Uttarakhand: Valley
of Flowers Trek
 
 
 The Valley of Flowers is reputed to be an enchanting sight `a land ablaze with a bewildering variety of flowers fluttering in the gentle intermittent breeze which wafts their fragrance abroad, set amidst majestic snow clad mountains that stand in bold relief against the skyline'.
Duration: 8 days
Best Time: July to September
Day 1: Arrival Haridwar railway station/ Dehradun, Jolly grant airport:
Arrive at Haridwar railway station or Dehradun Jolly grant airport from Delhi. Met and greet by our representative and transfer to the camp at Shivpuri village near Rishikesh.
Upon arrival, camp welcome, orientation talk by the Camp Manager and settle down in the tents.
Lunch. Post lunch we leave for a 4 km trek to a Garhwali village. This trek meanders through the local school and brings you down to a Himalayan stream. You wade through the stream to cross it and walk back to camp.
Dinner around a merry campfire. Overnight in safari tents.
Day 2: Rishikesh – Auli (Drive: 295 km/ 8 hrs):
Wake up early morning followed by breakfast. Post breakfast drive to Auli on a mountainous road along the Ganga River and later by the Alaknanda River. After driving for about 140 km, we stop at Rudraprayag for lunch. It’s a small scenic town situated at the confluence of river Alaknanda and river Mandakini.
We shall reach Auli in the evening and check in at the Resort. Auli is located at an altitude of 2750 m above sea level and offers a panoramic view of Mt.Nanda Devi, Kamet, Trishul, Dronagiri, Beethartoli, Neelkanth, Mana Parwat, Hathi Parbat, Mukut Parbat, Ghori Parbat and Nar Parbat.
Day 3: Auli (Day for acclimatization):
Today after breakfast, we go for a warm up hike to Gorson point where one can enjoy the wonderful views of Nanda Devi. The area is richly habituated by rare Himalayan wild life. The trek trail is about 3 km one way.
Post lunch, we go for a sightseeing trip to Joshimath, which according to Hindu mythology is the winter abode of a Hindu God, Badrinath.
Joshimath is described in the ancient scriptures as Kartikeyapura, because the Katyuri kings named it after their God, Kartikeya. Established by the great Adi Guru Shri Shankaracharya in the 8th century AD, Joshimath was the heart of religious and cultural activity in those days and continues to be the same even today. Walk around the quaint, small town of Joshimath and visit a few temples like “Narashima and the Vashudeva Temple”.
In the evening take the cable car back/ drive back to the resort. Overnight at the resort.
Day 4: Joshimath - Govindghat - Ghangaria (Drive: 18 km + Trek: 13 km):
Today after breakfast, we drive to Govindghat at the confluence of the Laxman Ganga & the Alaknanda rivers. After an early lunch, we start the gradual uphill trek to reach Ghangaria through dense vegetation. Ghangaria also known as GOVIND DHAM is a base camp for the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib.
Evening arrive at Ghangaria and check into the hotel for overnight stay.
Day 5: Ghangaria - Valley of Flowers - Ghangaria (Trek/ 6 km each way):
Today after breakfast, we set on for the trek with picnic lunch to the Valley of Flowers (3650-3965 mts). The valley boasts of more than 300 species of rare wild flowers including the blue Poppy, pink Geraniums, blue and yellow Pansies to name a few.
Evening return back to base. Overnight in hotel.
Day 6: Ghangaria - Hemkund Sahib - Ghangaria (Trek/ 6 km each way):
Today after breakfast, we set on for the trek with picnic lunch to Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib. It is one of the holiest Sikh shrines and the highest Gurudwara in the Himlayas. Hemkund is a bluish green lake flanked by snow covered peaks. The 5-km trek to Hemkund is a steep climb along the Laxman Ganga, which emanates from Hemkund.
Evening return back to base. Overnight in hotel.
Day 7: Ghangaria - Govindghat - Rudraprayag (Trek + Drive: 148 km):
Morning after an early breakfast, start return trek to Govindghat. Upon arrival, meet with the waiting vehicle and drive to Rudraprayag via Joshimath.
Evening arrive at Rudraprayag and check in at the hill resort. O/n at the Resort.
Day 8: Rudraprayag - Haridwar or Dehradun (Return drive 135 km/ 5 hrs):
Morning after an early breakfast, drive back to Snow Leopard Adventures Camp for lunch.
Post lunch transfer to Haridwar railway station or Dehradun, Jolly grant airport for onward journey to Delhi.
Things to bring:
- T-shirts/ sweat shirts
- Light weight long trousers
- Warm long-sleeve shirt
- Rucksack (even though you will have porters carrying luggage, it is a good idea to carry rucksacks if not then duffle bag)
- Woolen cap/ good gloves
- Wind proof jackets /Rain gear (a must)
- Warm clothes / jacket especially for evenings and mornings (if it rains it will get rather cold).A number of layers of clothing (thermals are recommended for the innermost layer) is preferable to a big thick jacket. This helps as you can add or remove layers according to the climatic conditions, which can change rapidly (specially for the evening/ early mornings when it is rather cold)
- A knapsack for the trek to carry your water bottle, camera and rain gear.
- Water bottle for the trek
- 2 pair of shoes (not new. 2nd pair for emergency). It would be a good idea to have rubber soled ankle length shoes. The trail from Govindghat to Ghanghariya tends to get wet (may have leeches as well)
- Sun glasses, cap, sun block
- Retainers for spectacles/ sun glasses
- Camera (with extra batteries/ film/ memory card)
- Flashlight
- Reading / writing material
- Toiletries
- Personal medical kit
- It is a good idea to carry a pocket knife if you have one.
- YOUR SENSE OF HUMOUR!
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