Goechela and Dzongri Trek

Season: March to December

Without doubt this is the most popular Trekking -route in Sikkim. The route leads us through Kanchenjunga National Park offering not only fantastic mountain views but also a colorful spectacle of flowers in spring and summer. Through untouched forests rich in orchids and a great variety of birds and butterflies we trek form the subtropical through the temperate zone and up and beyond the treeline into the mighty alpine zones.
We trek either only up to the Dzongri-la-pass at 4415 m.a.s.l. or on to the Goechela-pass from where the word's third highest peak is towering right in front of us.

During trekking we stay overnight in simple lodges or in double tents. If you opt for the short trekking-route to Dzongri it is possible to stay overnight in lodges only, thus avoiding overnight in tents which is not everyones cup of tea.

Dzongri-and Goechela trek and both suitable for anyone who has got some experience in trekking and whose health is in good condition. Even if you trek slowely you can still reach the daily destinations in 4 to 8 hours. The daily routes are planned in such a way that not too much altitude is overcome in order to help avoid high-altitude-symptoms. We are accompanied by yaks or horses who help carry the equipment as well as by our trekking-team consisting of experienced cooks, porters and herdsmen.

Itinerary

Day	Program
01	Arrival in Delhi or Kolkata Transfer to guesthouse or Hotel.
02	Delhi/Kolkata-Bagdogra-Sajong (Rumtek) Flight to Bagdogra Ariport in West-Bengal. Drive by jeep through India's flatlands and into the Himalayas. Reach the Bamboo Resort in the midst of Sikkims country side in the afternoon. Overnight in The Bamboo Resort, Rumtek.
03	Sajong (Rumtek) See old and new Rumtek monasteries in the morning after breakfast. Rest in the afternoon. Overnight at The Bamboo Resort, Rumtek.
04	Gangtok Day-trip to Gangtok. See handicraft center, residence of Sikkim's Chogyal (King), orchid exhibition, view points, markets, etc. Overnight at The Bamboo Resort, Rumtek.
05	To the historic West of Sikkim Drive by jeep over Per Jeep Ravanla-pass into the western part of Sikkim. After visiting Sikkims only Bon-monastery we reach Pelling in the afternoon. Overnightin Hotel.
06	Wishfulfilling Lake Pemayangtse-Kechopelri-Yoksum (1780 m) After visiting Pemayangtse-monastery we reach the wishfulfilling lake by jeep. After a picknick by the lake we trek in approx. 3 hours through Lepcha-village and to a mountainstream from where we drive up to the village of Yoksum by jeep. Overnight in Hotel.
07	Yoksum-Tshoka (3050m) Though lush forest and over many streams the path leads in approx. 7 hours to Tshoka, the last permanent settlement within Kanchenjunga National Park. Overnight in hotel.
08	Tshoka-Dznogri (4020m) The five hours trek leads us through thick rhododendron forest and finally beyond the tree line to Dzongri. In case of good weather the view onto the lower valleys and the snow-capped peak of Mt. Pandim (6691m) is breathtaking. Overnight in lodge or double tents
09	Dzongri-Dzongri La (4415 m) Rest-day at Dzongri. Early morning take a 40 min. trek to the view point to see the sunrise at Kanchenjunga. Overnight in lodge or double tents
10-12	Dzongri-Tangshing-Samiti Lake(4200 m)-Zemathang-Goeche La-Thangsing Trek further north along mountain streams and enjoy views of Mt. Pandin to our right and Kabru Dome(6600 m) to our left. After reaching Samithi-lake the landscape turns barren and the route leads us along the glacier Onglakang. In the early morning we start to overcome the last steep stretch before Goechela. At Goechela we have to bend our necks backwards in order to see the peak of Mt. Kanchenjunga which towers right in front of us.
13	Tangshing-Lam Pokri On a rarely used route we take a side-trip to an alpine lake and stay by the lakeshore for one night. Overnight in tents.
14	Lam Pokri-Tangshing-Tshoka-Yoksum Return back to the lower valleys and to village of Yoksum. Overnight in lodges or double tents. At Yoksum overnight in hotel.
15	Yoksum-Tashiding-Sajong (Rumtek) On the way back we halt in Tashiding to see the idyllic monastery of Tashiding. A 40-minutes trek leads us to the hilltop where the monastery and many buddist monuments are located. Overnight in The Bamboo Resort.
16	Monastery of Ranka Day-trip to Ranka monastery by foot, mountain bike or jeep. Overnight in The Bamboo Resort.
17	Sajong-Bagdogra-Delhi Transfer to the airport Bagdogra and flight to Delhi or Kolkata.