the day and 10°C at night, mostly sunny, with the summer rain starting in the second half of the month, mostly at night. Mid-May to the end of June is one of the two best times of the year in Tibet, with clear views of Everest. Dress as for late spring or early summer: light clothes for the day and a warm layer for the evening. See Tibet weather in June.
Our Saga Dawa Departures 2027
Small groups of 3–8 travellers. Every date can also run as a private trip.
- Wednesday 16 June 2027 — Saga Dawa in Lhasa: 5 Days Lhasa & Yamdrok Lake (farewell 21 June, from US$560) or 8 Days Lhasa–Everest Round Trip, Relaxed Pace (farewell 24 June, from US$831). The full moon falls on Day 3, in Lhasa: walk the kora with the pilgrims.
- Friday 11 June 2027 — Saga Dawa at Mount Kailash: 16 Days Everest · Kailash · Guge Kingdom (farewell 27 June, from US$2,114). The Kailash kora starts on Day 8, at Tarboche, on the full moon day.
For a gentler kora, make a full circle around holy Yamdrok Lake, walking part of each day and riding the rest: the Yamdrok Lake Inner Kora or the Outer Kora. See all Yamdrok Lake tours. Prefer to go straight to Kailash without Everest? Ask us about 11 Days Classic Kailash & Manasarovar as a private trip. See all dates on our small group departures page.
What to Bring
- Comfortable walking shoes — the Lingkor is a long walk.
- Light clothes for the day and a warm layer for the evening.
- A sun hat, sunglasses and strong sun cream.
- For Kailash: a warm down jacket and good trekking boots, as the kora crosses the Dolma La at 5,630 m.
More Tibetan Festivals
Read the story of the Shoton Festival, see the Bathing Festival and the Tibetan festival calendar, or plan your trip by season with Spring Holidays in Tibet and Summer Holidays in Tibet. Questions? Send us a free inquiry — we answer within 12 hours, Monday to Saturday.
Frequently asked questions
When is Saga Dawa in 2027?
Saga Dawa is the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar. In 2027 it falls mostly in June, and the full moon day, Saga Dawa Duchen, is expected around 18 June. The exact dates are set each year by the Mentsekhang in Lhasa, so please check with us before you book flights.
What is Saga Dawa Duchen?
The full moon day of Saga Dawa, the holiest day of the Tibetan year. Tibetans remember the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing into nirvana, and the kora circuits around the Potala Palace, the Barkhor and the Lingkor in Lhasa are at their busiest, especially in the morning.
Can tourists join the kora during Saga Dawa?
Yes. Visitors can walk the kora with the local people. Always walk clockwise. We suggest not giving money to beggars; if you do, do it quickly, as a visitor can soon be surrounded.
Is Lhasa crowded during Saga Dawa?
Not for visitors. The kora circuits are full of pilgrims, but Saga Dawa is a local festival and makes little difference to hotels, sights or permits in Lhasa. Mount Kailash is different: the guesthouses there are full on the full moon day.
What happens at Mount Kailash during Saga Dawa?
Kailash is the holiest place of pilgrimage for Tibetans. On the Saga Dawa full moon, thousands of pilgrims gather at Tarboche, where the kora begins, to watch the great prayer flagpole raised with new flags. The Kailash kora season runs from late April to the end of October.
Do Tibetans stop eating meat during Saga Dawa?
Most do. Almost no animals are killed during the month, and many Tibetans also avoid meat on the 15th day of every Tibetan month. Restaurants in Lhasa still serve both meat and vegetarian food.
How many days do I need for Kailash at Saga Dawa?
With Everest on the way, about 12 to 16 days; our Saga Dawa group tour to Everest, Kailash and the Guge Kingdom is 16 days. Going straight to Kailash without Everest takes at least 9 to 11 days.
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