Overview
Region :- Uttarakhand
Duration :- 6 Days
Grade :- Easy To Moderate
Max Altitude :- 14140 Ft.
Approx Trekking Km :- 37 Kms.
Valley of Flowers National Park is an Indian national park, located in North Chamoli, in the state of Uttarakhand and is known for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and the variety of flora. This richly diverse area is also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, musk deer, brown bear, red fox, and blue sheep. Birds found in the park include Himalayan monal pheasant and other high altitude birds.
Itinerary
Day 01: Dehradun to Joshimath – 9 h drive
You will begin your journey with us from Dehradun, we will take the fabled Badrinath Road. We will be crossing Rishikesh and conveniently arrange pickup from there too. Alternatively, you can arrange your stay at these awesome places on your way back after the trek as well.
The nine-hour drive to Joshimath will surely be long and arduous, but you are never going to run out of mesmerizing views. The great river running with us on parallel will get wilder and more fascinating as we trudge uphill. We will be passing by the 4 of the Panchprayag or the five holy confluence of Ganga—Devaprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, and Nandaprayag. So, keep your cameras ready and remain awake for most of the journey!
Day 2: Joshimath - Ghangaria Trek (2,950 m & 13 km Trek)
From Joshimath to Govindghat the distance is 23km. En route, you can spot the final Vishnuprayag. We will start off on the drive in the morning after breakfast and reach Govindghat by 8 am and then 4 km drive to Pulna which is the starting point. It will be a 9 km uphill route along the river, Pushpawati. The entire trail will be crowded most of the time. Many snack shops selling the beverage, hot noodles, omelets with bread, paratha, and the like can be found on this trail. So, you will never go hungry. The trek will be on a clearly defined stone-paved path, conveniently built with stairs. After 5 km walk, you will arrive at Bhyundar village. This village marks an amazing viewpoint for clear Hathi Parvat sights. Enjoy the wonderful sights as much as you can, because the strainful steep ascent will commence henceforth. You will reach Gangharia before nightfall, attaining an altitude of 10, 000 feet. The stay will be at a guest-house.
Day 3: Ghangaria to Valley of Flower (8 km Trek) and back to Ghangaria.
The journey to Valley of Flowers is a distance of 4 km. The valley is 6-7 km long; the distance travelled in the valley depends on how the trekkers want to explore the valley. Another, factor to be considered is the stamina of the trekkers.
Right, when you start from Ghangaria in 30 minutes forest check post arrives. The check post might not be an attraction but right before check post, there is a gushing waterfall called Laxman waterfall. Another 20 minutes into the greenery and next furious attraction comes. At this point, the Pushpavati river flows furiously below a wooden bridge. It is quite a common yet a unique and mesmerizing capture. The trail is steep and stone paved like the previous day. You can find many bridges and landslide areas when you enter the valley.
The valley is thousand times stupendous than you might have imagined. It truly makes the Himalayan peaks lively and cherishing. Blue Poppy, Snake Foil, White Leaf Hog Foot, Himalayan Rose, Meadow Geranium, Dog Flower, Hooked Stick Seed are the native flowers. These astounding colorful blossoms end after 5 km stretch at a glacier. If the weather is clear the mighty Himalayan peaks of Nilgiri Parvat, Bhyundar Khal, Rattaban, Gauri Parvat etc. in the background. Today’s journey will conclude with your coming back to Ghangaria before nightfall.
Day 4: Ghangaria to Hemkund (6 km Trek) ,and back to Ghangaria
Get readyearly in the morning to start trekking (6 Km) for "HEMKUND SAHIB". One of the most revered of all Sikh Shrines, The Hemkund Sahib, the World’s Highest Gurudwara, is situated at an altitude of 4,329 meters. There will be porters and mules if you wish to offload your load. The trail today will be similar to previous days stone paved and continuous ascend. There will be shops on the way where you can energize yourself. Watch out for the rare flower Brahmakamal that will be spotted beside pathways.
The Gurudwara is placed magically beside the mirror like glacial lake Hemkund. During clear skies, one can witness the flawless reflections of the adjoining Saptrishi peaks. The lake is fed by melting glaciers of Hathi Parvat and Saptrishi peaks. Religious Laxman temple is also found near the lake. In the afternoon trek down to reach Ghangariya for an overnight stay. The evening is free for rest & relaxation.
Day 5: Ghangaria to Govindghat and drive to Joshimath
After your breakfast in the morning we descend to Govindghat and then drive to Joshimath. From this place Badrinath is 25 km away and take 1 hrs to reach. You can visit Badrinath only if road and weather condition permits us.
Note : Govindghat to Badrinath is landslide prone area in monsoon time so if our leaders find that your safety is in risk due to weather condition/landslide or road blockage we shall skip Badrinath altogether and drive to Joshimath directly.
On arrival, check into hotel. Overnight: Hotel
Day 6: Joshimath to Dehradun
The ride will commence at 6 am and you will reach Haridwar around 6 - 7 pm. Your Breakfast and Lunch will be on the way at a roadside inn, exclusive of charges, after having your morning tea/coffee you can leave for your next destination. We advise you to book further travel after 8 pm.
How to Reach
By Air :-
Take a flight to Jolly Grant Airport Dehradun, Hire a cab to reach Dehradun City as the airport is 29 km away.
By Train :-
The Dehradun railway station is located in the centre of the city which is well connected to all the major cities of the country.
By Bus:-
Dehradun is easily accessible from major cities of the country as it has an excellent road connectivity with other major cities and towns of North India. There are state-run and private buses that offer a regular service.
Fitness Required for Valley of Flowers Trek
At high altitude as the air gets thinner oxygen becomes less abundant.The percentage saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen determines the content of oxygen in our blood. After the human body reaches around 2,100 m (7,000 feet) above sea level, the level of oxygen in our hemoglobin begins to plummet. However, the human body has both short-term and long-term adaptations to altitude that allow it to partially compensate for the lack of oxygen.
The Valley of Flowers Trek is an easy trek suitable for first time trekker with basic fitness
Trekking Experience: Ideal trek for a beginner.
Fitness Required: The Valley of Flowers Trek falls in the category of Moderate treks. The trail is fairly laid out path and has very few steep ascends or descends. Water is available through out the trail. But still if you are thinking of your first big Himalayan trekking experience its better to be prepared. Here is the training schedule to prepare for the trek.