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Holidays

Dagala and the Thousand Lakes Trek

Bhutan
Walk & Trek
Guided Group
MODERATE MODERATE

Trekking from Punakha to Thimphu, along ancient trails and amid high alpine lakes in Bhutan

Trip Code: BSD
Holiday Grades
          

Our Holiday Grades Explained

To show the relative difficulty of our holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the most challenging. Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the 'Is this holiday for you?' section or contact us.

 1 - 3 LEISURELY
1 - 3 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

View leisurely holidays
4 - 6 MODERATE
4 - 6 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

View moderate holidays
7 - 9 CHALLENGING
7 - 9 CHALLENGING

Physically challenging holidays, where you need to be prepared before you go.

View challenging holidays
10 - 12 TOUGH
10 - 12 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involving many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness and mountain experience is essential.

View Tough holidays

Dagala and the Thousand Lakes Trek

Highlights
  • Sensational Himalayan views crossing the Sinchu La (3530m) and Dagala range (4520m)
  • Trek the Valley of a ‘Thousand Lakes’, a beautiful area full of pristine mountain lakes
  • Get off-the-beaten-track and follow ancient trade routes few other visitors have trodden
  • One of the finest short treks in the entire Himalayan range
  • Visit the Tiger's Nest Monastery and Punakha Dzong, the most iconic sites in Bhutan

At a Glance
  • Group Size 4 to 16
  • 9 days trekking
  • 4 days cultural touring
  • Max altitude - 4520metres
  • Join In Kathmandu

Accommodation & Meals
  • All meals included
  • 6 nights Hotel
  • 6 nights Camping
Overview

Starting in the original Bhutanese capital of Punakha, this superb new trekking holiday begins by following the ancient trading route to Thimphu over the Sinchu La (3530m). Until the road building programme of the late 20th century, the only access between the valleys of Punakha and Thimphu was across the ridges and passes connecting these two important valleys. The second section of our trek takes us up and across the Dagala range, including the Laba Chung Laptsa (4520m) from where we will have a stunning perspective on the Eastern Himalaya and then traverses the ‘Valley of a Thousand Lakes’, before we end our holiday in the modern capital of Bhutan, Thimphu. Very few visitors to Bhutan have followed this route and when KE founder Glenn Rowley went to reccy this trek for KE, he saw no one else at all. Glenn’s opinion of the trek: “I’ve completed many short treks in the Himalaya but the view from the Dagala range, which reaches from Chomolhari (7314m) in the west to Gangkar Puensum (7570m) in the east, is one of the best in Bhutan, you can literally see every peak. The lack of other trekkers, pristine campsites, the feeling of remoteness whilst being only a few days away from civilisation, the beautiful Dzongs, and contact with welcoming Bhutanese people, made this trip extra special for me”.

BOOK EARLY for BHUTAN! With only two airlines operating flights into Paro from Kathmandu, seats are limited and in high demand. Book early to guarantee your place on your chosen departure. We strongly advise booking a year in advance where possible.

Is this holiday for you?

This trek is suitable for regular hill walkers. On our 8 day trek we will for the most part be following trails that have been well prepared for the ponies or yaks that were traditionally used to carry supplies on the route. The trekking does involve some long days of 6-7hr with the occasional longer day. We will be crossing several passes over 4000m and will also encounter long ascents and/or …

This trek is suitable for regular hill walkers. On our 8 day trek we will for the most part be following trails that have been well prepared for the ponies or yaks that were traditionally used to carry supplies on the route. The trekking does involve some long days of 6-7hr with the occasional longer day. We will be crossing several passes over 4000m and will also encounter long ascents and/or descents on some days, so a good level of fitness is essential. Remember that the moderately high altitude will make the walking feel more demanding than at lower elevations. Our hike up the Tiger’s Nest at 3100m will be great acclimatisation before starting our trek. During the trek we will encounter a variety of terrain; from fertile and intensively terraced farmland, through some of the finest mixed forest in the world, to open, alpine pastureland and high mountain valleys and passes. This is a fully supported trek, and you will only be required to carry your day pack each day. Our friendly camp crew will take care of all the camp chores, so you can relax, rest, and enjoy the views at camp.

Why KE?

At KE we are pioneers of new trekking routes in all the countries in which we operate and we'll take you to parts of the beautiful Kingdom of Bhutan that other companies are yet to visit, expect quiet trails, friendly remote villages and pristine campsites.


Your Bhutan visa fees, all meals, and return flights from Kathmandu to Paro are included, and there’s even FREE sleeping bag and down jacket hire available too.

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