The Goechala Trek is a gorgeous trek in the Kanchenjunga national park. On this trek, you’ll get spectacular views of the mountains, walk across lush forests, cross streams and camp in some of the most beautiful surroundings. Here is my take on accommodation on the Goechala Trek; From beautiful camping grounds to huts, you have several options. Read on to find out more…
Camping during the trek
Sachen
The Sachen campground is amidst a dense forest area full of thousands of colorful birds.. We got to see a gorgeous minivet which put up a lovely display before disappearing in the tree canopy.
At Sachen you only have a camping option as there are no huts where trekkers can stay. The one hut at Sachen is used as a kitchen.
Tshoka
The Tshoka camping ground is close to the Tshoka monastery and lake. The vast open area give you beautiful views of snow covered peaks and of a lush Rhododendron forest ahead of the campsite.
There are multiple huts and multiple camping spots at Tshoka. We found a lovely hut with a 4 bedded room which was warm and comfortable. It cost us 150 or 200 per person for the night. Cost aside, it kept us dry and gave us ample space to breathe!
Dzongri
This campsite is nestled between hills and has a vast open area which gets cold and windy. Our acclimatization day was at Dzongri and it turned out to be an overcast and rainy day. It got quite cold and uncomfortable, especially as we didn’t have much to do. We spent some time in the little shop where there was a fire going, however, the lady at the shop shooed us away after a while!
There is an old school hut which has a few bed rooms and a dining room. It’s dilapidated and the dining room is dark in the day time. The room is nothing more than a covered space with an elevated platform with some mattresses kind of things. The broken window panes let the freezing air in, so it did get cold inside the hut. We put our sleeping bags on the mattresses and passed out. Once inside the sleeping bags, it was warm and comfortable. It was subzero degrees at night, so it worked out well for us to stay in the hut rather than in tents.
Lamunay
The Lamunay campsite is my favorite on the Goechala trek. It is a gorgeous ground with barren mountains across the river on one side and snow covered peaks on the other. Our small group was the only one camping at Lamunay that night. So it made the experience all the more special.
The weather conditions at Lamunay were tough. The wind howled till midnight and suddenly died. It was incredible and eerie at the same time. Our dining tent collapsed because of the strong wind and the weight of the snow. This happened while we were eating dinner!
At Lamunay, there is just 1 hut which is used as a kitchen hut. Trekkers can sleep in it, but it might not be the most comfortable accommodation on the Goechala Trek!
Thansing
This is a vast camping grounds nestled in the valley – a lot of companies set up their campsites here. In addition to camping, there are huts here where trekkers can sleep. Since we didn’t camp here, I don’t have first hand experience.
Kokchurang
The Kokchurang campsite is by a river. The main river is a stone throw away and there is a lovely little stream by the campsite. There are lush trees at the campsite making it a nice experience.
At Kokchurang there is a nice hut with multiple rooms, a kitchen and a lobby area. We stayed in the hut and were quite comfortable and warm throughout the night.
Choosing between Thansing and Lamunay
The distance between Thansing and Lamunay is 3.7 kms. It is already a long hike to Thansing from Dzongri (See day wise distances and elevations here), so you need to decide if you’re up for hiking the extra distance to Lamunay. The route from Thansing to Lamunay passes through a valley. On the right, you will see snow covered mountains and on the left you’ll see barren mountains across the River. This section is quite easy as it doesn’t have much elevation, and it’s undoubtedly one of the most beautiful sections of the trek.
Thansing
Quite crowded and a vast camping ground with a lot of people.
Pros
- Most of the trekking companies put up their campsites and some of them put up tents for the entire season – so there will always be company here
- Thansing has huts where trekkers can stay
Cons
- Since most companies put up there campsites here – it can be crowded. So it’s a pro or a con depending on how you see it
- You’ll need to trek for an additional 3.7 kms to get to the Goechala viewpoint – which means you’ll have to start an hour earlier to see the sunrise
Lamunay
Isolated and exposed to the elements. Overall, I loved the camping experience at Lamunay, and if I go again, I’ll camp here.
Pros
- Few companies camp at Lamunay – so it is quite peaceful
- From Lamunay, the Goechala viewpoint is closer, so it takes lesser time to get there
- Higher chances of seeing wildlife in Lamunay – We saw a large herd of blue sheep here
- I found the Lamunay campsite to be more beautiful than Thansing
Cons
- Since few companies put up campsites here, you’ll be isolated
- No huts at Lamunay
- Lamunay has harsh weather conditions and a lot of wind
- Our dining tent fell because of heavy snow
- Strong howling winds which turned dead in the middle of the night making it quite eerie
- To get to Lamunay, you’ll need to hike an extra hour from the Dzongri campsite
The best accommodation in Yuksom
We stayed at the Limboo Homestay in Yuksom, and I can’t recommend the place enough. A lovely family owns the place. They have created a gorgeous space full of colorful flowers and plants. There are several animals at the farm (dogs, cats, ducks, chicken, rabbits). Warm and happy atmosphere welcomes you to the Limboo homestay as you step inside.
The rooms are basic and clean and I found them to be comfortable. The family prepares delicious home cooked meals for guests and they treated us to several Sikkimese delicacies during our stay. At the end of our trek, we requested the host for Tongba (millet based fermented drink) which they were happy to make for us.
Tongba – a delicious local alcoholic drink
The big jug full of Tongba contains fermented millets and boiled water. You drink it using a traditional bamboo straw and as the water level drops, you add more hot water to the Tongba. You can keep adding water till the alcohol exhausts. However, well before the alcohol exhausts, you’ll be quite high!
From Wikipedia:
Tongba actually is the vessel which holds the fermented millet beverage known as mandokpenaa thee. Mandokpenaa thee is prepared by cooking and fermenting whole grain millet. The cooked millet is cooled and mixed with khesung (which is a source of molds, bacteria and yeast). Then the mass is collected and placed in a woven bamboo basket lined with green leaves or plastic, covered with thick folds of cloth and allowed to remain in a warm place for 1–2 days depending upon the temperature. The sweet mass is then packed tightly into an earthenware pot or plastic jars and the opening is usually sealed off to prevent air from entering. After 7–15 days also depending upon the temperature, the fermentation is complete and the mass is converted to mandokpenaa thee.
The time mandokpenaa thee is left to remain undisturbed in the pot after completion of fermentation leads to its maturation. While it matures, the flavours intensify yet become more mellow. Traditionally, it is stored for about six months.
Other accommodations in Yuksom
There are several other home stays and hotels in Yuksom of varying budgets. You’ll be able to book them easily on Airbnb, booking.com or just ask your trekking operator. Most hotels and home stays are quite nice and clean, so there won’t be much to complain about.
Have you done the Goechala Trek? How was your accommodation experience? I would love to hear your thoughts. Please do share your thoughts/ comments/ questions here.
