Photographs of Goecha La by Carsten.nebel, licensed CC BY 3.0; the Rathong glacier from Dzongri by Rizimd, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0; Dzongri La by Rizimd, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0; Samiti lake by Abhishek532, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; Samiti lake below Kanchenjunga by unknown, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Other photographs: YHAI.
Overview
The walk from Yuksom to the Kanchenjunga viewpoint near Goecha La is one of the great treks of the Eastern Himalaya. It starts in the village where Sikkim's first Chogyal was crowned in 1642 and climbs through Khangchendzonga National Park - India's first mixed natural-and-cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site - from dense oak and rhododendron forest to open high meadows beneath the snow peaks.
The reward is the view: Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain, with Pandim, Kabru and their neighbours lined up across the skyline. The Tamil Nadu State Branch runs this ten-day expedition in early May, when the tail end of the spring rhododendron bloom can still colour the upper forests.
Highlights
- Trekking in the shadow of Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest peak
- The panorama of the Kanchenjunga and Singalila ranges from Dzongri Top
- Oak and rhododendron forest, the prayer-flagged pond at Tshoka, and the meadow at Thansing below Mt Pandim
- Sikkim-based meals
- A chance of seeing the red panda, Sikkim's state animal, if you are lucky
At a Glance
- Dates: 1 to 10 May 2027
- Duration: 9 nights / 10 days
- Fee: Rs. 22,500 per person
- Age: 18 to 65 years
- Difficulty: Medium
- Reporting point: Yuksom (also spelt Yuksam) base camp, West Sikkim
The Fee Includes
- Accommodation
- Vegetarian food
- Trekking fees
Program Coordinators
- Venkat, Dr. A. Raja and Raja Gopal
- Phone: 94450 22312 / 98427 10236 / 91505 68717
- Email: yhaitn@gmail.com
- YHAI Tamil Nadu State Branch, 2-D, Viswas Flats, Pillaiyar Kovil Street, Nesapakkam, West K.K. Nagar, Chennai 600078
Day-wise Schedule
Report at the Yuksom base camp in West Sikkim. Yuksom was the first capital of the kingdom of Sikkim and is the gateway to Khangchendzonga National Park; the stone throne at Norbugang, where the first Chogyal was crowned, still stands in the village.
The trek begins. The trail leaves Yuksom and follows a deep, forested river valley, crossing suspension bridges over side streams, before climbing to Sachen, a small clearing in the forest.
Cross the Prek Chu and climb steadily through thick oak and rhododendron forest, past the tea stalls of Bakhim, to Tshoka. On a clear day Mt Pandim appears ahead, and a small monastery stands beside a pond strung with prayer flags.
A demanding climb through the rhododendron forest above Tshoka - in early May some trees may still be in flower - and out above the tree line onto the open slopes of Dzongri, with Kanchenjunga coming into view.
Trek to Dzongri Top, a much-loved sunrise viewpoint, for a sweeping panorama of the Kanchenjunga and Singalila ranges - Kanchenjunga, Kabru, Pandim and their neighbours on the skyline.
Descend from Dzongri through rhododendron scrub and forest to Kokchurang and the Prek Chu, cross the river, and walk up to Thansing, a broad meadow at the foot of Mt Pandim.
The big day. Trekkers on this route usually set out before dawn to catch the clear morning light. The trail runs up the valley past Samiti Lake to the viewpoint near Goecha La, where the south-east face of Kanchenjunga rises in front of you.
Head back down to Tshoka, with the high country behind you and the forest closing in again.
The final descent through the forest and over the bridges to Yuksom.
The camp disperses after breakfast.
Facts & Eligibility
Who Can Join
- All YHAI members, and new or spot members (if available), who are above 18 years of age.
How to Join
- Book online at www.yhaindia.org.
- Or deposit the participation fee at any branch of the bank below:
- Bank: ICICI Bank, Ashok Nagar Branch, Chennai
- Account name: YHAI, Tamil Nadu State Branch
- Account number: 007701017051
- IFSC: ICIC0000077
How to Reach the Base Camp
- Nearest railway station: New Jalpaiguri Junction
- Nearest airport: Bagdogra
- From the airport or railway station, a shared or private taxi takes around 8 hours to reach the Yuksom base camp.
Stay and Food
- Accommodation, vegetarian food and trekking fees are covered by the programme fee. Meals are Sikkim-based.
What to Bring
- Personal belongings
- Rain sheet
- Personal medicines and a first-aid kit
- Cotton shirts and cotton trousers
- Bed sheet
- Shoes
- Two pairs of socks
- Water bottle
- Lunch box, mug, plate and tumbler
- Toilet kit
- Cream
Nights at the higher camps can be cold even in May, so a warm jacket, cap and gloves are worth adding to the list.
Safety and Rules
- Extensive and painstaking preparations have gone into planning for your safety, and YHAI field staff and experienced camp leaders have visited the area to check every detail. While every care is taken, YHAI cannot be held responsible for any accident, illness or other unforeseen eventuality.
- Smoking, alcohol and narcotics of any description are strictly prohibited during the programme.
- Staying anywhere other than YHAI accommodation is not allowed during the programme.
- This is an environment-friendly programme: do not litter wrappers or spoil the trail in any way.
Batch Dates
Reporting Point: Yuksam, West Sikkim
Program Map
- 1Yuksom (Base Camp)Days 1, 9, 10
- 2SachenDay 2
- 3TshokaDays 3, 8
- 4DzongriDays 4, 5
- 5ThansingDay 6
- 6Goecha La viewpointDay 7
Places from the day-wise schedule, numbered in visiting order. Markers shown with a hollow ring and a "≈" are approximate - these places are not mapped in OpenStreetMap, so they are placed from published route descriptions. Tap any place below to open it in Google Maps. Map data (c) OpenStreetMap contributors.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation Rules
- You get a 50% refund of the participation fee if you cannot join, provided the request reaches us by email, in writing or online at least 10 days before the reporting date.
- No cancellation request is accepted less than 10 days before your reporting date.
- The credit shell policy follows National Office guidelines.
- YHAI is not liable for personal travelling expenses.
- Offline cancellations: send your request to the State Office as per the criteria.
- If YHAI cancels the program at the last minute because of government permission issues or a natural cause, participants get a 100% refund of the fee, but cannot claim travel costs already incurred.
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