- Day 1: Drive from Rishikesh to Joshimath
Drive- 248 km | Duration- 7-8 hours | Starting Point – Rishikesh (bus stand)| Stay- Homestay ( Joshimath) | Meals- Dinner only
Starting point of our Valley of flowers trek is Rishikesh bus stand. You need to report at bus stand before 8:00 am. One of our representatives will brief you about the trip and today's journey. Put your luggage on the carrier and settle down on your seat. We will leave Rishikesh by 8:00 am. On the way to Joshimath we will cover Dev prayag, Rudra Prayag, Shari devi temple, Karna prayag and Nand Prayag. We will reach Joshimath by 6:00 in the evening. Settle down in your rooms. During breakfast, guide will brief you about the trekking with some basic do's and donts.
- Day 2:Trek from Joshimath to Ghangariya
Trek- 9km | Duration- 4-5 hours | Altitude Gain- 6150 ft to 10,000 ft | Difficulty- Moderate | Starting- Joshimath (8:00 A.M) | Stay- Camp (Ghangaria) | Meals- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today we will start our trek. Trails to Ghanghariya is easy and well marked and winds all along the river and natural waterfalls. It will take us around 4 to 5 hours to cover this 9 kms of trekking distance. Don't forget to carry a water bottle with you and keep yourself hydrated during the trek. You can refill your waterfall from these water streams. Night stay will be at Ghanghariya in camps under the sky. After dinner you can experience stargazing.
- Day 3: Trek from Ghangaria to Valley of Flowers and Return to Ghangaria
Total Trek- 10 km | Duration- 7-8 hours | Altitude Gain- 10000 ft to 12000 ft to 10000 ft | Difficulty- Moderate | Starting- Ghangaria (8:00 A.M) | Stay- Camp | Meals- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today is the great day as we are going to cover our first dream destination i.e. Valley of flowers. So start early in the morning so that we can spend maximum time in the valley. During the start of the trek the trails will be very descent, but after crossing Pushpawati the ascent gets gradual for next one and a half kilometers. Total 10 kms of today's trekking will be like walking of a wonderland with trails fully covered with grass and wild flowers blooming all around the valley. Camping at the valley is not permitted so we will return back to Ghangria following the same path. Night stay will be in camp at Ghangria.
- Day 4: Trek from Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib and return to Ghangaria
Trek- 10 km | Duration- 8-9 hours | Altitude gain- 10,000 ft to 14,200 ft to 10,000 ft | Difficulty- Moderate | Starting-Ghangaria (6:00 A.M) |Stay- Camp (Ghangaria) | Meals- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today we are going to visit one of the highest Gurudwara in this world and sacred site for Sikh community. It is located at an altitude of 4239 meters (13908 feet) above the sea level with extreme climatic condition. Lake beside the Gurudwara remain frozen for almost six months in a year. So it's advisable to start at 5:00 AM in the morning so that we can start our descend till 2:00 Pm. Trekking trails to Gurudwara is steep and slippery so ensure wearing boot with good grip and carry raincoat and warm clothes with you.
- Day 5:Trek from Ghangaria to Joshimath
Trek- 9 km | Duration- 4 hours | Altitude Loss- 10,000 ft to 6150 ft | Difficulty- Easy | Starting- Ghangaria (8:00 A.M) | Stay- Home Stay (Joshimath) | Meals- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today we will return back to Joshimath. The trails are descent and downhill throughout. So it's going to be very easy to trek back. It will take around 4 hours to return back. At Joshimath we will stay in homestay and enjoy the beautiful view all around.
- Day 6:Drive back from Joshimath to Rishikesh
Drive: 248 km | Duration: 7-8 hours | Altitude Loss: 6150 ft to 1,120 ft | Starting-Joshimath (8:00 A.M) | No Stay | Meals- Breakfast
Today is the last day of our trek. After breakfast we will start our journey toward Rishikesh, and it will take around 7 to 8 hours to reach there. After reaching to Rishikesh we will bid goodbye with a hope to meet you again on some other trek with new team.
- Transportation from Rishikesh to Rishikesh in Dzire/ Ertiga/ Bolero/ Tempo Traveller
- Sleeping Bag, Sleeping mat and other camping equipments
- Stay will be triple or quad sharing basis in hotels/homestay/tents
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
- Snacks and Tea
- First aid medical Kit
- Tour guide
- Trekking Permits
- Any personal expenses.
- Any expenditure arises out of unforeseen natural calamity
- Anything not mentioned in inclusion.
- Any mules, horses, or any other medium to carry personal luggage during trekking or a road journey.
- Any extra food you buy.
- Any pictures clicked by an outside person.
- Average temperature: Day (17°C to 7°C) and Night: (-5°C to 3°C)
- Duration: 6 Days / 5 Night
- Valley of flowers Height: 12,000 Feet(3657 meters)
- Hemkund Sahib Height: 15,000 Feet(4572 meters)
- Total Trekking Distance: 37 kms
- Best time for Valley of Flowers Trek: July to September
- Location: Chamoli , Uttarakhand
- Base camp: Joshimath
- Valley of Flowers Difficulty Level: Easy To Moderate
- Nearest Railway Station: Rishikesh
- Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant, Dehradun
- Mobile connectivity: Mobile network will be available till Ghangria
Things to pack for the Valley of Flowers trek
Packing is a crucial part of travelling to high-altitude destinations. For the Valley of Flowers trek, you must pack smartly to make your journey more enjoyable and memorable. Pack essentials such as warm clothing, trekking gear, backpacks, and a medical kit. Here is a list of some essentials to pack for the Valley of Flowers trek.
Essential Documents:
- Personal ID proof: carry a valid ID proof like an Aadhar card and 2-3 passport-size photos for check-in in hotels
- 2–3 printed copies of the trek permit are needed at the checkpoints and at the entrance of the valley.
Clothing gear:
- Warm layers, including sweaters, fleece jackets and thermal inner wear.
- Rain gear, such as a poncho or rain jacket, to prevent heavy rain.
- Trek pants and quick-dry t-shirts
- Other: Woollen cap, gloves and 2-3 pairs of socks.
Health and Fitness
- A small medical kit along with prescribed medications, painkiller tablets and sprays
- Toiletries, such as sanitiser, toothbrush and toothpaste.
Nutrition and Hydration:
- Reusable water bottles and glucose sachets.
- Pack energy bars and dry fruits to get instant energy during the trek.
Other essentials:
- Daypacks and backpacks of at least 50-60 litres
- A trekking pole helps to maintain balance.
- Headlamp or torch
- A 1000 mAh power bank, as electricity in remote areas is limited.