Mt Kanchenjunga Goecha La Trek

Day 01: Arrive Kolkata 

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Arrive in Kolkata and upon arrival you will be met by our representative and transfer to the hotel. (Room will be booked from 1400 Hrs)

Overnight at the Hotel The Oberoi Grand (D)

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Day 02: Kolkata-Bagdogra-Gangtok

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After breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight to Bagdogra. 

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CCU/IXB        6E 797             ETD/ETA           1045/1155 Hrs

(Baggage allowance on this flight is 15 Kgs check-in and 07 Kgs hand luggage)

A spectacular flight past some of the tallest mountains in the world including Mt Everest and Mt Kanchenjunga.

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Drive to Gangtok for 5 hours. Known for its clean surroundings and temperate climate, this hill station of about fifty thousand people is the centre of Sikkim's tourist industry.

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Gangtok was a small hamlet until the construction of the Enchey Monastery in 1840 made it a pilgrimage center. It became a major stopover between Tibet and British India at the end of the 19th century. Following India's independence in 1947, Sikkim became a nation-state with Gangtok as its capital. In 1975 the monarchy was abrogated and Sikkim became India's twenty-second state, with Gangtok remaining as its capital.

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The precise meaning of the name Gangtok is unclear, though it is generally held to mean "lofty hill". Gangtok is also a centre of Tibetan Buddhist culture and learning with numerous monasteries and religious educational institutions.

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Day 03: Gangtok

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Early morning hike for one hour for a beautiful panoramic view of Mt Kanchenjunga as well as the distant views of North Sikkim.

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Later full day tour of Gangtok including a visit to Rumtek monastery.  It is a world Dharma chakra Centre and the seat of His Holiness, the Gyalwa Karmapa, who is the head of the Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism.  

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Day 04: Gangtok-Yuksum

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After breakfast drive to Yuksum.  The drive is through scenic mountains with rice fields and Buddhist flags adorning the roads.  The hamlet of Yuksam is set amidst pristine hills and lakes, where according to the historical records, it was here in 1641 AD, the first Chogyal (King) Phuntsok Namgyal of Sikkim was consecrated by the three wise lamas. Yuksam literally means the meeting place of the three learned monks. This was the first capital of Sikkim. The Norbugang Chorten and the Coronation throne are the silent witnesses to the event of 1641. Evidence of the enthronement ceremony can still be seen in the form of stone seats and a footprint of the Head Lama on a stone. The stone throne constructed for the great event stands today at Norbugang and has been declared a Heritage Site

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Evening hike to Dubdhi monastery for 45 minutes (one way).  It is a great hike on a rocky path and gets you ready for the big hike tomorrow.

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Day 05: Yuksum-Bakhim

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After breakfast start our trek to Bakhim.  It will be a great site to see yaks or horses coming to our lodge to get our gear. 

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It is a gradual  hard hike through the dense forest with many ups and downs. On the route we can see a variety of flowers such as magnolia, rhododendron, blue poppies and orchids etc. A steep hike at the end of the day brings us to the mist surrounded village of Bakhim. 

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Bakhim lies among beautiful alpine plants and Sikkim’s famed orchids. Several Himalayan fauna are found here and Bakhim itself has many rare varieties of birds and butterflies.

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Day 06: Bakhim-Dzongri

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After breakfast, the trek to Dzongri will begin. The trail takes us to the beautiful town of Tsokha whose inhabitants are mostly Tibetans involved in the production of cheese and some vegetables during the summers.

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The village also houses a small monastery overlooking a small natural pond at the upper end of the village. From here the trail climbs very slowly through a beautiful forest of rhododendrons on a well-marked path. We stop at Phedang (12,359 feet), for a hot lunch, which allows some views of the Himalayas. After lunch the trail climbs very steep towards Deorali, one of the best viewpoints of the Kanchenjunga.

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Day 07: Dzongri

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Full day is to rest at Dzongri.  If you like, a sunrise hike to the Kanchenjunga view point on Dzongri for magnificent views of the mountain is highly rewarding.

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Or you can also do a short hike towards Chowrikhang, the base camp of the Himalayan mountaineering institute is well worth a visit.

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Day 08: Dzongri–Thangsing

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After breakfast begin trek to Thangsing. 

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A gradual walk with occasional descents is followed by a steep descent to the Rangit River. After crossing the river on a wooden bridge, we start the climb through a very dense forest of rhododendrons, reaching the beautiful Thangsing meadow with Mt. Pandim and other peaks always in sight. 

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The rest of the afternoon we will take the opportunity to walk and explore this beautiful area. It can also be very cold as we are now very close to the high mountains.

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Day 09: Thangsing- Lamumi

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From Thangsing it is a gradual ascent of 08 Kms to Samiti lake (where camping is no longer allowed.). We will camp at nearby place which is Lamumi. 

We will do the excursion to Samiti lake 14000 feet, 45 minutes moderate climb and back to Lamumi for overnight.

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Day 10: Lamumi-Goecha La

This is the D day!  An early morning pre dawn start is highly recommended.  The first one and a half hour will bring us to the first view point. Spectacular views all around as we would be reaching here just in time for the sunrise.   If you are feeling a little under, this might be the place for you to return back to the camp.  Otherwise continue onwards towards the Goecha la Pass. After a steep drop of about 20 meters, (we may use ropes here), the hike becomes gradual as we traverse the rock sewn ground.  A gradual climb brings us to the Goecha La pass with spectacular views of Mt Kanchenjunga.

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A return trek to Samiti Lake where our crew will keep some hot drinks for us and we return to Thangsing. A long, but rewarding day for us.

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Day 11: Thangsing –Tshoka

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After breakfast hike to Tsoka. Through the Rangit River and along the Dzongri Ridge we will arrive at Phedang. 

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The walk is very beautiful, through a very thick forest with numerous stretches of short climbs and descent. Stop in Phedang for lunch. From Phedang descent to Tshoka.

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Day 12: Tshoka – Yoksum

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A long return trek all the way to Yoksum.  In the evening, it will be the time to say goodbye to our yak and camp crew as we celebrate after taking a hot shower in the hotel.

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Day 13: Yuksum-Darjeeling

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After breakfast drive to Darjeeling. Darjeeling: Standing high in the Himalayas at an altitude of 20424m, ‘Dorje Ling’, or place of the Thunderbolt, offers breathtaking views of snow-capped mountain peaks, with the Kanchendzonga rising higher than all the others. 

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Often referred to as the “Queen of the Hills”, it remains just as alluring with its tiny waterfalls, little villages and a narrow gauge railway track. Surrounded by World Famous Tea Gardens and snow capped mountains, Darjeeling remains one of the most exotic destinations. Graeme Westlake in his book ‘An introduction to hill stations on India’ refers to Darjeeling as having “A view Scarcely Unrivalled on Earth”.

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