Sikkim Goecha – La Trek

Duration for treks of this grade stretches up to go three (3) weeks. Trails generally go above 4500 meters and on a daily basis, you can expect to be walking for about 5 – 7 hours. And involves occasional difficult days. Expect ups and downs as well for there will be hills to climb as well.

The best seasons to trek the Yuksom To Goechala are Autumn (from September to December ) and Spring (March to May). The weather during these months tends to be clear and nice allowing us to enjoy the trekking to the fullest, and temperatures will drop considerably as you ascend higher every day. The nights are cold (between -10C to 5C) and the days are sunny and hot (between 10C to 20C). Mornings are usually clear, with clouds building up in the afternoon and disappearing at night.

In Gangtok & Darjeeling, you will stay at 3 star hotel where you can relax and Breakfast will be provided in the hotel and your accommodation will be on twin sharing basis.

Your accommodation during the trekking period will be tented camping. A tent will be provided for every 2 travellers with a foam mattress. There will also be a kitchen tent, dining tent, toilet tent, table, chairs and more for your comfort. If in case of a single by default, we will arrange a single tent for you at no additional cost.

We will provide three meals a day (B, L, D) during the trek. Since this is a camping trek, our kitchen crew will serve freshly prepared meals during the trek. We consider hearty and delicious meals as a key component to the overall success of our trip.

We provide boiled water for drinking purpose on all our Camping trek. During mealtime, you can ask the staffs to fill the hot water for you. We strongly discourage the use of single-use plastic bottles such as mineral water on all our trips. Carrying a hot water bottle is highly recommended.

Daily wake up calls will be between 6.00 am to 7.00 am while on the trek. The wake-up time and breakfast time will be decided a night before during the briefing time. The time table for each day will entirely depend on your walking duration for that particular day.

Before breakfast, you are required to pack your duffel bag as it will be loaded by the mules while you are having your breakfast. After 3-4 hours of walk, we stop for lunch mid-day. The afternoon’s walk is generally shorter and we usually arrive at our destination in time for afternoon tea.

We advise all our clients to get travel insurance that covers up emergency evacuation that may be needed in case of the occurrence of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) or any other reasons in high altitudes where there are no other means of transportation available. It is advisable to review carefully the insurance and its coverages before making the final decision. Carry proof of your insurance with you on the holiday and you must ensure that your insurance provides an adequate level of protection and covers you for the activities involved.

We request clients to keep the duffel bag weight under 15 kgs due to mules weight restrictions, allowing maximum of 30 kgs weight per mules. We provide 1 mules for every 2 participants. During the trek, clients are required to carry only a day pack containing essentials such as a water bottle, camera, sunscreen, spare jacket, etc. This light load ensures a more enjoyable trekking experience. Therefore, upon arrival in Yuksom, any additional luggage or items not needed during the trek can be stored at the any hotel in Yuksom.

Yes; a Protected Area Permit is required to explore or trek in protected areas within Sikkim. Which can be obtained through local travel agents registered in Sikkim, i.e. the permit can also be extended from the FRO, Gangtok and the offices of the Superintendent of Police of North, South and West Sikkim.

Which can be an Inner Line Permit (ILP) or a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to visit Sikkim on the strength of a valid Indian Visa and Passport. These permits can be obtained by showing a photocopy of the Indian Visa, passport and 2 passport size photographs along with the original copy of the ticket. The permit is issued on the spot for a period of 30 days without any delay on providing the photocopies of the passport and visa. And the permit can be extended from the FRO, Gangtok and the offices of the Superintendent of Police of North, South and West Sikkim.

We encourage you to get all equipment listed below for the trip and kindly ensure you check and try every equipment.

Clothing and Footwear

– Long-sleeved shirts
– T-Shirts
– Trousers
– Warm Jackets/Sweater/Pullover
– Waterproof jackets and trousers
– Thermal
– Inner wears
– Undergarments
– Warm socks
– Warm Hat, Gloves and Bandana/Scarf
– Down Jacket
– Sleeping bag
– Trekking shoes
– Slippers/Flip flops to wear at camp
– Duffel/Kit Bag
– Daypack 30-35 litres (To carry your sunblock, water, camera, waterproof jackets and others that you may require while trekking)

Important Documents

– Passport with visa and validity of 6 months after your trip completion
– 4 copies of passport size photos for permits and official formalities
– Travel Insurance (Please refer to the general information page for more detail about it)
– Flight tickets
– Credit cards in case of emergencies
– Driving ID or any other ID in case of loss of your passport.

(Please carry the photocopy of all the documents along with you and leave a copy to next of kin)

Others: Important

– Headlamps with extra batteries
– Sunglasses with UV protection
– Camera with charger or spare batteries
– A pair of trekking poles
– Water bottle one (1) litre
– Laundry bag to keep the dirty clothes
– Large plastic bags to keep the clothes dry
– Padlock
– Binoculars
– Reading materials, notebooks and pens

Toiletries and Hygiene

– Quick-drying towel
– Small face towel
– Toothbrush &Toothpaste
– Deodorants, Soap and Shampoo (Smaller bottle)
– Face and body moisturizer, Sunscreen and lip balm
– Hand sanitizer/Antiseptic wipes
– Hygiene products
– Basic first aid kit