In 1931 Frank Smyth, an English botanist & mountaineer discovered "Valley of Flowers" while coming back after the successful expedition of Mt. Kamet. Local people knew about this place from many years but it was Frank Smyth who wrote book by the name of "Valley of Flowers" and made this place famous worldwide. He came back to Valley of Flowers in 1937 and stayed here from May to September to find the different type of flowers. It is said that he found 262 different type flowers during this period.
In 1939 Joan Margarate Legge, a botanist deputed by Botanical gardens of Edinburgh came here for further studies. While collecting flowers she slipped from a rocky slope and lost her life in the garden of God. In 1943 elder sister of Joan Margarate Legge came here and built a memorial of her sister and the lines in the marble slab can still be found saying -
'I shall lift my eyes upto Himalayas from whence cometh my strength'
Valley of Flowers is situated at an altitude of 3658 mts. This valley is 10 km long and 2 km wide.
Trek
Trek to Valley of Flowers starts from Govindghat which is 20 kms from Joshimath. Valley of flowers is 16 Kms from Govindghat. For overnight stay one can find basic hotels in Ghangaria (which is 13 kms from Govindghat) as overnight camping in not allowed in valley. This complete route is a well-laid cobbled path.
12 Days / 11 Nights
Delhi - Rishikesh - Joshimath - Govindghat - Ghangaria - Valley of Flowers - Hemkund Saheb -
Ghangaria - Govindghat - Badrinath - Rishikesh - Delhi
Day 01: Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel. Meet our representative and get a briefing on the tour. Spend the afternoon visiting places of interest in Delhi on a half day city tour to Old Delhi.
Day 02: Delhi - Rishikesh (240 kms, 5 - 6 hrs drive)
Morning transfer to New Delhi Railway station to connect train Shatabdi Express train at 06:55 hrs. Reach Haridwar at 11:22 hrs. On arrival pickup and leave for Rishikesh. Check in hotel The Great Ganga. Evening visit Lakshmanjhula, Ramjhula and attend Ganga Aarti at Swarg Ashram. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 03: Rishikesh - Joshimath (255 kms, 7 - 8 hrs drive)
After early breakfast leave for Joshimath. Enroute stop in Devprayag to witness the confluence of river Alaknanda and Bhagirathi to form holy river Ganges. Proceed further. Enroute lunch at Srinagar. Reach Joshimath by evening. On arrival check in camp / hotel. Overnight at camp / hotel. (Breakfast & Dinner)
Day 04: Joshimath - Govindghat - Ghangaria (20 kms drive, 13 km trek)
After early breakfast leave for Govindghat by road with packed lunch. Prepare for trek on arrival and then leave on the trek to Ghangaria. Reach Ghangaria late in the afternoon. On arrival check in hotel. Overnight at hotel. (All meals)
Day 05: Ghangaria - Valley of Flowers - Ghangaria (06 kms trek)
After breakfast leave for valley of flowers (3 kms one side trek) with pack lunch. Enjoy the beauty of rare high Himalayan flora at its best. The valley is at a height of 3342 mts to3658 mts and is declared a national park for very rare high Himalayan flora. Return back to Ghangaria. Overnight at hotel. (All meals)
Day 06: Ghangaria - Valley of Flowers - Ghangaria (06 kms trek)
Day in reserve for another visit to Valley of flowers. We will go early today and explore more deep into the area. Come back to Ghangaria for overnight.
Day 07: Ghangaria - Govindghat – Badrinath – Joshimath (13 kms trek, 25 kms drive)
After breakfast trek down to Govindghat. Proceed for Badrinath by car. On arrival check in hotel. After lunch visit the main temple of Lord Vishnu. Also visit Mana Village, last village on Indian side to Tibet border. Drive back to Joshimath in the evening. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast)
Day 08: Joshimath – Auli – Joshimath . ( 16 kms / 1 hr.)
After breakfast leave for Auli by Cable car and enjoy the great views of High Himalayan peaks from the ski slopes of Auli. On a clear day You can see Nanda Devi ( 7817 mts ), second highest peak in India, along with various peaks above 6000 mts like Dronagiri, Hathi Parvat, Kamet, Chaukhamba etc.
Day 09: Joshimath - Rishikesh. ( 260 kms / 8 - 9 hrs)
Early morning leave for Rishikesh on the full day drive. Lunch Enroute at Srinagar. Reach Rishikesh by evening. On arrival check n hotel. Overnight at hotel. (Breakfast & dinner)
Day 10: Rishikesh - Delhi (240 kms / 5 - 6 hrs)
Morning after breakfast leave for Haridwar. Visit Chandi Devi temple, Mercury Shivlinga, Daksh temple. Evening connect train Shatabdi Express at 18:10 hrs. Reach Delhi at 22:45 hrs. On arrival transfer to hotel / airport. (Breakfast)
Day 11: Delhi – Agra (205 kms / 4 - 5 hrs)
After breakfast leave for Agra to see Taj Mahal, The monument of love. On arrival check in hotel and in the afternoon. Visit Taj and then Agra Fort. Evening free for souvenir shopping. Overnight at hotel. ( Breakfast )
Day 12: Agra - Delhi (240 kms / 4 - 5 hrs)
After breakfast leave for Delhi via Fatehpur Sikri which is the abandoned capitol of mughal emperor Akbar the great. Tour ends on arrival in Delhi. ( breakfast )
For tour costs and other details please contact: Sanjay/Sunil at