Trip planning
Valley of Flowers Trek
Watch · Devkant on the trail, July 2025
घूमने का सबसे अच्छा समय
Best time to visit
“Best time to visit the Valley of Flowers. Actually, when you come to the Valley of Flowers, it's a place you can't easily keep coming back to, so you should know: what is the best time to visit. The valley stays buried in snow…”
2:10 · Hindi with English captions · full screen
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Go all the way to the Pushpawati
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Start early — no rush
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Ajay Dimri finds the Brahma Kamal
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On this page
A trip to the Valley of Flowers means four days of trekking. People often ask us how many kilometres they will have to walk. This page tells you the distance and climb for each day, and the options you have if you would rather not trek all of it.
The four trekking days are:
- Govindghat (Pulna) to Ghangaria
- Ghangaria to the Valley of Flowers and back to Ghangaria
- Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib and back to Ghangaria
- Ghangaria back to Govindghat
All along the way you will see cascading waterfalls, small streams and, above all, the flowery meadows. It is a long walk, but a lovely one.
The trek at a glance
| Day | Route | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Govindghat → Pulna by vehicle, then trek to Ghangaria | 4 km drive + 10 km trek | Most of the day |
| 2 | Ghangaria → Valley of Flowers → Ghangaria | 4–8 km each way, depending on how far you go | 7–8 hours |
| 3 | Ghangaria → Hemkund Sahib → Ghangaria | 7 km each way (14 km up and down) | Steep — most of the day |
| 4 | Ghangaria → Pulna → Govindghat | 10 km trek + 4 km drive | 4–5 hours walking, 3 hours by pony |
Day 1: Govindghat to Ghangaria
- Govindghat: 5,500 feet (1,676 m)
- Ghangaria: 10,200 feet (3,110 m) — a climb of about 4,700 feet (1,432 m)
The old trek from Govindghat to Ghangaria was officially 14 km, and after the 2013 floods the path was rerouted in many places and became longer. Today a road goes from Govindghat to Pulna village, 4 km away. You must go in a separate local vehicle — your own vehicle is not allowed on this road. From Pulna it is a 10 km trek to Ghangaria.
Can you skip the trekking? Yes. Ponies are easy to get for Ghangaria; a pony from Pulna costs about ₹2,200 one way. You can also take a palanquin or porter, or the helicopter from Govindghat — but the helicopter flies only when the weather is good.
Pictures of the trek between Govindghat and Ghangaria:
Day 2: Ghangaria to the Valley of Flowers and back
Distance: 4–8 km each way, depending on how far you go · Time: 7–8 hours
This day you will see one of the most beautiful places in the world. Get up early, have breakfast and set off for the valley at 7 am. Your entry ticket is issued at the entrance: ₹200 per day for Indians and ₹800 per day for foreign nationals.
Entering the valley is like entering a dream land: no pollution, no city life — just the sound of birds and flowing water, and pure beauty. Carry an empty water bottle: there are many streams on the way, and you can fill it and drink. Two kinds of water flow here, spring water and glacial river water, and we always ask people to drink the spring water.
Try to have your lunch at the Pushpawati river bed, 7 km from Ghangaria. If you keep a good pace you can reach it, and it is a sight you should not miss — that is why the day adds up to 14 km.
Ponies are not allowed inside the valley, so this day is on foot; porters can carry people, but you must also buy their entry tickets.
Pictures of the trek from Ghangaria into the Valley of Flowers:
Day 3: Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib and back
- Ghangaria: 10,200 feet
- Hemkund Sahib: 14,000 feet
- Distance: 7 km each way, 14 km up and down
This trek is quite steep, and the high altitude makes it harder still. I recommend taking a pony, at least for the way up — about ₹2,200 one way, or about ₹2,800 for the round trip. You can walk back down. The path climbs continuously, as you can see in the pictures. There is no helicopter on this day.
Day 4: Ghangaria to Govindghat
The way down is gradual — Day 1 in reverse. It takes about 4–5 hours on foot, or 3 hours by pony. Take a pony if you want to save time, for example to reach Badrinath the same evening.
Ponies, porters, palanquins and the helicopter
This table shows what is available on each day. Rates are set by the local Eco Development Committee (EDC) and change with demand, so treat them as a guide.
| Day 1: Govindghat to Ghangaria | Day 2: Valley of Flowers | Day 3: Hemkund Sahib | Day 4: Ghangaria to Govindghat | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helicopter | Available — book through Pawan Hans (about ₹8,000 return last season) | Not available | Not available | Available (return ticket) |
| Pony | About ₹2,200 one way from Pulna | Not allowed in the valley | About ₹2,200 one way, ₹2,800 return | Available |
| Porter | About ₹3,000 a day per porter; can carry luggage or even people | About ₹3,000 a day, plus his entry ticket | About ₹3,000 a day | About ₹3,000 a day |
| Palanquin | About ₹8,000 a day (four porters), and up to ₹12,000 — very few available, so prices change | Same as Day 1, plus entry tickets for all four porters | ₹6,000–8,000 for both ways | ₹6,000–8,000 |
Plan your trek
See our Valley of Flowers trek itinerary for the full day-by-day plan, and our tour packages if you would like to travel with us.
What travellers say about trekking with us
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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