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Gozy Trips

Uttarakhand trek

Valley of Flowers Trek

A UNESCO valley that blooms for a few weeks each monsoon

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The Valley of Flowers is an easy to moderate trek in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Nanda Devi National Park. Plan about 6 days from Rishikesh or Dehradun, between July and September when the flowers bloom, often combined with Hemkund Sahib.

Max altitude
About 12,000 ft in the valley, higher at Hemkund Sahib
Duration
About 6 days from Rishikesh or Dehradun
Difficulty
Easy-moderate
Best time
July to September, the park opens around June and closes by October
Base
Ghangaria, reached from Govindghat
Getting there
Rishikesh or Dehradun, then a long road day to Govindghat
Valley of Flowers trek: Valley of Flowers National Park

Valley of Flowers trek: Valley of Flowers National Park

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Why people pick Valley of Flowers

  • Meadows of wildflowers framed by glaciers
  • Hemkund Sahib, a high-altitude Sikh shrine beside a lake
  • A monsoon trek, when most Himalayan trails are closed

Route, day by day

The usual shape of the trek. Exact camps and timings vary by operator and conditions.

A long mountain drive along the Alaknanda.
Trek or part-drive up to the base village.
Day walk into the valley and back to Ghangaria.
A steep climb to the lake and shrine, back the same day.
Descend and drive towards Joshimath or beyond.
The long drive back.

Fitness

Easy-moderate. The Hemkund day is steep, rain gear matters more than anything else.

What to carry

  • Trekking shoes with ankle support, broken in
  • Three warm layers and a waterproof jacket
  • Headlamp, sunglasses and sunscreen
  • Two water bottles
  • Personal medicines and a small first aid kit
  • Original photo ID

Safety and altitude

  • Climbing too fast is the main cause of altitude sickness. Keep the acclimatisation day the route plan includes.
  • A headache, nausea, dizziness or unusual breathlessness above about 2,500 m are warning signs. Stop going higher, and descend if they get worse.
  • Summit timings depend on the weather. Turning back on a bad day is a normal mountain decision, not a failed trek.
  • Mention asthma, blood pressure, heart conditions or recent illness in your brief, and check with a doctor before a high-altitude trek.
  • Ask your written quote who leads the group, what first aid and oxygen is carried, and what happens if someone cannot continue.

Before you book

Monsoon landslides can close the road to Govindghat for hours or days. Keep a buffer day.

Valley of Flowers questions

Late July to mid August is usually the peak bloom, with different flowers through July to September.
The park is typically open from around June to October, with entry permitted in daylight hours only and no camping inside. Stays are at Ghangaria.

Add a few days near Valley of Flowers

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