Valley of Flowers trek is one of India’s most popular Himalayan trek trails. With adventure, comfort, and nature’s beauty, this trek is the perfect combination of what we like to call a “Trekcation“. Located in Uttarakhand, the Valley of flowers trek is a favorite among trekkers. When it comes to Himalayan trekking in India, this is one of the best treks to start your trekking journey.
The Valley of Flowers trek comes alive during the monsoons. While the trail normally opens in June, it is in July and August when you can enjoy this trek the most. Furthermore, the Valley of Flowers trek is the only Himalayan trek in India that is meant to be done in the Monsoons. You can expect anything from a slight drizzle to a heavy downpour in these months. While the Valley and most the trail may be covered in mist and thick fog the serenity of the trail is unlike any other.
This trail is a paradise for botanists, new Himalayan trekkers, and photographers. We have picked out 45 stunningly beautiful pictures of the Valley of Flowers Trek captured over the years that will make you want to book your next trek right away!
45 Pictures of Valley of Flowers Trek in the monsoons that will take your breath away!
The Journey to Gorson Bugyal
We begin our trekking journey with an acclimatization trek to Groson Bugyal in Auli. Located quite close to Joshimath, Auli happens to be India’s famous Ski resort. Not only is it gorgeous, but it’s also situated at the foothills of the Garhwal range. Gorson Bugyal is a meadow that is a short trek away from the Auli. The trek up to the Bugyal is more or less like a warm-up for your body. You get used to the altitude and get a feel of what lies ahead in the next few days.
Getting to Ghangariya
After a day of acclimatization in Auli, we proceed towards the first leg of the Valley of Flowers trek with a drive to Govindghat. Govindghat is a small town located about 22 km away from Joshimath. Upon reaching Govindhgat, you will notice a lot of pilgrims of all age groups trekking to Ghangariya as well. The trail up to Ghangariya is man-made with small tapris and restrooms along the way. You also have benches along the way to rest up in case you’re tired.
Climbing up to Gurudwara Sri Hemkund Sahib
The day after you reach Ghangariya is when you trek to Gurudwara Shri Hemkund Sahib. The sacred Gurudwara is the world’s highest Gurudwara situated at an altitude of 4,633 m. The trek is about 14 Km long and is a steep climb from the very beginning. Having said that, the trail and the climb is just as rewarding. The long winding trail is entirely made of stoned pathways and sees pilgrims from all walks of life. When you trek to Hemkund Sahib between June to August, you can expect to see snow all around the trail with mist and some rain every now and then.
It takes approximately 4 hours to climb up to the Sri Hemkund Sahib.
The trek to Sri Hemkund Sahib will leave you feeling extremely positive and at peace. There’s something magical about the trek that makes you want to believe in nature, the power it holds, and it will leave you feeling accomplished.
The Final Leg – Valley of Flowers Trek
On day 3 in Ghangariya, we trek to the magnificent Valley of Flower. While Hemkund Sahib is a trek that you a place that sacred and revered, the Valley of Flowers trek will make you fall in love with the mountains. While there’s no specific distance that you can cover in the Valley of Flowers trek, we usually trek up until Legge’s grave.
We love every part of the Valley of Flowers trek as is it introduces you the mountains in a way that no other trek does.
When can you trek to Valley of Flowers post-COVID-19 pandemic:
While our treks are currently closed for booking, we are hoping that we can get back to this beautiful trek in August and September with limited bookings. If you’re interested in trekking with us to the Valley of Flowers this year, we recommend that you purchase our transferrable discounted trek vouchers which can be redeemed on any of our treks at any given point of time.
Valley of Flowers Important Links:
- If you want to check the Valley of Flowers Itinerary: Head over to our Valley of Flowers trek page
- For queries regarding the trek: Go to our Valley of Flowers FAQs page and find answers to all your questions
- To check the list of things to carry for Valley of Flowers Trek: This link has a detailed list of what to pack for the trek
- If you are looking for more treks to do in 2021: Here’s a link to our upcoming treks lined up for 2021
- Wondering how we’re ensuring safety during the COVID-19 situation: Click here to learn all about how we’re keeping treks and our Nomads safe during treks.
[…] – This is when the monsoons hit the country, however, the monsoons only start from mid-July and bring the Valley alive. You may not get to see a lot of flowers until mid-July but the lush green valley will leave you […]