The Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek: Mirrors of the Himalayas

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Duration

6 Days 5 Nights

Tour Type

Daily Tour

Group Size

6 people

Languages

English

About this tour

Step into a realm where alpine lakes multiply across the landscape like scattered sapphires, each reflecting a different facet of the world’s highest peaks. The Dagala Trek—aptly nicknamed the “Thousand Lakes Trek”—is a six-day journey through the Thimphu district’s most pristine high-altitude wilderness. Beginning in the verdant valley of Genekha and culminating at Chamgang, this ~50-kilometer traverse crosses four mountain passes, including the demanding Labajong at 4,500 meters, and delivers an unparalleled panorama of the entire Himalayan range. While the total count may not reach a thousand, the sheer abundance of crystalline tarns—each a perfect mirror for peaks like Everest, Jomolhari, Masang Gang, and Jichu Drake—creates an illusion of infinite waterscapes. This trek is your gateway to serious alpine adventure: strenuous enough to challenge your mettle, yet thoughtfully paced with a full rest day dedicated to exploring the most spectacular lakes. For the exceptionally fit, the journey can be condensed to four nights, but the six-day itinerary allows for deeper acclimatization and genuine connection with the rare high-altitude villages that dot the return route.

Premium Support & Logistics

Mandatory Bhutanese Trekking Standard
Per Department of Tourism regulations, every trek includes a complete support team ensuring safety, employment, and premium experience:

Professional Trekking Guide: Wilderness first aid, altitude protocols, and high-altitude ecology expertise
Experienced Cook & Kitchen Team: Specialized in high-altitude nutrition and hygiene
Camp Assistant: Manages camp logistics, water heating, and equipment
Horsemen & Horses: Carry all gear, food, and equipment; trekkers carry only daypacks

Your Daily Rhythm

6:00–6:30 AM: Warm washing water, tea/coffee delivered to tent
7:00–8:00 AM: Hot breakfast in dining tent (fried rice, pancakes, omelettes)
8:30–9:00 AM: Begin walking at leisurely, photo-friendly pace
Noon: Hot packed lunch served trail-side
Mid-Afternoon: Arrive at pre-set camp, wash up, relax
Tea Time: Hot drinks, biscuits, snacks
7:00 PM: Three-course dinner

Altitude & Safety – Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) Above 3,500m, AMS can affect anyone regardless of experience. Symptoms include throbbing headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, and nausea. Our gradual ascent and dedicated rest day minimize risk, but individual responses vary. The only treatment is rest and descent—guides monitor continuously and we carry emergency oxygen. Pre-trek acclimatization day hikes are strongly recommended.

Essential Packing List

The mantra is: pack light, pack smart, pack for mountain weather.

The Big Three

DAS BOOT: Broken-in hiking boots with ankle support and water resistance—essential for scree, stream crossings, and potential snow
THE FART SACK: Sleeping bag rated to -10°C for comfort at 4,250m; women especially should err on the warmer side (we provide blankets as backup)
DREAM MATTRESS: Inflatable sleeping pad for comfort; we provide foam footprint mat

Carrying & Layering

DAY PACK: 25-35L for water, layers, camera, snacks—you’ll wear it all day
RAIN SHELL: Non-negotiable—mountain microclimates are unpredictable
DOWN JACKET: For frigid evenings at camp when temperatures plummet
LAYERING SYSTEM: Moisture-wicking base layers, fleece/insulating mid-layer, warm hat, sun hat, gloves

Safety & Comfort

HEADLAMP + Extra Batteries: Pre-dawn starts and camp navigation
SUNSCREEN & SUNGLASSES: SPF 50+ mandatory—high-altitude UV is brutal

WATER BOTTLES: 2x 1L bottles (we provide unlimited boiled water)
MEDICATIONS + Personal First-Aid: Include blister care, altitude meds if prescribed
PACKABLE PILLOW: Small luxury for better sleep after long days

Ready to Discover Bhutan’s Lake District?
The Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek is the perfect synthesis of high-altitude adventure and serene natural beauty. Contact us to customize your dates, discuss the 4-night accelerated option, or add pre/post-trek cultural immersion in Thimphu. Your alpine mirror awaits. Tashi Delek!

Highlights

Thousand Lakes Experience: Countless pristine alpine lakes create a shimmering mosaic across the Dagala range, offering photo opportunities at every ridge
Panoramic Mountain Gallery: 360-degree views encompassing Mount Everest, Jomolhari (7,326m), Masang Gang, Jichu Drake, Gangche Ta, and Bhutan's entire eastern Himalayan arc
Four Mountain Passes: Traverse Pagalabtsa (4,200m), Labajong (4,500m), and Talela (4,200m), with each pass revealing new valleys and lake clusters
Sacrest Lake Loop: A full day hiking circuit from Labatama visiting 10 distinct alpine lakes of varying sizes and colors
Cultural Contrast: Transition from remote alpine wilderness to traditional Bhutanese villages on the descent, witnessing authentic highland life
Premium Acclimatization: Gentle initial days and a dedicated rest day at 4,250m minimize AMS risk while maximizing enjoyment
Full-Service Wilderness: Professional guide, certified cook, camp assistant, horsemen, and horses manage every logistical detail
4-Season Comfort: Mountain Hardware Trango II tents, provided sleeping bags, foam mattresses, dining tent, toilet tent, and hot water bottles ensure comfort at altitude
Flexible Challenge: 6-day standard itinerary with a 4-night accelerated option for seasoned high-altitude trekkers

Included/Excluded

All meals [Breakfast / lunch / dinner and evening tea / coffee].
Entrance fees for museums and monuments.
Accommodation [twin / double sharing basis]. Single room supplement is extra.
All transportation within the country, including airport transfers.
SDF & government taxes.
Bhutan visa fee.
English-speaking local guide.
Sightseeing.
Bottled water.

Drukair/Bhutan Airlines fares.
Insurance premiums.
Single room supplement charges
Payments for service provided on a personal basis.
Cost for any services not mentioned in the “Cost Include head”.
Personal expenses such as laundry, incidentals, horse rides, rafting, bellboy charges, tips for guide & driver.
Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, etc.

Itinerary

Distance: 8 km | Duration: 4-5 hours | Elevation: 2,800m to 3,600m

After breakfast in Thimphu, a short drive brings you to Genekha (2,800m), a picturesque village famous for its matsutake mushrooms. The trailhead begins with a steep, unrelenting ascent through blue pine and spruce forests, crossing prayer flag-draped ridges within the first hour. This is your "big first day"—designed to rapidly gain altitude while you're still fresh. The path occasionally levels through yak pastures where herders' stone huts sit beside trickling streams. You'll crest several false summits before the final push to Kepchen camp (3,600m), perched on a grassy knoll with preliminary views of distant peaks. Your support team will have camp ready: tents erected, washing water heated, and a restorative dinner of fried rice and vegetable curry waiting. Night temperatures drop near freezing, but provided sleeping bags and hot water bottles ensure a comfortable rest.

Distance: 10 km | Duration: 5-6 hours | Elevation: 3,600m to 4,250m (via Pagalabtsa Pass, 4,200m)

Morning tea arrives at 6:30 AM as mist swirls through the camp. Today begins with a moderate climb to Pagalabtsa Pass (4,200m), marked by a massive cairn and tattered prayer flags snapping in the wind. The pass reveals your first sweeping view of the Dagala lake basin—clusters of turquoise pools scattered across the alpine tundra like jewels. The trail then undulates past several smaller lakes before descending into the main Labatama valley.

Camp is set at 4,250 meters beside one of the largest lakes, a perfect spot for afternoon fishing (catch-and-release only) or simply watching the light change on the water. The thin air requires deliberate movement, but the scenery distracts from any breathlessness. Evening brings hot soup and tea in the dining tent as the sun sets behind ridges, painting the sky in Himalayan hues.

Distance: Variable loop | Duration: 4-5 hours | Elevation: 4,250m circuit

This is the trek's signature day—a leisurely exploration of the lake district's finest gems. After a relaxed breakfast, set out on a loop trail that visits 10 distinct alpine lakes of varying sizes, depths, and personalities. Some are deep cobalt blue, others shimmer emerald green from mineral content. You'll wander through meadows where dwarf rhododendrons create natural pathways, stop for photos at mirror-perfect tarns reflecting Mount Everest and Jomolhari, and perhaps spot rare Himalayan blue sheep on the upper slopes.

One lake sits beneath a sheer cliff where peregrine falcons nest; another is so clear you can see trout suspended in its depths. Your guide will identify the lakes by local names and explain their spiritual significance. Return to Labatama camp for a well-earned lunch and afternoon rest. Optional afternoon activities include fishing, short walks to nearby ridges, or simply absorbing the profound silence of this sacred landscape. Dinner features fresh-baked bread from the camp kitchen.

Distance: 9 km | Duration: 4-6 hours | Elevation: 4,250m to 4,000m (via Labajong Pass, 4,500m)

After an early breakfast, break camp for the trek's most demanding pass. The ascent to Labajong (4,500m) is steady but breathless, switchbacking up scree slopes where marmots whistle warnings. At the pass, prayer flags obscure the view until you push through them to a panorama that justifies every step: a 360-degree ring of Himalayan giants, lakes glittering below, and the sense of standing on the roof of the world.

The descent is initially steep through boulder fields, then softens into a long traverse through rolling meadows dotted with herder camps. You'll pass yak herds grazing near glacial streams and perhaps meet a Layap nomad trading butter for tea. Camp at Pangkha (4,000m) is a beautiful grassy terrace with views back toward Labajong and ahead to tomorrow's ridge. The lower elevation brings warmer nights and easier breathing.

Distance: 10 km | Duration: 5-6 hours | Elevation: 4,000m to 3,400m (via Talela Pass, 4,200m)

A moderate morning climb brings you to Talela Pass (4,200m), the third major pass, where the landscape begins its transition from pure wilderness to inhabited valleys. The descent enters mixed forests of birch and rhododendron, and soon you'll encounter your first permanent villages since Genekha. Stone houses with carved wooden windows cluster around water-powered prayer wheels; farmers tend potato fields and barley terraces.

The trail passes through Dagala village itself, where children may run out to greet trekkers, and you can observe traditional architecture unchanged for centuries. Camp at Tshokam (3,400m) is beside a rushing stream, much warmer than previous nights. The proximity to villages means you might be invited for butter tea in a local home—a genuine cultural exchange. Your team prepares a celebratory dinner as you prepare for the final descent.

Distance: 7 km | Duration: 3-4 hours | Elevation: 3,400m to 2,750m

"Grease your knees!" This final day is a sustained, knee-testing descent through villages clinging to steep hillsides. The trail is often stone-paved, following traditional footpaths used by villagers for generations. You'll pass terraced fields, schools, and temples, gaining insight into how Bhutanese communities thrive in this dramatic terrain. The sound of the stream accompanies you downward, growing louder as valley walls close in.

The final hour levels out into the Chamgang area (2,750m), where your trek officially ends at a motorable road. Your waiting vehicle transfers you back to Thimphu for a shower, comfortable bed, and farewell dinner with your trekking team. The transition from alpine silence to urban Thimphu is stark but welcome—you return with photographs of a thousand lakes and memories of a landscape few outsiders ever witness.

Durations

Fullday (+7hours)

Language

English

Frequently asked questions

Visitors of all nationalities, except those from India, require a visa before entering Bhutan. For all visitors, except those from Bangladesh and the Maldives, this visa must be applied for and approved in advance of travel. Visitors from Bangladesh and the Maldives also require a visa, but this can be applied for and approved either in advance of travel or upon arrival in Bhutan.

Visitors from India are able to apply for a permit but are required to hold an Indian passport or an Indian voter ID card. For Indian nationals under the age of 18, a passport or a birth certificate can be used to enter and they must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

Nationals from Switzerland and Thailand holding diplomatic or government-official passports are eligible for a visa at their port of entry.

You can apply online for a visa here, or if you’re travelling with a tour operator, they may apply on your behalf. Read more about the visa here.

Visitors from Bangladesh and the Maldives requiring a visa can apply either online before travelling or in person upon arrival in Bhutan.

The SDF is USD 100 per night for adults from all countries except for India. Children aged between 6 years and who have not yet turned 12 are eligible to pay USD 50 per night. Children who have not yet turned 6 years old do not have to pay any SDF.

The SDF for Indian nationals (showing a valid Indian passport or Voter ID card) is Nu. 1,200 (or the equivalent amount in Indian rupees) per person, per night. Children aged between 6 years and who have not yet turned 12 are eligible to pay Nu./INR 600 per night. Children who have not yet turned 6 years old do not have to pay any SDF.

Yes, the SDF will be refunded by the Department of Immigration for any cancelled or shortened trips; any bank charges will be deducted from the total refunded. Requests for SDF refunds should be submitted online using the visa portal. The refund will be processed after visitors leave Bhutan.

You can change your local currency for ngultrum upon arrival at Paro International Airport or at banks, larger hotels and authorised currency exchange businesses in Thimphu.

You may bring cash equivalent to US$10,000 into the country.

Tour's Location

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Information Contact

Email

[email protected]

Website

travelinbhutan.com

Phone

(+975) 17640486 / 77373370