Place Details:
Goecha La or Goecha Pass is a Himalayan mountain pass in Sikkim. At 16,200 ft, Goecha La is one of the gateways to Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world.
Even as it serves as a camp for mountaineers scaling Kanchenjunga, a trek to Goecha La itself is quite exhilarating. Entry to Goecha La is restricted and Indian travelers are required to register themselves at Yuksom. International travelers are only allowed to travel in groups. The trek to Goecha La from Yuksom and back takes around seven days.
Sachen, Bakkhim, Tshoka, Phedang, Dzongri, Kokchurong, Thansing and Lamuney are some of the important stopovers between Yuksom and Goecha La. The trek winds through dense forests which gives way to alpine meadows known as bugyals. The terrain changes as you reach closer towards Goecha La, from a rocky terrain to a wide variety of woody, evergreen and deciduous plants with vibrant colors.
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Trekking in Sikkim and especially to Goecha La is unique, especially at its best in May. There are no hotels or resorts and so camping is the only option. Barring a few tea stalls that serve basic refreshments, Goecha La has no eateries to speak of. If you are trekking here, carry your own food.
BEST TIME TO VISIT GANGTOK
The average minimum and maximum temperature of Gangtok is as given below. The best time to visit Gangtok is also specified.
| MONTH | BEST TIME | | MIN. TEMP (°C) | MAX. TEMP (°C) |
| January | | | 0 | 8 |
| February | | | 0 | 10 |
| March | | | 1 | 11 |
| April | | | 1 | 16 |
| May | | | 0 | 14 |
| June | | | 1 | 16 |
| July | | | 2 | 15 |
| August | | | 2 | 14 |
| September | Best time | | 1 | 16 |
| October | Best time | | 2 | 17 |
| November | Best time | | 0 | 13 |
| December | Best time | | 0 | 10 |