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Dagala
Thousand Lakes Trek
This
is a short trek, near Thimphu, to a large number of lovely high altitude lakes.
The trek is not difficult and most trekking days are short but there are some
long steep climbs.
It
is not a popular route, and you will probably encounter no other trekkers.
Season
The
recommended times for this trek are April, September and October.
Access
It’s
a 29km drive from Thimphu to the junction of a rough, unpaved road leading to
the starting point. If you are in a 4WD vehicle, you can drive 1.5km up a rough
road to a BHU at Khoma (2850m), otherwise you can walk, making a gradual climb
on the rough road. Villagers in this region collect and sell matsutake and
chanterelle mushrooms.
Day 1: Khoma
to Geynikha 14km, 4 hours
Start
walking along the road, which soon becomes a trail across terraced paddy fields
and through coniferous forest, to the settlement of Geynikha (2950m). The route
then descends to a chorten that marks a camping place alongside a stream at
2800m.
Day 2: Geynikha
to Gur 5km, 4 hours
Crossing
suspension bridge, the trail heads west for a while, then climbs steeply
towards the south to a rock platform and a crest at 3200m. A further walk of
about two hours leads to a camp in a forest clearing at 3350m.
Day 3: Gur to
Labatamba 12km, 5 hours
A
long stiff climb leads up the ridge and across meadows to a pass at 4240m for a
spectacular view of the whole Dagala range. This is now yak country. You will
pass several herders’ camps en route to the foot of the broad Labatamba valley
at 4050m. Climb beside a stream to a camp at 4300m near Utsho Lake, where
plenty of golden trout flourish. The high altitude area near the lakes is a
mass of wild alpine flowers in September.
You
should schedule an extra day here to walk to the numerous lakes in the vicinity
and perhaps do some trout fishing.
Day 4:
Labatamba to Panka 8 KM, 4 hours
There
are two possible routes and the pack animals will take the lower one. The trekking route is not well marked, and is
more of a cross-country traverse. It climbs along the western side of the lake
to a saddle at 4500m, where there are good mountains views. If you want a
better view you could scramble to the top of a 4700m park to the east. From the
pass there is a steep decent to another lake at 4350m. A short distance beyond
the lake you rejoin the trail and follow it through meadows out of the valley
to Panka at 4000m. Because there is a water problem here during spring, it may
be necessary to continue to an alternate camp 30 minutes beyond.
Day 6: Panka
to Talakha 8 KM, 4 hours
The
route leads north crossing a pass at 4000m that climbs along the side of a
ridge view of the dagala range and a view of descent through forests to the
Goemba and village of Talakha [3080m].
Day 7: Talakha to Simtokha 3km, 3 hours
You
can arrange to have vehicles pick you a steep, eroded trail to Simtokha. The
trail rhododendron and bamboo, finally dropping through a maze of apple
orchards to the road head above Simtokha Dzong.
