Trekking tour · 10 days, 9 nights

10 Day Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek: High Lakes and Yak Pastures South of Thimphu

A five-day trek over high ridges and past glacial lakes just south of Thimphu, with the Tiger’s Nest, Thimphu and an acclimatisation hike before you start.

4,520 m

Highest saddle, about

Trekking days

1 hour

From Thimphu to the trailhead

Moderate

Grade

Trip overview

A thousand lakes, close to the capital

The Dagala range rises just south of Thimphu, a block of high, open country between 3,500 and 4,700 metres. Its name is often translated as the thousand lakes, and while nobody has counted that many, the ridges are dotted with small glacial lakes, some deep blue and some ringed with reeds. Yak herders bring their animals up here in summer, and for the rest of the year the area is almost empty.

The trek starts at Genekha, about an hour’s drive from Thimphu, and ends at Chamgang above the capital, so you spend almost no time on the road. Over five days you climb through forest to the yak pastures at Gur, camp beside the lakes at Labatama, take a day to explore the lakes around camp, cross a saddle at about 4,520 metres and walk down past Talakha monastery. On a clear day the views from the ridges reach across the Thimphu valley to the high Himalaya.

It is a good choice if you want a real camping trek at altitude but have only ten days, or if you would like a quieter route than the Druk Path. The grade is moderate: you need good fitness for climbs of up to 800 metres in a day, but there is no technical walking. Spring brings rhododendrons, summer brings wildflowers and blue poppies, and autumn has the clearest views.

Highlights

Highlights of the trek

Labatama lakes

Camp beside the lakes, with a day to explore them.

High ridges

Views across the Thimphu valley to the Himalaya.

Yak pastures

Herders' camps at Gur and Labatama in summer.

Flowers

Rhododendrons in spring, poppies in early summer.

Talakha

A monastery on the way down to Chamgang.

Tiger's Nest

An acclimatisation hike before the trek.

Itinerary at a glance

Ten days at a glance

Walking times are approximate and depend on weather and pace.

Day 1: Arrive in Paro

Land in Paro, easy afternoon.

Day 2: Tiger's Nest

Acclimatisation hike to Paro Taktsang.

Day 3: To Thimphu

Drive to Thimphu, sightseeing.

Day 4: Acclimatisation hike

Hike to Lungchuzekha above Dochula.

Day 5: Genekha to Gur

Start the trek, climb to the yak pastures.

Day 6: Gur to Labatama

Over the ridges to the lakes.

Day 7: Rest day at Labatama

Explore the lakes around camp.

Day 8: Labatama to Panka

Over the high saddle.

Day 9: Panka to Chamgang

Over Tale La and down to the road.

Day 10: Depart

Transfer to Paro airport.

Day 1

Arrive in Paro

Your trekking guide meets you at Paro airport and drives you to your hotel. After lunch you visit Rinpung Dzong and walk across the cantilever bridge below it. In the evening your guide goes through the trek plan with you and checks your gear. Keep the first day light so your body can adjust to the altitude of about 2,200 metres.

Day 2

Acclimatise on the Tiger's Nest trail

The hike to the Tiger’s Nest, at about 3,120 metres, is the best warm-up for any trek in western Bhutan. It takes five to six hours return through blue pine forest, and gaining height slowly today helps your body cope with the higher camps later. Your guide watches how you walk and adjusts the pace for the trek.

Day 3

A day in Thimphu

You drive to Thimphu and visit the Memorial Chorten, the Buddha Dordenma, the National Institute for Zorig Chusum and Tashichho Dzong. In the afternoon your crew packs the supplies for the trek.

Day 4

Lungchuzekha and Trashigang Goemba

You drive up to Dochula and hike for about two hours to Lungchuzekha, a small monastery at about 3,550 metres with a wide view of the Himalaya on a clear day. Then you walk down for about an hour to Trashigang Goemba, at about 3,150 metres, and drive back to Thimphu. This day prepares your legs and lungs for the higher camps.

Day 5

Trek day 1: Genekha to Gur

You drive about an hour south to Genekha village, at about 2,800 metres, where the horses and crew are waiting. The trail drops to a stream and then climbs steadily through forest to Gur, a high pasture with a few herders’ huts, at about 3,290 metres. It is a short first day, about four hours, so you arrive in good time to rest.

Day 6

Trek day 2: Gur to Labatama

This is the big climbing day. You walk up through rhododendron and juniper to open ridges, cross a first pass marked with a large cairn and prayer flags, and walk along the ridge with views in every direction. The trail then drops to Labatama, a wide valley at about 4,300 metres where you camp beside Utsho lake.

Day 7

Trek day 3: the lakes of Labatama

A rest and exploring day. You can walk to Reli Tsho, Hen Tsho and Jama Tsho, three lakes within a few hours of camp, or climb a nearby ridge for the view. Staying at the same altitude for a day also helps you acclimatise before the high saddle. In summer, herders may be camped nearby with their yaks.

Day 8

Trek day 4: over the saddle to Panka

You climb to a saddle at about 4,520 metres, the highest point of the trek. If you have energy, a short side climb to a peak at about 4,720 metres gives an even bigger view. On a very clear morning, guides point out distant peaks of the eastern Himalaya. The trail then descends to camp at Panka, at about 4,000 metres.

Day 9

Trek day 5: down to Chamgang

You cross the last pass, Tale La, at about 4,180 metres, and begin the long descent through forest to Talakha monastery, at about 3,100 metres, with views over the Thimphu valley. The trail continues down to Chamgang, at about 2,800 metres, where the car meets you for the drive to Paro.

Day 10

Fly home

After breakfast your guide drives you to Paro airport for your flight home.

Where you stay

Hotels before the trek and comfortable tented camps on the trail.

Nights	Place	Where you stay	Why we chose it
1, 2 and 9	Paro	3-star or 4-star hotel	Near the airport
3 and 4	Thimphu	3-star or 4-star hotel	Central
5	Gur	Tented camp	Yak pasture
6 and 7	Labatama	Tented camp	Beside the lakes
8	Panka	Tented camp	High meadow

We supply two-person tents, foam mattresses, a dining tent and a toilet tent.

What the price covers

Included and not included

Included

Bhutan visa (USD 40) and the Sustainable Development Fee for every night
Hotels as listed, 3-star as standard, with 4-star and luxury upgrades on request
All meals in hotels and on the trek, cooked by our trek cook
A licensed trekking guide, plus a cook and camp crew
Pack animals for the luggage, tents, mattresses, dining and toilet tents
Trekking and park permits
Private car with driver for the road sections

Not included

International flights into and out of Paro (we can book them for you)
Travel insurance, which we strongly recommend
Sleeping bag and personal trekking gear (we can rent a sleeping bag)
Emergency evacuation costs, which your insurance should cover
Tips for the trek crew, guide and driver

Price on request

Tell us your budget and we will send our best price

We don’t publish one fixed price, because hotels, season and group size change the total a lot. Tell us your dates, who is travelling and the budget you have in mind. We will reply within 24 hours with our best price for this Dagala Thousand Lakes trek.

How we price

What decides the cost of this trip

Government fees

The SDF is USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027, plus a USD 40 visa. These are fixed by the Government of Bhutan and paid through us.

Hotels you choose

Group size and hotel style change the total most. Trek crew and permits are included.

Season and dates

Spring and autumn are peak season. Winter and summer dates are often easier to price well.

Group size

Guide and car costs are shared, so the price per person drops for two, three or four travellers.

We send a written, itemised quote before you pay anything. No booking fees.

Good to know

Planning your Dagala trek

How hard is the Dagala trek?

Dagala is a moderate trek. Days are four to seven hours long, and the biggest climb is on the second day, from Gur to Labatama. You sleep three nights at or above 4,000 metres, so acclimatisation matters more than speed. You don’t need any technical skills, but you should be comfortable hiking for a full day on hilly ground, and some fitness training in the months before is a good idea.

Best time for the Dagala trek

The best months are April to May and late September to October. In spring the lower forests are full of rhododendrons; in June and July the high meadows have wildflowers and blue poppies, but there is more rain and cloud. October has the clearest views. From November to March the passes can be snowy and the nights very cold.

Dagala or Druk Path?

Both are short treks near Thimphu. The Druk Path links Paro and Thimphu along a ridge with monasteries and lakes, and is more popular. Dagala is higher, quieter and wilder, with more lakes and yak pastures and fewer other trekkers. If this is your first trek in Bhutan, both are good choices. Compare it with our Druk Path trek.

Permits, guides and the trek crew

All visitors to Bhutan travel with a licensed guide, and on a trek you also need a licensed trekking guide and the route and park permits, which we arrange. Your crew includes a cook, camp staff and horsemen with pack ponies or yaks, depending on the altitude. They set up the tents before you arrive, serve hot drinks in the morning and cook three meals a day. Trekking fees and permits are included in our price, along with the SDF for every night.

Food and water on trek

Our trek cook prepares fresh meals every day: porridge or eggs and toast for breakfast, a hot packed lunch, and soup, rice, curries, vegetables and often a dessert for dinner. We can cook vegetarian, gluten-free or other diets if you tell us in advance. Drinking water is boiled and filtered at camp. Bring a refillable bottle and a few snacks you like from home.

Fitness and safety on trek

You walk six to eight hours on most trek days, often above 4,000 metres. Regular hiking in the months before makes a real difference. Your guide carries a first aid kit and watches for altitude sickness; the only cure for serious symptoms is to go down, and we always plan an escape route. Tell us about any heart, lung or knee problems when you book, and make sure your insurance covers trekking at altitude and evacuation.

What to bring on trek

Broken-in waterproof boots, a down jacket, thermal layers, a waterproof shell, a warm hat and gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, trekking poles and a four-season sleeping bag (we can rent one). Our crew carries tents, mattresses, the kitchen and all food. See our packing list for the basics.

Visa, SDF and guide rules

Every visitor except Indian nationals needs a visa, which costs USD 40 and is issued online before you fly. The Sustainable Development Fee is USD 100 per adult per night until 31 August 2027, with half rates for children aged 6 to 11. A Department of Tourism notice from April 2026 confirms that visitors travel with a licensed guide. We file the visa and pay the SDF for you. Read more in our Bhutan visa guide and SDF guide.

Flying into Paro

Only Drukair and Bhutan Airlines fly into Paro, mainly from Bangkok, Delhi, Kathmandu, Kolkata and Singapore. Pilots land by sight between the ridges, so morning flights are the most reliable. We suggest a night in your hub city on the way in. Our flights to Bhutan page lists every route.

Dagala trek: questions

How much does the Dagala Thousand Lakes trek cost?

It depends on your hotels, group size and dates. Tell us your budget and we will reply within 24 hours with our best price, including the SDF, visa, hotels, meals, guide and car.

How many days is the Dagala trek?

Five trekking days, within a ten day trip that includes acclimatisation in Paro and Thimphu.

What is the highest point?

A saddle at about 4,520 metres, with an optional peak at about 4,720 metres.

Where does it start and end?

It starts at Genekha and ends at Chamgang, both about an hour from Thimphu.

Do I need trekking experience?

No technical experience, but you should be fit for full days of hiking at altitude.

When is the best season?

April to May and late September to October.

Who carries the luggage?

Pack horses carry the tents, food and your bags. You carry a day pack.