10 Days Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek in Pristine Bhutan

On your arrival at the Paro International Airport, our guide and the driver will receive and then transfer you to the hotel. After checking in and settling yourself in the new surroundings, you will be taken on your first adventure into ‘The Thunder Dragon Kingdom’. You'll visit a unique 15th-century temple called Dungtse Lhakhang built by a great Buddhist scholar popularly known for building many iron bridges. You'll also visit the National Museum to get insights into the rich history and culture of Bhutan.

Paro Altitude 2,200m/7,220ft

Dinner and overnight at Khangkhu Resort or Bhutan Mandala Resort

After breakfast, drive to Ramthangka, the base of the Taktsang monastery. Taktsang monastery is located on the face of a sheer 800-meter rock cliff above the valley floor. The round-trip hike normally takes about 4-5 hours for most visitors but you can hike at your own pace. We recommend starting the hike early before the sun gets stronger. One-way horse riding is available for about USD20 up to the midpoint (Taktsang Viewpoint Cafeteria) but the journey is best enjoyed on foot. After lunch at the Viewpoint Cafeteria, we retrace our footsteps back to the base where the driver will be waiting. On the way back to Paro town, visit an auspicious 7th-century Kyichu Lhakhang which is believed to have been built overnight by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in 659 A.D.

Dinner and overnight at Khangkhu Resort or Bhutan Mandala Resort

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to the capital city of Bhutan, Thimphu. It is a 55km road journey and it should not take more than 2 hours including stopovers on the way. On arrival in Thimphu, visit Bhutan Postal Museum if you are interested in philatelic products and stamp collection. You can also have stamps printed with your own photo. Visit Royal Textile Museum to get insight into Bhutan's rich textile traditions and the way of life, the National Institute of Zorig Chusum where 13 traditional arts & crafts of Bhutan are taught. After a traditional lunch at the Fold Heritage Restaurant, visit the 169ft Buddha Dordhenma Statue on a hilltop majestically overlooking Thimphu Valley. Later in the evening explore Thimphu streets which boasts of being the only capital city in the world without traffic lights and billboards.

Distance 55 km | Time 1.5 hours | Thimphu Altitude 2,334m/7,655ft

Dinner and overnight at Kuenphen Rabten Resort or Hotel Amodhara

After early breakfast, drive to Genekha village, the starting point of an adventurous 6-day trek which is the main highlight of this 10-day trip. Genekha village is located about 45 minutes drive (33 km) from Thimphu main town along the Thimphu – Phuentsholing highway before Chuzom (confluence). While the horses and mules are being loaded with trekking paraphernalia and supplies, you can visit the community temple and explore the village. The trek starts from Genekha village with a short descent to the river. After crossing the river you start climbing until you reach a huge rock platform from where you have a picturesque view of the valley below. After another two hours, you reach the campsite Gur, an area of yak pastures located just below the main trail.

Distance 7 km | Time 5 hours | Ascent 550m | Descent 210m | Camp Altitude 3,290m

Full-service outdoor camping at Gur

On the second day, the trail takes you across the high ridges from where you can truly appreciate the rugged beauty of your surroundings and the mountain vegetation. The path winds through refreshing meadows adorned with wildflowers and asparagus (in spring). The first mountain pass you cross is marked by a huge cairn and gives a spectacular view of Kanjenjunga (Sikkim) and a number of the Bhutanese Himalayan peaks. As you descend the pass you will be able to see the entirety of the Dagala mountain range including meadows and yak herder camps. Once you have descended into the Labatama valley you begin climbing gradually through the valley, passing several yak herder huts before you arrive at Uthso Tsho. The campsite is right next to the lake.

Distance 12 km | Time 6-7 hours | Ascent 1,220m | Descent 110m | Camp Altitude 4,300m

Full-service outdoor camping at Labatama

This day will be dedicated to relaxing and recuperating at Labatama. It is an excellent opportunity to take an excursion to any of three nearby lakes: Reli Tsho, Hen Tsho and Jama Tsho and appreciate the pristine environment. If you are interested, you'll have an opportunity to engage in some trout fishing in the pristine mountain lake as the location is ideal. Permits are required for fishing so you should let us know of your interest for us to make the necessary arrangements in advance. The one-day fishing permit will cost USD10 for one person.

Full-service outdoor camping at Labatama

The trail climbs along the western side of Dala Tsho up to a saddle at 4,520m. From here onwards you will have a fantastic view of the majestic Himalayan peaks all through the descent. The mountain peaks visible include Mt. Everest (Nepal), Mt. Kanchenjunga (Sikkim), Mt. Jomolhari, Mt. Jichu Drake, Mt. Tshering Gang, Mt. Khangbum, Mt. Masang Gang, Mt. Tsende Gang and Mt. Gangche Ta. If you want an even better view, you can climb a peak close to the saddle with an altitude of 4,720m. From the saddle, the path descends, passing some yak herder huts to Doccha Chhu. You follow the river for a while, but stay higher up on the slope to reach the campsite Panka with ascents and descents along the way.

Distance 12 km | Time 6-7 hours | Ascent 1,220m | Descent 110m | Camp Altitude 4,000m

Full-service outdoor camping at Panka

This day entails the crossing of several passes but none of them require a major climb. You should keep your eyes open for different varieties of blue poppy (June-July) and mountain birds while in this area. After crossing the last pass, Tale La (4,180m) you start a long descent to Talakha Gompa. You will spend some time visiting Talakha monastery and enjoy a top-down view of the capital city. From here we drive to the capital city Thimphu for an overnight stay at a 3-star hotel.

Distance 8 km | Time 5-6 hours | Ascent 180m | Descent 110m | Thimphu Altitude 2,334m

Dinner and overnight at Kuenphen Rabten Resort or Hotel Amodhara

After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Paro. En route, visit Tamchog Lhakhang dedicated to the 15th-century Tibetan scholar Thangthong Gyalpo popularly known as the iron bridge builder. It is located across the Pachhu river along the Paro – Thimphu highway. To visit the temple you will have to cross an iron chain bridge, one of the very few remaining of the many iron chain bridges built by Thangthong Gyalpo. After lunch in Paro, spend leisure time exploring the streets of Paro. Towards the late afternoon, visit one of the beautiful farmhouses and get insight into local culture and cuisine. A delicious dinner of authentic home-cooked local cuisine will be served. If you are interested, you can soak in a therapeutic and revitalizing traditional hot stone bath for an additional fee of about USD15 per person. Specially selected river stones believed to contain minerals are heated in a wood-fired fireplace and dropped into a chamber of wooden tub releasing minerals.

Driving distance 55km, time 1.5 hours

Overnight at Khangkhu Resort or Bhutan Mandala Resort