Goecha La trek from Yuksom

One of the great Himalayan treks: about 8 to 10 days from the village of Yuksom, through rhododendron forests and high meadows, to the Goecha La pass at around 4,940 m, right in front of the east face of Kangchenjunga. The route passes Tshoka, the Dzongri viewpoint (with sunrise views over a wall of peaks), Thangsing and the turquoise Samiti Lake.

Foreigners must trek with a registered agency and a guide, with a permit for the Khangchendzonga National Park, and in a group of at least two. The best seasons are April to May, when the rhododendrons flower, and October to November, for clear views. Yuksom, the first capital of Sikkim, is about 5 to 6 hours by road from Gangtok, and also has the hilltop Pemayangtse and Tashiding monasteries nearby. A free restricted area permit is needed to enter Sikkim; get it at the Rangpo border or online.