Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek
A short, lake-studded trek in the hills above Thimphu.
The closest genuine high-altitude trek to Thimphu: six days through the Dagala range's scattered alpine lakes, popular with local trout, with views back over the capital and out to the high Himalaya on clear days. Shorter and quieter than the Druk Path.
- Alpine lakes
- Views over Thimphu
- Quiet trail
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 6 days
- Max altitude
- 4,720 m (Labatama)
Why this trip works
- Best Attractions
Where this trip takes you
- 01Labatama lake basin
A cluster of alpine lakes at the trek's high point.
- 02Thimphu skyline viewpoint
One of the few treks with the capital visible from the trail.
- 01Labatama lake basin
- See the gallery
- Things To Do
- Camp among the Dagala range's scattered alpine lakes
- Look back over Thimphu from high on the trail
- Fish for trout in the lakes (catch-and-release, permit required)
- Cross Labatama, the trek's high point, in a single day
- Hotels
- Trekking CampTrekking Camp
- Best Season
- Autumn · Sep - Nov
Alpine lakes are ice-free and skies are clearest right after monsoon.
The route
Hover or tap a dzongkhag for what this trip does there - shown in visiting order, west to east.
See the ground before you book
Footage shot on the same trails, passes, and valleys Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek travels through - filmed by us, not stock.
The Dagala Trek in Winter
The Dagala range above Thimphu once the snow arrives - the same trail, in the season we don't run it.
Dagala Thousand Lakes in Seven Hours
The scattered lakes that give the trek its name, crossed in a single day.
Overnight on the Dagala Trek
A one-night fastpacking version of the route, camping high above the capital.
A closer look
Other journeys
A few more starting points - every trip is customizable around your dates and pace.
10 daysChallengingTrekkingDruk Path Trek
A high-altitude trek between Paro and Thimphu, lake to lake.
4,210 m (Phume La)Alpine lakes4,200m passesCamp under the starsView trip
25 daysStrenuousTrekkingThe Snowman Trek
Three weeks above 4,000 m - one of the world's hardest treks.
5,320 m (Rinchen Zoe La)11 high passesRemote Lunana villagesJomolhari baseView trip
13 daysChallengingTrekkingJomolhari Trek
The classic route to the foot of Bhutan's most sacred peak.
4,890 m (Nyile La)Jomolhari base campHigh alpine passesYak herder campsView trip
This is just the starting point
Every trip here is a template, not a fixed package - tell us your dates, pace, and interests and we'll customize Dagala Thousand Lakes Trek (or build something new) around exactly what you want.