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The 6-day Dagala Trek, also known as the 1000 Lakes Trek, will take us off the beaten track into a wilderness area known for its mountain views. We may be able to glimpse the high Himalayan peaks of Bhutan and Sikkim. This area is known for its beautiful alpine lakes and some of Bhutan’s most beautiful birds can be seen here.
The Dagala Trek is a relatively easy one as the walking times each day are quite short - but this is the Himalayas so expect some steep ascents and descents!
The high passes in Bhutan are places where we usually pause in our journey and stop to take in the magnificent views. The Dochu La not only has great views of the mountains but is an impressive sight in itself, with 108 chortens spread over a small hill at its centre.
Some of the best views in Bhutan can be seen from the rooftop of this gorgeous temple, set on a ridge high above the Punakha Valley. It was built in 2004 in honour of the current, fifth king. It's a great walk to get there, as the trail winds through the rice paddies then pine forest, with the views becoming more spectacular as you ascend. Further up the hill are the monks quarters and beyond that is a royal retreat.
Bhutan's remote trails offer stunning views of the Eastern Himalayan Range. As we travel further into the mountains, above the tree line, the views become more dramatic, with vast sweeping panoramas. You may find yourself standing within a 360-degree circle of peaks. It is truly awe inspiring.
The beautiful dzong at Punakha sits at the confluence of two great rivers and is reached by a wooden cantilevered bridge. This elegant building displays the very best of Bhutanese architecture, embellished with intricately carved, painted and gilded woodwork. The dzong is the site for the coronation of Bhutan's kings and it is the winter residence of the central monk body.
The hike to the amazing Tiger's Nest Monastery is one of the best in the world. As you ascend through pine and rhododendron forest you glimpse the monastery high above and the Paro Valley down below. Suddenly, after a final push upwards you are faced with the most magnificent views of the Tiger's Nest clinging to the side of a cliff. It's simply breathtaking.
Your guide and driver for the trip will meet you at Paro airport after a wonderful scenic flight into
Bhutan. We will check into our hotel before heading out to explore the beautiful Paro
Valley.
The Paro dzong dominates the valley and we will explore the inner courtyards and temple of this incredible structure. Dzongs were originally fortresses with impressive, strategic locations that were able to spot an invading army. They usually have a Buddhist temple as part of their complex, decorated with ornate traditional paintings, statues and silk hangings. The nearby Paro museum is also worth a look for its displays of traditional
crafts and a room dedicated to the flora and fauna of Bhutan.
Overnight in Paro. Altitude: 2,280 metres.
Today will give us a taste of walking at altitude and prepare us for our trek as we hike to
the Tiger’s Nest monastery.
The walk begins at 2300 meters on the outskirts of Paro and reaches 3100 meters at the site of the monastery. The view of this wonderful monastery, clinging to the side of a cliff is simply breathtaking.
Travelers from across the world come to see the Tiger’s Nest, also known as Takstang to the Bhutanese, who are also expected to make the pilgrimage at least once during their lifetime. The hike will take
about 5 hours to complete.
Tonight we will sort out our gear for tomorrow’s trek.
Driving time: 1 hour round trip
Overnight in Paro. Altitude: 2,280 metres.
Distance – 7 km
Time – 5 hours
Ascent – 550 m, descent 210 m
Camp altitude – 3,290 m
Today begins with a drive to the start of the trek, where we will meet our horsemen and all the gear will be loaded on to the horses. The trek starts at beautiful Gynekha village and begins 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 Gur, an area of yak pastures located just below the main trail.
Driving time: 1 hour
Distance – 12 km
Time – 5 hours
Ascent – 1,220 m, descent 110 m
Camp altitude – 4,300 m
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 wild flowers 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.
This day will be dedicated to relaxing and recuperating at Labatama. It is ideal to take an
excursion to any of three nearby lakes: Reli Tsho, Hen Tsho and Jama Tsho.
Distance – 8 km
Time – 6 -7 hours
Ascent – 260 m, descent 520 m
Camp altitude – 4,000 m
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 Panka with
ascents and descents along the way.
Distance – 8 km
Time – 5-6 hours
Ascent – 180 m, descent 110 m
Camp altitude – 3,080 m
This day entails the crossing of several passes but none of them require a major climb. You
should keep an eye out for 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 camp right beside the monastery
and wake up to the early morning prayers of the monks. From here you will be treated to a great
view of Bhutan’s capital Thimphu.
Distance – 6 km
Time – 3 hours
Ascent – descent 440 m
From the monastery, it’s a short walk down to the village of Chamgang. Our driver will meet us
here and transfer us to our hotel in Thimphu. After hot showers and lunch, we will explore this
tiny capital city. There are a number of things to see: the National Memorial Chorten, the 51-metre
high Buddha Dordenma statue, Tashichho Dzong, the Tarkin Preserve and the National Folk
Heritage Museum. As it is a Sunday we can also expect to see the national sport of archery being
played. The large market will be on and is a good place to meet some locals.
Driving time: 30 minutes
Today we will drive to the semi tropical valley at Punakha.
En route we will stop at Dochula, a high pass at 3,100 m and the site of 108 chortens. It is a stunning location with lovely mountain views and a walk on the hill among the chortens is recommended.
Punakha was the capital of Bhutan and seat of government until 1955 and its altitude of 1,200 m makes for balmier weather than elsewhere in Bhutan. Punakha Dzong, situated on the confluence of two rivers is considered one of the most important and beautiful in the country. The afternoon will be spent exploring this impressive dzong and the nearby Punakha suspension bridge, the longest in Bhutan.
Driving time: 3 hours
Overnight in Punakha. Altitude: 1,250 metres.
Today we will do a couple of short hikes in Punakha.
The first takes us to Khasum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, one of the most beautiful walks in Bhutan.
The trail ascends through rice paddies with lovely views of the valley and river. The chorten itself
is pagoda-like in style, with a number of floors, including a rooftop with more impressive views.
We will also hike through the rice paddies to Chime Lhakhang, the temple of the divine madman, Drukpa Kunley, who used unorthodox methods to teach Buddhism. It is common to see phalluses painted on the walls of local houses here, a sign of good luck. Childless couples visit the Chimi Lhakhang to seek blessings and the temple has a photo album of babies born as a result.
After this we will drive to Thimphu, Bhutan's capital.
Driving time: 3 hours.
Overnight in Thimphu. Altitude: 2,320 metres.
Today we will explore one of the world's smallest capital cities. We will begin at Buddha Dordenma, the 51-metre high golden statue of the Buddha that overlooks the city. From here we can take an easy 2-hour hike to Changankha Lhakhang. It's a great way to see Thimphu as the views on this walk are excellent.
After lunch we can explore more of the downtown area, including the market and the post office. Bhutan's stamps are highly sought after.
After this we drive to Paro for our final night and celebration dinner.
Driving time: 1½ hours.
Overnight in Paro. Altitude: 2,280 metres.
Today we will be transported to the airport where we will say our goodbyes to our guide and driver. The airport has a couple of cafes and a small but well stocked bookshop with books on all things Bhutanese. It's a good way to use up your last Ngultrums.
Bhutan 
