VALLEY OF FLOWERS
The trek to valley of flowers passes through thick forests, glacier and waterfalls on the way, along with Pushpawati River. Until 1931, the presence of this awe-inspiring valley was unknown to the world. Three British mountaineers Frank S. Smythe, Eric Shipton, and R.L. Holdsworth while returning from an outstanding expedition of Mt. Kamet stumbled upon this fascinating valley full with blooming flowers. Captivated by the astonishing beauty of this place, they named it as the ‘Valley of Flowers’ . Later on, Frank S. Smythe also wrote a book about this valley with the same title.
The Sikhs started to search for Hemkunt sahib, the “Tap Asthan” (the place of meditation) of their tenth Guru, in the late nineteenth century. The first Sikh to trace the geographical location of Hemkund was Pandit Tara Singh Narotam in 1884. The Gurudwara is situated at an altitude of 15,200 ft above sea level and is considered to be one of the highest Pilgrimage in the world.
Cost Includes
- Transport support from Rishkesh to Rishikesh
- All vegetarian meals starting from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on the last day
- Hotel accommodation throughout the trek on a Quad sharing basis
- Professional guide, cook and support staff
- Forest entry charges for Indian nationals
- All Tolls and tax
Cost Excludes
- Personal expenses like tips, personal medicines, phone calls etc.
- Any transport support during the trek apart from what is included above
- Any cost or services not mentioned in the Inclusions
- Accommodation in Rishikesh
- Cost arising due to unforeseen incidents like bad weather, medical evacuation, road blocks etc
- Porter/mule charges to carry personal luggage can be arranged at an additional cost
Itinerary
Govindghat is the base for the trek of Valley Of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib. Rishikesh is well connected with Delhi and rest of India via flights, trains, buses, and taxis. The journey from Rishikesh to this beautiful valley of flowers starts with great eagerness and zeal. It will be a 12 hours journey by road via Rishikesh and Devprayag –where the river Bhagirathi and Alaknanda confluence to form the mighty River Ganga, to Govindghat through Joshimath. Take overnight stay in Govindghat with hot and delicious dinner along with the trek briefing For the next day.
Now comes the most exciting part of this trek as on the second day the trek starts from Govind ghat and ends at Ghangaria. The distance of approx 13 km will be covered on day two and it usually takes around 7 to 8 hr to reach Ghangaria. After you enjoy an early breakfast at Govindghat, the trek begins by traversing a suspension bridge over the River Alakananda and heading on a zigzag trail leading to the steep hillside.
Trek: 8 KM The distance of Valley of flowers national park from Ghangaria village is 6 km, it takes around 3 hours to trek. This stretch of the trek is the most amazing part of the whole journey with rapidly flowing Chandravati River remains on your right for the most of the time, and accompanying her are numerous waterfalls, most of them are so immense that they visible from a distance. Some of the waterfalls will moreover come trek path as river crossings. The trek difficulty level at this point will be medium with eye-soothing views. After starting from Ghangaria, it takes about two to three hours to reach the highest point of a valley of flowers. There are endless meadows with exquisite varieties of wildflowers flowers, the network of water streams and big mountains surrounding them all
Hemkund Sahib is known to be the highest gurudwara in India. The path leading to Hemkund Sahib is paved with stones and is slightly arduous to walk on. If you look up the mountain a saffron colour flag atop the ridge above grabs your attention. The flag marks the location of Hemkund Sahib Gurdwara. The Hemkund Lake is a glacial lake nestled in the heart of huge mountains and during summer it is fed by the water from nearby springs and waterfalls. Sitting on the banks of this divine surreal lake surrounded by seven mountain peaks, is an experience to cherish, a treat to the eyes and pacifying the soul. The Hemkund Sahib gurudwara runs langar where people usually have their lunch before heading back to Ghangaria. Similar to the Valley of Flowers, visitors are not allowed to stay at Hemkund sahib.
After breakfast, we trek down to Govind Ghat. This marks the end of the trek and arrive at base camp in the evening. Here, you can spend the evening recounting and sharing the experiences of the trek and the time spent in the mountains; by making new friends with a chance to meet again and trek together to create moments, memories and stories of a lifetime. Once you start trekking down to Govindghat, you can easily find yourself entrapped in the picturesque beauty of the surroundings and desire to stay back in these beautiful Himalayan valleys.
This is the last day of the trip. After an early breakfast and departure, you can have lunch on the way to Rishikesh. By evening, you will reach the destination. This is where the trip concludes with new friends and great memories. The journey is physically tiring but mentally you will be at peace with yourself. The overall experience, the vast Himalayan landscapes, and the trek are very exciting for everyone. Surely, this trek will be remarkable and enjoyable for you. Come, join us on a trip that is adventurous and tranquil. Away from the daily routine of urban life, this trek offers serenity and peace on the mind in the lap of Mother Nature..
Woolen clothes like sweaters, thermals, pairs of gloves, caps, mufflers, socks:
Heavy and complete three to five clothing layers are minimal during winters as the weather might get unpredictable. Light woolen is enough for summer trips.
Windproof jacket
Hiking shoes, Snow boots, sandals or slippers
Walking stick or a trekking pole
Accessories like sunglasses with UV protection, sunscreen lotions, lip balm, headlamp, torch with extra batteries.
Toiletries: Sanitizer, tissues, liquid soaps, paste and toothbrush
Medicines: Diamox for altitude sickness, essential medicines for headache, stomach upset, and regular medication if you are taking any, band-aids, volini spray, and anything else.
Phone chargers or power bank
Raincoat, extra shirts/t-shirts, and trekking pants
During Monsoons, please do not forget to carry a raincoat, an umbrella, and an extra pair of clothes.
Identity card and photocopies.
Water Bottle or insulated water bottle
Woolen fleece jackets
Few poly bags to keep any wet clothes.
Energy bars, biscuits, chocolates, dry fruits to munch, and ORS or Glucose to not drain energy.
Camera with extra memory cards, batteries, chargers
