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 up to 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.

09 Days / 8 Nights
Delhi - Rishikesh - Joshimath - Govindghat - Ghangaria - Valley of Flowers - Hemkund Sahib - Ghangaria - Govindghat –Joshimath- Rishikesh - Delhi

Day 01: Delhi - Rishikesh (240 kms, 5 - 6 hrs drive)
On arrival in Delhi transfer to Rishikesh by road. On arrival Check in hotel. Evening visit Lakshman jhula, Ramjhula and attend Ganga Aarti at Swarg Ashram. Overnight at hotel. (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 - Hemkundsahib - Ghangaria (06 kms Trek one side).
After breakfast 6 km trek to Hemkundsahib (4329 m) from Ghangaria. This is quite a steep climb. In the Sikh holy book, the Granth Sahib, the Sikh Guru Govind Singh recounts that in a previous life, he meditated on the shores of a lake surrounded by seven snowcapped mountains now recognized by Hemkund. We visit Lake & Gurudwara. Again 6 km trek back to Ghangaria. Dinner & Night halt at camp. (All meals)

Day 07: Ghangaria - Govindghat – Joshimath (13 kms trek, 20 kms drive)
After breakfast trek down to Govindghat. Proceed for Joshimath by car. On arrival check in Camp/hotel. Evening free at leisure. Overnight at hotel/Luxury camp resort. (All meals)

Day 08: 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 09: Rishikesh - Delhi (240 kms / 5 - 6 hrs).
Morning after breakfast leave for Haridwar. Visit Chandi Devi temple, Mercury Shivlinga, Daksh temple. Later leave for Delhi to reach by late evening.

Tour Ends.

For tour costs and other details please contact: Sanjay/Sunil at