Overview
One of the most popular Himalayan treks is the Valley of Flowers. The Valley of Flowers trek is most popular among nature and adventure lovers and is also one of the oldest known treks in India.
The Indian government established the Valley of Flowers in 1980 and it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 2002. This place is popular among people around the world. But this trek is not as easy as it sounds. It is an extensive hike with slightly long hiking days and a hard climb to Hemkund Sahib that will test your stamina.
Here is a brief trek guide that contains all the details you need to know so that you can complete the trek without any hurdles.
Quick itinerary for the Valley of Flowers trek:
Day 1: Rishikesh to Karchi
Drive from Rishikesh to Karchi
The drive distance from Rishikesh to karchi is 255 km which will take around 11 hours to cover.
You will be picked up from your pick-up point in Rishikesh.
The pick-up timings will be around 5 am
Day 2: karchi to poolna
You will have to drive from karchi to Poolna on the second day
The drive distance that will be covered is 38 km which will be covered in 1.5 hours.
Then you will have to start your trek
The distance of the trek is 9 km which will be completed in around 5-6 hours.
Day 3: Ghangaira to the Valley of Flowers trek
Today you will have to trek back to the Valley of Flowers
the distance of the trek is 3.7 km which will take around 6 hours to cover
You can witness the beautiful view of flowers booming on either side of the trail
Day 4: Ghangaira – Hemkund Sahib and back
On the fourth day, you will start your trek to Hemkund Sahib and then back to Ghangaira
The distance of your trek is 6 km which can be covered in around 8-9 hours
After reaching Hemkund Sahib, have some rest and enjoy the beautiful scenery before starting your trek back to Ghangaira
Day 5: Ghangaria to Poolna trek and drive to Dhak
Today you will be trekking toward Poolna
the distance of the trek is 9 km which will take 4 hours to cover.
After trekking, you will drive toward Dhak
The drive distance is 35 km which will take 1.5 hours to cover
Enjoy the drive with the beautiful scenery on your way
Day 6: Departure from Dhak
Here comes to the end of your beautiful trekking journey
You will have to drive back to Rishikesh from Dhak
The distance which will be covered is 252 km which will take 9-10 hours drive to cover the distance.
Best time for trekking
Valley of Flowers opens its gates around the beginning of June. however, the best time for trekking is from July to September. You can plan the Valley of Flowers trek till the end of September. But the trekking is not the same even in the best months. The weather conditions keep on changing.
Trekking in July
Mid-July is the peak flowering season, it turns lush green during this time. July is the least populated month in this valley as the flowers just started to bloom and the rainy season has not started at this time
Trekking in august
The whole of August boasts an impressive number of flowers. There are heavy rainfalls at Govind ghat during the first 15 days at the start of August. But it is not the same at the greater heights. It is crowded during this month around the weekend but you don’t have to worry about the crowd during the weekdays.
Trekking in September
September is not a good time for trekking in the Valley of Flowers as the flowers at this time are faded and the valley fills with a crowd.
The best time to plan your trek to the Valley of Flowers is in August, the crowd is also not that heavy at the beginning of the month. This is the perfect month to plan a trek there if you want to see blooming flowers.
Flowers begin to disappear during the second half of August and the valley fades by the start of September So it is suggested not to plan a trek in September.
Difficulty level of this trek:
The Valley of Flowers trek rises to an altitude of 14,170 ft. which is not that difficult. It is rated as moderate which refers to longer trekking days with few steep climbs.
The Valley of Flowers trek measures 38 km distance which can be covered in 4 days. You will have to rise about 2000 ft. every day to complete it in a certain time. You need to be physically prepared to keep up with the distance of trekking and gain an altitude.
Here’s a way to check physical fitness:
stay hydrated
You should be in a position to easily run 5 km in under 40 min.
You should not have health issues
As for the terrain, the Valley of Flowers can be considered a very safe one.
Well-defined trails mark the entire route
Well trodden routes
Most climbs are gentle except for Hemkund Sahib
The campsites are well-placed
Exit points are easy
Most frequently asked questions
Is this trek good for beginners?
The difficulty level of this trek is rated moderate which makes it good for beginners.
You just need to work on your fitness before starting the trek.
What is the length of your trek?
It is a 38 km long trek that can be covered in 4 days with 6 hours of trekking every day.
How many trekkers are there?
In the Valley of Flowers usually a group of 20-24 trekkers are available in one group.
