'Fixed departures' are assured departures that will start on the given date as per the given itinerary.
• Altitude: 5700 ft.
• 150 km drive, approx 8 hours.
• Pick-up at 10am NJP railway station (Travel cost inclusive.)
• Pass through Police Check Post at Melli. Foreigners need Inner Line Permit (ILP) – the driver will help get it. Procedure takes half-an-hour.
• From NJP to Melli (at the border of Sikkim and West Bengal.)
• Lunch break at Jorthang.
• Last ATM at Legship .
• Base camp at Yuksom, Overnight in guest house.
• Citizens of China, Myanmar, and Bangladesh are not permitted to trek in Sikkim.
• As per the Sikkim government, foreigners(including OCI, NRI) need to obtain a special permit to trek in Sikkim. This permit is issued in Gangtok and therefore, foreigners need to come one day before in Yuksom. This process requires your signed ILP, therefore it cannot be processed in advance and can be processed only when you enter Sikkim. The charges of obtaining the permit will be Rs.2,000 per person. TTH will cooperate with you in getting the permit. You have to pay this amount to our representative and we shall get the permit, once you have arrived. Please make a note that your expenses for the additional day are not included in our costs.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
• Altitude: 7200 ft.
• 8 kms trek, approx 6 hrs.
• No shops on the trail. Erratic telecom network. Abundant water sources.
• Have packed lunch en route.
• Trail through dense forests, with frequent ascent and descent.
• After two hours of walk from Yuksom, you can see Tshokha.
• Trail passes through three iron bridges (Gradual ascent till the first bridge, steep ascent for 20 min then gradual descent till second bridge and gradual ascent till third bridge. Walk for half an hour to the camp site.
• Be careful on trails as it stays busy with animals like yak and mules. Make way for the animals by sticking to the mountain side.
• Sachen campsite is in the forest, so accommodation in tents.
Meals: L, D
Accommodation: Camp
• Altitude: Bakhim at 8600 ft and Tshokha at 9700 ft
• 7 kms trek, approx 5 hrs
• Pleasant walk till the last iron bridge (1 km from Sachen)
• Steep ascent till Bakhim - spot peaks like: Mt. Pandlm, Tenzinkhay
• Enjoy tea and refill water at Bakhim
• Bakhim to Tshokha - 2kms trek
• Trail lined with Rhododendron and Alpine berries
• Lunch at campsite
• Overnight in tents
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camp
• Altitude: Phedang at 10500 ft and Dzongri at 12980 ft.
• 9 kms trek, approx 7 hours.
• The trail is mostly ascent - Tsokha to Phedang - 4.5 kms, 3 hrs and Phedang to Dzongri - 4.5 km, 3 hrs.
• For the first hour, trail is rocky, for two hours it is wooden trail and once again rocky, zig-zag trail till camp site.
• Carry packed lunch and enough water as there are no sources of drinking water en route.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camp
• Trek to Dzongari top at 13,675 ft, approx 1 hour.
• Peaks spotted: Frey Peak, Kumbakarana, Rathong, Kabru South, Kabru North, Kabru Dome, Kangchenddzonga, Jupono, Pandim, Simro.
• Instructions: Do not sleep, especially inside the tents, during the day. Go for small walks and explore the vicinity.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camp
• Altitude: Kokcharang at 12,000ft, Thansing at 12900.
• 10 kms trek, approx 6 hrs.
• Dzongari to Kokcharang 8 kms trek, approx 4 hours.
• Gradual walk through meadows and descend to reach Kokcharang.
• Refill water at Kokcharang.
• From Kokcharang, walk to the bridge towards Prekchu river. Rest and then ascend for 2 kms to reach Thansing.
• Enjoy hot lunch at campsite.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camp
• Altitude: 13650 ft.
• 4 kms trek, approx 2 hours.
• Morning call 8-9-10 (8am: tea, 9am: breakfast, 10am: Move for Lamuney).
• Easiest day of the trek - easy trail.
• Enjoy hot lunch at camp site.
• Trek further to Samiti Lake for 2kms.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camp
• Trek to Thansing (or Kokcharang, depending on the trekkers’ speed/weather).
• Altitude: 15,100 ft.
• 18 kms trek, 13 hours.
• Longest and toughest day of the trek.
• Call for Goechala 1 am. Pack your backpack at night only, so when we return, we just have food and leave for lower campsite.
• Lamuney to Samiti Lake easy walk for one hour.
• Lamuney to Goechala View Point (15100 ft - 5 kms – 3 hrs) Steep ascent for 2 hours.
• Descend to Lamuney for hot lunch.
• Descent further to Thansing/Kokcharang.
• Peaks spotted: Kabru South, Kabru North, Kabru Dome, Kangchendzonga, Gocha Jupano, Pandim, Sinvo, Tenzingkhang.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camp
• Altitude: Thansing 12,900 ft/ Kokcharang 12,000 ft to Tsokha 9700 ft.
• 16 kms trek, approx 7 hours.
• Start around 7am to reach by 3 pm Tsokha.
• Carry packed lunch.
• Kokcharang to Phedang (12 kms, approx 4 hrs) - gradual ascent and descent in the Rhododendron forest.
• Phedang to Tsokha - descent for 5 kms.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camp
• Altitude: 5670 ft.
• 15 km trek, approx 6 hours .
• The trail is a complete descent on the same route as day 2 and 3.
• Carry packed lunch.
Meals: B, L
Accommodation: Guesthouse
• 150 km drive, approx 8 hours.
• Leave Yuksom early morning to reach NJP by 5.00 pm.
• Pack your backpack at night only, so you don’t have to be in rush before leaving for NJP.
We are Trek The Himalayas, India’s leading Himalayan trekking company founded in 2010. With over a decade of experience we expertise in trek leading, mountaineering expeditions, cycling tours and other adventure activities. We organise trekking and peak climbing expeditions in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim. Our qualified and experienced team of local guides, trek/expedition leaders and cooks are known for their dedicated work in the mountains. We have been organizing treks, and mountaineering. We are the local leader for Himalayan trips throughout the entire India Himalayas.
From the greenest beginner to the sharpest professional adventure travellers, we can get you where you want to go and assure you our best trip.
A. Booking Term
1. If booked more than 15 days before the trip start date, advance of 25% of the total booking value is payable at the time of booking. Balance amount shall be paid no later than 15 days before the trip start date.
2. If booked less than 15 days prior to the trip start date, the full booking value is due at the time of booking.
3. If the due amounts are not paid as per the payment schedule, bookings shall stand cancelled.
B. Cancellation Policy
1. If cancelled more than 15 days before the trip start date, the advance shall be refunded net of a 5% transaction fee.
2. If cancelled after full payment between 15 to 10 days before the trip start date, 25% cancellation fee of the total booking value.
3. If cancelled less than 10 days prior to the trip start date, the booking amount shall not be refundable.
In the event you opt for Refundable Booking, click here to read the terms and conditions for claiming a refund.
C. Changes to and / or cancellation of trips
Itineraries shown are based on information available at the time of planning and are subject to change. The operators reserve the right to change expedition / trek / package dates, people or itineraries as conditions warrant. If a trip must be delayed or the itinerary changed due to bad weather, road conditions, transportation delays, government intervention, airline schedules, sickness, or other contingency for which the operator or its agents cannot make provision, the cost of delays and/or other changes are the responsibility of the participant. The operator reserves the right to decline, or accept, any individual as a trip member for any reason whatsoever.
*for 15 pax
The Goechala Trek is meant for every thrill-seeker who wants to visit the Himalayas searching for beauty, solitude, and adventure. Most of the trekkers are not allowed to go all the way to the Goechala Pass, but the beauty of the sunrise over Mount Kanchenjunga can be experienced vividly from Viewpoint 1 and Dzongri Top. It is one of the prime reasons to embark on this adventure. Apart from this, the pink and red rhododendron forest trails of the Kanchenjunga National Park during the spring-summer seasons are worth experiencing. The calmness of the Samiti Lake and the reflections of Mount Pandim on the still waters is a joy in itself!
The high mountain pass of Goechala is stationed at the height of 4940 meters or roughly 16,207 feet. Hence, the climatic conditions will be rather drastic if you are traveling from the plains. You should take adequate time to get acclimatized to this kind of climate. Since it is a demanding trek, you should put in adequate hours behind cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, and strength training to be in your top physical condition and beat any occurrence of AMS. Several trekkers are found to abandon the trek midway due to AMS.
Apart from the routine trekking gear, do not forget to carry basic medications and first aid kits to avoid any hazards during the trek. Carry a good pair of hiking shoes, and do not ditch your walking sticks, as they will help you manoeuvre through the trail when it becomes problematic. Warm clothes, woollen caps, a few pairs of socks, mittens, thermal inners, fleece jackets, waterproof windcheater, etc., are a must. You can carry a 50 liter-odd backpack and a 20-30 liter daypack. Concentrate on taking extra pairs of socks, especially if you are trekking during the pre-monsoon or the monsoon seasons. Generally, the best time for Goechala Trek is the post-monsoon period from September to November, followed by the monsoons (June to August). However, there is a considerable chance of landslides during this time.
Try sticking to the instructions offered by tour leaders and trek instructors to have a safe and sound trekking experience. Porters and helpers will carry most of the equipment and materials. You can even pay them extra if you want to offload your backpack. Try not to trek with a backpack that weighs more than 9 kgs.
Such high-mountain regions like the Goechala pass are speckled with unforeseen dangers. Thus, you should avoid roaming during the nights or strolling to far-off places by yourself. Since the entire trekking course is through an eco-friendly zone, you should prevent littering the campsites or the local sites and minimizing environmental impact.
Your Goechala Trek itinerary should be well-researched. During the trek, internet connectivity might be very feeble or absolutely nil. Hence, it would help if you kept a few contacts handy if you come face-to-face with an emergency.
- Police- 100
- Natural calamities- 03591-20271
- Fire- 101
- Ambulance- 102/202001
- Helicopter service- 03592-202634/03592-202352
- Army helpline- 03592-202228
- Border road organization-03592-202268/03592-203241
- Civil defense- 03592-202922
The Goecha La trek is one of the longer Sikkim treks available. In total, this adventure will take up to 9 nights and 10 days. The first and last days are typically spent driving from the hiking starting and end points. Driving time here can take up to 7-hours depending on the starting location. In-between this, you will enjoy 7-8 days of hiking and adventure.
The Goecha La trek itinerary is unfortunately not for the inexperienced hiker. This trek is graded as difficult. This is due to the undulating nature of the trek and the various mountains that must be climbed. It is also longer than most other Sikkim treks and has a total hiking distance of approximately 90km. As a result, you must be in great shape, have a strong level of fitness, and have high-altitude hiking experience prior.
The Goechala Trek covers quite a long distance of 65.7 km back to the starting point at Yuksom. This entire trek takes around ten days and nine nights to complete.
The trail to Goechla is quite broad, and there is no need to worry about its safety as long as one does not stray from the marked path. The Goechala Trek height can cause altitude sickness, so one has to be careful about that. The instructions of the accompanying guides must be followed. In the case of emergencies, one should exit by retracing the same path back to Yuksom. The nearest hospital facilities are available at Pelling.
The Goechala Trek difficulty is relatively high on the scale of difficulty levels. The rough terrain and extremely cold campsites demand you to be physically fit and ready to face any challenges head-on. Regular exercises and gym workout sessions can help you gain the stamina required. Walking, jogging, squats, and skipping are also helpful exercises.
The nearest railroad is at New Jalpaiguri (NJP), while the closest airport is at Bagdogra in the state of West Bengal. If you are a foreign national, you should get the Inner Line Permit (ILP) at the airport to enter Sikkim. From either of these two locations, cabs are available to take you to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. Once again, foreigners need to acquire a Protected Area Permit (PAP) here to trek in the Goechala region.
Indians do not need to stop at Gangtok; they can book a direct cab to reach the basecamp at Yuksom in Sikkim and stay here for the night. After getting the Kanchenjunga National Park entry permit early the next morning, the trekkers can start trekking towards Goechala. The trekkers will finally arrive at Goechala ViewPoint 1 at the end of the sixth day. The descent is faster, and by the end of the tenth day, one may return to Yuksom, marking the end of the trail.
Indians had the option to trek without a Goechala Trek guide earlier. Still, now, it is mandatory by the guidelines of the Forest Department to hire a guide for all groups of tourists, Indians, and foreigners alike. The officials will not issue the Kanchenjunga National Park entry permit until the guide's name is mentioned in the form. The difficult terrain of the Goechala-Dzongri region has prompted this decision.
Quick-dry clothes are essential for daytime trips, and jackets and sweaters to layer up with when it gets colder. Padded puffer jackets and fleece sweaters work best in these conditions. Thick, woolen gloves, socks, and ski caps should also be carried. Sturdy trekking boots with a firm grip and high ankle support are a must.
Pack light so you can fit everything into a 50-65 liters backpack and keep your money and electronics safely in a smaller purse for easy access.
A first-aid kit, toiletries, menstrual hygiene products, water bottles, torches, power banks, trekking poles, and travel documents should be carried.
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