Shop

SHORT ITINERARY

Day 1 NJP to Yuksom.
Day 2 Yuksom to Bakhim (~14km)
Day 3 Bakhim to Dzongri (~14km)
Day 4 Acclimatisation at Dzongri (visit Dzongri top for sunrise, optional visit to Dzongri La)
Day 5 Dzongri to Thansing (~7km)
Day 6 Thansing to Lamuney (~3km)
Day 7 Lamuney to 1st View pt via Samity lake to Kockchurang/Thansing(~20km for the whole day)
Day 8 Kockchurang/Thansing to Tshoka (~17km)
Day 9 Tshoka to Yuksom (~18km)
Day 10 NJP drop.

DETAILED ITINERARY

D1 Pick up from NJP station / Siliguri. Drive to Yuksom takes around 6hrs. Reach Yuksom by afternoon. We will take an acclimatization walk around Yuksom town and visit Norbugang, Padmasambhaba statue, Kathok lake and Yuksom bazaar. Briefing about the trek in the evening.

D2 We will enter Khangchendzonga National Park to start the trek. The trail to Bakhim will pass through dense evergreen forest with numerous uphills and downhills, crossing 4 bridges on the way, 3 of them hanging bridges over Prek chu and Rathong chu rivers. The small campground of Sachen comes a while after the 3rd bridge, 8kms from Yuksom. Bakhim is 4kms from here, and the last stretch of 2.5km after the 4th bridge is steep uphill.

D3 Another day of mostly uphill climb. About 2km from Bakhim comes the small Tibetan village of Tshoka. You can notice a change in vegetation as you reach Tshoka, the dense pine forest changing to rhododendron and magnolia and views of surrounding peaks opening up. Tshoka also boasts a good population of magpies among other birds. Tshoka to Phedang is the rhododendron belt of the trek, you’ll walk though rhododendron tunnels with the trail underneath laid with tree trunks in patches. On a clear day, you’ll get amazing views of Mt Pandim, Jupono and Tenchenkhang from the tabletop of Phedang. This is usually the lunch spot. Fuel up and take some rest before starting for the last leg of the day, uphill to Deurali and then gradually down till Dzongri.

D4 Wake up early around 4am to start for Dzongri top to catch the sunrise. Today is an acclimatization day and a chance to recuperate for the tough climb of the previous two days. We take this opportunity to explore the valley.

D5 Mostly downhill trail today with a couple of gradual uphills and a steep downhill to Kockchurang where we go down to the riverbed of Prek Chu. All throughout the trail today you’ll have grand views of Pandim, Jupono and Tenchenkhang as we walk closer to them. Thansing is only a couple of kilometres from Kockchurang after crossing from the true right to true left of Prek chu and over a boulder zone. Thansing is a huge flat plateau surrounded with mountains.

D6 You can wake up early today to catch the sunrise from viewpoint in Thansing (about 45 mins from the campsite), or take it easy on your legs because tonight we’ll be starting at night for the ‘summit’. Thansing to Lamuney is an easy walk of a couple of hours over flat terrain. Soak in grand views of Mt. Kanchenjunga as you literally sit at the base of Mt. Pandim. Early dinner tonight to get some sleep before the summit push.

D7 We start our day at 2am as we put on our headlamps and walk towards Goechala. The walk is mostly over flat land with a couple of uphills as we cross Samity lake. We’ll start seeing the sky getting lighter and catching colour as we approach our destination where we are greeted with an amphitheatre of 6000 and 7000m peaks with the crown jewel of Mt. Kanchanjungha.
After sunrise, we walk back and spend some time near Samity lake. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot blue sheep in this region. Grab your breakfast as you savour the last grand views of Kanchenjungha in this trek. The trail for the rest of the day is the same one we had taken to come up. Kockchurang also boasts a unique taste of camping by the river as you watch the sundown over Mt. Pandim.

D8 Today’s walk can be divided into two clear parts. Uphill till Phedang and downhill till Tshoka. You’ll walk past numerous small streams and waterfalls with Pandim peeking on your left every now and then.

D9 On the last day of the trek, we will follow the same route we had taken on day1, crossing the 4 bridges on our way to Yuksom.

HOW TO REACH

Siliguri is well connected by train (NJP station) or by flight (Bagdogra airport) to the rest of the country.

FITNESS REQUIRED

Good level of fitness required. Cardiovascular and aerobic capacity should be high as well as being mentally strong. We recommend that you have prior experience of treks before starting for Goechala. Our trek leaders will regularly monitor you for signs of AMS.

WHY THIS TREK

Goechala trek offers the grandest sunrise views especially from Dzongri top and Goechala view point. Apart from that the range of flora and fauna is vivid on this trek. April is a good time if you want to see the rhododendron blooms colour up the trail in all shades of pink and red; while on the other hand the month of November, though colder, offers you crisp and unhindered views of the peaks.

CONS

Physically demanding on the trail to Dzongri. If not properly acclimatized you might have to return with our evacuation team from here.

BEST TIME

March for snow. Mid April for rhododendron. Mid October-November for clear views.