Dagala Thousand Lake Trek

A flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular of all mountain flights. One can see Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu and other peaks in Bhutan such as Chomolhari, Jichu Drakey and Tsrim Gang. Our representative will receive you on arrival at Paro Airport. Then drive to the hotel through the enchanting Paro valley. After lunch you will be taken to Ta-Dzong (museum). Overnight hotel.

Drive the winding road northwest up the Pa Chu to Drukgyal Dzong; this ruin once defended the valley from Tibetan invasions. Mt. Chomolhari, the sacred summit reaches skyward beyond the Dzong, which can be viewed on a clear day. On the way back you can visit a typical Bhutanese farmhouse. After lunch walk up the hill just above the hotel to stretch you legs for the excursion to the Taktsang viewpoint.

Morning drive downstream alongside the Pa Chu River to its confluence with Wangchu. Then up the valley to the capital Thimphu. After lunch visit the Memorial Chorten where the faithful circumambulate the shrine dedicated to the Late King, turning their prayer wheels as they walk. Then visit others monasteries. Overnight hotel.

Full day Thimphu sightseeing. Stroll in town. Visit the Handicrafts Emporium. Visit the workshop where all the handicrafts are produced if you like. Afternoon: visit Tashi Chhodzong. Overnight hotel.

A 45 minutes drive to the starting point of the trek. The first day’s walk, over a mule path, will end after four hours at the Genekha School. All through the trail terraced fields and coniferous vegetation are abundant. Overnight Genekha Camp.

Leave Genekha (the village of medieval metallurgists). The communion with nature starts with alpine flora and fauna (birds are common). 2 hours of gradual uphill walk and then a rest at a huge rock platform offering a picturesque view of the valley below. Another 2 hours walk ends the days trek. This camp is in the heart of the wood, ideal for an afternoon stroll. Flowers are abundant in the spring. Altitude: 3350m.

Trekking across the ridges one enjoys the beauty of the rugged mountain vegetation. The trek today is amidst flowers and wild asparagus (in spring). The first pass symbolized by a huge cairn gives a spectacular view of the whole Dagala range, meadows and the yak herder’s camps. Lunch is at a near by yak-herder’s camp. After lunch walk across hills and meadows. Toady’s walk is around 5 hours. Overnight Camp. Altitude: 4050m.

Excursion to Setsoi and nearby lakes, the Hike to Setsoí is a very easy (15 minutes). Afterwards walk over a small ridge and then down to Jagetsoí Lake. Attempt climbing Jomp peak of 5050 m. Lunch at the summit with the spectacular view around can be a memorable experience. Return to camp by dusk and prepare for the next Day.

This point is around 4500 m. above sea level. Your guide will identify peaks like Everest, Kanchenjunga, Chomolhari, Jichu Drakey, Tsrim Gang, Kangbum, Masagang, Tsendaygang and Gangchen Ta. Passing through meadows, shrubs and lakes. Camp at Parkai. The Himalayan monal pheasants are a common sight apart from yaks and horses. Altitude: 4000m.

This day entails the crossing of several passes, each one more impressive than the other. Look out for the different varieties of the blue Poppy (in the months of June-July) and mountain birds. Lunch at the point where one trail leads to Talekha and Wangduephodrang. After lunch an hours gradual (easy) climb brings you to the tip of the last Dagala range from where the view of Thimphu is spectacular. It appears as though Thimphu is spread in the palm of the observer's hand. An hour walk downhill and you are at the last camp, a little above Talekha monastery. Overnight Camp. Altitude: 3080m.

Passing through alpine and mixed vegetation (bamboo thickets and wild flowers) one reaches Talekha monastery and Talekha village. Once again the view of Thimphu is superb. Passing through mixed vegetation and apple orchards one reaches the main motor able road to Thimphu where your transport awaits. Toady’s trek is 3 to 4 hours. The trek ends here and drives to Paro, about an hour. Afternoon: free to relax.