Altitude: 3658m (the valley is 10km long and 2km wide)
Total no. of days: 8 Days
Type of Trek: Moderate
Total no. of trek days: 3 Days
Fixed Departure dates: Minimum 4 member group
Starting point of trek: Ghangaria
End point of trek: Govindghat
Best time to Visit: April and May, September to mid-November.
In 1931 Frank Smyth, an English botanist and mountaineer,
discovered the "Valley of Flowers" while returning
from a successful expedition to Mt. Kamet. Local shepherds
have always been aware of this valley since ages but it
was Frank Smyth who through his book "Valley of Flowers"
made this place famous worldwide. He came back to the
Valley of Flowers in 1937 and stayed there from May to
September to conduct a research on the local flora and
fauna. During his stay in the Valley of Flowers he found
262 different types of rare flowers.
In 1939 Joan Margaret Legge, a botanist deputed by Botanical
Gardens of Edinburgh came to the Valley of Flowers for
further studies. While collecting flora samples she slipped
from a rocky slope and was forever lost in this Garden
of the Gods. In 1943, Joan Margaret Legge's elder sister
visited the valley and built a memorial for her sister,
Joan. The marble epitaph reads: 'I shall lift my eyes
upto Himalayas from whence cometh my strength'.
The Valley of Flowers is situated at an altitude of 3658m.
This valley is 10km long and 2km wide.
The trek to the Valley of Flowers starts from Govindghat
which is 20km from Joshimath. Valley of Flowers is 16km
from Govindghat. For overnight stay one can find hotels
with very basic amenities in Ghangaria which is 13km from
Govindghat as overnight camping is not allowed in the
valley. This complete route is along a well-laid cobbled
path.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Delhi - Rishikesh ( 240km; 5 - 6 hrs drive )
Morning travel to New Delhi Railway station to board the
connecting Shatabdi Express train at 0655 hrs. Reach Haridwar
at 1122 hrs. On arrival pickup and drive to Rishikesh.
Check in at a hotel. Evening visit to Lakshman Jhoola
and Ram Jhula and attend "Ganga Aarti" at Swargashram.
Overnight stay and dinner at Rishikesh.
Day 2: Rishikesh - Joshimath ( 255km;, 7 - 8 hrs drive )
After early morning breakfast drive to Joshimath. En route
stop at Devprayag to witness the confluence of river Alaknanda
and Bhagirathi to form the holy river Ganga. Driving ahead,
en route lunch at Srinagar. Reach Joshimath by evening.
On arrival check in at a camp/hotel. Overnight at camp/hotel.
Day 3: Joshimath - Govindghat - Ghangaria ( 20km drive; 13km
trek )
After early morning breakfast leave for Govindghat by
road with packed/freshly prepared lunch. After the trek
preparations, begin the trek to Ghangaria. Reach Ghangaria
late in the afternoon. On arrival check in at a hotel.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 4: Ghangaria - Valley of Flowers - Ghangaria ( 6km trek )
After breakfast trek to the Valley of Flowers ( 3km one
way trek ) with packed lunch. Enjoy the beauty of rare
high Himalayan flora at its best. The valley is at a height
in the range of 3342m to 3658m and has been declared a
national park for very rare Himalayan flora. Return to
Ghangaria. Overnight at hotel ( all meals ).
Day 5: Ghangaria - Hemkund Sahib - Ghangaria ( 10km trek )
After breakfast leave with packed lunch for Hemkund Sahib
( a Sikh religious place ) on the banks of Hemkund Lake
at a height of 4320m. This trek is a gradual ascent on
the cobbled path from the altitude of 3049m to 4320m in
just 5km. Return to Ghangaria by evening. Overnight at
hotel along with dinner.
Day 6: Ghangaria - Govindghat - Badrinath ( 13km trek; 25 km
drive )
After breakfast trek down to Govindghat. Drive to Badrinath.
On arrival check in at a hotel. After lunch visit the
main temple of Lord Vishnu. Also visit Mana Village, the
last village on Indian side to Tibetan border. Overnight
stay at Badrinath
Day
7: Badrinath - Rishikesh. ( 300km; 9 - 10 hrs )
Early morning leave for Rishikesh on a day long drive.
Lunch en route at Srinagar. Reach Rishikesh by evening.
On arrival check in at the hotel. Overnight at hotel (breakfast
and dinner ).
Day 8: Rishikesh - Delhi ( 240km; 5 - 6 hrs )
After morning breakfast leave for Haridwar. Visit Chandi
Devi temple, Mercury Shivling at the Daksh temple. In
the evening board the Shatabdi Express at 1810 hrs. Reach
Delhi at 2245 hrs. On arrival we travel to the hotel/airport.
Contact us for cost
