Find a complete guide to Goecha La Trek, Sikkim

Are you fed up with your daily life schedule? Are you tired of city life, air pollution, noise pollution, and water pollution? Do you need a break? We have the best place for you. Goecha La trek in Sikkim, Northeast India, is one of the oldest treks in India. The scenic beauty of the Himalayas makes it more attractive for tourists. It has a fantastic close-up to the third highest mountain peak in the world, Kanchenjunga. Apart from Kanchenjunga, you get a view of up to 14 other Himalayan mountains. It is an approx 16000 ft trek which will leave you enthralled at once. The pass even has a base for the mountaineers who want to scale the Himalayas. When the authorities first saw this scenic beauty, they were ready to print it on the note of Rs.100.

Highlights of the Goecha La Trek

1. There is a dense forest at 12000 feet.
2. It is one of the best treks for bird watching in the Himalayas
3. You'll get to see the first rays of the sun falling on the Kanchenjunga mountain. Though visitors are not allowed to reach the actual Goecha pass, you can experience the first sunrise of the Himalayas from Point 1 and Dzongri in the trek.
4. You can get a breath-taking view of the Singalila range.
5. Samiti Lake serves as a visual treat to the visitors. You can get to see the reflection of Mt. Pandim in the lake.
6. There are three suspension bridges over the deep gorges of the flowing Prekchu river.
7. Also, there is a monastery at Tsokha during the Goecha La Trek
8. It is a 10-day trek covering 90 km at a high pace. It is the best way to test your endurance and speed.

Best time to visit Goechala Trek

The highlights above might excite you to reach the Goecha La trek. But, when do you visit Goecha La? What time of the year is most suitable for trekking?

Well, spring is known as the best season for trekking. For the Goecha La trek, the spring and autumn seasons are the best. Though visiting the Goecha La trek in one season is enjoying just a part of it. There are dense forests on the expedition, which change the colors every season. Spring is the season of love in the Goecha La trek, while autumn is known for its sharp views.

Travel Guide to Goecha La Trek

Goecha La trek is in the Western Sikkim region. The trek starts from Yuksom and ends at the Goecha La pass. Initially, the trek is moderate; however, the terrain gets tough with the changing topography. The temperature varies from  -5℃ to 10℃ from dusk to dawn, and during the daytime, it measures from 10℃ to 25℃. You can reside in tents, guest houses, or trekking huts available on the way.

How to Reach Goecha La Trek?

For starting the trek, you must reach Yuksom. You can reach the place either by flight or with the help of a train. People coming from other metropolitan cities can come by air to the nearest airport of Bagdogra. After reaching the airport, you can take a cab to Yuksom which is 155 km away. It would take you a maximum of 7 hours to be there. The nearest railway station to the Sikkim is the New Jalpaiguri Junction at West Bengal. The new Jalpaiguri railway station is 150 km away from Yuksom and would take 6 hours for you to reach via a cab. The cinematic area of Sikkim would allure you and will make you feel like you are sitting in the lap of the Himalayas.

Base Camp at Goecha La

You will leave for Yuksom from the airport. Thereafter, you can set up your base camp at NJP and begin your trek. The place is a beautiful hill station in the North-East, with great hospitality. The visitors are fascinated by the cultural programs. The charming beauty of this place is historical and has numerous tourists from different parts of the world throughout the year. The beauty of Yuksom will excite you to scale it on your feet. It has Phamrong Waterfall and Kartok Lake that will leave you awestruck. Here, you'll feel like sitting in Mother Nature’s lap.

Goecha La Trek- Elevation Points

The initial pickup point of the expedition is at NJP. You will then go to the base camp of Yuksom, which is at the height of 5670 feet. It is a six-hour drive with an overnight stay. Later, you can begin your expedition to Sachen, which is at a height of 7200 feet where you can find the beautiful Mentagang river flowing. Advancing, you have the Tshoka at a height of 9700 feet. You can visit a beautiful monastery with the charismatic meadows at Dzongri, standing at the height of 12980 feet. After this, you can move ahead to the highest tip of Dzongri at 13675 feet. Later, you can come to Thansing at an altitude of 12900 feet. It then takes you from Thansing to Lamuney, standing at an altitude of 13600 feet. Following the way, you will reach the Goecha la at the pinnacle of 16000 feet.

Exit points of the Trek

There is only one exit point of the expedition. It is where you began at Yuksom. Exiting the trek means coming through the same path you went. The trek gets much more difficult as you further go up. Take turns around the calls early at Goecha la. It gets dark early in the mountains. Thus, you must try to complete your and reach a certain point during day time. Also, if you get injuries during the expedition, you must have rest around campsites. Traveling with injuries will risk your life further. Tshoka and Dzongri offer the best suite to relax and cure the patients. Although, routing through Thansing will pave a long way for the mountain patients.

For a medical emergency, there is a hospital at Pelling. It is around 30 km from the base camp. Also, there is a small clinic at the Yuksom. Nonetheless, it can only put first aid to the patients.

After the journey, you can head back to the nearest railway station, New Jalpaiguri Junction at Siliguri via a cab. It has good connectivity with the rest of India.

Goencha La Trek is one of the best treks in India because of its charismatic view. The spectacular views of the still water of Samiti Lake are another reason for the tourist attraction. The magnificent sunrise from the Kanchenjunga is a lifetime experience. The forests lure most visitors during the year, as the trees change their color with every season. While deciding on the budget for the Goecha La Trek, you must keep in mind the cost of accommodation,  meals, permit fees, tents for camping, mountaineering equipment, porter, yak charges, etc. The local people at Sikkim are good inside out. Though the region lies near China, the people are more friendly towards India. Their hospitability and warmth are unparalleled.