TREKS · 8-DAY · HARD · MAX 4940M
Goecha La Trek.
Goecha La Trek
Sikkim's signature Kanchenjunga-base trek through Kanchenjunga National Park. 8-day approach via Yuksom → Sachen → Tshoka → Dzongri → Thansing → Lamuney → Goecha La (4,940m Viewpoint 1). Viewpoint 2 (5,200m, the actual pass) closed since 2018. Mandatory Sikkim guide + porter — solo banned. Best windows: Apr–May (rhododendron) and Oct–Nov (clearest views).
Warnings
⚠Solo trekking BANNED in Kanchenjunga NP after 2017 incidents — mandatory registered Sikkim guide + porter
⚠Goecha La Viewpoint 2 (5,200m, the actual pass) closed since 2018 — only Viewpoint 1 (4,940m) accessible
⚠ILP for foreign nationals, KNP permit for all
⚠Pass-day is 11hr round-trip from Lamuney — high fitness requirement
Campsites
Sachen forest camp
2,200mOperator dome tents, dry toilet, dining tent.
Tshoka trekkers' hut
3,050mWooden-plank dorm + camp, village dhabas.
Dzongri trekkers' hut
4,030mStone hut + tents, exposed meadow.
Thansing camp
3,900mRiverside flat, dome tents, prone to wind.
Lamuney camp
4,200mHigh camp on moraine, dome tents, very cold nights.
Cost Estimate
Per-person 8-day trek with operator (Indiahikes / Bikat / Trek the Himalayas) incl. Yuksom pickup, KNP permit, mandatory guide/porter, all camps, meals. 2025–26 season.
ALSO ON NAKSHIQ
Eight more rooms in the magazine.
Guides
Visa, scams, food, packing.
Everything the guidebook won't tell you — written for India in 2026.
Blog
Field notes from the road.
Long-form reads on regions, festivals, and the offbeat circuit.
Road trips
Curated multi-day routes.
Driving itineraries with day-by-day stops, distance, and difficulty.
Collections
Themed reading lists.
Wettest places. Sacred lakes. Solo-female-safe. Curated cuts.
NakshIQ 100
The 100 best destination-months.
India's highest-scoring places, ranked across all 12 months.
The Window
Our weekly newsletter, archived.
One honest spread, every Sunday. The full back catalogue.
Skip list
What we'd skip — and what we'd do instead.
Overhyped places with honest alternatives.
First trip
Planning your first time in India.
Safety, scams, what to wear, food survival, solo female travel.