Dagala trek in Bhutan
The 5 days Dagala trek in Bhutan starts near Thimphu to a large number of scenic high altitude glacial lakes. It is easy and most trekking days are short but there are some long steep climbs. It starts from Khoma (near Thimphu) and ends at Chamgang, Thimphu. On a clear day in winter and spring, you can see Mt. Kanchenjunga in India. The highest altitude on Dagala trek is 4300 m and the difficulty level is moderate. Total distance covered is 41 km.
The best time for Dagala trek in Bhutan: March – May & mid September – mid December.
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Highlights of the trip:
- Scenic mountains and high altitude lakes.
- Meet local people.
- Ancient monasteries and temples.
- Pristine villages and visit to farmhouse.
- Majestic dzongs (Forts).
Sketch Itinerary:
- Day 01. Arrive Paro and sightseeing | Altitude: 2280 meters.
- Day 02. Paro – Hike to the Tiger’s nest monastery | 7 km | Hike: 4 hours.
- Day 03. Paro – Geynekha – Gur (start – Dagala trek in Bhutan) | 47 km | Drive: 2 Hours | Hike: 4 hours | Altitude: 3290 m.
- Day 04. Gur – Labatamba | 12 Km | Hike: 5 hours | Altitude: 4300 m.
- Day 05. Labatamba – Panka | 8 km | Hike: 6-7 hours | Altitude: 4000 m.
- Day 06. Panka – Talakha | 8 km | Hike: 6-7 hours | Altitude: 3080 m.
- Day 07. Talakha – Chamgang – Thimphu (End of Dagala trek Bhutan) | 6 Km | Hike: 3 hours | Altitude: 2334 m.
- Day 08. Thimphu sightseeing | Altitude 2334 m.
- Day 09. Thimphu – Punakha sightseeing – Thimphu | 76 Km | Drive: 2 1/2 hours.
- Day 10. Paro – Departure | 54 km | Drive: 1 hour.
Dagala trek cost:
The costs given below are inclusive of sustainable development fee (SDF) of US $ 100 per person per night and Bhutan visa fee US $ 40 per person.
Entrance fees for monuments and festivals visits to be paid separately.
The Dagala trek costs / prices for different group sizes are below:
- 2 people: US $ 2795 per person.
- 3 – 10 people: US $ 2615 per person.
- 11 – 15 people: US $ 2525 per person. 50 % discount for 1 person.
Nature of trip: Private & guided Bhutan trip.
Detailed itinerary for Dagala trek in Bhutan.
Day 01. Arrive at Paro and sightseeing | Altitude: 2280 m.
Upon arrival at Paro airport, your guide will receive you and transfer to the hotel.
Afternoon, visit to Ta dzong built in 1656 which now houses the national museum of Bhutan.
Then visit Rinpung dzong built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
In the evening, visit to a Bhutanese farmhouse.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 02. Paro – Hike to Tiger’s nest monastery:
In the morning, a short drive to Satsam chorten and 2 hours hike till the Paro Taktsang monastery.
– The primary temple was built around Guru Rinpoche’s meditation cave in the 1684 by Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgay. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche, the tantric mystic flew here on the back of a flying tigress, Dorji Drolo. This trail is also a part of the beautiful Bumdra trek.
Afternoon – visit to Drugyal dzong built in 1647 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
Then visit Kichu Lhakhang, built in 659 A.D by the Tibetan king Srongtsen Gampo.
In the evening, explore Paro town.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 03. Paro – Geynekha – Gur (Start of Dagala trek Bhutan):
In the morning, drive to Geynikha (1 ½ hours). On the way, view Tamchog monastery built in 15th century by Thang Tong Gyalpo.
We drive further to Genekha. The road passes through the villages of Bama and Chizhi. We disembark at Gyenekha and walk past Tsochekha village.
After lunch, we hike to Gur crossing a suspension bridge through oak forest famous for its mushrooms.
Dinner and overnight in camp.
Distance: 7 km, walking time: 4 Hours, campsite altitude: 3290 m.
Day 04. Gur – Labatamba.
We cross a Pass at 4240 m for a view of Spectacular Dagala village.
We pass though several herders camps enroute to the foot of the broad Labatamba valley at 4300 m near Utso lake. There are so many lakes in the vicinity.
Camp near the lake at 4300 m.
Dinner and overnight in camp.
Walking distance: 12 Km, time: 5 hours, ascent: 1040 m, descent: 110 m.
Day 05. Labatamba – Panka.
The trail climbs along the western side of the lake at 4500 m, where there are good mountain views. From the pass there is a steep descent to another lake at 4350 m.
A short distance beyond the lake leads to the valley and then to Panka at 4000 m.
Dinner and overnight in camp.
Walking distance 8 km, time: 6-7 hours, ascent: 260 m, descent: 520 m.
Day 06. Panka – Talakha.
The route leads north crossing a pass at 4000 m.
We then climbs along the side of the ridge to a crest at 4270 m. From here there is a view of the Dagala range and a view of Thimphu, far to the north. It is then a long descent through forests to the Goemba and village of Talakha (3080 m).
Dinner and overnight in camp.
Walking distance: 8 km, time: 6-7 hours, ascent: 180 m, descent: 1100 m.
Day 07. Talakha – Chamgang – Thimphu (End of Dagala trek Bhutan):
Walk downhill on a steep trail to Chamgang (2640 m) from where the vehicle will pick you up.
End of the Dagala trek Bhutan and drive to Thimphu.
Walking distance: 6 Km, time: 3 hours, descent: 440 m.
After lunch, rest in the hotel.
In the evening, visit to the Tashichho dzong, seat of the national government and the central monastic body.
Dinner and over night in Hotel.
Day 08. Thimphu sightseeing:
In the morning, visit to: memorial chorten built in honor of the Third King of Bhutan, Late His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.
– The tallest statue of sitting Buddha in the world (51.5 meters) at Kuensel Phodrang.
– Changangkha lhakhang, the oldest monastery in Thimphu built in the 13th century by Phajo Drugom Shigpo.
– Takin preserve center, a mini zoo that houses Takins, the national animal of Bhutan. It is believed to be a mix of a cow and goat.
– Sangay gang view point from where you can enjoy the view of Thimphu valley below.
– Dupthop lhakhang one of the few surviving nunneries in Bhutan.
Lunch at Simply Bhutan museum.
Afternoon – Visit to painting school (the school of 13 arts and crafts).
In the evening, witness archery match at Changlimithang.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 09. Thimphu – Punakha sightseeing – Thimphu (76 Km, 3 hour drive):
In the morning, drive to the beautiful Punakha, the ancient capital of Bhutan until the rule of second king of Bhutan.
On the way, visit to the Dochula pass (3140 m) with its well arranged 108 Stupas.
– Visit Chimi Lhakhang (The temple of fertility) built in 1499 by Lama Drukpa Kuenley, popularly known as “The divine madman”. He travelled throughout Bhutan and Tibet as Yogi using songs and humor to spread his teachings of salvation through sex.
Afternoon, visit to Punakha dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Punakha is the winter residence of Je Khenpo, the chief abbot of Bhutan.
In the evening, we drive back to Thimphu.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel.
Day 10. Thimphu – Paro (End of Dagala trek Bhutan tour):
After breakfast, drive to the Paro airport and farewell (End of Dagala trek Bhutan tour).
Included / Excluded in the cost
What to pack for a trek
Included / Excluded in the cost
Trip cost includes:
- All meals [breakfast / lunch / dinner and evening tea].
- Accommodation [twin / double sharing basis]. Single room supplement is extra.
- All transportation within the country including airport transfers.
- Sustainable development fee (SDF).
- Bhutan visa fee.
- English speaking local guide.
- Sightseeing.
- Bottled water.
Trip Cost Excludes:
- Entrance fees for museums and monuments.
- Drukair / Bhutan Airlines fares.
- Insurance premiums.
- Payments for service provided on a personal basis.
- Cost for any services not mentioned in the “Cost include head”.
- Cost incurred due to mishaps, strikes, political unrest etc.
- Personal expenses such as laundry, soft drinks, camera charges, incidentals, portage, bellboy charges, tips or any other services.
Trek Cost Includes:
- Nature recreation and ecotourism division fee (NRED) Nu.1000
- One guide.
- Cook.
- Helpers.
- Ponies and yaks.
- Tents (sleeping tent, mess tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent and shower tent).
- 3 meals a days + evening tea.
- Mattresses and all other trekking accessories.
Note: For trekking a load of 25 kg is allowed.
What to pack for a trek
Personal clothing: strong normal clothing (according to season). Preferably cotton, even for summer, woolen clothing for the evening and winter.
- Strong comfortable trekking boots – water – resistant for the rainy period – June – August.
- Sunscreen.
- Flash light.
- Rain coat (especially for rainy period –June – August).
- Head gear / hat / cap for sun and rain protection.
- Water pills – for extra caution in purifying stream; (boiled water is provided at all times during the trek).
- Aspirin – incase of altitude sickness.
- Lots of socks.
- Warm clothes.
Optional items to bring for Bumdra trek:
- Sunglasses.
- Head gear.
- Folding umbrella (only for wet months — July and August).
- One towel.
- Pillow case.
- Wet-packed tissue paper.
- Pillow.
FAQs - Dagala trek.
There are many small and big lakes in the Dagala area fed by the melting glaciers and monsoon rain. The trekking trail passes through some of these beautiful high altutude lakes. Hence it is also called Dagala thousand lakes trek.
The Dagala trek in Bhutan is a fairly difficult trek and one has to be in a fairly good fitness level to do this trek. The hikers have to climb over 4000 m on more than one instance a day. The trail is not demarcated and is mostly narrow which makes it more difficult for the hikers.
No, riding pony is not included in the Dagala trek cost mentioned above.
Yes, you can do Dagala trek in reverse direction starting from Chamgang and ending at Geynekha in lower Thimphu.
If you book Dagala thousand lakes trek, you can stay for a night in Phajoding monastery which is 5 km uphill walk from Thimphu valley.
No, you are not permitted to fish in the lakes on your way to Dagala thousand lakes trek.