Itinerary for Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib

Valley of flowers is located over an area of 87 kms in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and forms one of the core zones of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve.

It was a serendipitous moment when it was discovered by three English mountaineers. They lost their way while descending the Mt.Kamet.

The trek to Valley of flowers passes through lovely pine forests, expansive meadows and glittering lakes. The trek extends further to Hemkund Sahib on Day 4 for the devout visitors.

More than 600 varieties of Orchids, daises, anemones, Poppies, Primulas, marigolds etc grow here in the Valley of Flowers. Some of them are rare, endemic and exotic.

Beautiful mountains in the Valley of Flowers. Valley of flowers is a tourist attraction in the Himalayas

Itinerary - Valley of Flowers trek plan

The Valley of Flowers trek involves 5 days of Action and Adventure!

Here we go…

Day 1

Haridwar/Rishikesh to Govindghat/Joshimath

Pick up will be from Haridwar/Rishikesh at six in the morning.
The journey further will be by road through Prayag, the city in the confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi river.
After a 300 kms ride we drop you at Joshimath/Govindghat for dinner and night stay at a designated hotel. Enjoy your night stay here and wake up to the gorgeous views of Garhwal Himalayas in the morning.

Day2

Govindghat/Joshimath to Ghangaria Via Poolna

The actual trekking sessions begin on the second day.
After a 4 kms drive from Govindghat to Poolna you will be ascending 9 kms to Ghangaria by afternoon.
You will be served lunch enroute and reach hotel just in time for evening tea and snacks. Dinner will also be arranged at the same hotel.

Day 3

Ghangaria to Valley of Flowers

A four km trek from Ghangaria on the 3^rd morning will take you to the Valley of Flowers.
The journey begins after breakfast and ends at a place that transcends the definition of natural beauty! Time passes quicker at the Valley of Flowers than anywhere else! And so by the time you have explored half the valley it is time to leave. We however try to finish a quick packed lunch session before leaving though..
The trek back to Ghagharia is followed by dinner and some rest after an exhilarating trek day!

Day 4

Ghangaria to HemKund Sahib 6 km Trek

The trek continues next day for others who wish to visit the Hemkund Sahib.
The 6 kms trek begins at Ghangaria.
The steep ascent passes through beautiful waterfalls, flowering plants, glaciers and glimpses of snow capped mountains.
We arrive at the Hemkund in the afternoon.
Most visitors would not miss taking a dip in the ice cold lake before going into the HemKund Sahib. You can also visit the Lokpal temple located close by.
The return journey will begin by 2pm as the weather conditions are unpredictable here.
You will reach Ghangaria just in time for evening snacks and early hotel dinner.

Day 5

Ghangaria to Joshimath via govindghat 9 km trek and 28 km drive

On the 5^th day you will descend off 9 kms to reach Govindghat.
A 28 kms drive to Joshimath will ensue soon. Lunch and dinner will be provided at Joshimath.

Day 6

Ghangaria to Joshimath via Govindghat 9 km trek and 28 km drive.
After Breakfast, we will drive you back to Rishikesh/Haridwar by 6 pm.

Please plan your trip according to this schedule.

Some FAQs for Information

1. What are the Valley of flowers opening dates 2022?

The valley of Flowers trek opened this year after the pandemic on June 1st, 2022.

2. What can I expect at the Valley of Flowers?

You will find many exotic and rare Alpine flowers endemic to this region. You can know more about these flowers here Check about some exotic varities of flowers here https://kashtiadventures.com/5-unique-flowers-to-see-in-valley-of-flowers/

3. What is the best time to do this trek?

This is a monsoon trek. When the snow freezes, mother Earth puts up a colorful canvas of flowers that is akin to paradise during the monsoons. The best months to visit here are May end to October.

4. How difficult is the trek?

This difficulty level of this trek is moderate. It can be attempted by first timers as well but fitness and a bit of preparation before the trek is very important. You can read about the Valley of Flowers in detail here https://kashtiadventures.com/valley-of-flower-or-the-valley-of-god/ .

5. Some essentials for the trek

i. 55 ltr backpack along with a small day-bag of 15 ltrs for the summit day trek.

ii. Raincoat and rain cover for your backpack.

iii. Comfortable shoes with good grip.

iv. 2 dry t-shirts and pants.

v. Down jacket for protection at night.

vi. Thermals for insulation..

vii. Lip balm and cold creams

viii. Power bank, camera etc as per requirement.

6. Where to contact for details

Contact us, Kashti adventures for Valley of flowers Trekking Packages at Ph.+91 9971355865. You can also email us at info@kashtiadventures.com

Blog by Kalpana