Being one of the famous trekking routes in Sikkim, DZONGRI GOECHA LA TREK offers a spectacular view of Mount Kangchenjunga, Mount Kabru and Kabru Dome. It is an unforgettable experience that leads to in search of wilderness. The majestic views are razor sharp offering jaw dropping sunrise and sunsets. It is photographer’s paradise. If you are looking for beauty and adventure, then Goencha trek is a perfect escape.
The lush Himalayan forest, its winding rivers, pastures, rhododendrons, is very few reasons to fall in love with the lovely Goechala Trek are endless. The trekking trail starts from Yuksom town, which is an important destination in Sikkim for its chronological implications. The opulent and traditional culture of Sikkim can be well explored here. On the way one can also spot a characteristic style of wooden railing close to the track which is quite delightful.
Dzongri is situated at an altitude of 4500 meters above the sea level and serves as one of the best trekking destinations in the country. You will keep on gazing in awe, the milky white snow peaks that makes it a splendid backdrop. A patchwork of green and gold patterned with blue – significant of an intangible impression, enclosed by the regal snowcapped peaks magnificent not very far away.
Duration : 11 NIGHTS / 12 DAYS
Max. Altitude : Approx 5000 meters
Grade : Moderate to tough
Season : March to June & Mid Sept to Mid Nov
Day 1: Arrive Bagdogra – Gangtok (Drive 5 hours)
Our representative will receive you at Bagdogra Airport and transfer you to Gangtok. Drive takes four hours with short tea break en route. Upon arrival at Gangtok, check-in at your hotel for overnight stay.
Day 2: Gangtok – Yuksom (Drive 6 hours)
Today, before sunrise take a short drive to Tashi View Point. The splendid view of sunrise is unforgettable and offers sweeping view of Mount Kanchenjunga. One can eyewitness the altering of hues of the Kanchenjunga and Siniolchu Peaks as the sun gradually travels from this view point along with the sight well-known monasteries of Gangtok, Phodong and Labrang.
After breakfast, drive down to Yuksom. The drive today is a long one but is a thought-provoking one for picturesque sight of curved valleys and the meandering rivers and of sequences the green vegetation of our hills. Upon arrival, check-in at your hotel. Spend the evening free for independent activities / at leisure.
Yuksom
It looks lush green, delightful and even unexplored, although it is often visited tourist destination in the state of Sikkim. It is situated in a serene, warm neighboring enclosed by majestic peaks and lush green forest. This trivial, but attractive village doesn’t look like a budding center of development, yet it has some attired facilities like hotels, restaurants, tour agencies etc. It’s the entry point for Kanchenjunga National Park and thus frequently visited by the trekkers and mountaineers from all around the world. In fact, many people think that the number of Indian visitors is far less than the foreign visitors. It is even referred to as Third eye of Sikkim and was a meeting point of three Lamas.
Day 3: Yuksom – Bakhim – (2744 mt.) – Trek
The path now goes through timbered forest, mountains abundant in vegetation and wildlife & through moss-laden woodlands of oak, spruce, chestnut, fir, pines, giant magnolias, different varieties of rhododendron and of course the well-known orchids. It is regarded as the botanist’ paradise. Not failing to recall the fauna, naturalists can sight numerous varieties of striking birds and butterflies. Among the animals are the Himalayan black bears, barking deer, samber, Marble cats, Blue sheep, Tibetan antelope, Wild ass, Himalayan wild goats, Red pandas and Musk deer at different elevations. We proceed early from the hotel at eight am as it is our first day’s walk. From the bridge of Rathong chu (river) the trek path is a stable hike till we reach the forest bungalow of Bakhim. This is a timberland cottage used mostly by the Himalayan mountaineering institute students and this place gets its name from thick growth of Bamboo. “Bakhim” (2744 metres or 9000 feet) known to the locals is the place of bamboo.
Overnight on tented accommodation and food cooked by our own cooks
Distance : 16 Kms
Time taken : 7 to 8 hours trek (including lunch break at Sachen)
Day 4: Bakhim – Dzongri (4030 mt.) – Trek
Sharp climb for an hour through the rhododendron and magnolia forest, we finally arrive at the Tibetan hamlet of Tshoka. Tshoka. It is a thought-provoking village with yaks scraping on one side, people nursing to their regular household errands. Years ago, the Chogyal gave consent to some families (who migrated from Tibet as refugees due to Chinese violence) to relax on the high altitudes near the Dzongri hills. As the Chogyal’s terrestrial prolonged right to the foothills of the Kanchendzonga ranges the king appointed some of the inhabitants to look after the regal livestock which scrapes even today at this ridges. The distance from Tshoka to Phithang is only four kms, but the course is uphill all the way crossing through pine forest, thick outgrowths of rhododendron trees. The trek takes normally four hours to reach this lovely lunch place. Phithang having height of eleven thousand feet is located on a trifling pasture with green grass and alpine trees neighboring, makes it a lovely scenic spot for vacationers or even people who love to take a lunch break. From here we can see the attractive altitudes of Pandim, Jopunu, Narsing and other slighter peaks.
Four kilometers and three hours away, each steps to Dzongri makes its way to the world of the renowned Kanchenjunga summit. The track makes it way uphill through the dense scrub among an elite and bewitching forestry of rhododendron to Deorali Dara‘ – the abode of Men and Mountains of God and Nature. Here you will speculate overwhelming sights of the summits of the Sikkim Peaks. These sandstone mountains are snow clad and offer the most captivating and breathtaking sights of the mountains. Straight-ahead is the third highest in the world- the legendary Kanchenjunga, in all its celestial altitude and magnificence, while on fade side 3 lesser mountains arc down in respect. The sight at dawn and dusk are colored in softest hues, which cannot be missed, it is a paranormal image of everlasting exquisiteness. Dispersed around are pigmy bushes of Cryptomaria Japonica, the parched leaves of which, the local people gather to offer as incense to their family Gods. All are calm, all is bright.
Overnight on tented accommodation and food cooked by our own cooks.
Distance : 9 Kms uphill.
Time taken : 7 hours trek , Lunch at Phitang
Day 5: Dzongri – Thangsing (3800 mt) – Trek
Seven kilometers from Dzongri, the four hours’ trek makes its way through pastures and valleys down the tunnel hints into the best-looking valley of Thangsing. It is positioned at the base of Mt.Tenzing ghang peak. Enclosed on all sides by huge mountains here, the gorgeous river penetrates the forest and offerings a captivating sight. To reach the camping grounds dwarfed in the massive valley, one marks a timbered bridge over the stream under the vigilant eye of imposing Pandim.
Overnight on tented accommodation and food cooked by our own cooks
Distance : 8 Kms downhill till river base and then slight uphill..
Time taken : 5 hours trek , Lunch at Thangsing Camp
Day 6: Thangsing – Lamune (4500 mt.) Trek
The trek upto Lamune is slow and easy trek upwards to the Chemathang valley. Our walk today is short so we have our hot lunch at the camp. From our camp Samiti lake is just 2kms which is surrounded by the massive mountains which stimulates the trekker to move onwards. This day after headfirst towards your tents we take a stroll on the ridges of the lake and as we go higher the impressive sight is really magnificent. Situated at the base of expansive Pandim, Samiti Lake is a sanctified lake for the local people and even for far nomadic visitors from the plains
Overnight on tented accommodation and food cooked by our own cooks
Distance : 5 Kms uphill
Time taken : 3 hours trek, Lunch at Camp
Day 7: Lamune – Samiti Lake – Goecha-La (5000 Mt.) Lamune Trek
Early morning (3am) after having some tea we start walking uphill towards Goecha-La. Chemathang is eight kilometers from Thangsing. Walking towards the renowned Kanchenjunga, right through the massive Onglathang Valley the spiritual admiration of the adjacent highlands fills the trekker with wonder going past impressive glacial lakes and many glaciers. Crisscrossing the unfastened rocks you will reach the old camp at Chemathang – a place so peaceful and composed that the segregation of the timberland penetrates right through the soul. Still higher and a little more trek, is the Goecha – La pass about 5 km away but takes a decent three hours trek. This is the northernmost and highest point of the trek. The climb starts through and over lichen enclosed moraine, the approach to the pass is precipitous and over rugged, trail-less terrain but rewards the climber with impressive sights and the closest too, of the legendary God of Sikkim interweaved with glacier, rivers graceful spread in revered segment. Monumental Kanchenjunga and its environs are no longer at a distance. You will be attracted to walk up further and touch the sky. After having our packed breakfast we walk back to our camp at lamune.
Overnight on tented accommodation and food cooked by our own cooks
Distance : 17 Kms
Time taken : 7 hours trek to reach the top and come back is downhill which takes us 4 to 5 hours. (Including stop for pack Lunch). 4am to 11am and back to camp by 4pm.
Samiti to Thangsingh : This is the return journey and is spent looking for rare high altitude birds and Blue sheep roaming in the timberland of high cliffs and snows, among the thick and low bushes.
Overnight on tented accommodation and food cooked by our own cooks
Distance : 8 Kms + 5 kms
Time taken : 7 hours trek to reach the top and come back is downhill which takes us 4 to 5 hours. (Including stop for pack Lunch). 4am to 11am and back to camp by 5pm.
Day 08: Thangsing – Tsoka (Trek)
It is a full day walk towards Tshoka village. Our way is mostly straight but few ups and downs all along the way, mostly through forest areas. We halt for our hot lunch at the fortification of Phithang and after lunch it is all downhill walk back to our beautiful camp at Tshoka. Overnight on tented accommodation and food cooked by our own cooks
Distance : 16 kms
Time taken : 7 to 8 hours trek ( slightly downhill or level trek till Pithang & downhill from Pithang). Enjoy Lunch at Pithang.
Day 09: Tsoka – Yuksom (Trek)
Take a relaxed stroll of about four hours brings you back to Yuksom. The meeting place of the three wise men. Here you can stop and get a full taste of the attractions of Sikkimese rustic life. Overnight in hotel Tashi Gang/
Distance : 18 Kms downhill.
Time taken : 7 to 8 hours trek , Lunch at Paha Khola.
Trek Ends ….
Day 10: Yuksom – Darjeeling (Drive)
Another long drive for six to seven hours and along the way we see the stunning monastery of Tasiding, a very significant place for Buddhists because conferring to the legends, the place was visited by the Buddhist master Guru Padmasambhava. Astonishingly, the area has been agonized many earthquakes and every time, the monastery was reconstructed and restored with the help of funds from the State government. The fine-looking structure has amazing colors and attractive Buddhist architecture. Many sanctified rituals are accommodated here and you should definitely visit the place to experience the local way of life! It of course needs an hour climb to the top. Our drive today crosses small towns like Legship, Jorthang town and Nayabazar checkpost from where we drive uphill towards Darjeeling town. Our drive from here is through the famous Darjeeling tea garden i.e. Tukvar and Singla.
In the evening free to visit the market.
Distance : 93 kms to Yuksum.
Time taken : takes 6 to 7 hours drive to Yuksum
Day 11: Darjeeling
Early morning drive to Tiger Hill to speculate the majestic views of sunrise at dawn. See how beautifully sun spreads its rays on snow clad mountains and changes its hues over time.
After breakfast we drive to Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre complex was established by Tibetan refugees in Darjeeling on October 2, 1959 after they shadowed Dalai Lama and absconded from Tibet. The immigrants embraced the attitude of self-help so that they could become self- self-governing and entirely acclimatize themselves in a foreign country, which they did elegantly.
After this wonderful visit we drive to the famous Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was established after the conquest of Mount Everest in 1953 for the first time in history, Edmund Hillary was honored by the Queen of England. And in India, the nation built the HMI in Darjeeling to celebrate the accomplishment of Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. Tenzing was the only other friend of Edmund Hillary to the summit. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was built as a accolade to Tenzing so that he could teach his expertise to all those who followed ascending activities in the Himalayas.
After Lunch we ride on the Famous Toy Train of Darjeeling. You should not miss a ride on the heritage toy train of Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. After all, this is the first public transport that was built by the British to make a train move along the vertical incline of the Himalayas and connect the lower plains with Darjeeling hill town. It’s not about just the tradition and the past; it’s also about feeling one of the manufacturing geniuses where many astonishing twists and zig zags had to be shaped to assign the steep slopes in the mountains. It’s also about relishing the magnificent exquisiteness of the Himalayas as you take a comfortable ride on this delightful mini train that runs on a tapered gauge track.
Return to Darjeeling and take a walk relaxed stroll on the Chowrasta (Main Local Market Street). Overnight, stay at your hotel.
Day 12: Darjeeling – Bagdogra – Departure
In the morning drive from Darjeeling to Bagdogra to board the flight for onward destination.
