Sikkim Goecha La Trek Itinerary

You will be taken to the airport as per your flight to Bhadrapur. Upon reaching Bhadrapur, you will begin your scenic drive towards Darjeeling. After reaching Darjeeling, you will be taken to your hotel where you will stay for the night. 

After having breakfast, you will go on the guided sightseeing tour in Darjeeling. You will visit the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Observatory Hill, and the famous Everest Museum. Further, you will also visit the Padam Naidu Zoological Park, where you will get to observe the rare red panda, Himalayan Black Bear, and Royal Bengal Tiger. You will then visit Happy Valley Tea Garden to try Darjeeling’s world famous tea. Later, in the late afternoon, you will visit Dali Gompa where you can see monks chanting and playing their ritualistic music.

After having you will begin your drive towards Pelling in a private tourist bus/van. The drive will be smooth and scenic. On the way, you will get to see rivers, Himalayan mountains, and small settlements. Upon reaching Pelling, you will move to your hotel where you will stay overnight.

You will begin your drive towards Yuksam after having breakfast. The drive will be scenic. On the way, you will stop at Khecheopalri Lake, also known as Kha-Chot-Palri (meaning the heaven of Padmasambhava). This is a holy lake for both Hindus and Buddhists. Moreover, at 6,000 feet this lake is also believed to be the emanation of goddess Tara, blessed by Guru Rinpoche. After spending some time at the lake, you will drive to Yuksam.

After doing daily rituals, you will begin your trek towards Tshoka. You will ascend uphill along the Rathong river gorge through a dense forest of rhododendron, fern, magnolia, and several varieties of orchids. On the way, you will get to listen to the sweet chirping of birds along with the appearance of monkeys. The trail will ascend all the way up to the Tshoka where you will stay for a night in tented camp. 

Leaving Tshoka behind, you will ascend steeply through a beautiful forest of rhododendron. The trail is very impressive and well-managed. You will reach Phedang where you will take a small break and continue trekking past the 4,000 meters mark. As you will trek, the vegetation becomes to be scattered. You will reach Dzongri in the afternoon and set your camp. After that, you will ascend to a meadow to see captivating views of Rathong, Kabru, Koktang, Simvo, Kanchenjunga, and Pandim. You will return back to your camp for the night stay.

You will begin ascending along with gorgeous landscape view. You will reach ridge 4,115m, to witness an atoning view of Mt. Kanchenjunga and Pandim. Ridge is marked with colorful prayer flags and chhortens. After spending some time on the ridge, you will descend through lovely rhododendron forests to reach the Prek Chu River located at 3,749 meters. You will have lunch here with superb views of surrounding sceneries. Further, you will cross a river and ascend through pine trees to reach Thangshing where you will stay overnight in the tented camp.

Today, the trail is going to be comparatively easy. You will ascend slowly and further, trek along the river bank of the Prek Chu River. You will reach holy Samiti Lake, an emerald-green form of water nestled amidst the colorful prayer flags.

Today is going to be the most exciting day as you will cross thrilling Goecha La Pass located at 5,002 meters. You will wake up early in the morning and begin ascending on the Zemathang Plateau. You will trek across the plateau beneath the shadow of Pandim. You will reach at 15,700 feet from where you can see spending snowy and icy glaciated lake down. Further, you will trek on the well-trodden path and reach the Goecha La Pass marked with several colorful prayer flags. You will get to see breath-taking views of the world's largest mountains from this pass. After spending some time on the pass, you will descend all the way down to the Kochrung to stay overnight in the tented camp.

You will wake up early in the morning to see the gorgeous sunrise from a ridge behind our campsite. After that, you will have breakfast and begin trekking back on the same trail. You will descend down to the Prek Chu and trek through a forested trail to reach Phedang. You will stop for the lunch here and again descend on a steep trail to reach Tshokh. You will stay overnight in the tented camp.

After having breakfast, you will trek back on the same trail to reach Yuksam. The trail will present gorgeous sceneries. Upon reaching Yuksam, you will check-in your hotel and have lunch. Later, you will explore the region and stay overnight in the hotel. 

After having breakfast, you will begin your drive towards Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim. You will drive through Rabongla (or Ravangla) and the scenic tea gardens of Sikkim, including Temi Tea Estate. On the way, you will stop to have a rejuvenating cup of tea and continue your drive to Gangtok. In the evening, you will explore around Gangtok and stay overnight in a hotel.

After having breakfast, you will go on the guided sightseeing tour. You will visit the famous Tibetan Buddhists monastery, the Rumtek Monastery. This monastery is also widely known as the Dharma Chakra Centre built by the 16th Karmapa. Later, you will visit Enchey Monastery and in the evening, you will explore the rest of the Gangtok city. Overnight in the same hotel.

After having breakfast, you will drive back to Bhadrapur and take your flight back for Kathmandu.