Saga Dawa Dates — 2026 Calendar and 2027 Planning

Saga Dawa 2026 ran from Sunday 17 May to Monday 15 June 2026, and Saga Dawa Duchen — the full-moon day and the holiest day of the month — fell on Sunday 31 May 2026. Keep these as the 2026 reference dates. Saga Dawa is the fourth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, so it usually falls in May–June; the exact 2027 dates will be published here once they are confirmed.

Current status: Kailash yatras are currently on hold after the August 2026 Rasuwa floods, and the Rasuwagadhi–Kerung road crossing is currently closed. We are building the 2027 priority list now — message us on WhatsApp to be added. 2027 dates and rates will be confirmed once the Tibet side confirms.

Quick facts — Saga Dawa dates

Fact	Value
Saga Dawa 2026 (4th Tibetan lunar month)	17 May – 15 June 2026 (reference)
Saga Dawa Duchen 2026 (full moon, holiest day)	Sunday 31 May 2026 (reference)
Usual timing	May–June each year (4th Tibetan lunar month)
Saga Dawa 2027	Dates will be published once confirmed
Kailash Parikrama	~52 km, 3 days, Dolma La Pass 5,630 m
Documents	Must reach us at least 30 days before entry into Tibet (2026 rules; 2027 terms confirmed later)

Saga Dawa 2026 — start and end dates

Day	Date
Start of Saga Dawa month	Sunday 17 May 2026
Saga Dawa Duchen (full moon)	Sunday 31 May 2026
End of Saga Dawa month	Monday 15 June 2026

These dates are now past and are kept here for reference. Because the Tibetan calendar is lunar, the Gregorian dates move every year — do not assume the 2027 month will start on 17 May.

What is Saga Dawa?

Saga Dawa is the fourth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar. It commemorates the three most important events in the Buddha's life — his birth, enlightenment and parinirvana. The full-moon day of this month — Saga Dawa Duchen — is considered the single most auspicious day to perform the Kailash parikrama, for Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims alike. Tibetan tradition holds that the merit earned from religious practice on this day is multiplied a hundred thousand times.

At Kailash, Saga Dawa Duchen is also the day the great prayer pole (Tarboche) is raised at the start of the kora, which draws large numbers of pilgrims to the Darchen area.

Why pilgrims time Kailash to Saga Dawa

• Religious significance. Completing the parikrama in the holiest month of the year is the main reason.
• Season. May–June is early in the Kailash season: roads and trails are open, days are long, and nights are cold but manageable.
• Festival atmosphere. The Tarboche ceremony and the crowds of Tibetan pilgrims are part of the experience for many yatris.

The trade-off: this is the busiest window of the season. Permits, helicopter seats and hotels in Kathmandu, Nepalgunj and Taklakot fill first, and the trail around Dolma La is more crowded.

2026 was the Tibetan Year of the Horse, which made the 2026 Saga Dawa window especially busy.

The three Saga Dawa yatra windows

Departures usually cluster around the Duchen full moon in three ways:

• Pre-Duchen departure. Arrives at Kailash so the parikrama days fall on or just before the full moon. The most requested window.
• Duchen departure. The full moon falls during the parikrama itself. Highest significance, also the most crowded.
• Post-Duchen departure. Calmer crowds and still good weather.

Exact 2027 departure dates for each window will be set once the 2027 Saga Dawa dates and Tibet permit rules are confirmed.

Why this matters for your booking

1. Documents go in early. Your passport details must reach us at least 30 days before entry into Tibet (2026 rules; 2027 terms confirmed later). For a Saga Dawa departure, send them earlier than that — this window fills first.
2. Helicopter seats tighten early. Simikot–Hilsa slots around Saga Dawa are the first to go.
3. Acclimatisation still applies. At least 2 nights above 2,800 m before going higher (2026 rules) — timing your parikrama to the full moon means planning the whole itinerary backwards from it.

Beyond Saga Dawa: when else to go?

If Saga Dawa does not suit you, there are other good windows in the Kailash season:

• Janai Purnima / Raksha Bandhan (August): sacred bathing ritual at Mansarovar. More rain at lower altitudes, but the lakes are at their fullest.
• September: clear skies and fewer crowds — good for pilgrims who want a quiet parikrama.

Planning for 2027

• Join the 2027 priority list now — WhatsApp us or send us a custom inquiry
• Check your passport: it must be valid for 6+ months; an Election/Voter ID is not accepted for Tibet
• Pilgrims over 70 are not permitted (Chinese authority rule, all routes)
• Pack for both extreme cold (parikrama nights around 4,900 m) and warm afternoons in Kathmandu
• Book flexible international flights — yatras can be rescheduled by the authorities at short notice

2027 dates and rates are given on request once confirmed.

Frequently asked questions about Saga Dawa dates

What were the dates of Saga Dawa 2026?

Saga Dawa 2026 ran from Sunday 17 May to Monday 15 June 2026. Saga Dawa Duchen — the full-moon day and the holiest day of the month — fell on Sunday 31 May 2026.

When did Saga Dawa start and end in 2026?

Saga Dawa 2026 started on 17 May and ended on 15 June. These are the start and end dates of the fourth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar in 2026.

What date was Saga Dawa Duchen 2026?

Saga Dawa Duchen 2026 — the full-moon day, the 15th day of the 4th Tibetan lunar month — fell on Sunday 31 May 2026.

When is Saga Dawa 2027?

Saga Dawa usually falls in May–June (the 4th Tibetan lunar month). The 2027 dates will be published once confirmed. Join our 2027 priority list and we will tell you as soon as they are.

What is Saga Dawa in the Tibetan calendar?

Saga Dawa is the fourth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar. It commemorates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and parinirvana. Its full-moon day, Saga Dawa Duchen, is the most auspicious day for the Kailash parikrama.

Is it "Saga Dawa" or "Saka Dawa"?

Both spellings are used. "Saga Dawa" is the standard transliteration in English-language Tibetan Buddhist sources; "Saka Dawa" is an alternate romanisation. Both refer to the same fourth-month festival.

How do I plan a Kailash Yatra for Saga Dawa 2027?

Choose an overland package (13 or 15 days), a helicopter route (11 days) or a trek via Simikot (20 days), and join our 2027 priority list on WhatsApp. Permits are obtained by us as a registered agency and are included in our packages. Departure dates will be set once the 2027 Saga Dawa dates are confirmed.