Valley of Flowers Hemkund Sahib Trek 5 Nights 6 Days

To Govindghat: A 22 km drive to the trailhead.

The Walk: About 13 km to Ghangaria at 10,000 ft, following the Pushpawati river on a well-graded stone path. Six to seven hours.

Ghangaria: A seasonal settlement that exists only for the trekking and pilgrim months, with no permanent population.

• Top Places to Cover: Govindghat, the Pushpawati river, Bhyundar village, Ghangaria.
• Importance of Each Place: Ghangaria is the junction point for both the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib, which is why a village exists at all in a place with no farmland.
• Things to Know: Ponies and porters are available at Govindghat and are paid locally. A helicopter also runs to Ghangaria in season.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Ghangaria

The Approach: A 3.5 km walk from Ghangaria into the valley, which then opens out and runs for several kilometres.

What Blooms: Blue poppy, brahma kamal, cobra lily and potentilla are among the species people come for, and what is flowering changes week to week through the short season.

Return: Camping inside the valley is prohibited, so you return to Ghangaria by evening.

• Top Places to Cover: Valley of Flowers National Park, the Pushpawati glacier snout, Ghangaria.
• Importance of Each Place: The valley was documented by the British mountaineer Frank Smythe in 1931 after he stumbled into it while returning from Kamet, and inscribed by UNESCO in 2005.
• Things to Know: Entry is by permit and the park closes outside the declared season. Nothing may be picked or removed. Waterproofs are essential; this is a monsoon trek.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Ghangaria

The Climb: A hard 6 km gaining 5,200 ft to 15,200 ft. This is the toughest day of the trek by a wide margin.

At the Top: A star-shaped gurudwara beside a glacial lake, ringed by seven peaks. Langar is served, and pilgrims bathe in the lake despite the temperature.

Descend: Back to Ghangaria in the afternoon.

• Top Places to Cover: Hemkund Sahib, the glacial lake, Lokpal temple, the seven peaks.
• Importance of Each Place: Hemkund is described in the Dasam Granth as the place where Guru Gobind Singh meditated in a previous life. It was identified and developed only in the 20th century.
• Things to Know: A head covering is mandatory and provided. The climb is steep and relentless; trekking poles help enormously on the descent. Anyone with cardiac or respiratory conditions should not attempt it.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Ghangaria

Down: Descend the 13 km to Govindghat through the morning, then drive back to Joshimath.

• Top Places to Cover: Ghangaria, Govindghat, Joshimath.
• Things to Know: The descent is hard on knees after two days of climbing. Take poles.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Joshimath

The Long Drive: Back down the Alaknanda valley, arriving Rishikesh in the evening.

• Top Places to Cover: Alaknanda valley, Rishikesh.
• Things to Know: Landslides on this road are common during monsoon and can cause delays of a full day. This is outside our control.

Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Journey ends