About Place: Hike around Khangchendzonga National Park takes us to the whole new different experience as we hit thick pine forests, rivers, meadows, rhododendrons and spectacular views of higher peaks. With Kanchenjunga standing huge, right in front there is Goecha La at 5000 meters, the tear shaped Goecha Lake, Jaw-dropping sunrises and sunsets on the snow clad high Himalaya mountains. Right from the Day 1 at Yuksom to Goechala, you will go through an amazing journey with trails leading from steamy, subtropical forest with bamboo, luxuriant ferns and orchids to temperate forest bands with ancient oak and rhododendron trees before heading to the alpine meadows to get an uninterrupted view of the East Ridge of the mighty Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world.
Trip Highlights:
* Kanchenjunga 8,586m - World's 3rd highest peaks. With this trek, one can view Kanchenjunga massif standing tall right in front of you, at a distance
* Panorama of more than 16 peaks in Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal. Chomolhari, Narsing, Jupono, Tenchenkhang, Pandim, Simvo, Goecha Peak, Forked Peak, Kanchenjunga, Kumbhakarna, Frey, Rathong, Koktang, South Kabru, North Kabru, Black Kabru, etc.* Sunrise and sunset on the mountain peaks.
* Goecha La is at almost 5000m and Goecha Lake is at a higher altitude and adds thrill to the trek.
Few important points to note before you decide to register:Click Here
What is included in the tour
Cost Includes:
- Trek equipments like Sleeping bag, mattress, tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent.
- Nutritious, high calorie vegetarian food
- Guide, cook and camp helpers.
- Tented accommodation
- First Aid
- Forest Permission Charges
- Coordinator for the trek
- GST
- Adventure Insurance
What is NOT included in the tour
Cost Excludes:
- Any expenses of personal nature like phone call etc.
- Any air/train to reach Delhi and return from Delhi.
- Travel from Delhi to Dehradun.
- Any hotel accommodation.
- Horses with horsemen to carry your loads on the route.
- Your Accommodation or any other expenses before or after the trek schedule.
- Extra food apart from above mentioned things.
- Anything not mentioned above.
- Backpack 35- 40 Liters (You can choose to send it with horse/porter at actual cost)
Things to Carry List :
- Backpack (55 – 65 L) with sturdy straps and supporting frame. Quechua Forclaz 60 is a good choice.
- Daypack (20-25 L) – optional. Useful for summit/pass day, handy if you want to offload your backpack on the trek.
- Trekking shoes – Sports shoes are an absolute NO in trekking. You need Traction on Snow and Sport Shoes with PVC soles hardly justifies the choice. Ensure the shoes are well used before the trek. Forclaz 500 and Woodland are good choices.
- 3 pair of track pants (at least one should be synthetic quick-dry kind). Or 3 pair of cotton pants with lots of pockets. Track pants are light and we highly recommend them. Plus when things get really cold then layers of clothes matter.
- 3 cotton t-shirt with collar.
- One full Sleeve Sweater. A fleece jacket would be an alternative.
- A full sleeve thick Jacket.
- 4 pairs of Undergarments.
- 1 pair of Thermal Inners.
- 4-5 pair of Sports Socks.
- Woolen Monkey cap/Balaclava that cover the ear.
- Light weight Rain Coat/Poncho (to escape a quick burst of rain).
- Hand Gloves (water proof).
- Sun glasses – Buy the one which will cover your eyes well. Choose from Black, Green, Brown. Blue coloured Sunglass cannot block UV rays.
Avoid multi toned ones too. Sunglasses prevent snow blindness, and are mandatory for treks. - Sun Cap and/or Head-Scarf.
- Trekking Pole is mandatory.
- Light towel (a quick drying kind).
- Chap stick or Lip Balm.
- Cold Cream and Sun Screen Lotion (SPF 40+).
- 2 Water bottles (1 L each). Do not carry packaged water bottles.
- LED torch with extra set of cells/ Head Lamps (preferred).
- Personal Toilet Kit (minimal) and Toilet Paper.
- Small Repair Kit consisting of Safety Pins, Needle, Thread and String (mandatory).
- Slippers/Sandals (for walking around campsite).
- While there are adequate food provided on trek, some do feel very less energetic compared to others. So you can carry few energy bars, dry fruits, etc
- Camera, writing or recording material to log your experience.
Tentative Schedule:
Day 1: NJP to Yuksom (5,840 Feet / 1780 Meters) 7 - 8 Hrs Drive:
Reporting at NJP Railway Station at around 07:30AM (You are expected to reach NJP on previous night). We all will meet up there & proceed to Yuksom which is around 150 kms but 8-9 hour drive (a cab will be hired at NJP to drive to Yuksom & the costing will be shared among all the participants). Reach Yuksom, Introduction, Briefing & Overnight stay at camp.
Day 2: Yuksom to Tshoka - 6 to 7 Hrs (10,000 feet / 3048 Meters) :
After morning breakfast and briefing, we hit the trail quite early as the day is longer ahead. Once we exit the comforts of Yuksom and enter the forest, we step inside the beauty of the lush green thick forest through dense mixed jungle with magnolia, rhododendron, ferns and several varieties of orchids, brightly colored birds, and the occasional monkeys. We come across 3 river bridges and Perk Chu river followed by 4 hour steep ascent before reaching the campsite in Tshoka which is a small village with 4-5 houses and a shop. After a long day hike, the tents will be set up to crash in after a hot meal served at the camp.
Day 3: Tshoka to Dzongri 7-8 Hrs (14,170 Feet / 4320 Meters) :
Trek starts with steep climbs and continue along a well-defined uphill path to Phedang and during spring season, this trail blooms with Lali Guras, (Rhododendron). Phedang is marked by a flat meadow with a trekkers hut. Its another hour of steep climb from here before the trail becomes easier till Deorali Top which will be our lunch point. From Deorali Top, the hike goes up and down on the humps with huge juniper bushes on both the sides. After a gradual descent of some 30 odd minutes, we reach Dzongiri - A beautiful place with river flowing right through it, 2 small shops and a trekkers hut. We chill out for the day and relax overnight in the tents.The stretch from Tshoka to Dzongri is considered to be one of the toughest stretches with a climb up from 9700 feet to 13000 feet, and then down to 12980 feet to camp at Dzongri.
Day 4: Dzongri to Lamuni (14,100 Feet / 4300 Meters):
Today we ascend gradually over open hillside for a mile. The trail climbs up gently to a small pass and then we enter the Prek Chu valley. We get there, at first traversing down toward Pandim on the far side of the valley, and then dropping steeply down on a good path through forest to the Prek Chu River at 12,300 ft/3,749 m. for lunch. Once we cross the river, the ascent continues parallel to Prek Chu and through pinewoods to reach Sacred Samiti lake which is a beautiful emerald green lake nestled in the midst of brightly colored wind-torn prayer flags.
Day 5: Rest and Acclimatization:
Today it’s a rest day to give you plenty of opportunity to rest before tomorrow’s big day.
Day 6: Lamuni to GOECHALA (16,350 Feet / 4984 Meters) and back to Lamuni :
We start early today with the packed breakfast to beat the raw weather conditions that is common during the daytime as the pass is often shrouded in mist and cloud not long after sunrise. The climb begins on the hill behind the lake to traverse the moraine and then descend to the sandy section alongside the Onglakhing Glacier. We proceed ahead across a slope, and then on a well-trodden path to our objective. The Goecha La is marked with glittering, colourful prayer flags, framing the peak of Kangchenjunga. After spending some time, we then return to our campsite at Samiti Lake.
Day 7: Lamuni to Tshoka (10,000 Feet) :
We walk back on our route on curly flatish trail with small humps through the forest to reach Phedang. The walk is almost flat. After lunch at Phedang we head steep downhill to Tshoka.
Day 8: Tshoka to Yuksom (5,840 Feet) :
Today, we descend down the valley following the route we took up on the first day, and then cross the river bridges downwards to reach the village of Yuksom.
Day 9: Yuksom to NJP :
We drive back from Yuksom to NJP in a cab and the cost will be shared among participants.
Meeting Point : New Jalpaiguri Railway Station at 07:30 AM
Ending Point : Yuksom on Day 9
