VI
EN
Nestled within the majestic embrace of the Himalayas, Goecha La offers visitors a pristine, captivating, and largely undiscovered natural beauty. It resembles a vibrant natural painting, with colorful flowerbeds, majestic waterfalls, and towering snow-capped peaks.
Mount Goecha La, with an altitude of 4,940 m, is located within Kanchenjunga National Park and is covered by dense forests and a diverse ecosystem.
Goecha La is not only one of the most beautiful treks in Sikkim but also one of the top 10 most beautiful treks in India. From here, trekkers have the opportunity to admire Kanchenjunga – the world's third highest mountain (8,586 m) – at the closest distance. With a height of 4,940 m at its highest point (Viewpoint 1), Goecha La promises to be an extremely challenging trek for those who love to conquer mountains, and a test of courage for adventurous hearts.
The natural landscape at Goecha La comes alive with vibrant clusters of colorful flowers, enchanting waterfalls, and snow-capped peaks shimmering in the distance.
As one of the members of the expedition, Ms. Nguyen Xuan Hong (Trip Planner, Hanoi) said: "This is the highest point I've ever trekked, it was quite a challenge for me and the whole team, because no one in the team had ever been to such an altitude before. Before the trip, everyone was quite worried about altitude sickness."
Having participated in many different trekking routes both domestically and internationally, Hong considers Goecha La to be a particularly challenging one.
Good health is essential for challenging treks.
Before embarking on the challenging Goecha La trek, Hong and her teammates spent months preparing meticulously. They were aware that conquering an altitude of 4,940 meters was no easy feat, requiring strong physical fitness, a steely resolve, and knowledge of altitude sickness prevention.
Sharing with Travellive reporters, Ms. Hong added: "To prepare for dealing with altitude, our group encouraged each other to seriously train physically before the trip, eat nutritious food, research information about altitude sickness, and everyone also prepared enough medication."
To conquer these treks, participants need to be in good physical condition.
Throughout the ascent, the team maintained a moderate pace, combined with proper rest and adequate hydration to ensure their health. The joy was overwhelming when all team members successfully completed their goal of conquering Viewpoint 1 at an altitude of 4,940 meters, a memorable record for them.
The unsung heroes on the Goecha La trail.
The Goecha La journey was made even more fulfilling by the enthusiastic and dedicated support of the porters, guides, and chefs accompanying the group. Despite the language barrier, they always strived to provide attentive service to the tourists. The sight of the hardworking porters setting up and dismantling tents in the freezing rain and snow, or carefully carrying luggage for the tourists, was deeply moving.
The majestic natural scenery captivates the heart.
"Our group has a total of 12 people, but the support team is roughly the same size (2 guides, 1 chef, 3 support staff, 2 horse riders) and about 15 horses accompany us, carrying tents, food, and personal belongings for all of us for over a week. They work very hard; even though they can't communicate much, they always try to serve the guests attentively, doing everything quickly and efficiently, and trying to get everything ready before the guests arrive," Hong recounted.
The route was challenging, but the dedicated and enthusiastic support team provided extra motivation and strength to conquer it.
Compared to other treks in Nepal with their well-developed teahouse systems, Goecha La offers a completely different experience. The lack of services along the way forces trekkers to carry their own tents and other personal items, resulting in bulky luggage and the need for a large number of support staff.
"In short, the trip would be difficult to make happen without their support," Ms. Hong emphasized.
Watching the sunrise over the Kangchenjunga mountain range.
To witness the breathtaking sunrise at Viewpoint 1, the entire group had to wake up very early, around 1:30 AM. Despite the snowfall in the middle of the night and the starry sky, the scene was incredibly enchanting and magical. However, the bone-chilling cold and the anxiety of the challenge ahead kept Hong and a few of her companions awake, unable to sleep.
As departure time approached, a knock on the tent door and a cup of hot tea from two Indian friends in the support team served as a morale booster, giving everyone in the group strength before the arduous journey ahead.
The star-filled sky and the majestic snow-capped mountains create a scene that is hard for anyone to forget.
"When I stepped out of the tent, a starry sky and a majestic snow-capped mountain range appeared before my eyes. It was truly beautiful and magical. The previous days had been rainy, snowy, and foggy, so the peaks were barely visible. This time, they were all so close, almost within reach. My friends and I were very happy, took many photos, and our spirits were lifted before starting the trip, because we felt that the sunrise today would be very beautiful," Hong recalled emotionally.
The journey to conquer Viewpoint 1 was no easy feat. The entire team had to travel a long, treacherous distance at an altitude of 4,940 meters, requiring both physical endurance and steely resolve. Under the dim light of flashlights, Hong and her teammates followed the trail, moving forward step by step. Darkness enveloped them, with only the sounds of heavy breathing and footsteps echoing in the silent space.
The resilient people on their journey to conquer Goecha La.
However, no one in the group gave up. They encouraged each other, overcame challenges together, and moved forward. Their perseverance and teamwork helped them overcome the challenge, and they burst with joy when the first rays of sunlight appeared on the Kangchenjunga mountain range. The sunrise on Goecha La is not only beautiful because of its vibrant colors but also because of its magical and mysterious nature, making anyone who witnesses it feel as if they have stepped into another world.
Walking through the pristine white snow...
Prepare thoroughly for a long trip.
According to Ms. Hong, for tourists who lack experience in long-distance trekking, especially abroad, thorough preparation is extremely important. Thermal shirts, down jackets, waterproof clothing, and shoes are essential items to keep warm in snowy conditions.
Additionally, since Indian food can be quite difficult to eat and all meals on the trek are vegetarian, trekkers should prepare some Vietnamese spices and food such as noodles, pho, canned meat, and sesame floss to supplement their nutrition. They should also remind the tour chef to adjust the seasonings to suit Vietnamese tastes.
Snow-covered mountains line the road.
Ms. Hong shared: "Our group's mantra was: No Masala (a typical Indian spice blend that's quite difficult to eat), less spicy, less salty (Indians usually eat spicy and salty food)."
Choose the right time.
The two best seasons to conquer Goecha La are spring (April - May) when the rhododendrons are in full 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 take in 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 with INDIGO). Then fly to Bagdogra. Take a bus to Yuksom.
- Day 2: Trek Yuksom - Tsoka (3050 m) 14 km - Camp.
- Day 3: Trek Tsoka - Dzongri (4040 m) 12 km - Camp.
- Day 4: Watch the sunrise at Dzongri Top - then trek to Thangsing (3900 m) 13 km - Camp.
- Day 5: Trek Thangsing - Lamuney (4100 m) 3.5 km - Camp.
- Day 6: Trek to Lamuney - Goecha La then return to Koh Churang - Camp.
- Day 7: Trek Kohchurang - Tsoka 17 km - Camp.
- Day 8: Trek Tsoka back to Yuksom. A vehicle will pick you up to go to Siliguri.
- Day 9: Fly from Bagdogra to Kolkata and then fly back to Vietnam.
