Mesmerizing Kanchenjunga view from Goechala Trek

Goecha la Trek is one of the most famous and breathtaking treks in Sikkim going to an elevation of 4570 m. It offers a huge panoramic view of various majestic summits which includes world’s third highest peak – Kanchenjunga. That is why it is also known as Kanchenjunga View Trek. It has a lot for an adventure lover that he feels enlightened by experiencing this.

The trek passes through beautiful and serene landscapes, meadows, rhododendron tress and witnessing unique flora & fauna of Himalayas. This real beauty is the magnet that attracts people to be here on this trek. The best part of this journey is that the fabulous scenery and sights start right from the arrival at Darjeeling Airport at Bagdogra. There are many places throughout this trek that offers great visual sights like Darjeeling, Yuksom, Bakim, Dzongri, Samiti Lake and Gangtok. This view looks much clearer and better in the months of April, October and November. These months have less cloudy days and more of clear sky.

The trek starts with the arrival at Bagdogra from where this amusing journey starts. This region has world famous tea gardens that you can cherish visually as well as you can try some different tea here. Apart from tea, this place is also famous for toy train which is now declared a world heritage by UNESCO. Here, you can visit many beautiful places like sunrise at Tiger Hill, Ghoom Monastery, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute P.N. Zoological Park and Japanese Temple to name few.

• Check out: Kanchenjunga Trek (Dzongri – Goechala)

After spending a good leisure day at Darjeeling and nearby places, next day will be a beautiful drive through various tea gardens which will lead to our trailhead, Yuksom in Sikkim. After reaching here and check-in a guest house, the trek leader will brief about the trek and schedule. Few things are definitely going to be new and exciting for you on this trek like yaks will be carrying your luggage. Yes, as yaks are good survivors of this altitude and of hilly paths. So, after getting everyone’s trekking permit at Kanchenjunga National Park Check Post and passing beautiful dense forest along with some water stream you’ll reach Bakim. Here, Shikhar team will have pre-set tents at Forest Bunglow for overnight stay.

The next two days trek will surely gonna be your favourite one as the trail will pass through the picturesque Rhododendron forest. There will little steep but well marked path which will also have many other blossoming Himalayan fauna. But this trek should definitely be avoided in monsoon as the mud and water makes it difficult to walk. In these days the trek will be covering Phedang first and then Dzongri where pre-set Shikhar tents will be available for the night stay.

Morning at Dzongri should be planned early as the Dzongri Pass (4050 m) has the best view of the entire trek where you can see many famous peaks of the region from this one point like Mt Kanchenjunga, Mt. Pandim, Mt Kabru, Mt Rathong etc. After this wonderful sight the trail will now go steep descent till Thansing. Here we’ll be staying for the night in tents and next day we’ll trek for Lamuney, the last camp before Goecha La.

As most of the peaks in this region are considered to be sacred and are expected to respect in terms of cleanliness and nature reservation by locals. And that’s a reason that after Lamuney there is no camping is allowed on any site. Though the distance to Goecha La is hardly 4-5 hrs from Lamuney so, there is no requirement of camping further. But as this day you’ll reach the Lamuney in 2-3 hrs and you’ll have the entire day so, the group can plan to hike the most famous and beautiful Simiti Lake. You can relax at camp for some time and can go for this 1 hr hiking to see this crystal clear water surrounded by mesmerizing Himalayan peaks.

The final trekking to the highest point Goecha La at 4570 m, should start in dark probably around 2 am as the sunrise on Mount Kanchenjunga is not allowed to be missed. This sunrise has a peace that comes from our deep minds. It is time when person feels the real connection with nature. After this beautiful spellbinding experience the group will trek down while exploring the nearby areas and back at Lamuney.

Now while enrooting back to Yuksom, we’ll be camping at new places this time like after crossing Thansing there is a place Kokchurang where we’ll have tents by the riverside for the over nightstay. Similarly, next day while passing the same Rhododendron forest there will be over night stay at village Tsoka. While reaching here in afternoon you can relax at tents set by Shikhar team or can explore this small village of Tibetan families. Then next day, the final descent trek to Yuksom where will be one more night stay in hotel and next morning a long drive to Bagdogra Airport for the final departure.