5-day Tsedang/Lhasa Tour

Today's Activities: Our guide and driver will escort you from Lhasa to Tsedang. (At the airport, you will be offered with Hada - Tibetan Style White Scarf and a map of Tibet).

Today's Activities: Yumbulagang Palace, Our guide and driver will escort you from Tsedang to Lhasa, Trandruk Monastery
- Yumbulagang Palace (2 hours): Tibet's first palace. It's a worthwhile visit for those Tibetan history fans. The palace was built for the 1st Tubo King Niechi in the Yalong River Valley. It is also called "the Mosher and Song Holy Hall". It perches on the summit of the Jormo Zhaxi Ceri Mountain on the east bank of the Yarlung River, about five kilometers in the south from the Tradrug County.
- Trandruk Monastery (2 hours): Built in the 7th century, the Trandruk Monastery is situated at the east bank of the Yalong River in the south of the Shannan District in Tibet. It is about 5km to the south of Tsetang city, just on the main road to Luotsa County (a border county in the south of Tibet, sharing border with India.)Trandruk Monastery lies on the southern side Mt. Gangpo Ri, on the east bank of the Yarlung River, about 2 kilometers south of Tradrug. You must see the most precious treasure in the monastery -- a pearl Thangka (Thangka is a kind of paintings illustrating Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan arts This pearl Thangka is brought here by Princess Wencheng)

Tour starts from the religious Potala Palace (3700 m )built in the 7th century by the famous Tibetan king-Songtzen Gampo. The present one was built by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. It became known as the "Winter Palace" by the 1750, when the 7th Dalai Lama built the Norbulingka Park as his summer residence. After lunch, you will visit Jokhang Temple, situated in the old section of Lhasa. King Songtzen Gampo built this temple in the mid-7th century A.D. Now it is the most sacred place in Tibet. Pilgrims come here to pay homage from all over Tibet. Visit Barkhore Street in the evening.

- Sera Monastery (3 hours): Located in the northern suburbs of Lhasa, The Sera Monastery is a complex of 4 structures; the Great Assembly Hall and three colleges. It was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Chojey of Sakya Yeshe of Zel Gungtang (1355–1435), a disciple of Tsongkhapa. 'Sera' means wild roses and was called this because the monastery was surrounded by wild roses. One of the three main monasteries of Lhasa, it is here that the monks "famous daily debates" take place.
Tips: Every day (except Mondays) at 15:00, there is a debate about Buddhist doctrines among the monks at Sera Monastery. The debating is held in the grounds and is a necessary way of learning sutras and scriptures. Visitors can watch the debate, but it is advised to keep quiet.
- Drepung Monastery (3.5 hours): Drepung Monastery lies in west of Lhasa under Mt. Gambo Utse, clustered round by the black mountain, its white grand buildings shining under the sunlight. Built in 1416, it is considered as one of the largest monasteries in the six principle monasteries of Gelu Sect in China. Drepung Monastery used to be the living palace of Dalai Lamas before the reconstruction of Potala palace (after the 5th Dalai Lamas was bestowed by Qing emperor Qianlong). The grand Shonton Festival is hold in the early part of August every year. That is the busiest day there with crowds of people. It is an opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere of this festival.
- Norbulingka (2.5 hours): Norbulingka means "Jeweled Garden". Constructed as a summer palace for the Dalai Lama, it later served the whole government administration. It was built by the 7th Dalai Lama and served both administrative and religious purposes.

Morning Airport dropping off, end the trip.