Saga Dawa festival
Every year on special occasions I organize a cultural journey that is more extensive. 2008 is a special year in Tibetan Buddhism, when pilgrimage is particularly meritorious. During the period of the Saga Dawa month, one circumambulating of the mountain is popularly considered to have the merit of a 100 thousand times on top of that to be purifying one life time.

At time for the full moon of Saga Dawa ( Buddha's day of enlightenment and para nirvana ) more pilgrims than usual visit Kailash. In Tarpochen, at the foot of the holy mountain, there will be a big Buddhist festival. Tarpochen represents the navel of the world and every year Tibetans erect here a giant pole while many other ceremonies and rituals are carried out. This is certainly the most important day for Tibetan pilgrims at Mt. Kailash.

Since it is a cultural and long trip, it will be a simple trip with only basic arrangements and no environment- polluting flight, however you can go on two levels (budget/ Extraordinary VIP Tour ). You will have more time than usual at Lake Manasarovar so that it is possible to do this kora as well and finally you can extend a visit of Lhasa if you like.

Gyantse Festival
Over many years traveling through out Tibet I have combined the best period of time and festival in one trip - there are many highlights in terms of religion pilgrims and people of Tibet... - in short my favorite trip !

Gyantse, the 3rd biggest city in Central Tibet, holds some of the most precious clay statues of the 12th - 13th century and is located 120 kms south east of Shigatse. It is one of the most picturesque cities in Tibet with an old fortress and the famous Kumbum Chorten which holds 108 chambers with wall paintings that date back to the 14th - 15th century.

Every year at Saga Dawa (the day of Buddha's enlightenment, nirvana and paranivana) the monastery celebrates a big festival over four days. This festival is not well known, which ensures that there will not be many tourists. Over the four days one has the chance to see the vivid way Tibetan pilgrims join the fire puja, Lama dances, Sand Mandala puja and finally the unrolling of the giant silk thanka. This is the oldest scroll painting in Tibet, dating back 480 years and measuring approximately 40 x 60 m. Indeed I consider this one of the most genuine festivals in Tibet, where one has the chance to get to know Tibetan pilgrims and sense the relaxed way they participate in Tibetan Buddhism and folklore. New in this year we will also visit Thirthapury (is considered the most holy place in the Kailash area and has to be visited to have a complete pilgrimage) and of coarse Lake Manasarovar