Valley of Flowers itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Valley of Flowers

1. 01

   Day 1: The valley from Ghangaria

   Only realistic if you are already sleeping at Ghangaria. Collect your permit, set off early with rain cover and a packed lunch, cross the Pushpawati bridge and walk up into the meadows at your own pace. Turn back when your energy or the weather decides, and leave the park before the evening cut-off. Rest at Ghangaria in the afternoon.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Ghangaria	Overnight; two nights if you want both Hemkund and the valley	Moderate	June to September; closed by snow for the rest of the year

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Ghangaria: The lanes are paved but sloping and crowded with ponies and pilgrims. Rooms are basic and some are up stairs, with limited heating; ask for a ground-floor room, carry a torch and any medicines, and expect no medical facilities beyond a basic point.

Plan 02

2 days in Valley of Flowers

1. 01

   Day 1: Govindghat to Ghangaria

   Take a shared taxi from Govindghat to Pulna and walk the paved path along the Lakshman Ganga to Ghangaria, using a pony or the helicopter if needed. Check in, drink water, eat lightly and rest. Collect the permit in the evening if the counter is open.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Govindghat	One night or a few hours	Easy	June to October
   Ghangaria	Overnight; two nights if you want both Hemkund and the valley	Moderate	June to September; closed by snow for the rest of the year

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Ghangaria: The lanes are paved but sloping and crowded with ponies and pilgrims. Rooms are basic and some are up stairs, with limited heating; ask for a ground-floor room, carry a torch and any medicines, and expect no medical facilities beyond a basic point.

2. 02

   Day 2: Valley or Hemkund, then back

   Choose either the Valley of Flowers or the climb to Hemkund Sahib; do not try both on one day. Start early. Return to Ghangaria in the afternoon, and decide whether to descend to Pulna the same evening or the next morning.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Hemkund Sahib	Most of a day: about 3 to 5 hours up, plus time at the shrine and the descent	Demanding	Late May or June to early October, when the yatra is open
   Ghangaria	Overnight; two nights if you want both Hemkund and the valley	Moderate	June to September; closed by snow for the rest of the year

   Pace: Hemkund Sahib involves a lot of walking or steps — do it early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Hemkund Sahib: The path is paved but steep, climbing about 1,100 m in 6 km. Ponies and palanquins operate on the trail, but cold, thin air can affect even confident walkers. Rest at the tea stops, carry a warm layer and do not go up on your first day at Ghangaria.

   With parents at Ghangaria: The lanes are paved but sloping and crowded with ponies and pilgrims. Rooms are basic and some are up stairs, with limited heating; ask for a ground-floor room, carry a torch and any medicines, and expect no medical facilities beyond a basic point.

Plan 03

3 days in Valley of Flowers

1. 01

   Day 1: Govindghat to Ghangaria

   Walk or ride up from Pulna to Ghangaria. Settle in, rest and keep the afternoon free for acclimatisation.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Govindghat	One night or a few hours	Easy	June to October
   Ghangaria	Overnight; two nights if you want both Hemkund and the valley	Moderate	June to September; closed by snow for the rest of the year

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Ghangaria: The lanes are paved but sloping and crowded with ponies and pilgrims. Rooms are basic and some are up stairs, with limited heating; ask for a ground-floor room, carry a torch and any medicines, and expect no medical facilities beyond a basic point.

2. 02

   Day 2: Valley of Flowers

   Collect the permit and enter the park early. Walk as far as comfort allows, picnic by the Pushpawati river and return before the closing time. Use the evening to rest.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Pushpawati River	15 to 30 minutes as a stop	Moderate	June to September, when it is high with meltwater

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Pushpawati River: The bridge and the path beside it are rocky and slippery near the water. Take care with footing, avoid crowding the edge, and keep children and older walkers away from the banks.

3. 03

   Day 3: Hemkund Sahib and descent

   Climb the 6 km paved path to Hemkund Sahib and the Lokpal Lakshman temple at first light, return to Ghangaria for lunch, and walk or ride down to Pulna and Govindghat if conditions allow. Otherwise stay a night and descend the next day.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Hemkund Sahib	Most of a day: about 3 to 5 hours up, plus time at the shrine and the descent	Demanding	Late May or June to early October, when the yatra is open
   Lokpal Lakshman Temple	20 to 30 minutes	Demanding	Late May to early October, with the Hemkund yatra
   Ghangaria	Overnight; two nights if you want both Hemkund and the valley	Moderate	June to September; closed by snow for the rest of the year
   Govindghat	One night or a few hours	Easy	June to October

   Pace: Hemkund Sahib and Lokpal Lakshman Temple involve a lot of walking or steps — do them early, and keep the rest of the day light.

   With parents at Hemkund Sahib: The path is paved but steep, climbing about 1,100 m in 6 km. Ponies and palanquins operate on the trail, but cold, thin air can affect even confident walkers. Rest at the tea stops, carry a warm layer and do not go up on your first day at Ghangaria.

   With parents at Lokpal Lakshman Temple: The temple is only reachable via the Hemkund climb, so it carries the same demands. Once at the lake, the walk to the temple is short and level; sit on the steps, keep warm and take time to adjust before the descent.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Valley of Flowers trip for parents and children

• Get a medical check before booking, and tell your doctor the altitude: Ghangaria is about 3,050 m and Hemkund Sahib is around 4,300 m or higher.
• Acclimatise for a night at Joshimath or Govindghat, and keep your first afternoon at Ghangaria for rest and fluids.
• Use a pony, palanquin or the seasonal helicopter for the hardest stretches; agree the price before you start and do not feel obliged to walk everything.
• Do the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib on separate days with a rest day or at least a slow morning between them.
• Carry a rain jacket, thermals, a torch, trekking poles, medicines and a small first-aid kit. Nights are cold and the path is wet.
• Turn back early if you feel unwell. Headache, nausea or breathlessness are reasons to descend, not push on.

Valley of Flowers with elderly parents: the full guide →