The Valley of Flowers
Destinations: Dehradun, Govindghat, Ghangaria, Valley of Flowers
Duration: 6 nights, 7 days
Distance /Altitude: Approx 20 km trek/ 4,389 m
For family and groups
Experiences: Trekking-Moderate to challenging
Budget: INR 12,000 per person (excluding airfares)
Delhi to Dehradun
Take an evening flight or cab from Delhi to Dehradun. Once in Dehradun, check into your hotel, have dinner and rest as you will need to leave early the next morning.
Dehradun is connected to the rest of India with a wide network of roads. From Delhi, the distance is around 240 km and it takes about 6 hours by road. The route from Delhi to Dehradun is quite smooth.
Dehradun Railway station is connected by trains with the rest of the country.
Jolly Grant Airport is 24 km from Dehradun city. It connects to all major cities in India.
Dehradun to Govindghat via Joshimath
Have an early morning breakfast and take the road towards Govindghat. You will be driving along the Alaknanda river. Do not carry food with you as there are plenty of eateries on the way. Once there, stay overnight in guest houses or hotels.
The road from Dehradun to Govindghat of around 310 km takes about 10 to 11 hours to cover by car and is quite adventurous. You'll cross well-known places like Haridwar, Devprayag, Nandprayag, Karnprayag etc. Be ready for twists and turns on the hilly roads, which are very smooth and scenic.
Govindghat to Ghangaria
This is where the trek begins. Once you are done with your breakfast, start your trek to Ghangaria, the base camp for both Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib. A 15-km trek, you will witness enchanting views all along. From unnamed waterfalls to small lakes and from flitting birds to small wild animals darting by, the route takes you through the heart of nature. Once you reach Ghangaria, stay overnight in a tent, which you or your trek support team provided by the tour operator you have booked with will be carrying. If you want to experience local warmth and hospitality, stay at a homestay. If you want, you can add a day to your trek and walk the next day to Hemkund Sahib. Visit Laxman Mandir next to the Gurudwara. Head back to Ghangria after lunch. Stay in a campsite.
Ghangaria to Valley of Flowers
After an early morning breakfast, start your trek to the Valley of Flowers. The majestic Valley of Flowers is approximately 4 km from Ghangaria. The winding trail passes through dense forests and goes uphill. On the way, you will see flowers of all colours spread all around. The valley is at least a couple of kilometres wide and about 10 km long. There is a stream too that flows all the way through the valley. Take off your shoes and dip your feet into it before returning to Ghangaria. Have dinner early and sleep.
Ghangaria to Joshimath via Govindghat
Have an early morning breakfast and trek down to Govindghat by the same trail. Drive to Joshimath from Govindghat, and then stay overnight in Joshimath. You'll surely be tired after two days of trekking.
The drive from Govindghat to Joshimath is just 21 km and will not take you more than 1.5 hours. While the road is full of twists and turns, but it's quite smooth.
Joshimath to Dehradun
Start early so that you can reach Dehradun by evening. Stay overnight in a hotel or homestay. Take a cab or a flight to reach Delhi the next day. Your trip ends here.
The distance from Joshimath to Dehradun is 275 km and it takes about 10 hours by road. Stay overnight in Dehradun, if you plan to take the road to Delhi.
