Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek
13 nights / 14 days
Level of difficulty
Moderate - Hard
April, May, September, October, and November
Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek
A Shorter Trek Option
Experience the hidden beauty of the Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek, a path less traveled by regular trekkers. Starting from Thimphu, this captivating journey will take you to a series of high-altitude lakes, offering a mesmerizing experience, even though you may not see all the fabled thousand lakes.
This five-day trek takes you through diverse landscapes and thrilling adventures. The highest camp is at an impressive altitude of 4,150m, with the trail climbing even higher to 4,500m. From this height, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of famous mountains like Mount Everest in Nepal, Jomolhari, Masang Gang, Jichu Drake, Tiger Mountain, Tshenda Gang, and many more.
The trail doesn’t just offer stunning mountain scenery; it also leads you through areas rich in birdlife, landscapes covered in alpine flowers, and picturesque meadows. Along the way, you'll encounter nomadic camps, where during the colder months, nomads settle with their herds of yaks, giving you a glimpse into their traditional way of life. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty and cultural richness of the region as you embark on this extraordinary trek.
Highest Altitude Trekked
Dala Tsho 4500m
Avg Walking Distance per Day
12Km
Avg Walking Time per Day
6 hours
Meals on Trek
B, L, D, Snacks
Itinerary
Arrival & Welcome
Your friendly tour guide will be waiting for you with your name on a sign at Paro International Airport. You'll be taken to your hotel to unpack and enjoy a cup of tea, and then you can go sightseeing if you want.
Note: Depending on your arrival time, some sightseeing spots may not be possible. This will be discussed during the booking process.
We'll take a short drive to visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, believed to have been built in the 7th century by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo. There's an orange tree in the temple grounds that miraculously always has fruit.
After an early lunch, we'll visit the National Museum, Ta Dzong, which has a collection of ancient thangka paintings, textiles, weapons, and other artifacts. Then you're free to explore the charming streets of Paro at your own pace as you get used to the altitude.
Overnight: Paro
After breakfast, we'll hike to the famous Taktsang Monastery, also known as "Tiger's Nest." The hike to the viewpoint takes 1.5 hours and offers a stunning panoramic view of the monastery, which seems to cling to the side of a cliff. We'll take a break at the Viewpoint Cafeteria to enjoy the scenery, then continue our hike to the monastery, which takes about another hour.
According to legend, Guru Rinpoche flew from Tibet on the back of a tigress in the 8th century and meditated in a cave here for three months. The main monastery was built in 1692. Despite being damaged by a fire in 1998, it has been beautifully restored.
After exploring the monastery, we'll hike back down, stopping for lunch at the Viewpoint Cafeteria before returning to the road.
Overnight: Paro
7km | 5 hours | 550m ascent | 60m descent | Camp Altitude: 3700m
After breakfast, we'll leave Paro for a short drive to the starting point of our trek. The trail takes us through terraced fields and beautiful coniferous forests to the charming village of Genekha.
After descending and crossing a river, we'll begin a steep climb to a rock platform with picturesque views of the valley below. Passing through an oak forest known for its mushrooms, we'll cross a suspension bridge and continue for two more hours until we reach Gur, a peaceful spot surrounded by yak pastures where we'll set up camp.
12km | 4 hours | 1040m ascent | 110m descent | Camp Altitude: 4150m
As we trek across the ridges, we'll see rugged mountain flowers and vast meadows. The climb gradually takes us through birch and rhododendron forests to Pagalabtsa Pass at an altitude of 4240m. From the pass, enjoy stunning views of Kanchenjunga in Sikkim and other Bhutanese Himalayan peaks. We'll descend into the Labatama valley and set up camp next to Utsho Lake, known for its golden trout.
Today is a day to explore. We'll visit nearby lakes like Relitsho, Hentsho, Setsho, and Jagetsho, all teeming with trout. If you prefer a shorter hike, you can walk to Vulture Lake for excellent views of the lakes and valleys, and enjoy a beautiful sunset and sunrise. We'll have lunch by the lakeside. For those with extra energy, there's an option to climb Jomo Peak at 5050m.
13km | 6-7 hours | 220m ascent | 520m descent | Camp Altitude: 4100m
Today's trail climbs along the western side of Dala Tsho Lake, reaching its highest point at 4,500m, the peak of this trek (unless you climbed Jomo Peak the day before). You'll reach a saddle with a majestic view of the Himalayas, including Everest in Nepal, Kanchenjunga in Sikkim, and several Bhutanese peaks. For an even better view, you can climb a nearby peak. From the saddle, we'll descend past yak herder huts to Docha Chu (river) and follow the river to our campsite in Panka.
14km | 8 hours | 180m ascent | 1540m descent
Today, we'll cross several passes, each with its own beauty. Look out for Blue Poppies (June-July) and mountain birds. After crossing the last pass, Tale La (4180m), we'll have a long descent to Chamgang Lhakhang. From there, we'll drive to Thimphu.
Overnight: Thimphu
Today, we'll explore a few sites in and around the Thimphu valley.
After breakfast, we'll visit the Buddha Dordenma statue at Kuenselphodrang, the world's largest sitting Buddha statue, standing over 50 meters tall. From here, you can see the entire Thimphu valley. We'll also visit the National Memorial Chorten, built by the Royal Queen Mother in memory of the 3rd King, who passed away in 1972. This is a great place to observe older Buddhists circumambulating the chorten in their colorful national dress.
We have a few options for the rest of the day. We could visit the Textile Museum to learn about Bhutanese textiles, established in 2001 under the royal patronage of Her Majesty, the Queen Mother, Sangay Choden Wangchuck. Another option is a visit to the Zorig Chusum, the school of arts and crafts, where you can observe students practicing the 13 artistic skills. If you're more interested in history, we can visit the 12th-century Changangkha temple, the Zilukha nunnery, or the Takin preservation center, home to Bhutan's national animal.
After lunch, you'll have time to wander around Thimphu's streets. There's a craft market near the Taj Tashi hotel, where you can buy local handicrafts. Many handicraft shops are also scattered throughout the town. For a cup of coffee, we recommend Ambient Café, located near Bhutan's only manually operated traffic light. Your guide can also take you to shops selling traditional attire or the main post office, where you can buy a wide array of stamps. If you're active, you can take a short hike to Wangditse Monastery, just above Thimphu town.
At 4:30 pm, we'll visit Tashichho Dzong, the summer residence of Bhutan's Central Monastic Body and the seat of the government of Bhutan. This is also where His Majesty's office is located.
Overnight: Thimphu
Today, we'll have an early start to Punakha. On the way, we'll pass Semtokha Dzong, built in 1629 by Bhutan's founding father, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. We'll continue to Dochu La Pass to see the 108 stupas, commissioned by Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck as a memorial to those who lost their lives during a conflict in 2002. On a clear day, you'll have a breathtaking view of the eastern Himalayas.
Before reaching Punakha, we'll stop at Chimi Lhakhang, a monastery built by Ngawang Choegyel in honor of Lama Drukpa Kuenley (also known as the Divine Madman due to his unusual behavior). It's an easy 20-minute walk through a traditional village and rice paddy fields.
After lunch, we'll visit Punakha Dzong, the winter home of the Central Monastic Body. This impressive fortress was built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, who also introduced the system of dual governance in Bhutan. Punakha Dzong, located where two rivers meet, is one of the most stunning fortresses in Bhutan and the second largest after Trongsa Dzong. We'll explore the inside of the dzong and stroll around its beautiful grounds.
We'll also visit the suspension bridge behind the dzong, a popular spot for visitors.
Overnight: Punakha
After breakfast, we'll start our day with a peaceful walk through lush rice fields in the upper Punakha valley to reach Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Lhakhang, a beautiful temple. The walk will take about an hour, and you'll be treated to stunning views of the green valley and winding river.
We'll enjoy a relaxed picnic lunch by the river.
After lunch, we'll drive west to Paro, arriving in the afternoon. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery. If we're lucky, we might spot a grey langur, a type of primate considered a good omen by the Bhutanese. On the way, we'll make a brief stop at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Lampelri.
You'll be welcomed at a traditional homestay, where you can experience a hot stone bath and enjoy the hospitality of the local host. A delicious Bhutanese dinner will be served.
Overnight: Paro
Spend the morning at leisure before heading to the airport for your onward flight. In Bhutan, we never say goodbye, believing we will have the good fortune of meeting again. The team at Adventures Journey sincerely hopes you enjoyed traveling with us. Take care until next time.