
Uttarakhand · Garhwal Himalaya · UNESCO World Heritage
The Valley of Flowers
A hanging valley at 3,500 metres where, for a few weeks each monsoon, hundreds of alpine flowers bloom at once. Here is everything you need to see it, and to know what you are looking at.
- Altitude
- 3,350–3,650 m
- Area
- 87.5 km²
- Open
- 1 June – 4 October
- Base
- Ghangaria, ~4 km away
- National Park
- since 1982
- World Heritage
- since 2005
What you will see
In bloom, month by month
The valley changes every fortnight. Pick the month you are travelling to see which flowers will be out.
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Rigid Cinquefoil Potentilla rigida Rare
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Hairy Violet Viola pilosa Rare
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Black Pea Thermopsis barbata Rare
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Himalayan Cinquefoil Potentilla atrosanguinea Easy to see
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Marsh Marigold, Cowflock, Cowslip, Kingcup Caltha palustris Rare
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Himalayan Alpine Arum Sauromatum diversifolium
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Majoram, Oregano. Origanum vulgare Easy to see
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Purple Cobra Lily Arisaema propinquum Easy to see
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Kashmir false Spiraea Sorbaria tomentosa Very rare
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Extended Lousewort Pedicularis porrecta Easy to see
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Large leaved primrose Primula macrophylla Very rare
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Himalayan Mint Shrub Colquhounia coccinea Easy to see
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Cheerful Buttercup Ranunculus laetus Rare
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Yellow Jewelweed, Pale Touch-me-not Impatiens pallida
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Whorled Solomon's seal Polygonatum verticillatum Rare
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Himalayan may apple Podophyllum hexandrum Very rare
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Greater Dodder Cuscuta europaea Very rare
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Extended Lousewort Pedicularis porrecta Easy to see
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Whipcord Cobra Lily Arisaema tortuosum Easy to see
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Sacred Saussurea Saussurea simpsoniana Very rare
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Indian Barberry Berberis aristata Rare
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Himalayan Alpine Arum Sauromatum diversifolium
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Smooth Catmint Nepeta laevigata Rare
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Himalayan may apple Podophyllum hexandrum Very rare
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Marsh Woundwort, Marsh Hedge-nettle Stachys palustris
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Mountain sorrel Oxyria digyna Easy to see
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Long-leaved Morina, Whorlflower Morina longifolia Easy to see
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Creeping Snowberry, East wintergreen, Checkberry, Himalayan snowberry. Gaultheria trichophylla Very rare
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Thomson's Rush Juncus thomsonii Rare
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Sacred Saussurea Saussurea simpsoniana Very rare
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Saussurea obvallata Saussurea obvallata Easy to see
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Stem-clasping Ligularia Ligularia amplexicaulis Easy to see
What will I see on my dates? Browse all 150 flowers by colour and month Take the flower quiz

Why it is special
A garden nobody planted
Frank Smythe, a British mountaineer, stumbled into the valley in 1931 on his way back from Kamet and called it the Valley of Flowers. It has been protected since 1982 and is now, together with Nanda Devi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The meadows lie in a glacial corridor along the Pushpawati river. Monsoon cloud keeps them cool and wet, and that is what lets so many species bloom together — blue poppies, cobra lilies, orchids, gentians and acres of balsam.
About the national parkPlan your trip
Everything before you go
Best time to visit
Snow, flowers or clear skies — the valley changes every month.
How to reach
From Delhi, Haridwar and Rishikesh to Govindghat and Ghangaria.
Trek itinerary
Day by day, with two days inside the valley.
How many days you need
And why you should keep an extra day.
How difficult is it?
Altitude and distance every day, and the fitness you need.
Coming with children
Can kids do the trek, and from what age?
Senior citizens
Yes, they can — with ponies or the helicopter.
Which shoes to wear
Avoid broken shoes and blisters on the trek.
All questions answered
Everything else people ask us about the valley.
Valley Today
Fresh from the valley
Photos from our own visits, dated, so you can see what the valley really looks like at that time of year.
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· Bellflowers along the path -

· Pink knotweed covering the boulders -

· A slipper orchid in early July -

· Birch forest under the cliffs -

· Walking through the flowers -

· Monsoon mist on the peaks -

· White umbellifers in full bloom -

· Clouds lifting off the meadows

Treks & stays
Let us take care of it
We run Valley of Flowers treks every season, and our own places to stay along the way: Swiss Cottage Camps at Ghangaria, Blue Poppy Premier at Joshimath and Blue Poppy Resort at Auli.
- Fixed-departure and private treks, June to September
- Hemkund Sahib, Badrinath and Auli add-ons
- Families, seniors and school groups welcome
What our travellers say
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★★★★★
Blue Poppy Holidays – Where Passionate Ownership Meets Professionalism Blue Poppy Holidays is where passionate ownership truly meets professionalism. Our experience was simply unimaginable and far beyond our expectations. The hospitality extended by the entire team, led personally by Mrs. Seema Sangwan, the owner herself, sets an exceptionally high standard. The property at…
Read the full review
Blue Poppy Holidays – Where Passionate Ownership Meets Professionalism
Blue Poppy Holidays is where passionate ownership truly meets professionalism.
Our experience was simply unimaginable and far beyond our expectations. The hospitality extended by the entire team, led personally by Mrs. Seema Sangwan, the owner herself, sets an exceptionally high standard.
The property at Joshimath is an absolute pristine beauty. The variety of plants and flowers nurtured there is so incredible that it almost feels like having a little Valley of Flowers within the property itself. Mr. Devkant Sangwan, the owner, takes genuine pride in his garden and personally showed us each and every plant during our visit. His passion and knowledge make the experience even more special.
And then comes the organic food — freshly prepared, delicious, and served with a smile every single time. The cooking is excellent, and the warmth with which everything is served makes you feel less like a guest and more like family. Special mention to Mr. Anuj - Manager & Ajay leading the team.
The staff behaviour is simply beyond excellent — courteous, caring, attentive and always ready to help.
Our experience at Ghangharia was equally wonderful. The tent accommodation was arguably the best one could expect at such an altitude, complemented by excellent service lead by Mr. Shankar and a wonderful team.
A special mention for our guide, Mr. Pramod, who was extremely caring and supportive throughout the trek. He took complete care of our 7-year-old throughout the journey, giving us immense confidence and peace of mind.
We had visited Blue Poppy Holidays almost 10 years ago, in 2016, and returning after such a long gap was an equally memorable experience. It is rare to find a place where the hospitality, people, property, food and attention to detail come together so beautifully.
We will definitely be visiting again — and if you are planning a trip to the Valley of Flowers with your family, we would blindly recommend Blue Poppy Holidays.
Your family deserves nothing less. ❤️
Thank you, Team Blue Poppy, for making our journey so beautiful, comfortable and memorable.
Vishal, Keshani & Arjun 🫶Vishal V. · August 2026
Google review of Blue Poppy Premier, Jyotirmath (Joshimath) -
★★★★★
I stayed in Blue Poppy Resort Auli Branch for about 8 days after trekking to Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib. I was travelling solo since a couple and a friend who were supposed to travel with me backed out at the last moment. I am 63 and a retired Wg Cdr from Indian Air Force. I had some apprehension of being a bit lonely during my trek and travel and was unaware of my…
Read the full review
I stayed in Blue Poppy Resort Auli Branch for about 8 days after trekking to Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib. I was travelling solo since a couple and a friend who were supposed to travel with me backed out at the last moment.
I am 63 and a retired Wg Cdr from Indian Air Force. I had some apprehension of being a bit lonely during my trek and travel and was unaware of my fitness level etc. All these turned out to be absolutely unfounded. I immediately made really great friends and the smiles and politeness shown by the youngsters who looked after the guests made the experience very pleasant. Devkant and Seema look after the guests like family. Devkant is huge in his knowledge of the flora and fauna… he is enthusiastic and protective about all environment….. he is an ideal guide who connects with all the participants and educates them. I learnt a lot from him and Seema.. I think they provide excellent hands on service in a clean and natural environment.
The accommodation and food were top class while requiring participants to refrain from wastage and leaving the area cleaner then before they came.
I did a few treks around Auli to Gordon Bugyal and could not go for the 3 day camping trip. Maybe next time when I bring my children and their families.
I had an extremely spiritual experience far away from the hustle and bustle of Mumbai.
There’s excellent mobile coverage and one can keep in touch with family at all times.
There’s excellent views of the majestic Himalayas all around and Nanda Devi is visible quite often.
Thanks Devkant and Seema. I learnt a lot and relaxed at the same time. Will see you again with family in the next few years when my granddaughter is a little older.
Keep up the good work!Uday K. · August 2021
Google review of Blue Poppy Resort, Auli -
★★★★★
We were picked up from Haridwar by Mr Mukesh and taken by Tempo traveller. Due to landslides we were delayed by two days initially at Kodiyala and then near Chamoli, hence we went direct from Chamoli to Pulna via Gobindhghat. Mr Mukesh is an expert driver and helped us to reach Gobindhghat safely. From here we were transferred to a local transport to climb up to Pulna. Inspire…
Read the full review
We were picked up from Haridwar by Mr Mukesh and taken by Tempo traveller. Due to landslides we were delayed by two days initially at Kodiyala and then near Chamoli, hence we went direct from Chamoli to Pulna via Gobindhghat. Mr Mukesh is an expert driver and helped us to reach Gobindhghat safely. From here we were transferred to a local transport to climb up to Pulna. Inspire of these delays we forged great friendships on the way and I was entertained by the spirit of my companions especially the group from Surat. We had to trek or travel by pony to Ghangria. abhishek our guide joined us at Joshimath and helped us through our trip to Ghangria. Especially the odd straggler.
Rooms at the Swiss cottage Gangaria were good and bathrooms were hygienic and food was excellent .we really had diff foods in each meal. The staff of 4 Ashok Anuj and others were ever smiling and helpful.
Our tour guide Mr Abhishek helped us a lot ,took care of every member in the group .He is really helpful . He really helped anyone feeling unwell or tired.
Last but not the least hot water facility and leg massages after the trek was awesome. Subsequently I extended my stay and spent some great days trekking around Auli branch of Blue Poppy resorts. I will cover this in more detail in a separate review. Mr Devkant and Seema were especially friendly and treated us like guests in his own home.Uday K. · August 2021
Google review of Blue Poppy Swiss Cottage Camps, Ghangaria

Questions about your trip?
Talk to someone who has walked the valley many times.
