Yes, the best time to visit the Valley of Flowers is in August as this is monsoon season, and most of the flowers are in full bloom! The valley is accessible only from June to September as it is encased in the snow for the rest of the year.

So if you want to see the place in full glory, August is the best time, and you will see the best and most exclusive of the flowers- Brahmakamal, blue poppy, and snake foil in full bloom and hundreds of them! During this period, the summer holidays, in general, are over, and hence, there are fewer pilgrims for Hemkund Sahib as well.

Some exclusive flowers, like the Ladies Slipper orchid, blooms only for a couple of weeks during the last week of July and the first week of August. So it is mostly advisable to go within the first half of the month. Most of the glaciers have also melted by this time, and hence you feel a pleasant chill and not sub-zero temperatures.

Though August is the best time to view the flowers, it is not very easy or safe to commute the route during this month. All your plans for the trek will depend totally on the weather, the roads may be slippery, and there may be mud all around.

You may have to cancel plans for Hemkund Sahib and Valley of Flowers and spend the day in your Ghangaria guesthouse. If you do leave the house, be very careful about carrying things to protect yourself from the rain. In a 7 hour trek, rain may come pouring down at any minute.

You should also be flexible with the plan and be able to reschedule the trek if there is heavy rainfall. Thus, it is not advisable to go on this trek solo; you can join our group Valley of Flowers trek group departures for a hassle free trekking experience.

This is primarily a 6-day trek and it is an easy to moderate trek and can be attempted by first-time trekkers. However, those with heart problems and asthma should abstain from it.

Day 1

You drive from Haridwar to Joshimath. The drive should take 10-11 hours, and on the route, you’ll have a glimpse of the breathtaking views.

Day 2

You drive to Pulna, from Joshimath, via Govindghat. From Pulna, you trek 9 km to Ghangaria.

Day 3

This is the main day of the trek. You trek 4 km from Ghangaria to the Valley of Flowers. The valley itself stretches 7 km and ends at a glacier.

Day 4

You take a round trip from Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib. Including both ways, the trek is 11 km long.

Day 5

You trek back from Ghangaria to Govindghat, and if weather permits, go to Badrinath. Then you drive back to Joshimath.

Day 6

Drive back from Joshimath to Haridwar.