Goechala Trek

Goechala Trek

Region :- Sikkim
Duration :- 11 days
Grade :- Moderate to Difficult
Max Altitude :- 16,000 Ft.
Approx Trekking Km :- 90 Kms

Overview:

Goechala which is located in Sikkim is a popular destination amongst the adventure enthusiasts. You will get to see the lush green peak trails while on your Trek. The base camps are surrounded with magnificent peaks such as the famous Kanchenjunga peak which is considered as the tallest and stunning peak of the Himalayas.  Goechala Trek is a regular trek during which you will experience the cozy view of lush green flora and fauna and scenic beauty of Mother Nature. During your journey, you will get to see the colorful orchids, various species of birds, the Himalayan bear and the multicolored pheasants. The view of these will take your breath away. 

Normally the Goechala Trek will start from Yuksom and it will pass through Sachen pass. You will have to get through the conventional route of Dzongri- Goechala trail. The view of the ridge is attractive and full of thrilling activities. At Goechala pass you will get to view the breathtaking view of the mountains Kanchenjunga and Kabru. Throughout your Goechala trek , you will experience the essence of the beauty of the nature here. If you want to register for the admired Goechala Trek then the Indian trekkers must register themselves with Yuksom and a guide is must throughout your expedition to guide you through the difficult route. The trek requires almost a week’s time to get back to Yuksom. The important places to stop while on the trek between Goechala and Yuksom are Bakkhim, Sachen, Phedang, Tshoka, Kokchurong, Dzongri, Lamuney and Thansing.

Brief Itinerary

Goechala Trek Day 1: NJP to Yuksom 5,670 ft (6 hrs drive) (guest house)

Goechala Trek Day 2: Yuksom 5,600 ft to Sachen 7,150 ft.

Goechala Trek Day 3: Sachen 7,150 ft to Tshokha 9,700 ft via Bhakim 8,600 ft.

Goechala Trek Day 4: Tshokha 9,700 ft to Dzongri 12,980 ft via Phedang 12,000 ft.

Goechala Trek Day 5: Rest day in Dzongri.

Goechala Trek Day 6: Dzongri 12,980 ft to Dzongri top 13,675 ft , then to Thansing 12,900 ft via Kokchurang (12,000 ft).

Goechala Trek Day 7: Thansing 12,900 ft to Lamuney 13,600 ft.

Goechala Trek Day 8: Lamuney 13,600 ft to Goecha La 16,000 f) via Samiti Lake 14,100 ft, then back to Thansing.

Goechala Trek Day 9: Thansing to Tshokha via Phedang.

Goechala Trek Day 10: Tshokha to Yuksom via Bhakim and Sachen.

Goechala Trek Day 11: Leave Yuksom early morning and reach NJP by 4.00 – 5.00 pm.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

On the day one of the trek, you will have to travel by road from NJP to Yuksom which is 5,670 feet high above the sea level. It’s a six hours drive which may exhaust you. But you will get to relax in a fine guest house where you can take rest to prepare yourself for the next day’s journey. Your trek starts at Yuksom , a township at Sikkim which was once a capital of Sikkim. It is a beautiful and peaceful gateway into the trek. It has rich culture and heritage. This is the place for people who do not prefer busy streets of Darjeeling.  Before leaving Yuksom for Goechala Trek, you must get permission from the nearby police station to ensure your safety throughout the trip. You will also have to give the permit fees at the forest check post. The charges are around INR 600-700. These are charges for local tents, yaks and many other services.  If you are not an Indian then you are not allowed to trek alone, you need a partner along with you. You must get the trekking permit from Gangtok. All these formalities are completed by your trek agency, but all the documents are checked at the gateway of trek check post. You can get all the items necessary at Yuksom as there are many trek shops in this city. There is no need to carry all the things from your hometown.

Day 2

On the next day of your Goechala Trek, you will have to travel from Yuksom which is almost 5,600 Feet high to Sachen which is 7,150 Feet high above the sea level.  We take break at Sachen as the distance to Tshoka is very long and the journey is very tiring.  After leaving the check post, you will come across small huts and many beautiful fields. After crossing fields, you will reach at a V shaped valley of Rathong River. Your further journey will take you to the dense forest where you will need a torch as the tall trees block sunlight. Soon after you will reach the first bridge Pha Khola. During your journey, you will see the fierce falls of Tshushay Khola , a series of small waterfalls which join the Perk River. After walking 50 meters, you will cross an iron bridge over Tshushay Khola. After one hour of further journey, you will come across the Mentogang Khola River. Now, you are standing at 7100 feet of high altitudes.  After twenty minutes of walking, you will reach at Sachen and take rest in the huts built along the trail.

Day 3

On the next day you will move further from Sachen to Tshokha which is 9,700 feet high. You will have to travel via Bhakim which is 8,600 Feet high.  You will have to cover short distance today, but the altitude gain is huge. You will travel to Bakhim from over the bridge of the Perk River. From Sachen, you will have to travel for 45 minutes to reach near the bridge. The beauty of the river is pure and heavenly. When you reach at the wooden bridge over the Perk River, you will see many prayer flags.  This is the sign that you are nearer to the Goechala trail.  The trail steeply goes through the oak forests. Half an hour of walk will lead you to the point, where you can view colorful Rhododendrons.  From here, altitude gain is fast and the air becomes cooler quickly. The trail goes through a hill which will take you to Bakhim in half an hour. Take some rest and enjoy refreshments at snack stalls at Bakhim. After getting enough rest, you start your trek again to reach Tshoka. The path behind the rest house must be followed to reach to your destination. After climbing several ascents and descents, your trail will take you into the woods and after ten minutes, you will see the plateau of Tshoka. There is flat area for camping near trekker’s hut. You will have to follow the trek as that will help to lead out Tshoka. A small wooden bridge must be crossed which is over the pond. It is a peaceful spot worthy of a quick look as it has a picturesque beauty of mount Pandim touching the sky and dominating the other mountains.

Day4

On the next day after reaching Tshokha your next journey will be to Dzongri. Dzongri is 12,980 feet and your journey will take you through Phedang which is 12,000 feet high. This day is the main day of the Goechala trek. Like yesterday, you will have to cross the bridge over the pond and you will reach to the monastery. From this point, you will have to take the path leading right.  The way is very steep so you should take precautions while climbing. During spring season, the entire slope is filled with fiery red flowers making the view mesmerizing. After crossing several trails, you will hit a trail full of stones and pebbles. You will have to climb this trail to reach at Phedang in 20 minutes. This place is situated at 12,000 feet altitudes. Here, you will have lunch and get some rest. After taking the trail leading towards right, you will reach Kockchurang.  You will have to do some high steep climbing further to reach Dzongri.  This path must be crossed with high precautions as some mud patches are there which can be neglected. After an hour of climbing, you will reach at 13,080 high altitudes where you can suffer from altitude sickness due to low oxygen levels. You can get a small break and then climb a descent you will reach at 12,980 feet giving you the feeling of meadows and altitudes.

Day 5

After such tiresome journey while doing Goechala Trek, you will need to rest and relax. So on day five, after reaching at Dzongri, you can just sit and relax all day as no journey has been planned for this day.

Day 6

Next day you will have travel from Dzongri to Dzongri top which is 13,675 Feet high. Then you will proceed to Thansing 12,900 Feet high. Your journey will take you through Kokchurang (12,000 Feet high).  Thansing is a meadow situated at the same altitude of Dzongri. You will have to travel a descent slope of 1000 feet from Dzongri. The half an hours of journey will take you to the peak of the ridge from where you can see the peaks of Pandim, Kanchenjunga and other mountains. As you move down, you can get a scenic view of Dzongri top. Your trail will continue over a slope and eventually will take you into the forest of Rhododendron trees and shrubs where many little colorful birds will welcome you. Your last stop for the day i.e. Kokchurang will be visible to you after walk of 500 meters. At Kokchurang, there are trekker’s huts but no space to put up your own tents. The Prekchu River flows 50 meters away from the trekker’s hut so you can enjoy its beauty and its bank is perfect for camping. But your destination is Thansing, hence you will soon proceed for it via a bridge over the Prekchu River. After 2 kms of travelling, you will reach at Thansing. You can place your tents in the meadows and enjoy the cold night in your warm sleeping bags.

Day 7

On the next day of your trek you will proceed further from Thansing to Lamuney which is 13,600 Feet.  The path from Thansing to Lamuney is easy as you travel along the meadows which further heads to Goechala. The further journey is adventurous as you will have to walk over the rocky path. The steep mountain and ridge comes closer as you proceed further. After some time you will reach you to the campsite. The trail further gains altitude and heads to Samiti Lake. No camping is allowed at the lake so you can visit it and return to your campsite.

Day 8

The next day i.e. on eighth day, you will finally reach your destination from Lamuney to Goecha La which is 16,000 Feet high. You will pass through the beautiful Samiti Lake at 14,100 Feet. You will get back to Thansing the same day.  This will be the longest trek of your Goecha la trip. You will have to start early and leave Lamuney by 3 am. After 45 minutes of walk, you will reach at Samiti Lake.  The path is rocky all along with sudden ascent and a flat plateau. Getting up and beginning your trek early will help you to view perfect sunrise. You will have to climb the ridge which is on the top of Samiti Lake and on the side of a mountain. You will have to take precautions while climbing as the path is very rocky, narrow and steep. After two hours of journey, you will reach at the perfect spot where you will view the beautiful sunrise. It will be memorable for you to see Kanchenjunga and Pandim glowing in the morning sun rays. After that, you will climb down towards Zemathang. Zemathang is a bed of snow and sand, so the trail will be easy to walk. Once you reach Zemathang, Goecha La is one and half hours away from you. After reaching at Goecha la, relax for some time in the lap of nature enjoying its beauty. Store all the scenic beauty in your mind start your return journey for Lamuney and then to Thansing.

Day 9

On the ninth day, you will start your return journey from Thansing to Tshoka. You will pass through the enchanting Phedang. There is a direct trail for Phedang from Thansing and on your way, you will visit Dzongri. This journey will be exciting and enchanting as you will have to climb one mountain after other, maintaining the altitude gain of 12,000 feet. You will take the bypass trail which skips the forest. There is no altitude gain so your journey becomes comparatively easier. Along the way, you can see the beauty of the mountain Pandim. After travelling for almost six to seven hours you will finally reach Tshoka.

Day 10

On the tenth day, you will proceed to Yuksom while passing through Sachen. On the way return, you will get to see many breathtaking scenes of the nature. Your path from Tshoka to Yuksom will be easier to you as you have to climb down. Sachen can be reached quickly by climbing the steep descent. After crossing Sachen, your trail goes up and down losing altitude. After some small hillock climbing, you will finally reach at Yuksom.

Day 11

On the last day of your trek, you will have to start early in the morning from Yuksom to reach NJP by afternoon. You must reach NJP before 5pm to board your train at NJP railway station. So this is how you successfully complete your Goechala Trek and take many beautiful memories with you to cherish for lifetime.

 

Instructions and Guidelines

·         This is an eco friendly zone declared so you must not litter anywhere and carry your leftovers with you.

·         Avoid flowy and frilly clothing as it may restrict your movements.

·         To avoid falls and slip on the snowy surfaces you must wear shoes having firm grip. Do not wear casual or sports shoes.

·         Do not travel at night in any circumstances as it may land you in unwanted situations.

·         Always consult an expert trekker before you pack your backpack as a heavy backpack can reduce your speed of trekking.

·         Always follow the given instructions given by the authorities while visiting religious sites like monasteries.

·         Do not disturb or interrupt the locals while on your trek.

·         Always drink the water which has been properly boiled and purified and do not under any circumstances compromise with this habit as it will help you to keep your health low risk.

·         Do not consume heavy meal during the trek as it will make you tired early.

·         Always follow the instructions given by your guide or the trek leader in order to keep yourself safe and complete your trek successfully.

·         Always watch out for the updated weather reports so that you should keep yourself from getting caught in any natural wrecks.

Essential Information

Things to Carry:

• Woolen clothes, fleece and rain-proof jackets
• Insulating gloves, sleeping bag, goggles, backpack with a plastic or water-proof lining
• Trekking shoes, gumboots, stream crossing sandals and trekking stick
• Drinking water, bottles and water purifying pills
• First aid kit, medications (if any), energy packs and chocolate bars
• Torch light with extra pair of bulbs and energy cells
• Toilet papers, mouthwash and hand sanitizers