About the Valley of Flowers Trek:
- Starting Point: Rishikesh
- Ending Point: Rishikesh
- Duration: 5 Nights / 6 Days
- Distance: 37 Kms
- Best time: July – August
- Max altitude: 14100 ft.
- Difficulty level: Easy to Moderate
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Trek Details
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Cost
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Itinerary
Valley of Flower trek is a one-way trail that starts and end at Govindghat only. The base camp is located in Pipalkoti. The journey takes 6 days to complete, and we’ll achieve a maximum altitude of 14,107 feet during the trek. The trek is not hard, though. It comes under the easy-to-moderate category. Valley of Flowers trek is open for tourists for a very fixed period in a year. It usually gets open around the month of June-July. And closes in the month of October. However, July to September, the Monsoon season, is considered the best time for the Valley of Flowers trek as there is no snow around this time. The flora and mesmerising scenery throughout the trek will keep you stunned and rejuvenated. One should go for this exciting trek in Uttarakhand.
Best Time to Visit Valley of Flower
The Valley of Flowers is in full bloom in the months of July and August. You can visit this Valley only from June to October during the year. July to September is considered the best time to trek the Valley of Flowers. June witnesses the end of the Monsoon season, which results in beautiful surroundings throughout the trek. The weather is also pleasant this season, making the trekkers’ experience smooth. Read more.
Short Itinerary:
Day 1: Rishikesh to Govindghat
On day 1 of the trek, we will travel from Rishikesh to Govindghat. This would be a 270km drive which would take around 11 hours.
Day 2: Govindghat to Poolna – start the trek to the Valley of Flowers
Today, we’ll drive from Govindghat to Poolna, a 4 km drive. Start your 9 km trek from Poolna to Ghangaria, this would take 5-6 hours.
Day 3: Ghangaria to Valley of Flowers
Day 3 would be finally visiting the Valley of flowers. Trek to the Valley of flowers from Ghangaria, 3.7km away. Explore the Valley and then trek back to Ghangaria, which is the same distance.
Day 4: Visit Hemkund Sahib
Visit Hemkund Sahib on day 4 of your trip. Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib is a 6 km trek each way (8-9 hr). Take blessings at the Gurudwara and enjoy a beautiful time here.
Day 5: Trek back to Poolna – Back to Govind Ghat
Trek back to Poolna from Ghangaria (9km, 4-5 hr). Start your drive to Govindghat (4 km, 30 minutes) from Poolna.
Day 6: Drive back to Rishikesh
Drive back to Rishikesh from Govindghat. Cover this 270 km distance in a cab which costs Rs 8k for an SUV and Rs 11.5k for a Tempo Traveller.
Valley of Flowers Trek Cost:
Valley of Flowers trek Packages: | Cost | Duration |
Govindghat to Govindghat | 6500 | 4 Days |
Rishikesh to Rishikesh | 8500 | 6 Days |
Inclusions:
- All meals during the trek
- All trekking equipment cosy- sleeping bag, trekking pole, etc.
- Forest camping charges, entry fees and permits.
- Camp arrangements for accommodation during the trek
- Experienced guide
- Best medical system for health care
- Full transfer
- Local Sightseeing
- E-pass to enter Valley of Flowers (Nanda Devi National Park).
Exclusions:
- 18% GST tax on service.
- Personal expenses
- Nothing mentioned in “inclusive”.
Valley of Flower Trek Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Rishikesh to Govindghat (270 km / 11 hr)
Day 1 of your much-awaited Valley of Flowers trip would be travelling from Rishikesh to Govindghat, the starting point and base camp of the Valley of Flowers trek. Start your day early as this would be a drive of 270km (11 hr). Driving along the Alaknanda River would be a thrilling and memorable experience. The exciting roads will make you sit on the edge during the drive. At Govindghat, you can book mules or porter if you want them on your trek. Govindghat is also the last place where you will be getting network before going on the trek. Enjoy an overnight stay in Govindghat.
Day 2: Govindghat to Poolna – Poolna to Ghangaria (4 km / 50 min)
This day, we will visit Poolna from Ghangaria. You can reach Poolna from Govindghat in an hour’s drive (4km). This driving distance now shortens the trek distance from 13km to only 9km. Enjoy the beautiful scenic views during your drive and reach Poolna.
Start your trek towards Ghangaria from here. Trek to Ghangaria would take 5-7 hours (9km). You can stop by many dhabas on your way to fill your stomachs. After reaching Ghangaria, check in to your hotel provided to you in the one-street village there. If you wish, you can also stay in the Gurudwara there.
Day 3: Trek to Valley of Flowers – Back to Ghangaria
Start your day early at Ghangaria to start your trek towards the mesmerizing Valley of Flowers. This would be a 3.7 km trek each way which would take approx. 7 hours. The earlier you start, the more time you get to explore the Valley of flowers.
Buy tickets for entry in the Valley after a kilometer and continue your trek. Reach the Valley after trekking on some beautiful trails filled with colours. Enter the Valley and get stunned by a wide variety of flora and fauna. The beautiful and vibrant colours of flora will leave you blissed. Explore the Valley stretched around at a distance of 5-6 km. You can also catch a sight of the glacier at the end of this Valley. You’ll see flowers like Meadow Geranium, Snake Foil, Hooked Stick Seed, Himalayan Rose, etc.
There are no food stalls here, and overnight camping is not allowed, so you have to trek back to Ghangaria. Start trekking back to Ghangaria, and enjoy the beautiful views of the Valley in the afternoon. Enjoy another night’s stay in Ghangaria.
Day 4: Trek to the Hemkund Sahib. Later, come back to Ghangaria.
On Day 4, we will be trekking the world’s highest Gurudwara: The Hemkund Sahib, after a wholesome trek to the Valley of Flowers on the previous day. The Hemkund Sahib trek’s difficulty level would vary from moderate to difficult. It would be a 6 km trek each way and takes about 9-10 hrs to complete. One of the most amazing things about this trek is that you can also spot the rare flower “Brahma Kamal” during your trek or near the Hemkund Sahib, which is found only at the altitude of 10,000 to 15,000 ft. Reach the Gurudwara after completing a hard but adventurous trek, take blessings and enjoy hot tea and khichdi in the Gurudwara.
The mesmerizing view of the glacial lake at Hemkund provides Gurudwara with a serene atmosphere. One can also catch sight of the Saptarishi peaks on clear days. One can also visit the Lakshman Temple nearby the lake. Start trekking back towards Ghangaria by the afternoon after exploring Hemkund Sahib. Trekking back can be difficult as it is hard on your knees and toes. It would take 5-6 hrs to complete the 6km trek.
Reach Ghangaria and rest in your hotel there overnight.
Day 5: Back to Govindghat – Stop over by Poolna on your way (4 km / 1 hr)
Start your day early and get ready to go back to Govindghat from Ghangaria. You need to trek to Poolna and then drive to Ghangaria. The trek to Poolna is 9 km long, which can be completed in 5-6 hours.
Trekking back can be difficult for everybody due to a major altitude loss. After reaching Poolna, have breakfast, and you can now drive the rest of the 4km in an hour to reach Govindghat. If you start your day early, around 5 or 6 am, you can easily reach Govindghat by the afternoon.
Check in into your hotel and enjoy an overnight stay at Govindghat.
Day 6: Back to Rishikesh – the trek comes to an end (270 km / 11 hr)
The last day of your trek would be going back to Rishikesh. You will be driving to Rishikesh from Govindghat. Wake up, have breakfast and enjoy the time you are left in Govindghat. Leave Govindghat timely and start your drive to Rishikesh. Driving down to Rishikesh would be tiring, as this is a 270km drive which can take upto 10 hrs. So sit back, relax and enjoy the valley view throughout the journey.
Reach Rishikesh by evening and leave for your respective places from here. This exciting and adventurous trek to the Valley of Flowers ends in Rishikesh.
Important Things to Know before planning a trek to the Valley of Flowers:
- Go through some videos of the trek on the web and then decide if you want to go for it.
- Educate yourself about the best time for the Valley of Flowers trek for the best experience.
- The difficulty level of this trek would be easy to moderate.
- It is not a trek of a day or two, so you must prepare for a long time.
- Know the weather conditions of the season you are planning your trek.
- You should be physically fit to go on this exciting adventure.
- One needs to be above 10 years to be eligible for this trek.
- Avoid planning your trek in the Monsoon season until you are an experienced trekker.
- Do not go on the Valley of Flowers trek if you suffer from breathing or other major health issues.
- Do not forget the essential items mentioned below in the “Things to Carry” column.
Valley of Flowers: Things to Carry
- Carry original documents such as Aadhaar Id / Driving License / Voter Id to get permission from the forest department for the Valley of Flowers Trek.
- Carry your original identity card and a photocopy; this is essential for your verification.
- One passport-size photograph is required to get trekking permission.
- Carry your Disclaimer and Medical Certificate with you.
- Carry energy drinks, energy bars, nuts and dry fruits with yourself during the trek.
- Always carry extra batteries, torches, power banks, etc., and keep them away from the cold weather and warm in your backpack.
- Carry nice and sturdy trekking shoes with a good grip.
- Wear layered and comfortable clothes and style yourself according to the weather.
- Don’t forget to carry your sunglasses, suncap, synthetic hand gloves, woolen cap, extra pair of socks, headlamp, trekking poles, rainwear, rain cover, etc.
- You must carry your toilet kit, cutlery, and plastic covers with you.
- Make your medical kit according to your requirements and issues to carry with you on the trek.
FAQs about Valley of Flowers Trek:
The Valley of flowers is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India. The wide variety of flora and fauna here will leave you stunned. Located amidst the Zanskar ranges and the eastern and western Himalayas, the Valley of flowers is a must-visit location.
The trek of Valley of Flowers is around 38 km long in the distance. The trek starts from Govindghat and can be completed within 3 to 6 days, depending on your speed and consistency.
The difficulty level of the Valley of Flowers trek is considered easy to moderate. People who are physically fit would not find this trek difficult at all. But people who are not daily exercise practitioners can find this trek difficult to complete.
If sources are to be believed, the Valley of Flowers was found by three British mountaineers in 1931. Frank S Smythe led this group, and they discovered this beautiful Valley on their way back from their expedition at Mt. Kamet.
Usually, the duration of the Valley of flowers trek is 6 days, but it can differ from package to package. 5 nights and 6 days is an ideal duration to complete a valley of flowers trek.
There is no ATM facility available in the Valley of Flowers. The last ATM facility is available in the main market of Joshimath. You can take out cash from here and continue your journey towards the Valley of Flowers.
The total distance of Valley of Flowers from Dehradun is 304 km approx. The nearest airport to Valley of Flowers is in Dehradun: Jolly Grant Airport. You can reach Rishikesh from here and start your journey toward the Valley of Flowers.
The Valley of Flowers is located at a distance of 272 km from Rishikesh. The nearest railway station to the Valley of Flowers is also in Rishikesh. You can reach Govindghat from the Rishikesh Railway Station by any private or govt. Vehicle.
The valley of flowers is closed during winters in the month of October to March. Heavy Snowfall happens in the national park making routes inaccessible for tourists (Read more).
