Goechala Trek – An 8-day trek to discover yourself.

If you love spectacular landscapes, nature and wilderness, adventure sports, food and culture, Sikkim offers you all this – and a little more! Of the many beautiful places you visit in Sikkim, the GoeChala campaign must be one of the best. Thanks to the perfect combination of natural beauty and shiny culture, raw adventures and shiny landscapes, it will certainly captivate you and will surprise you throughout your life. Here, I share my experiences of finishing one of the most picturesque and adventurous campaigns of the Goechala Trek in the Sikkim Himalayas.

I travelled by train to NJP. It was great to see how every smile shines through the excitement of the Goechala Trek. We arranged a comfortable car for the journey. It was around 150 km from the NJP station. It was a hot day in NJP.

The temperature suddenly changed when the GAT was exceeded. Our driver was a resident of Yuksom. He shared interesting facts and nearby locations of Yuksom, the first capital of Sikkim. We arrived at Yuksom and enrolled in a hotel near the main bazaar.
After a brief briefing and a delicious dinner, we called it a day.

Tips 1 –

The rest and sleep that have been corrected before the start of the train are the most important parts. Long journeys to the mountains are tiring, and sometimes strange flight times mean a disturbed sleep cycle. Relax, stay hydrated, prepare your bag for the night, and sleep on time..

Day 1 Yuksum to Sachen

It was a pleasant morning. After breakfast, we meet our guide and, along with other staff members. Collectively, the staff completed the Goechala trek over 25 times. With some time to spare before we embarked on the trail, we wandered through the streets of Yuksom and engaged with a few locals. At around 9:30 am, the staff loaded our backpacks, and we prepared to begin our trek. We walked through the charming streets of Yuksom town for about thirty minutes. It was fascinating to observe the serene and beautiful houses adorned with vibrant flower plants in their yards. We paused at the Yuksom check post and the Kangchenjunga interpretation centre prior to commencing our hike towards Sachen, our initial campsite on the trek. The interpretation centre, operated by the forest department, boasts an impressive collection of photographs showcasing Kanchenjunga National Park. The trail meanders through the village for a while, runs alongside the picturesque valley, and leads to the entrance gate of Kanchenjunga National Park after crossing the ‘Pha Khola’ Bridge. The walk through the forest beside the ‘Prek Chu’ (River) was pleasant yet dry, with a gradual ascent in altitude. At Sachen, a tent made by our staff with a hot pillow and sleeping bags.

Overview of Sachen

The camping area in Sachen is enveloped by dense jungle, and we were unable to see any mountains from this location. Nevertheless, it was an ideal spot for stargazing, away from the noise of the city. I felt somewhat apprehensive about sleeping in a tent within a dense forest. I slept soundly, thanks to the thick foam mattresses and warm sleeping bags provided by the Purang and their team.

Tips 2 – Spending the night in a tent can be quite uncomfortable, particularly for those who are claustrophobic or new to camping. To enhance your experience, leave the zipper of the ventilation cover slightly open to promote air flow. Wearing thermals at night will help keep you warm. The quality of your tent, sleeping bag, and mattress can significantly impact your comfort, so always choose a provider that guarantees high-quality gear.

 Day 2 Sachen to Tshokha via Bakhim

Journey from Sachen to Bakhim

It was a beautiful sunrise with birds chirping in the dense. We slept well last night, and everyone woke earlier, resonating with their energy. We had done our breakfast and drank warm water for digestion. We begin to start our trek towards Tshokha. It is a little bit upright to the Bakhim. We walk through the rhododendron forest. We passed the bridge and the river. Meanwhile, the temperature drastically dropped, and the hike was getting steeper. As we reached Bakhim, there was a small tea shop, and more importantly, the place where we got the mobile tower to reach out to the family members and friends.

We’ve had our lunch from Bakhim and are moving forward to Tshokha. It was an hour journey from Bakhim. It’s a mesmerizing view in the forest. Only you and Mother Nature, and no one else, Tshokha is a beautiful place for chilling out, and we saw Mt. Pandim with the glorious sunset. We spend a lot of time, along with a tea break, experiencing the serenity of nature.

Tip 3 – For mountain altitude sickness, please carry Diamox and chocolates.

Trek

distance – 8kms 

Time duration- 8-9 hrs

Day 3 Tshoka to Dzongri via Dewrali Top

A brief introduction about today’s trek from the guide, and it was the longest distance we covered in the whole trek. Early morning loaded our backpacks, and there is a beautiful pond just next to the monastery. Today’s journey was a bit difficult for us. We took Diamox for acclimatization. The trail was steeper than the previous day. We gradually ascended in the rhododendron forest. We walk through the wooden paths. As we are climbing up the wooden steps, the forest becomes dense. We had some physical challenges, and along with scenic beauty, always passed through out the journey.

After we reached Dewrali top, we saw the open ground and 360 view from the ground surrounded by mountains covered with snow peaks. There is a small hut where trekkers can rest and a beautiful launch spot. From Dewrali top, a 3.5-hour journey to reach Dzongri. Post lunch, the trail was more difficult, and we faced breathing issues. We followed the instructions which is given by the guide. It is more challenging to climb up and reach Dzongri. By encouraging us and with the help of the guide, we reached Dzongri before the weather turned bad.

Day 4 Dzongri top to Thangsing via Kokchurang

It was midnight, we woke up and had a tea, and walked in the dark. We saw the lighting of Sikkim town from the Dzongri La, and then moved forward to Dzongri top. I was so excited to see the first view of Kanchenjungha. We reached around 5 am at Dzongri top. I saw the entire range of Kanchenjungha with the first ray of sunlight; it was glowing like gold. The eyes lie in the beauty of nature. We saw 180-degree views of the entire Karbu range, along with Kalapathar and many other mountains. We did lots of photography and videography, and suddenly, descended to the hut for a heavy breakfast and moved forward to Thansing.

Began to hot the trail to Thansing

Post breakfast, we left Dzongri and moved forward to Thansing. Today’s trail is a little bit easier because we walk through the valley, and it surrounds beautiful and phenomenal mountain peaks. We suddenly stopped and took a rest after that descent slope started, and we were about to meet the Prek Chu river. We saw a crystal-clear water streamlining flowing across the mountain. This was a beautiful place where we had lunch in nature, and the place name called Kokchurang.

After lunch, we moved on to our next goal, the Goechala pass. We walk through the drizzle of boulders beside the Prek Chu. We crossed many water streams. In the afternoon, we reached Thansing. A beautiful valley where we saw Mt Pandim and Thenzing Khang. Tandsing is a beautiful valley where we saw Mt. Kanchenjunga and Mt. Pandim. There were a few trekkers’ hats in this valley. The campaign area in Thangsing, an open ground surrounded by dense forest, and the Prek Chu river flows just beside the ground. Mt. Kanchenjunga peaking up next to the MT. Kabru.

Day 5 Thangsing to Lamune

It was a delightful morning, and we awoke profound sound of the Prek Chu river.  This part of the trek was definitely the highlight for us! We were strolling along a nearly flat trail, surrounded by vibrant meadows that seemed to come alive with color. With every step, the majestic mountains drew nearer, and before long, we found a perfect spot where we could see the Lamuney campsite in the distance. Since we had some time to spare before lunch, we decided to soak in the beauty of the meadows. The thrill of catching a glimpse of Mt. Kangchenjunga was almost overwhelming, and our energy was through the roof, fueled by the adrenaline. We even danced at an altitude of nearly 15,000 feet, grooving to some catchy Punjabi and Nepali tunes, all while capturing those unforgettable moments in our hearts, minds, and cameras. We had an early dinner because we needed to set off around 3:00 am to reach Goechala viewpoint 1 and witness the first rays of sunlight illuminating the stunning peaks of the Kangchenjunga Range.

Day 6 Lamune to Goechala Sumit 1 via Sumati Lake to Phedang

It was midnight when we started the trek to Goechala View Point 1. It was difficult when were temperature was frosty. We drank Coffee and moved forward. It was a vigorous journey to get there; the wind blast was painful to traverse the journey. The hike was longer and steeper, and also breathtaking. We moved closer to the glacier, and the wind blasts became more painful. We saw the entire Kanchenjanga range, Mt. Pandim, Goecha peaks, and many other mountains. 

Day 7 Tshokha to Sachen

Day 8 Sachen to Yuksum