A high Himalayan national park of alpine flower meadows, reached only on foot from Ghangaria.
FamousTrekMeadowPilgrimageRiver
The valley is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for meadows of alpine flowers that bloom through the monsoon. It suits walkers who are fit enough for several days of mountain trails and do not mind rain and basic lodges. Many visitors combine it with the climb to the Sikh shrine of Hemkund Sahib from the same base.
Trip planner
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| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| June | The park opens on 1 June. Snow is still lying in places, few flowers are out and there are fewer visitors. |
| July to August | Peak bloom, from about mid-July to mid-August. This is also the heavy monsoon, with mud, leeches, landslides and frequent road blocks on the highway. |
| September | Less rain and still a good number of flowers. Often described as the best balance of weather and bloom. |
| October | Clear skies and good mountain views, but the flowers thin out. The park closes on 31 October. |
| November to May | Closed. The valley is under snow. |
An 87.5 sq km park of alpine meadows with about 500 to 600 kinds of flowering plants. Day visits only; there is no food or shelter past the gate, so carry water and a packed lunch.
The stream that runs through the floor of the valley. The trail from the gate follows and crosses it on the way to the meadows.
A Sikh gurudwara beside a glacial lake at about 4,329 m. The climb is steep, gaining about 1,300 m, and the altitude is a real strain.
A small seasonal village at about 3,050 m with lodges, simple eating places and a gurudwara. Both the valley trail and the Hemkund Sahib trail start here.
A village on the trail between Pulna and Ghangaria, about 4 km beyond Pulna. It is the usual rest stop for tea and snacks on the walk up.
The roadhead on the Badrinath highway where the trek begins. It has a gurudwara, budget hotels and shops that rent rain gear and trekking poles.
A major Hindu pilgrimage temple further up the same highway. Visitors need Char Dham registration.
Worth a stop on the drive from Rishikesh, the last stretch whether you arrive by train, bus or air. Stopping needs a taxi or your own vehicle; buses do not wait. Distances are by road.
Where the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda meet and become the Ganga. It is the last of the Panch Prayag (five holy confluences). Steps lead down from the town to the sangam, with the old Raghunath temple above it.
Temple of Dhari Devi, worshipped as the guardian goddess of the Char Dham, set on the Alaknanda between Srinagar and Rudraprayag. The shrine was raised onto a platform above the river in 2013 because of the dam reservoir. A short walk down from the highway.
Confluence of the Alaknanda and the Mandakini, one of the Panch Prayag. The roads to Kedarnath and Chopta branch off the Badrinath highway here. Koteshwar Mahadev, a cave temple on the Alaknanda, is about 3 km away.
Confluence of the Alaknanda and the Pindar, one of the Panch Prayag, linked in legend with Karna of the Mahabharata. The Uma Devi temple stands near the sangam.
Confluence of the Alaknanda and the Nandakini, one of the Panch Prayag. A small town on the highway with ghats at the sangam and the Gopalji temple.
Confluence of the Alaknanda and the Dhauliganga, the first of the Panch Prayag, about 12 km beyond Joshimath on the Badrinath road. A small Vishnu temple overlooks the gorge.
Places people usually visit on the same trip, and how long it takes to get between them.
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Organised group treks to the Valley of Flowers run from Rishikesh, usually 6 days / 5 nights and often combined with Hemkund Sahib, with road transport to Joshimath or Govindghat and stays in Joshimath and Ghangaria. Fixed departures are mostly in July and August, with some from late June to September. Prices found on private operators' sites were about Rs 7,500 to Rs 9,500 per person before tax.
| Operator | Trip | From | Length | Price from | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enlive Trips Private operator | Group trek with transport | Rishikesh | 6 days / 5 nights | ₹8,499 per person Rishikesh to Rishikesh, quad sharing, plus 5% GST, as listed on 2026-10-04. Triple sharing 8,999 and double sharing 9,499, also plus GST. | Shared Sumo or Tempo Traveller from Rishikesh and back, hotel stay (2 nights Joshimath, 3 nights Ghangaria), vegetarian meals, trek leader and support staff, permits (as stated on the page) |
| Moxtain Private operator | Group trek, shared transport offered at extra cost | Rishikesh | 6 days / 5 nights | ₹7,499 per person Trek fee per person, as listed on 2026-10-04. The shared vehicle between Rishikesh and Joshimath is charged separately at 1,200 per person each way. | Stay in Joshimath and on the trek, meals on trekking days, trek leader. Shared Tata Sumo or Bolero from Rishikesh is arranged by the operator but paid extra (as stated on the page) |
| Himalayan Moments Private operator | Group trek with transport, includes Hemkund Sahib | Rishikesh | 6 days / 5 nights | On request No price shown; the page says price on request, as seen on 2026-10-04. | Transport from Rishikesh to the trailhead and back, hotel, guest house or camp stay, meals during the trek, local guide, entry fee and permits (as stated on the page) |
Checked online on 2026-10-04. A listing here is not a recommendation; we have no tie-up with these operators. Before you pay, check that the operator and its website are genuine, and confirm dates, price and what is included.
| Budget level | Type | Price per night |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Basic guesthouse rooms in Ghangaria or Govindghat; the gurudwaras also offer free pilgrim lodging | ₹300 to ₹800 |
| Mid-range | Mid-range lodge rooms in Ghangaria | ₹800 to ₹1,500 |
| Luxury | Best available lodge rooms in Ghangaria; no true luxury hotels were found | ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 |
Meals are simple and are eaten at lodge kitchens and small eating places in Ghangaria, at trail stalls on the way up, or at the gurudwara langar. Nothing is sold inside the park, so carry a packed lunch and water for the valley day.
Vegetarian food is the norm on this pilgrim route and the langar is vegetarian.
| Budget level | Stay per room | Food per person | Local transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | ₹500 | ₹400 | ₹100 per person |
| Mid-range | ₹1,200 | ₹800 | ₹150 per person |
| Luxury | ₹2,000 | ₹1,000 | ₹250 per person |
Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.
| Budget level | What | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range | Pony or porter, Govindghat to Ghangaria and back | about ₹3,000 per person |
| Luxury | Pony or porter, Govindghat to Ghangaria and back | about ₹3,000 per person |
A park entry permit is required and is valid for 3 days: 200 rupees for Indians and 800 rupees for foreigners. Entry is reported to be capped at about 300 visitors a day, with online registration on the state portal valleyofflower.uk.gov.in. Carry a photo ID. Badrinath needs separate Char Dham registration.
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Unless a sight is described as accessible, assume it is not step-free.
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