Trekking >> Uttaranchal

Trekking in Garhwal Himalayas( Valley of Flower Trek)

In 1931 Frank Smyth, an English botanist & mountaineer discovered "Valley of Flowers" while coming back after the successful expedition of Mt. Kamet. Local people knew about this place from many years but it was Frank Smyth who wrote book by the name of "Valley of Flowers" and made this place famous worldwide. He came back to Valley of Flowers in 1937 and stayed here from May to September to find the different type of flowers. It is said that he found 262 different type flowers during this period.

In 1939 Joan Margarate Legge, a botanist deputed by Botanical gardens of Edinburgh came here for further studies. While collecting flowers she slipped from a rocky slope and lost her life in the garden of God. In 1943 elder sister of Joan Margarate Legge came here and built a memorial of her sister and the lines in the marble slab can still be found saying -

'I shall lift my eyes upto Himalayas from whence cometh my strength'

Valley of Flowers is situated at an altitude of 3658 mts. This valley is 10 km long and 2 km wide.

Trek
Trek to Valley of Flowers starts from Govindghat which is 20 kms from Joshimath. Valley of flowers is 16 Kms from Govindghat. For overnight stay one can find basic hotels in Ghangaria (which is 13 kms from Govindghat) as overnight camping in not allowed in valley. This complete route is a well-laid cobbled path .Book this tour now...

8 Days / 7 Nights
Delhi - Rishikesh - Joshimath - Govindghat - Ghangaria - Valley of Flowers - Hemkund Saheb - Ghangaria - Govindghat - Badrinath - Rishikesh - Delhi

Day 01: Delhi - Rishikesh (240 kms, 5 - 6 hrs drive)
Morning transfer to New Delhi Railway station to connect train Shatabdi Express train at 06:55 hrs. Reach Haridwar at 11:22 hrs. On arrival pickup and leave for Rishikesh. Check in hotel The Great Ganga. Evening visit Lakshmanjhula, Ramjhula and attend Ganga Aarti at Swarg Ashram. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 02: Rishikesh - Joshimath (255 kms, 7 - 8 hrs drive)
After early breakfast leave for Joshimath. Enroute stop in Devprayag to witness the confluence of river Alaknanda and Bhagirathi to form holy river Ganges. Proceed further. Enroute lunch at Srinagar. Reach Joshimath by evening. On arrival check in camp / hotel. Overnight at camp / hotel. (Breakfast & Dinner)

Day 03: Joshimath - Govindghat - Ghangaria (20 kms drive, 13 km trek)
After early breakfast leave for Govindghat by road with packed lunch. Prepare for trek on arrival and then leave on the trek to Ghangaria. Reach Ghangaria late in the afternoon. On arrival check in hotel. Overnight at hotel. (All meals)

Day 04: Ghangaria - Valley of Flowers - Ghangaria (06 kms trek)
After breakfast leave for valley of flowers (3 kms one side trek) with pack lunch. Enjoy the beauty of rare high Himalayan flora at its best. The valley is at a height of 3342 mts to3658 mts and is declared a national park for very rare high Himalayan flora. Return back to Ghangaria. Overnight at hotel. (All meals)

Day 05: Ghangaria - Hemkund Sahib - Ghangaria (10 kms trek)
After breakfast leave with packed lunch for Hemkund Sahib (a Sikh religious place) on the banks of Hemkund Lake at a height of 4320 mts. This trek is gradual ascent on the cobbled path from the altitude of 3049 mts to 4320 mts in just 5 kms. Return to Ghangaria by evening. Overnight at hotel. (All meals)

Day 06: Ghangaria - Govindghat - Badrinath (13 kms trek, 25 kms drive)
After breakfast trek down to Govindghat. Proceed for Badrinath by car. On arrival check in hotel. After lunch visit the main temple of Lord Vishnu. Also visit Mana Village, last village on Indian side to Tibet border. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast)

Day 07: Badrinath - Rishikesh. (300 kms / 9 - 10 hrs)
Early morning leave for Rishikesh on the full day drive. Lunch Enroute at Srinagar. Reach Rishikesh by evening. On arrival check n hotel. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast & dinner)

Day 08: Rishikesh - Delhi (240 kms / 5 - 6 hrs)
Morning after breakfast leave for Haridwar. Visit Chandi Devi temple, Mercury Shivlinga, Daksh temple. Evening connect train Shatabdi Express at 18:10 hrs. Reach Delhi at 22:45 hrs. On arrival transfer to hotel / airport. (Breakfast)

Cost: Rs 19,600/- per person or USD 447 per person

Note: Tour will depart with minimum 4 people.

Departure Dates:

July	August	September
16th & 23th July	06th,13th,20th & 27th August	10th & 17th September

For more Trekking Itineraries in Garhwal & Kumaon Himalayas, Please contact : Ajay/Sanjay at admin@adventures-india.com