Goecha La Trek

This mesmerising trek in Sikkim offers some of the best views in India, in the lap of nature.

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Difficulty

Moderate to Difficult

Altitude

4600 Metres

Duration

11 Days

Witness the most mesmerising mountain views in Sikkim

The Goecha La Trek is one of the most beautiful trails Sikkim has to offer. It is also known as the Kangchenjunga Trail Trek. The highlights of the Goechala Trek include the grand views of the highest mountains of the world including Kangchenjunga; which is the highest mountain in India. This 09-day trek holds many wonders for outdoor enthusiasts. The trail takes you through the rhododendron forest of Tshoka, all the way up to Goechala pass which is a vantage point to witness sunrise over the Kangchenjunga Range. With an altitude gain of almost 10,000 feet, the Goecha La Trek is one of the challenging high-altitude treks in India. The Goecha La Trek is recommended for experienced trekkers as well as fit beginners. With a little determination and preparation, this adventurous journey will allow you to discover the sheer beauty of the Sikkim and in the process, find yourself.

What to expect on the Goecha La Trek?

The Goecha La Trek is a long trek and involves 09 days of trekking. Over this period, you will be gaining an altitude of almost 10,000 ft. On the trek, you will be crossing several suspension bridges, thick rhododendron forests, alpine meadows and lakes and some rocky terrain to finally reach the Goecha La Viewpoint 1 which is the farthest one can trek.

For the initial stretch; from Yuksom to Sachen and Sachen to Tshoka, the walk is mostly through a forest, so expect it to be humid. You will cross a total of 4 river bridges before you reach Tshoka, The constant descent whenever there is a bridge and then climb after each bridge makes it a tough day of trekking. The altitude gain is gradual.

Tshoka to Dozngri is a challenging hike as the altitude gain is almost 1000 ft. Expect Dzongri to be very cold and windy and depending on the weather conditions you might experience snowfall. From Dzongri to Thansing and further towards Lamuney it is a comfortable hike through vast meadows. The last section from Lamuney to Goecha La pass is probably the toughest part as you will be trekking in the night at an average elevation of over 3000 metres.

On average you will be walking 7-8 hours a day. It is recommended to walk at your own pace and keep yourself hydrated all the time.

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Brief Itinerary

Day 1 - Drive from Bagdogra to the basecamp – Yuksom (6–7 hour drive)
Day 2 - Yuksom to Sachen (Altitude: 5700 feet to 7200 feet, 5-6 hours)
Day 3 - Sachen to Tshoka (Altitude: 7200 feet to 9650 feet, 6-7 hours)
Day 4 - Tshokha to Dzongri via Phedang (Altitude: 9650 feet to 12980 feet, 6-7 hours)
Day 5 - Acclimatization and Rest Day at Dzongri (buffer day) (12980 feet to 13,681 ft, 45 minutes-1 hour climb to Dzongri Top)
Day 6 - Dzongri to Thansing via Kokchurang (Altitude: 12980 feet to 12894 feet, 5-6 hours)
Day 7 - Thansing to Lamuney (Altitude: 12894 feet to 13693 feet, 2 hrs)
Day 8 - Lamuney to Goecha La, Back to Thansing (Altitude: 13693 feet to 16400 feet and back, approx. 12-13 hours)
Day 9 - Thansing to Tshoka (Altitude: 12894 feet to 9650 feet, 7 hours)
Day 10 - Tshokha to Yuksom (Altitude: 9650 feet to 5700 feet, 7-8 hours)
Day 11 - Yuksom to Bagdogra. Fly out.

Inclusions & Exclusions

Trip Cost Includes:

Accommodation: 2 nights stay in a Guest House at Yuksom with breakfast and dinner + 8 nights in Camping on twin sharing basis with all meals.
Food: Dinner and Breakfast in Yuksom as well as all meals during the trek.
Transportation: Group Airport pickup and drop
Trekking permits and forest camping charges.
Trekking Gears: Tents, Sleeping bags, Mattress etc.
Services of an expert Adventure-Pulse trek leader. (*For a group of 8 and above)
Services of an expert trek team (guides, cooks, helpers)
Porters/Mules to carry your personal luggage.
Basic first aid kit and medical assistance.

Trip Cost DOES NOT Include:

International or domestic flights.
Food during the transit. (To and from Yuksom)
Personal clothing and equipment.
Any items/services not specifically mentioned under inclusions.
Travel insurance.
Any medical costs incurred by you, or costs associated with a medical incident, evacuation charges and damage of any nature.
Optional trips or excursions. Personal expenses of any kind.
Tips for local staff and guides.
Costs arising out of unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather, landslides, road conditions and any other circumstances beyond our control.

Things to carry

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Extreme temperature variations, high altitude, snow glare & proximity to sun are certain factors which necessitate the need to for proper mountaineering and trekking equipment. In order to enjoy your experience in the mountains, we have recommended that you carry the following with you.

Apparel

Thermal Inners - At least 1 pair of Top and Leggings
6-8 t-shirts or long-sleeve shirt (cotton / dryfit)
2-3 pairs of trekking pants (no denim!)
1 Sweater/Sweatshirt
1 Fleece Jacket
1 Down Jacket
1 Waterproof Layer like raincoat or wind-cheater
1 pair of hiking boots
1 pair of comfortable sandals/floaters/sneakers
6-8 pairs of cotton socks (for day)
2 pairs of thick/woollen socks (for night)
Gloves - liner and outer
Sun hat
Woollen cap
Buff

Accessories

Duffel bag / Rucksack (60L+)
Daypack / Backpack (20-30L capacity)
Sleeping bag (can be bought or rented in Kathmandu)
2x 1L Bottles (to carry drinking water)
Lunchbox
Torch + Batteries / Headlamp
Knee/Ankle/Wrist Guards
Trekking Poles
Sunblock
Sunglasses
Moisturiser
Hand Sanitiser
Personal Medical Kit
Personal Toiletries Kit
Snacks!

Fitness

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There are three main aspects of training to focus on – strength training, cardiovascular training, and trekking + trekking alternatives.
Strength training involves training different muscle groups, so that they can become stronger. There are different exercises for each muscle group, and working them all out 2x-3x a week should be enough to help you get comfortable trekking.
Legs / lower body - exercises like squats, glute bridges, step ups and leg presses with help you develop stronger muscles in the lower body.

Core - Exercises like planks, bicycle crunches and leg raises can help with core stability; Pilates is also a core-intensive type of workout that will help.

Upper body - Bodyweight exercises like push-ups, pull-ups and dips will help develop these muscles. You can also use resistance bands or light weights to develop them further.
It’s vital to do plenty of cardio training before your trek, so that you can get the most out of your experience
Running - This is the most recommended form of cardio activity, as it activates a lot of the same muscles as trekking. Being able to run 10km in 60 minutes will allow you to get the most out of your trek.

Cycling / Swimming - If you have knee issues, or don’t enjoy running, you can also opt for cycling and swimming. Being able to cycling 30-50km or swim for 30-40 minutes, thrice a week, should be good to help you with treks like EBC.

HIIT training / Crossfit - Another option to level up your cardio training is to opt for high intensity aerobic exercises like HIIT or Crossfit, 2-3 times a week
The aim is to get your heart rate up, so you do not get winded on long days of trekking
Hiking
Try to get outdoors and go for a hike on the weekends! Uphill trails of 4-8 kilometres are will help you get used to trekking. Make it a point to carry a loaded backpack, and walk in your trekking shoes.
Hiking Alternatives
Climbing stairs, and using the treadmill or stairmaster on an incline, will help prepare you for treks. Make it a point to carry a loaded backpack so that you can get used to the extra weight; and use your trekking boots, so that you can break them in and walk comfortably.
If you’re confused with all this information, no need to worry! The most important thing with training is consistency, and staying injury-free. Your training week should ideally have
Strength training - 3 sessions
Cardio training - 3 sessions
Hiking - 1 long session, best on the weekends
Rest and stretching - at least 1 day

FAQs

Goecha La

What are the staying arrangements for this trek?

While in Yuksom, Adventure Pulse will put you up in a comfortable hotel/Guesthouse on double sharing plan with breakfast and dinner included. Once we start the trek to Goecha La, the accommodation is in a camp set up. We would have good quality tents on double sharing basis with a separate dinning tent for meals and a separate toilet tent. Sleeping bags and mats are also provided by Adventure Pulse.

What kind of physical shape do I need to be in to trek here?

You need to be in good physical shape to trek to this mountain pass. It’s a challenging trek and does demand good physical fitness and some bit of prior trekking experience. Please refer to our physical fitness document for more details on this topic.

What are the entry and exit points for this trek?

One needs to fly to Bagdogra Airport for the Goecha La trek. There are regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. On your arrival in Bagdogra, you will be picked up by an Adventure Pulse representative and transferred to Yuksom, the start point of the trek. After the trek, we will arrange for transportation from Yuksom to Bagdogra airport.

Do I need any special equipment / climbing gear for this trek?

Any kind of climbing equipment or gears are not required for this trek. For list of other things and warm clothing to carry, please refer to our link - List of things to carry for the Goecha La trek.

What is the communication system available along the way?

Regular phone and data services work in Yuksom. Yuksom has good phone and data connectivity with 3G and 4G services also available on most networks. While on the trek, most days there is no network except at Sachen. One is disconnected on most days during the course of the trek.

What about high altitude acclimatization?

We at Adventure Pulse consider acclimatization as one of the most important aspects of trekking / climbing a mountain and spend enough time to do that. We move up the mountain slowly giving enough time to our bodies to acclimatize and one full day is spent at Dzongri to acclimatize and hike around before continuing the trek to Goecha La.

What are the food arrangements?

The hotel in Yuksom serves good breakfast (Bread Omelet, Paratha, Puri Bhajii etc) which is included in the meal plan. Dinner is also included in the meal plan which will be a mix of Indian food (Roti-Sabji, Tarkari, Daal Rice etc). While on the trek, all meals are included and the meals are usually a good mix of Indian and continental food. Our cooks are very experienced and will be happy to entertain any particular requests you may have for your meals. All the meals are served in the common dinning tent/in trekkers huts.

Will I be able to take a shower or bath during the course of the trek?

Regular shower facilities will be available in the hotel in Yuksom. But while we are higher up on the trek, shower facility is not available for the trekking period.

What are the emergency medical precautions available during the trek?

The Adventure Pulse staff and guides carry a fully equipped medical kit with necessary medicines and an Oxygen meter. As a standard practice, we check oxygen levels of all our clients twice a day and take necessary precautions if any irregularity is found in the oxygen reading. In case the problem persists, the client is sent down with a qualified guide. In case of an Injury where the trekker is not in a position to walk down, a Pony is organized to Yuksom where a vehicle and a doctor visit can be organized.

What happens in case of bad weather during the trek?

Adventure Pulse usually plans all it treks during the most favorable season on the mountain, but having said that, weather is always an unpredictable factor. We usually look at weather reports before leaving for the Goecha La Pass. In case the weather is unfavorable, we could delay it to the next day depending upon the Itinerary. A buffer day/s is always built in the itinerary as contingency if we get hit by unfavorable weather conditions. In the worse situation, we may have to turn back midway, but safety is always a priority which cannot be compromised on.

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Detailed Itinerary

Goecha La Trek

Day 1

Drive from Bagdogra to the basecamp – Yuksom (6–7 hour drive)

We Kick-start the excitement of the Goechala Trek by catching the remarkable views of the Himalayas while driving from Bagdogra Airport to Yuksom. An Adventure-Pulse representative will meet you at the airport and the pick up will be arranged in a private vehicle i.e Innova or Xylo. The 6-7 hour drive through mountain roads will take you along the gushing Teesta River; crossing a bridge in Legship to reach Yuksom. Depending upon your arrival time, traffic and road conditions, expect to reach Yuksom by evening. Dinner and overnight stay will be organized in a family-run guesthouse in Yuksom.

Day 2

Yuksom to Sachen (Altitude: 5700 feet to 7200 feet, 5-6 hours)

Today will be the first day of the Goechala Trek; an incredible journey through the Kangchenjunga National Park. We recommend you to leave any extra luggage, pair of fresh clothes to wear after the trek etc at the guesthouse in order to keep the bags lightweight. After breakfast, we’ll start walking through the streets of Yuksom towards the check post where your identification will be checked. The check post also has an interpretation centre for visitors. From there, we start ascending uphill and after crossing the village, follow the gorge of the Rathong river. Trekking through the lush thickets of rhododendron, we proceed towards the Paha Khola Bridge. On the way, we take a small lunch break and enjoy our packed lunch to keep ourselves energized for the rest of the trek. Often on this trail, you can spot exotic orchids, colourful flowers and monkeys especially during the Spring and summer! Sachen has a small hut where the staff will set-up the kitchen. The campsite in the middle of a dense forest has very limited space for camping. However, our staff will try to find the best spot available. Arriving in Sachen, we settle down for our very first night in the tents and call it a day.

Day 3

Sachen to Tshoka (Altitude: 7200 feet to 9650 feet, 6-7 hours)

The trail from Sachen to Tshoka passes through a dense jungle. The trail will take us through the aromatic viburnum plantations, after which we will cross the Prek Chu River and hike uphill for around 2-3 hours to reach Bhakim. The trek becomes steeper sometimes as one has to descend down to the bridge and then again climb up towards Bhakim. After a steep climb till the tea point the trail becomes easier and the rhododendron trees are now visible from here. From the tea shop at Bhakim, one can get panoramic views of wide and open valleys as far as the eye can see. From Bhakim it is a gradual ascent for one and half hours to Tshoka. Tshoka is a beautiful small settlement of Tibetan refugees and busiest campsite on the Goechala Trek. There are few huts where trekkers can stay as well as a café further along the trail. Tshoka also has a small monastery and a beautiful pond right next to it. The place becomes a perfect spot for an evening walk and to experience the serenity of nature.

Day 4

Tshokha to Dzongri via Phedang (Altitude: 9650 feet to 12980 feet, 6-7 hours)

For most trekkers, this day is the highlight of the Goechala Trek. The walk from Tshoka to Dzongri is one of the longest days of the trek. We recommend an early start today as it will allow reaching Dzongri by afternoon. From the campsite, it is a gradual ascent towards the beautiful rhododendron forest of Tshoka. As we enter the forest, we’ll find a well-defined trail made up of wooden logs. The forest becomes denser as you continue climbing the steps. The trail opens up to a flat ground in Phedang where a trekkers hut is located. It is a perfect spot to have your packed lunch after a tiring walk on the steep trail. From Phedang the trail again becomes steeper and one starts feeling the altitude as we move closer to Dzongri. Dzongri has a trekker’s hut and a big camping area, surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks. This the point where we’ll find a 180-degree panoramic view of the Kanchenjunga range. Considering the altitude gain of approx. 1000m, we recommend an extra day to rest & acclimatize in Dzongri.

Day 5

Acclimatization and Rest Day at Dzongri (buffer day) (12980 feet to 13,681 ft, 45 minutes-1 hour climb to Dzongri Top)

The acclimatization day on the Goechala Trek day starts with a climb to ‘Dzongri Top’. Dzongri Top at 13,681 feet is the highest point from where you can get a 180-degree panoramic view of the mighty peaks of the Singalila and Kanchenjunga ranges. We start the hike early to get a chance to witness a beautiful sunrise from the top. If we reach the top in time, we can watch the mountains change colour with the breaking of dawn. Post this short hike, we spend the remaining of the day hydrating and resting. The common area of the trekker’s hut is a great place to have some indoor game sessions and interact with the fellow trekkers from different groups. Depending on the weather we can go for short hikes around the campsite. This day can also be used as a buffer day if required on account of bad weather.

Day 6

Dzongri to Thansing via Kokchurang (Altitude: 12980 feet to 12894 feet, 5-6 hours)

It’s a beautiful hike through meadows of Dzongri towards the next campsite at Thansing via Kokchurong. The trail passes through gorgeous meadows with the surrounding mountain peaks visible at the distance through the clouds. The trail enters a beautiful forest of Rhododendron. It is a good place to spot birds. Kockchurang has a trekker’s hut where we stop for some rest. The Prek Chu river flows a few meters away from the hut. After crossing a small bridge, the trail opens up to a relatively flat area with gradual ascents and at the end of a climb is Thansing. Thansing has a huge meadow with a trekkers hut. Depending upon the conditions, the staff will serve hot lunch at Thansing. The camping ground is right in front of Mt. Pandim and the left wall of Kangchenjunga. With grand views of Kangchenjunga, Pandim and Tenzinkhang this is probably prettiest campsites on the Goechala Trek. Expect it to be windy at night.

Day 7

Thansing to Lamuney (Altitude: 12894 feet to 13693 feet, 2 hrs)

The 2-hour hike from Thansing to Lamuney is the easiest part on the Goechala Trek. We walk through the meadows heading closer to the Lamuney which is the last campsite on the Goecha La trek. The trek is inspiring because with each step the mountains come closer and closer. The meadows tend to get rockier as we move ahead. The flat gradient suddenly gives way to an ascending trail and that’s the farthest we can camp. Today we will have a hot lunch followed by an early dinner. The ascending trail heads to Samiti lake; a beautiful alpine lake surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks. We can even exercise the option of an excursion to Samiti Lake at 14,100 ft, which is a 45-minute moderate climb to and from our camp at Lamuney. However, we recommend you to rest and acclimatize at Lamuney camp to prepare for the early climb to Goecha La pass.

Day 8

Lamuney to Goecha La, Back to Thansing (Altitude: 13693 feet to 16400 feet and back, approx. 12-13 hours)

This is the longest and toughest day of the Goechala Trek. We start the day early at 03:00 am to reach Goechala to see the first rays of sunlight reflecting over Mt. Kanchenjunga. The staff will prepare a hot meal to keep you energised for the climb ahead. An early start ensures that we reach the Goechala viewpoint 1, right in time to see the magical sunrise over Mt. Kanchenjunga and come all the way down to Thansing before afternoon. Since we will be covering most of the distance in the dark, it is important to walk at a steady pace together with the group and follow the instructions of the trek leader. After spending some time at the pass, we quickly descend to Samiti lake and rest for some time before moving to Lamuney. We will organise a brunch at Lamuney and continue the descend towards Thansing.

Day 9

Thansing to Tshoka (Altitude: 12894 feet to 9650 feet, 7 hours)

Today, we begin the long descend back down the valley. One of the longest days on the Goechala Trek, the journey can be divided into two phases, the first being from Thansing to Phedang which is a direct trail by passing Dzongri; and the second, a trek through the rhododendron forest, from Phedang to Tshoka.

Day 10

Tshokha to Yuksom (Altitude: 9650 feet to 5700 feet, 7-8 hours)

On the last day of the Goechala Trek, we retrace our way from Tshoka to Yuksom. Although the distance is almost 15 km, it’s much faster and easier to cover the distance while descending than our trek up. Sachen comes up quickly, especially being a pure descent. From Sachen the trail goes up and down gradually losing the altitude. The last stretch has a few climbs which will make you wonder whether it’s a descent of the ascent, but it gets over soon and you find yourself back in the friendly neighbourhood of Yuksom. It’s time for the celebration and to make the most of your last day of the trip. Dinner and overnight stay in guesthouse.

Day 11

Yuksom to Bagdogra. Fly out.

With this, it’s an end of the remarkable journey to the Goechala Trek. The Adventure Pulse team will arrange transportation for the airport drop. It is recommended to leave Yuksom early in order to avoid road closure and traffic.

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