Valley of Flowers and Ghangaria Base Camp Trek

Arrive at Haridwar or Rishikesh by train, bus or road, check in to the hotel and rest after the journey. A short walk along the Ganga ghats or the Lakshman Jhula area helps you settle in. In the evening, board a shared jeep or private vehicle for Joshimath, departing by 8 or 9 pm to reach Joshimath or Govindghat by early morning via Devprayag, Srinagar and Chamoli. If you prefer to stay the night in Haridwar, the drive can instead leave early on the morning of Day 2.

Arrive at Govindghat at 1,828 metres in the early morning, freshen up and have breakfast at a local dhaba. Register at the forest checkpoint, where porters and horses can be hired if needed, then drive 3 km to Pulna at 1,900 metres where the trek starts. The well marked trail climbs steadily through rhododendron, oak and birch forest beside the Pushpawati river, crossing wooden bridges over glacial streams, with tea stalls and rest points along the way. Arrive at Ghangaria at 3,048 metres, the last settlement before the valley. Rest and acclimatise, take an evening walk through the village and visit the small Gurudwara before dinner.

Wake at 6 am, have a light breakfast and pack lunch, snacks and water. Walk 4 km from Ghangaria to the park entrance, pay the forest department entry fee and sign the register. The 87 square km alpine meadow sits at 3,658 metres and holds more than 600 species of wildflowers between July and September, including Brahma Kamal, Blue Poppy, Cobra Lily, Marsh Marigold, Potentilla, Anemone, Primula and Geranium. Follow the trail upstream along the Pushpawati river to the Tipra Glacier moraine and visit the memorial of Joan Margaret Legge, a botanist associated with the valley. Snow leopard, Asiatic black bear, red fox and blue sheep live on the upper slopes. Start back by 2 or 3 pm, as overnight camping is not permitted in the valley, and reach Ghangaria by late afternoon.

There are two options today. The recommended option is a second day inside the valley, paying the entry fee again at the gate, to explore areas not covered on Day 3 and take the upper trail towards the Pushpawati glacier base, with a chance to spot birds such as the Himalayan Monal and Snow Pigeon. Alternatively, rest at Ghangaria for recovery or acclimatisation, walk to viewpoints above the village for views of Hathi Parvat and Gauri Parvat, and visit the Gurudwara. In the evening, pack for the descent and settle any outstanding guest house payments.

Start the descent by 7 am after a light breakfast and trek 13 km back to Govindghat or Pulna. There is an optional stop at the Govindghat Gurudwara for prayers and langar. Then drive towards Haridwar or Rishikesh through Chamoli, Nandprayag and Devprayag, with a photo stop at Devprayag where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi meet to form the Ganga and an optional lunch halt at Rudraprayag or Srinagar. Arrive at Haridwar or Rishikesh in the evening, where the tour ends.