If you’re looking for a breathtaking trekking experience, look no further than the Goechala trek package. This trek offers beautiful views of the Kanchenjunga mountain range and other prominent summits. You’ll also get to see the sunrise from the Dzongri top, which is a must-see for any trekker.
Goechala is a moderate to challenging trek that takes 7-10 days to complete. The trail is scenic, with rhododendron forests that bloom with pink and red flowers in March, April, and May. The tracks are made of wooden logs, making the walk a pleasant experience.
There are a few steep climbs and rough terrains on the trail, but the path is well-maintained. Make sure to pack according to the weather conditions and carry plenty of snacks.
Samiti Lake is another outstanding natural attraction of the Goechala trek. The view of the calm waters and Mt Pandim’s reflections are a sight to behold. Something fascinating about this trek is the dramatic changes in scenery.
The Goechala trek can be done in two different seasons – April to May (Spring) and October to November (Autumn). During monsoon season, it is not advisable to embark on this trek.
Witnessing the trek just once is like learning a few things about it. Kanchenjunga National Park is a moss-covered forest with a wide variety of flora & Fauna. The forest changes colors depending on the season.
Consequently, each season brings a different color palette to the trek. Indeed, the lighting on the route also varies according to the season. While spring has a romantic, dreamy appearance, autumn has a sharp, vivid appearance.
This trek is beautiful in the spring, when rhododendrons bloom, especially in April. The misty forests along the Goechala trail come alive with shades of scarlet and pink in spring.
Around Bakhim, the Rhododendrons begin to bloom. When you reach Tshoka, you will be astounded by its density and variety.
Rhododendron belt stretches between Tshoka (9,701 ft) and Phedang (12,083 ft). In this stretch, Rhododendrons are lined and laid out to form a Rhodendron tunnel where you can walk. Diffused sunlight filtered through the rhododendron flowers creates a magical ambiance.
During this time of year, snowfall is possible. As a result, the entire upper region of meadows becomes covered in white.
Rhododendrons do not bloom in autumn. This time, the brightness comes from an unexpected place – the dark, mossy forest underneath the brilliant blue autumn sky. As autumn approaches, the vibrant colors shift to deep reds and browns.
Haze is no longer in the air. You can see crisp views from Tsokha, Dzongri, Thansing, and ViewPoint 1 of the trek when you emerge from the dark canopy.
Stars illuminate the sky during this season. You should set out on the Goechala trek during this period, especially if you want to take nighttime photos.
To reach Goechala, you must first reach Yuksom West Sikkim. This is where the trek begins and ends. Yuksom is about 150km away from the tri-junction of Siliguri, New Jalpaiguri (NJP), and Bagdogra in West Bengal.
While Siliguri is the central city, NJP is its railway station, and Bagdogra is its airport. Both of these places are within ten kilometers of Siliguri.
Trains and airlines connect NJP/Siliguri/Bagdogra. Your destination will depend on how you travel.
You will arrive at NJP, Siliguri’s station area, by train. The majority of trains go to NJP from Kolkata. Additionally, the north eastbound trains from Delhi reach NJP without stopping in Kolkata. Both trains from Kolkata and Delhi tend to fill up very quickly. Therefore, it is good to purchase train tickets as early as possible.
By Flight: The nearest airport to Yuksom is Bagdogra. Bagdogra is the airport in Siliguri. Air connectivity to Bagdogra is good from Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad.
Alternatively, suppose flights are too expensive, and trains are complete. In that case, you can fly to Kolkata and take a bus to Siliguri. Travel time is approximately 14 hours. The bright side is that you get sleeper buses, and you don’t have to worry about winding roads.
Here’s how to get to Yuksom from Siliguri using this guide. Jorethang will be the junction where your trip will be split into two parts.
Siliguri to Jorethang: Siliguri-Yuksom can either be reached by private car or shared taxi. Hiring a private vehicle means that you don’t need to worry about getting Yuksom. The entire trip takes about 8 hours. The shared cab route will involve a change at Jorethang if you decide to take it.
Taking a shared car from the SNT bus station in Siliguri will take you to Jorethang. Siliguri to Jorethang is about 87 kilometers away and can be accomplished in about 4 hours. Next, catch a shared cab from Jorethang to Yuksom.
A shared cab from Jorethang to Yuksom leaves at 1.30 p.m. Make sure you reach Jorethang by noon. If you go to Siliguri at 7 a.m., you will get Jorethang by noon. This early departure may only be possible if you arrived in the city the day before.
After driving along the Teesta for about half an hour, you’ll reach Melli, the entrance to Sikkim. At Melli, foreign entry permits are verified at a small checkpoint. After Melli, you climb to Jorethang.
It is straightforward to spot the local taxi stand in Jorethang. Climb to the top floor of the taxi stand and ask. Drive from Jorethang to Yuksom should not take longer than 4 hours.
Important Note: There is no ATM service in Yuksom. So if you want to make any withdrawal, you should do it at Jorethang. There is a point known as Legship, but the ATM in Legship is totally unreliable.
However, if you are coming from Gangtok, make your withdrawal at Gangtok Itself.
Day 1: You reach Yuksom from any corresponding destinations like New Jalpaiguri Railway station (NJP), Bagdogra Airport, or Gangtok. You stay at a homestay in Yuksom with us overnight. Depending on your departure destination, you will travel 150km approximately.
Day 2: Goechala trek itinerary day two will take you to Sachen. From this day, you will start on foot. You will gain an elevation range of 2300 meters. You will walk through peaceful green woods. You will come across local rivers and streams. Distance from Yuksom to Sachen is 8km and can take a maximum of 5 hours on foot.
Day 3: You will begin your ascend from Sachen to Tshoka. The elevation range of Tshoka is 2963 meters. The total distance from Sachen to Tshoka is 8km, and the hike can take 5 to 6 hours. In the midpoint of the trek route, you will encounter another campsite known as Bakhim. The altitude of Bakhim is 2633 meters. You will take a short break here before continuing your ascend toward Tshoka.
Day 4: Climb from Tshoka to Dzongri is considered the hardest in the Goechala Trek route. You climb up to an altitude of almost 4,000 meters. Above all, the hiking trail is mostly up. The total distance from Tshoka to Dzongri is 8km. Route coverage time depends on the walking stamina of the trekker. Some can take more than 6 hours while some can reach within 5 hours.
Goechala Trek Itinerary Day 5: You will spend your day 5 Goechala trek itinerary at Dzongri. Around 4:00 AM, a guide will take you to the Dzongri top viewpoint early in the morning. You will enjoy the panorama of Mt.Kanchenjunga and other ranges. Besides, the sunrise is stunning from Dzongri Top. You will come down to the campsite from the top and, after breakfast, hike to Dzongrilla Pass with your guide. You should be able to complete your hike to Dzongrila Pass within 4 hours.
Important Note: If you feel unwell, then do not force yourself after this point. Return down to Yuksom because there are no easy checkout points after Dzongri in case of emergency.
Day 6: You will hike from Dzongri to the Thangsing campsite on this day. Though the route is not that challenging, some may have a problem going down to Kokchurung. Especially those whose shoes sole is in depleted condition. Uptill Kokchurung, the route feels like a roller coaster. After Kokchurung route to Thangsing is mostly up. The total Distance from Dzongri to Thangsing is approximately 7 kilometers and can take up to 5 hours.
Day 7: Goechala trek route from Thangsing to Lamuney Campsite is short. The total distance should be less than 3 to 4 kilometers. Trekkers should be able to reach Lamuney within 2 hours from Thangsing.
Day 8: This is the most important day of your Goechala Trek Itinerary. Above all, you also have to walk a lot on this day. Around 4:00 AM, you will start your climb towards Goechala trek Viewpoint in the morning.
Though the distance to the viewpoint is short from Lamuney, ascending to the Goechala viewpoint is harder. The total distance from Lamuney to Goechala viewpoint is 3km and can take two and a half hours.
Increased elevation range and low temperature can make trekkers uncomfortable on the route. You will witness Kanchenjunga nearby from the Goechala viewpoint. You will be standing below the base of the Pandim peak. Samiti lake is on the Goechala Trek route. The mountain’s reflection on Samiti Lake will give you a magical feel if the day is not windy.
You will come down to Lamuney, and after Lunch, you will further ascend down to Kokchurung. To be precise, you will be walking 9 km this day.
Day 9: Goechala Trek Itinerary Day 9 will bring you down from Kokchurung to Tshoka. You won’t be going all the way around to Dzongri. There is an alternative route from Kokchurung, which brings you to Phedang. You will ascend down further to Tshoka from Phedang. The total distance from Kokchurung to Tshoka must be 13km approximately and can take 5 to 6 hours to trekkers.
Day 10: Ascending from Tshoka to Yuksom must be the longest day on the Goechala trek route. Hikers will walk 16 kilometers down to Yuksom from Tshoka and take more maximum of 6 hours. After reaching Yuksom stay at Lovism homestay. It will be the end of your Goechala Trek Itinerary.
Day 11: On Day 11, you will depart from Yuksom, or if you wish, you can try Yuksom sightseeing.
