Nestled in the majestic arms of the Himalayas, Goecha La offers visitors a wild, charming and undiscovered beauty. This place is like a vivid natural picture with colorful flower clusters, majestic waterfalls next to towering snow-capped mountain peaks.
Goecha La mountain has an altitude of 4,940 m, located in Kanchenjunga National Park and is covered by dense forests and diverse ecosystems.
Goecha La is not only the most beautiful trek in Sikkim but also one of the top 10 most beautiful treks in India. From here, visitors have the opportunity to admire Kanchenjunga - the 3rd highest mountain in the world (8,586 m) at the closest distance. With an altitude of 4,940 m at the highest point (Viewpoint 1), Goecha La promises to bring an extremely difficult challenge to those who are passionate about conquering, and at the same time is a test of courage for adventurous hearts.
The natural picture at Goecha La appears vivid with colorful flower clusters, magical waterfalls or snow-capped mountains sparkling from afar.
As one of the members of the conquest team, Ms. Nguyen Xuan Hong (Trip Planner, Hanoi) said: "This is the highest point I have ever trekked, it was quite a big challenge for me and the whole team, because no one in the team had ever been to such a height. Before the trip, everyone was quite worried about altitude shock."
Having participated in many different trekking routes in and out of the country, Goecha La is considered by Ms. Hong to be a difficult trek.
Health is essential for difficult treks
Before setting foot on the challenging Goecha La journey, Ms. Hong and her teammates spent months preparing carefully. They were aware that conquering the height of 4,940 m was not simple, requiring a strong physique, a strong spirit and knowledge of how to prevent altitude sickness.
Sharing with Travellive reporter, Ms. Hong added: "To prepare for dealing with the altitude, our group encouraged each other to exercise seriously before going, eat nutritious food, learn about altitude sickness, and prepare enough medicine."
To conquer these treks, participants must be in good health.
During the journey, the group always maintained a moderate pace, combined with reasonable rest and adequate water intake to ensure health. Joy exploded when all members of the group successfully completed the goal of conquering Viewpoint 1 at an altitude of 4,940 m, a memorable record for them.
The Unsung Heroes of the Goecha La Trail
The Goecha La journey is made more complete with the enthusiastic and dedicated support of the porters, tour guides and chefs accompanying the group. Despite the language barrier, they always try their best to serve tourists attentively. The image of the porters diligently setting up and dismantling tents in the cold rain and snow, or carefully carrying luggage for tourists makes anyone feel moved.
The majestic natural scenery captivates people's hearts.
"Our group had a total of 12 people, but the support team was also equivalent (2 tour guides, 1 chef, 3 support staff, 2 horse riders) and about 15 horses accompanied to carry tents, food and personal belongings for that many people for more than a week. They worked very hard, although they could not communicate much, they always tried to serve the guests attentively, everything was done quickly and tried to finish before the guests arrived," said Ms. Hong.
The route is challenging but with a dedicated and enthusiastic support team, we are given more motivation and strength to conquer.
Compared to other treks in Nepal with developed teahouse systems, Goecha La offers a completely different experience. The lack of services along the way forces visitors to carry their own tents and many other personal items, leading to bulky luggage and a large number of support staff.
"In short, the trip would have been difficult to succeed without their support," Ms. Hong emphasized.
Sunrise on the Kangchenjunga range
To be able to watch the beautiful sunrise at Viewpoint 1, the whole group had to wake up very early, around 1:30 am. In the middle of the snowy night, the sky was full of stars, the scene was extremely sparkling and magical. However, the bone-chilling cold and the nervousness of the challenge ahead made Ms. Hong and a few of her companions unable to sleep.
As departure time approached, the knocking on the tent door and a cup of hot tea from two Indian friends in the support team was like a word of encouragement, giving strength to everyone in the group for the arduous journey ahead.
The starry sky and towering snow-capped mountains are an unforgettable sight.
"When I stepped out of the tent, what appeared before my eyes was a sky full of stars and a range of snow-capped mountains, truly beautiful and magical. The previous days had been rainy, snowy and foggy so I could barely see the mountain peaks, but this time everything appeared so close, it felt like I could touch it. Everyone and I were very happy, took a lot of photos and our spirits were also high before starting the trip, because we felt that today's sunrise would be very beautiful," Hong emotionally recalled.
The journey to conquer Viewpoint 1 was not easy. The whole group had to travel a long, dangerous distance at an altitude of 4,940 m, requiring strong physical strength and a strong spirit. Under the flickering light of the flashlight, Ms. Hong and her teammates followed the trail, moving forward step by step. Darkness covered the surroundings, only the sound of panting and footsteps echoed in the quiet space.
Resilient people on the journey to conquer Goecha La.
However, no one in the group gave up. They encouraged each other, together they overcame the challenges and moved forward. Their perseverance and team spirit helped them overcome the challenges, and then burst into joy when the first rays of sunlight appeared on the Kangchenjunga range. The sunrise on Goecha La is not only beautiful because of its brilliant colors but also because of its magic and mystery, making anyone who sees it feel like they are lost in another world.
Walking in the white snow...
Prepare carefully for a long journey
According to Ms. Hong, for tourists who do not have experience trekking for long periods, especially abroad, careful preparation is extremely important. Thermal jackets, down jackets, waterproof clothes and shoes are essential items to keep the body warm in snowy environments.
In addition, because Indian food is quite difficult to eat and meals during the trek are all vegetarian, visitors should prepare some spices and Vietnamese food such as noodles, pho, canned meat, sesame floss to supplement nutrition. At the same time, it is necessary to note to instruct the group's chef to adjust the spices to suit Vietnamese taste.
Snow-capped mountains on the road.
Ms. Hong shared: "Our group's mantra is: No Masala (a typical Indian spice that is quite difficult to eat), less spicy, less salty (Indians often eat spicy and salty)."
Choose the right time
The two best seasons to conquer Goecha La are spring (April - May) when rhododendrons bloom and autumn (September - October) with clear blue skies, little rain and mild weather. Autumn is also considered the most stable time for trekking activities here.
And don't forget to watch the wildlife here.
A basic itinerary for this trek would be as follows:
- Day 1: Fly to Kolkata (Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have direct flights to Kolkata by INDIGO). Then fly to Bagdogra. Take a car to Yuksom
- Day 2: Trek Yuksom - Tsoka (3050 m) 14 km - Camp.
- Day 3: Trek Tsoka - Dzongri (4040 m) 12 km - Camp.
- Day 4: Dzongri top to watch sunrise - then Trek to Thangsing (3900 m) 13 km - Camp.
- Day 5: Trek Thangsing - Lamuney (4100 m) 3.5 km - Camp.
- Day 6: Trek Lamuney - Goecha La then return to Kohchurang - Camp.
- Day 7: Trek Kohchurang - Tsoka 17 km - Camp.
- Day 8: Trek Tsoka back to Yuksom. Pick up to Siliguri.
- Day 9: Fly Bagdogra - Kolkata and fly back to Vietnam.
