Valley Of Flowers Trek

Trek Duration: 6 Days, 5 Nights
Group Size: 8 - 15 Trekkers
Best for Solo Travelers, Friends, Couples etc.
Difficulty : Moderate

Gallery

Overview

If you wish to set on a beautiful adventure to a magnificent place nestled high in the Himalayas, Valley of Flowers is easily one of the best choice. One cannot do many treks during monsoon season in the Himalayas, but Valley of Flowers is a special case. The valley gets its name from the gorgeous multi-colored flowers that bloom only in the monsoons. This moderately challenging trek is a must in the bucket-list of every trekker and nature lover. It does not require any prior high altitude trekking experience which makes it one of the best treks for beginners and all age groups.

The Valley of Flowers trek takes you to the UNESCO world heritage site and the sacred site of Hemkund Sahib. The unique star-shaped architecture of the Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara blends with a mesmerizing Himalayan lake. Melodious kirtans are continuously played inside the Gurudwara, and one can sink deep into spirituality just so easily.

If the time is ripe, one may be blessed with a carpet of colors of green, yellow, red, blue, and many shades created by mother nature. These colors, the Pushpavathi river crisscrossing the valley coming out of a Glacier, with the backdrop of snow-capped Himalayas is a blissful combination to soothe your mind and refresh your soul.

Come, join Muddie Trails to experience the joy of colors in this trek to a Himalayan paradise called Valley of Flowers.

Highlights of the trip:

Trek to the colorful world: Valley of Flowers
Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara – one of the highest in the world
Snow-capped Himalayas backdrop
Glacier view that feeds the Pushpavathi river
Monsoon season special trek
Waterfalls along the trail.

Inclusions

Travel up & down from Rishikesh
Stay for 5 nights at a Guest House / Homestay
5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners (All Veg) - at the stays
All necessary permits and entry fees
Trek Guide, Trip Captain & Support staff
First Aid Kit
A beautiful experience trekking Himalayas in their full monsoon glory.

Exclusions

Meals other than mentioned
Any kind of insurance, medical, personal, mule/porter expenses
Any misc. expenses that are not mentioned in inclusions

Itinerary

Day 1 - Journey from Rishikesh to Joshimath

Start from Rishikesh early in the morning by our private tourist vehicle.
A day’s drive towards Govindghat via Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Nandaprayag, and Joshimath/Auli.
Overnight at our guesthouse in Joshimath/Pipalkoti.

Day 2 - Trek to Ghangaria

We will take 23 Km journey to Govindghat and start the trek at a place named Pulna after crossing the river Alaknanda.
The trek path takes us towards Bhyundar valley through forest interspersed with villages.
One would see numerous waterfalls and lush green landscapes as we hike up.
The 11 km trek along the river Pushpawati on a gradually inclined path takes about 5 to 6 hours to reach Ghangaria.
The ecstatic views of mighty Hathi Parvat will make you crave for more such wonderful sight.
Overnight stay at our guesthouse.

Day 3 - Valley of Flowers Exploration

We will start our trek from Ghangaria towards the Valley of Flowers. A forest department checkpost welcomes us around 30 mins into our trail. It’s a steep and boulder filled trail crisscrossed by many bridges specially made for the trek.
The beauty of the valley certainly cannot be described here. You just have to experience it. The panorama of the valley is filled with sprawling green meadows packed with varieties of alpine flowers that only grow 10,000 feet above Sea level.
A network of streams and sights of giant snow-capped mountains belonging to Trans Himalayan range all-around take us to the dreamland we have seen only in the pictures till now.
The prominent flowers that grow here include Brahmakamal, Anemone, Geranium, Marsh Marigold and many other varieties. We don’t care about their botanical names, what we care about is how beautiful they are.
We can easily spend around 3 to 4 hours exploring different corners and vantage points of the valley. Overall trek/walk today would be around 6 to 7 Km depending on how much you wish to explore the valley.
Late afternoon we shall revert back towards Ghangaria.
Overnight stay at our guesthouse.

Day 4 - Hemkund Sahib Trek

Today we will trek 6Km to Hemkund Sahib, which is a popular Sikh shrine built next to a lake with the same name at an altitude of 15000 feet above sea level.
The awe-inspiring Hemkund Lake is surrounded by seven glorious snow-clad peaks of the Himalayas ranging about 15,200 feet.
This pristine glacial lake that is fed by melting snow of Hathi Parvat and Saptrishi mountains spreads around 2 Km. Plenty of wildflowers and thick green meadows around the lake make it appear like a jewel among clouds.
Thousands of pilgrims visiting the shrine every year take a dip in the freezing cold waters of the lake before entering the sacred place.
We will sip a hot cup of tea at the Gurudwara before trekking back to Ghangaria.
Overnight stay at our guesthouse.

Day 5 - Trek back to Govindghat

After breakfast, begin your descent to Govind Ghat, marking the return leg of this unforgettable trek.
By evening, we’ll be back at our basecamp, where the journey began. Spend a relaxed evening reminiscing about the breathtaking days in the mountains, sharing stories, and forging new friendships — with a promise to cross paths again on another trail.
Enjoy a hearty dinner and unwind with an overnight stay at the guesthouse.

Day 6 - Drive back to Rishikesh

Return journey towards Rishikesh, reach by evening 6 PM.
You may book your flights/buses to your hometown after 9 PM or on next day (recommended).

What to Expect

About Trip

This trip suits for people who wish to socialize and prefer group travel.
Best for solo travellers, couples, small group of friends or family.

Valley of Flowers Basic Details:

Trek Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Max altitude: 14,100 feet above Sea level
Trekking Distance: 37 km (across 4 days)
Best season for Valley of Flowers Trek: Monsoon (July to Sept)
Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport (21 km away from Rishikesh)
Nearest Railway Station / Bus Stand: Rishikesh (good connectvity from Delhi)

Travel & Pickup Drop:

Pick up starting/ending point: Rishikesh Bus stand.
Pickup Time: 6 AM on Day-1
You may book Flight till Dehradun or Bus till Rishikesh from Delhi. It is advised to arrive at Rishikesh 1 day before to avoid delays.
Vehicle: Sumo/Tempo or similar tourist vehicle from Dehradun based on the number of travelers.
Drop Time: Around 6 PM on last day.
It is advised to book your return journey 1 day later to be safe.

Food:

Breakfasts, Lunches & Dinners are included on Trek days.
Dinner & Breakfast at Guest house stay are also included.
All meals are vegetarian.
Meals during journey are self sponsored.

Special Notes for Valley of Flowers Trek:

Valley of Flowers is an offbeat place with basic facilities. Travelers are expected to carefully read and understand Terms & Conditions that explain the complexities of this trek before booking.
Travelers are expected to come with an open heart, respect local culture, care towards the environment and climate change, and are willing to help each other.

Misc Info:

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Himalayan treks. It costs 1000 INR and is not included in the trek package.
Porter / Mule service are available on rent.

Health & Preparation:

Valley of Flowers needs minimum fitness levels. Trekkers should be able to cover 5 km of distance by jogging in 35 minutes without stress.
It is advised to prepare for the trek by by indulging in both Cardio (brish walk, jog, uphill or stairs climbing etc.) & Strength training (quats, lunges, planks etc.) starting atleast 2 months before the trek.
Consult your doctor and carry medications necessary for fever, acidity, allergy, loose motions, travel sickness, vomiting and other common sicknesses that may occur while traveling to Himalayas and high altitude places.
Note: To avoid basic ailments, it is advisable to drink plenty water to keep yourself hydrated, avoid alcohol even few days before trek, and get as much rest as possible during the nights.
A Medical Disclaimer Form signed by a doctor is mandatory. Our team can share it’s format.

Booking Procedure:

There are 2 ways of booking this trip

Directly book through Book Now option.
> Full payment.

Book with Partial Payment
> Booking amount of INR 4450 + taxes shall be made.
> Send screenshot to Booking Team on 9880539183. An e-mail confirmation will be sent after acknowledgement.
> Remaining trip amount shall be paid 1 month before trip start date.
> Booking amount is non-refundable if cancelled later or failed to pay balance amount on time.

Note: Within 1 month, ONLY full payment option is applicable.

FAQ

Things to carry

Toiletries, moisturizer, light towel, lip balm, wet wipes, toothbrush, toothpaste,
A lightweight large Backpack for the entire road trip (60 liters or more)
A small backpack for basic items (to carry valuables, water bottle, etc when trekking)
Photo identity proof with address (Aadhar/Passport/Voter ID)
2 Passport size color photographs (important for permit)
Thermal inners and warm clothes (very cold climate)
A rainproof jacket with a hood (to protect from cold winds, sudden rain/snowfall)
Waterproof gloves, thick socks, track pants, full sleeve t-shirts (to keep your body warm)
Cap/Hat (you may get tanned because of high altitude direct sun rays)
Sunglasses (important as snow reflects harmful UV rays)
Sunscreen (SPF 50 or more)
Power bank, charger, camera, binoculars (if you wish to)
Hand sanitizer and liquid hand wash (facilities over there are very basic)
Proper water bottle for your trip. You may fill at our guesthouses
Disposable garbage covers (To separate used/unused, wet/dry clothes)
Water-resistant, good grip shoes for trekking, extra slippers to use at guest houses
Personal medications, any drugs that you may feel necessary (remember high altitude, ghat roads, chill climate)
No need to carry snacks/chocolates. You may buy at local shops to support them.

What's next after booking your trip?

Organizers will get in touch with you, or vice versa.
Once minimum number of people book this trip (at least 4 members), Organizing team will give a green signal to book your flights.
A Whatsapp group will be created for all the registered folks 5 days before the event.

Terms & Conditions

The itinerary is fixed. No special requests to change itinerary/schedule shall be entertained. Travellers are not allowed to advice/instruct the Organizers (Driver or Trip Leader or Operations Manager) to change the itinerary.
Cooperate with the Organizers in following the schedule set for the day (especially getting up and getting ready in the morning). This will ensure travellers won’t miss out on the real fun part that is traveling and visiting all places in itinerary.
Every traveler is responsible for his/her for your own safety. Do not indulge in any illegal or silly activity that causes harm to self or fellow travelers.
Do not wander into the forest away from the designated trail for treks. There may be snakes, scorpions, and dangerous animals.
Unexpected situations: In rare scenarios, we might not be able to cover all the places mentioned in the itinerary because of unpredictable reasons like bad weather, landslides, wild animal presence, abrupt blocking of sites by the police/forest/local authorities, delay in travel because of an issue with our group itself, traffic conditions, etc. In most cases, if the time permits, the Organizers will take travelers to an alternative place. But in some cases, we may have to skip places altogether.
Note: In case of flight delays, cancellations, or reschedules, Muddie Trails will not be responsible for missed connections to the trip starting point. Travelers are requested to make their own arrangements to reach the destination, as per the itinerary. We recommend booking flights with sufficient buffer time to avoid any last-minute issues.
No alcohol & smoking during travel, treks, and other outdoor activities. There would be a separate window and space (usually at night) to have these at the stays for interested people.
Travelers are expected to respect each other and help one another. Avoid discussing sensitive matters like sex, politics, and religion/caste/race.
Using foul or abusive language, eve-teasing, arguing with fellow travelers/Organizers, and/or involving in the physical assault will not be accepted and will stand a chance of being deserted by the group then and there.
Every traveler is expected to digitally fill & submit a liability/waiver form given by the Organizers before the trip. This liability form will discharge Muddie Trails of any unexpected incident like injury/death/theft etc.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation by Traveler

80% refund if a cancellation request is sent 30 days before the trip start date.
50% refund if a cancellation request is sent between 30 to 15 days before the trip start date.
An email has to be sent to muddietrails@gmail.com to raise a cancellation request.
No refund within 15 days of the event start time whatever is the reason (Health, COVID, Accident, Family crisis, Office issue, or anything else).
No refund during/after the event.
No refund on the partial payment (advance) done to block your seat for the trip.

Cancellation by Muddie Trails

Muddie Trails may decide to cancel the event if there are less than 3 travelers signed up for the trip/trek.

What if we don’t get the minimum number of people for the trip?
We have 2 options in this case:
Option 1: Complete refund.
Option 2: Switch to any other long trip of the same dates or future dates. The difference amount will be collected from you or paid back according to the new trip cost.

Note: We do not recommend to book flight tickets until the trip is confirmed with atleast 3 travelers signed up.

Cancellation due to external factors

Muddie Trails may have to cancel the event in case of external factors that are beyond our control like Natural Disasters, Extreme Weather Conditions, Red Alerts, Political Disturbances, Bandh/Curfews, Local Issues, Road Blocks, Train cancellations, Covid-19 or any other disease outbreaks etc.

In these scenarios:

No Refund is allowed.
100% trip amount can be used for any other new trip of the same weekend or future weekends. The difference amount will be collected from you or paid back according to the new trip cost.
Once you confirm your participation on the new trip, all the above Cancellation policies will apply for the same.