Uttarakhand
Valley of Flowers + Hemkund Sahib
A UNESCO World Heritage bloom, a sacred glacial lake at 14,107 ft, and the Alaknanda valley — a soul-stirring combo of flora, faith and Himalayan grandeur.
Duration
6 Days / 5 Nights
Max Altitude
4,329 m / 14,203 ft
Difficulty
Moderate
Best Season
July - September
Pickup
Rishikesh to Rishikesh
Group Size
10 - 20 trekkers
- 1
Rishikesh to Joshimath/Pipalkoti (253 km / 8 hrs)
Your journey with TrekkoIndia begins in Rishikesh. We embark on a long but scenic drive along the Alaknanda River, passing through the beautiful confluences of the Panch Prayag (Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag and Nandprayag). We check into our hotel in Joshimath or Pipalkoti to rest for the night and acclimatize to the mountain air.
- 2
Drive to Pulna & Trek to Ghangaria (22 km drive + 9 km trek)
After a short morning drive to Pulna village (the official starting point of the trek), it's time to lace up your hiking boots. The trail is an easy-to-moderate uphill walk alongside the roaring Pushpawati River. By afternoon, we arrive at Ghangaria (10,000 ft) — a vibrant settlement that serves as our base camp for the next few days.
- 3
Explore the Valley of Flowers (10 km round trip / 7 hrs)
Today is the main event. A relatively flat and gorgeous 4 km walk from Ghangaria takes you inside the UNESCO World Heritage Site. August is peak bloom — expect a vibrant, sprawling carpet of alpine flora including rare orchids, golden lilies and anemones, with massive snow-capped Himalayan peaks serving as your backdrop. After exploring and soaking in the views, we hike back to Ghangaria for the night.
- 4
Trek to Hemkund Sahib (14 km round trip / 9 hrs)
This is the most challenging and rewarding day. We ascend steeply to Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib, situated at an impressive altitude of 14,107 ft. The climb is strenuous due to the rapid altitude gain, but you'll be rewarded with a pristine, mirror-like glacial lake and immense spiritual tranquility. Keep an eye out for the rare Brahma Kamal flower at this altitude. We return to Ghangaria in the late afternoon.
- 5
Ghangaria to Pulna & Drive to Joshimath (9 km trek + 22 km drive)
We bid farewell to our base camp and begin our descent back to Pulna. The downhill trek is much easier on the lungs but requires careful footing. It generally takes less time than the ascent. Once we reach the base, our vehicles will be waiting to drive us back to our hotel in Joshimath or Pipalkoti to celebrate a successful expedition.
- 6
Joshimath/Pipalkoti to Rishikesh (253 km / 8 hrs)
We pack up our memories, say goodbye to the high mountains, and make the 8-hour drive back down to Rishikesh. The trek officially concludes upon our arrival in Rishikesh, leaving you with incredible memories of the Himalayan floral paradise.