Daga La Lake Trek – 9 Days

Day 01: Arrival at Paro(2250 m) from Kathmandu and transfer to Thimphu.

As your flight lands in Paro. You will meet our representative at the airport and will be driven to Thimphu. Check into your hotel. If time permits visit the Tashichoe Dzong. Later in the evening stroll in the capital city.

Day 02: Thimphu(2350m) and after lunch drive to Paro

Today you will do Thimphu sightseeing till lunch. Memorial Chorten where the older people continuously circumambulated, murmuring mantras and spinning their prayer wheels. Construction of this landmark was the idea of Bhutan’s 3rd king, his Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk (“the father of modern Bhutan”) who wished to erect a monument to world peace and prosperity. Completed in 1974 after his untimely death, it serves both as a memorial to the Late King and as a monument to peace.
Zorig Chusum (commonly known as the Painting School) where students undergo a 6-year training course in Bhutan’s 13 traditional arts and crafts. Later visit the Folk Heritage Museum, a fascinating testimony of the Bhutanese material culture and living traditions.
Phelchey Toenkhyim (Folk Heritage Museum), is dedicated to connecting people to the Bhutanese rural past through exhibits, demonstrations, educational programs, and documentation of rural life. The principal exhibit in the museum is a restored three-story traditional building, rammed with mud and timber, which dates back to mid 19th century. To present a typical Bhutanese rural setting flavor, paddy, wheat, and millet fields, a traditional watermill (with millstones that dates back more than 150 years), traditional style kitchen gardens with vegetables that were grown and consumed over 100 years, and the famous hot stone bath complement the museum building and exhibition within.

Takin, the national animal of Bhutan is said to be created by Lam Drukpa Kinley. Later Visit Buddha point(Kuensel Phodrang). It is again a short drive from the town. You can pay your obeisance and offer prayers to the Buddha, the largest statue in the country and then walk around and take a glimpse of the valley. Overnight.

Day 03: Genekha to Gur Trek Start 17km (2870m) 5-6 hrs

You will begin the day by driving for about 45 min to the beautiful Genekha Village from where your trek starts. The villages are famous for producing matsutake and chantarelle mushrooms. You will walk over the mule path, through terraced fields and coniferous forests rich with alpine flora and plenty of birds. You will then descend to the river and after two hours of the gradual uphill climb, you reach the huge rock platform at 3350m, which offers a picturesque view of the valley. After another two hours of trekking, you will reach your campsite at Gur (3,290m), amidst an abundance of wildflowers.

Day 04: Gur to Labatama with views of Kanchenjunga and Dagala Range 12km (4300m) 6 hrs

While trekking across the ridges, one enjoys the beauty of the rugged mountain vegetation. Today’s trek is amidst flowers, wild asparagus (in spring), and large meadows, which freshen your mind. Weaving through tiny streams, you will climb gently through scattered birches and rhododendrons to arrive at Pagalabtsa pass (4,250m) marked by huge cairns. From the pass, you will have spectacular views of Kanchenjunga (Sikkim) and most of the Bhutanese Himalayan peaks. Descending from the pass one will view the whole Dagala range meadows and yak herders camp. Lunch at a nearby yak herder’s camp. You will descend into the Labatama Valley and then ascend gradually through the valley passing some yak herder huts till you reach Utsho Lake (4,300m) where golden trouts are in abundance. Our campsite is right next to the lake.

Day 05: Exploratory Halt at Labatama

You will spend the day exploring any one of the nearby lakes such as Relitsho, Hentsho, Setsho, and Jagetsho Lakes. These lakes are full of trout and your trekking leader will tell you mystic stories about these lakes. Lunch by the lakeside with a spectacular view around can be a memorable experience. After lunch, you can also attempt to climb the Jomo Peak at an altitude of 5,050m. Return to camp by dusk and prepare for the next day.

Day 06: labatama to Panka 8km (4000m) 5-6 hrs

You will walk along the western side of Dalatsho up to a saddle at (4520m) from where you have a majestic view of the prominent Himalayan peaks such as Everest (Nepal), Kanchenjunga (Sikkim), Masangang, Tiger Mountain, Tsendagang, and Jichu Drake in Bhutan. From the saddle, the path descends, passing some yak herder huts to the Doccha Chuu River. You will follow the river for a while, staying higher up on the slope until you reach Panka. Here the Himalayan monal peasants are a common sight, besides yaks and horses. We will camp at Panka (4,000m).

Day 07: Panka via Talakha and Chamgang to Thimphu (14km) 8 hrs

Today, you will be crossing several passes, each one more impressive than the other. Different varieties of Blue Poppy (June-July) and mountain birds can be found on the trail. Lunch at the point, where one trail leads to Talakha and the other to Wangduephodrang. After lunch, an hour’s gradual climb brings you to the last pass, Tale La (4180m) from where the views of the Dagala range and Thimphu is superb. Start a long descent through a forest of spruce, birch, juniper, and rhododendrons to Talakha Goempa (3080m). From the Talakha Goempa, you will hike down through mixed vegetation, apple orchards, and a feeder road to the Village of Chamgang. Your car will be waiting here to transfer you to Thimphu.

Day 08: Thimpu – Paro

Early morning drive to Paro for a hike to Taktshang. After an early breakfast visit the Tiger’s Nest(Taktshang)Hike up to the famous cliff hermitage called Taktsang, the “Tiger’s Nest.” This monastic retreat is built into a sheer cliff face, high above the Paro Valley. The Buddhist saint Padmasambhava flew across the Himalayas on the back of a tiger and landed here, bringing Buddhism to Bhutan. The trail to the monastery climbs through a beautiful pine forest and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags.
Kyichu Lhakhang: This Lhakhang(monastery), built in the 7th century, is one of the two oldest and most sacred shrines in Bhutan (the other being Jambey Lhakhang in Bumthang). Kyichu Lhakhang is composed of twin temples. The first temple was built by the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century. In 1968, H.M. Ashi Kesang, the Queen Mother of Bhutan, arranged for a second temple to be built alongside the first one, in the same style.
Rinpung Dzong: Built in 1646 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the “fortress of the heap of jewels“stands on a hill above Paro Township. The approach to the Dzong is through a traditional covered bridge (called the Nemi Zam) and then up a paved stone path running alongside the imposing outer walls. The valley’s annual springtime religious festival, the Paro Tsechu, takes place in the courtyard of the Dzong and on the dance ground on the hillside above.

Day 09: Departure for Kathmandu

After breakfast, drive to the airport for your onward destination. Our representative will help you with exit formalities and bid you farewell.