Dagala Hidden Lakes Trek in Bhutan

The flight into Paro is a fitting introduction to the spectacular beauty of our country. In clear weather, magnificent views of the world's highest peaks give way to the lush green Paro valley as you land. On arrival at Paro airport, you will be welcomed by our representative from Bhutan Travel Adventures, who will escort you to the hotel. In the afternoon, visit Ta Dzong, an ancient watchtower, which now houses the National Museum. Below the museum is the Paro Rimpung Dzong, the centre of civil and religious authority in this valley. A short walk takes you to the base of the dzong and across a traditional cantilevered, covered bridge. A short distance further is one of the innumerable archery grounds. (Archery is the national sport of Bhutan.) If you are lucky, you may catch a match in action. In the evening, start sorting and packing your trekking equipment for the trek you will begin tomorrow.

Right after breakfast, drive towards the road point to Taktshang. Taktshang Monastery, the most famous of Bhutan's monasteries, is perched on the side of a cliff 900m above the Paro valley floor. Taktshang means "Tiger's Nest," so named because Guru Rimpoche reportedly flew to the site of the monastery on the back of a flying tiger in the late centuries of the first millennium. The monastery is perched on a cliff nearly 800 meters above the Paro valley floor. This day hike is not only historically and culturally interesting, but also incredibly scenic! It takes about 1 ½ hours to reach the cafeteria, which gives a breathtaking view of the Tiger's Nest. If you still feel like hiking, then you can take another hour to reach the temple. Then return back to the cafeteria for your lunch and then walk downhill after your lunch. Drive back to the hotel.

From Thimphu, you will drive for 45km to the starting point of the trek. Today's trail is all through terraced fields and conifers vegetation. The trek starts from a beautiful Genekha village (2800m) with a short descent down to the river. From here – after crossing the river – you start climbing till you reach a huge rock platform at 3350m from where you have a picturesque view of the valley below. After another 2 hours, you reach Gur amid yak pastures at 3290m.

While trekking across the ridges, one enjoys the beauty of the rugged mountain's vegetation. The path winds through flowers and wild asparagus (in spring). The meadows are refreshing and inspiring. The first pass symbolized by a huge cairn gives a spectacular view of Kanchenjunga (Sikkim) and more or less all the Bhutanese Himalayan peaks. Once descended into the Lamatama valley, you ascend gradually through the valley passing some yak herder huts till you reach Utsho Lake where golden trouts are in abundance. The campsite is right next to the lake at 4100.

Today you will have a day excursion to Sertsho and Jagetsho lakes. Hike uphill to Sertsho Lake is easy and interesting, afterward walk over a small ridge and then down to Jagetsho Lake. Or you can also attempt to climb the Aum Jomo, a 5000m peak if there is no snow on the Jumo Mountain. From the summit, you can have spectacular views around the Dagala range during clear weather. Return to the camp by dusk and prepare for the next day.

The trail along the western side of the Dalatsho is up to a saddle at 4520m from where you can have a majestic view of Himalayan peaks during descent. This point is around 4460m. The mountain peaks include Everest (Nepal), Kanchenjunga (Sikkim), Jumolhari, Jitchu Drake, Tshering Gang, Khangbum, Masa Gang, Tshenda Gang and Gangche Ta. If you want an even better view, you can climb a peak close to the saddle with an altitude of 4720m. From the saddle, the path descends, passing some yak herder huts to Docha Chu. You follow the river for a while, but stay higher up on the slope to reach Pankha with some ups and downs on the way. Camp at Pankha at 4000m.

You will start early today. This day entails the crossing of several passes, each one more impressive than the other. Search for different varieties of Blue Poppy (June-July) and mountain birds. After crossing the last small ridge, you will gradually descend toward the main Junction pass, which crisscrosses each other for the trail towards Chamgang, Talekha, Ganekha, and Gaselo. So just make a very short descent on your right, and then take left horizontally for a few minutes towards Chamgang trail with about three to four small ridges to go up and down before you begin a steep downhill hike until you reach Chamgang village. You will finally arrive at the motorable road where transport will be waiting to transfer you to Thimphu.

Drive to Punakha via the amazing Dochula Pass (3100 meters). If the weather is clear, you could have a superb view of Bhutan's Himalayas from the pass. Upon arrival in Punakha, check-in at the hotel first. Have lunch in Punakha town and visit the beautiful Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, and is situated between Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River), two famous rivers of Bhutan. Punakha was the old capital of Bhutan and winter capital for the central monk body at present. In the evening, have rest. Overnight in Punakha.

After your breakfast, drive to Paro for 3 ½ hours with your en-route hike to Chhimey Lhakhang, the temple founded by Lama Drukpa Kuenley who is popularly known as the Divine Mad Man. This temple is also called the temple of fertility as we believe that the childless woman can conceive after receiving a blessing from the temple. Overnight stay at the hotel in Paro.

In the morning, our guide and driver will drop you at the airport and bid you goodbye for your flight departure.