Why The Goecha La Trek Should Be On Your Bucket List?

India is home to some of the greatest Himalayan trekking trails. The Goecha La trek in Sikkim is one of the most adventurous and exotic trekking destinations in India to be on your bucket list.

Located with a maximum altitude of 15,100 ft in the scenic West Sikkim region, the Goecha La Pass trek enables trekkers to explore rich flora and fauna of the region while passing through popular and majestic mountain peaks.

Check Goechala Trek itinerary with Bikat Adventures

Best Season: April to May and September to December

Highlights of the Goecha La Trek

The main highlights of the spectacular Goecha La Trek which will leave the trekkers awe-struck are as follows:

Why should a trekker undertake this trek?

This wondrous trek offers many unique sights and landscapes that are worth spending 10 days on this laborious trek. We have listed the top reasons why this trek must be on a list of every adventure junkie:

Goecha La trek is also called the Kanchenjunga Base Camp trail. The major highlight of this serene place is the breathtaking sunrise from the viewpoint at Goecha La Pass. You will also witness the glory of Mt. Kanchenjunga (the world’s third highest mountain) while trekking from Thansign to Lamuney. The first rays of sun hitting the mountain peaks feel like heaven, making trekkers mesmerized for a moment. Unbelievable views of Mount Pandim and its reflection on the alluring Samiti Lake will leave the trekkers gobsmacked. The stunning views while passing through the trek also makes it a photographers’ paradise.

This trek begins at Yuksom and you have to cross forest areas, rivers and streams to reach Tshoka. After crossing the pleasant rhododendron forest in Tshoka, the trekking trail moves towards the delightful meadows of Dzongri. The last campsite Lamuney further takes you through rocky terrain, as well as moraines. All these different and changing landscapes in one trek make this journey completely unique and memorable at the same time.

The majority of the population in Sikkim follows Buddhism and Hinduism. Plus, there is also an influence of Tibetan culture. You can experience all these cultures there by visiting different religious places, such as Dubdi monastery (the oldest monastery in Sikkim) and temples where natives worship different Gods.

The Goecha La trek passes through the Kanchenjunga National Park, which is the part of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. This particular region boasts rich flora and fauna. It is a biosphere reserve that’s home to different bird and wildlife species, including the snow leopard. The dense rhododendron trees cover almost all parts of Tshoka, where you can even find many unique flowers and plants.

You get the access to the gorgeous base camp in Sikkim, Yuksom. Besides Goecha la trek, this is the base camp for many other peaks like Tashiding and Dzongri. You can even trek to Kachupuri Lake from this site. Yuksom is surrounded by glorious mountain peaks – some of them are clad in snow almost throughout the year. Known as the ancient capital city of Sikkim, Yuksom also has the oldest Buddhist temple, where you can hear calming prayers every evening. This exquisite place is so mesmerising that you can completely immerse yourself in nature for the whole week without even realizing how fast the time would fly by. Yuksom can be easily reached from Gangtok and NPJ by taxi.

Preparation for the trek

Just like any other trek, you need to come prepared with the following essentials when coming for Goecha La trek:

You need to have the following permits to complete Goecha La trek:

Why waste time? Pack your backpacks and set out to explore the pristine trails of Sikkim. Goecha La Trek is a moderate trek for those who want to upgrade their trekking experience as you encounter changing terrain and untouched beauty of nature on this trail.