Valley of Flowers Trek

Gurgling streams, lush green mountain slopes, white fluffy floating clouds and flowers of various hues blossoming across a valley – if you have ever read of a fairy land, then this is it! The Valley of Flowers trek is straight out of a fairy tale. No wonder then that until a few decades ago, locals believed that the Valley of Flowers was the land of the fairies! One usually has to sweat it out in the Himalayas before one can witness something grand. But the Valley of Flowers is, as it were, a gift offered by the Himalayas to its lovers.

The monsoon season in India is the best time for the this trek. The first 2 weeks of August are especially the best as this is when one can see the famous Brahma Kamal or the White Lotus. The Brahma Kamal is found only in high altitudes and usually blooms on the trail to Hemkund Sahib.

The trek starts from Govindghat in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India. One has to first trek to Ghangria which serves as the base for both the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib. It is an easy trek and one usually also combines it with the Hemkund Sahib trek, the Sikh pilgrimage site which is famous for its Gurudwara and the Bhrahma Kamal (A white lotus found only in the higher reaches of the Himalayas).

Overview

The Valley of Flowers trek starts with a 14km trek from Govindghat, the nearest road head that is about 290 km from Haridwar. A popular detour is Shri Badrinath Dham which is only 25km from Govindghat.

<p>Arrive at Haridwar and drive to Rishikesh after which you will check in to a hotel here. Stay overnight at Rishikesh. In the evening, you may witness the Ganga Arati at Ram Jhula.</p>

<p>Start early today to drive to Govindghat (a drive of 290km). Stay overnight at Govindghat. The altitude here is 5500ft above sea level.</p>

<p>Trek 14km to Ghangaria. It’s an easy trek with a few steep stretches on the way. As the altitude of Ghangaria is 10,200ft, the altitude gain is significant today. If the weather is clear, you may catch a glimpse of the Hathi Parvat on the way. Stay overnight at Ghangaria.</p>

<p>Today we trek to the Valley of Flowers, at an altitude of 3858m above sea level. The trek is now a 4km trek as the route has changed since the 2013 floods of Uttarakhand. The trail is easy but steep. A slow and steady pace will help you reach the valley well in time and leave you with ample time to explore the valley. You will be served a packed lunch today. Camping in the valley is not allowed and so we will trace back our steps to Ghangaria and stay overnight here.</p>

<p>Today we start early in the morning for Hemkund Sahib. Hemkund Sahib is perched at an altitude of 4633m above sea level. It’s a 6km trek and although the trail itself is very easy, it gets quite steep after about 3km. Just before reaching the Gurudwara, there is a climb of 800 steps. But the view that you get on top is totally worth it. There is a beautiful lake here called Hemkund from where the Gurudwara gets its name. After paying your respects at the Gurudwara and partaking of the khichdi (a rice and lentils concoction) Prasad, we return to Ghangria.</p>

<p>After breakfast, we return back to Govindghat from Ghangaria. After a quick lunch here, we drive to Badrinath, 25km away from Govindghat. After checking into a hotel here and freshening up, we will visit the Badrinath shrine and witness the evening arati.</p>

<p>Today we visit the village Mana. Besides being the last Indian village before China, Mana also holds great significance. There is a cave dedicated to the sage Vyas who narrated the great Indian Epic Mahabharata and the Upanishads. There is also a cave dedicated to Lord Ganesha who wrote down Vyas’s narration. After exploring this small village, we will drive to Rudraprayag. Stay overnight at Rudraprayag.</p>

<p>Today you drive back to Rishikesh / Haridwar.</p>

Can the trip be shortened excluding Badrinath?

Yes. The costs will be adjusted accordingly.

Can we camp at Valley of Flowers?

No. And for good reason! The eco system is extremely vulnerable and so camping is not allowed.

Can I stay at any ashram at the Hemkund Sahib?

Again, No. We must come back to Ghangria for the overnight stay.

Will Badrinath route be open in the monsoons?

Most of the time, the motorable road is open. In the event of landslides, a small trekking trail is usually opened up and one can still reach Badrinath.

Cost @ INR 19500 per person + 5% GST

The Trip Cost Includes

  • 1) Accommodation at Rishikesh on twin sharing basis
  • 2) Nanda devi national Park permits
  • 3) All meals from Rishikesh to Rishikesh
  • 4) Sleeping tents, mattresses, sleeping bags, kitchen tent, dining tent, toilet tent
  • 5) Services of an experienced trek leader.
  • 6) Medical kit with oxygen cylinder.
  • 7) Transport Rishikesh to Rishikesh No Ac

The Trip Cost Excludes

  • 1) Gratuities / Tips
  • 2) Insurance
  • 3) personal luggage offloading. This can be done at an additional cost. Please ask about it for details.
  • 4) Any other expenses of a personal nature
From ₹19,500.00
/ Adult
  • 8-15 people