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5N/6D
Valley of Flowers & Sri Hemkund Sahib Trek: Rishikesh Loop
1N Govindghat + 3N Ghangaria Base + 1N Joshimath
Package Inclusions
Meals
Hotels
Transfers
Overview
Witness Earth's most vibrant alpine wonderland on this 6-day expedition with SkyGlobals. Venture into the UNESCO World Heritage Valley of Flowers National Park, where over 500 species of rare Himalayan wildflowers blanket a 7 km hanging glacial valley beneath towering snow peaks. Ascend the stone-paved switchbacks to Sri Hemkund Sahib (14,107 ft) to experience the serene glacial lake mirroring the Saptarishi peaks and warm up with community langar at the world's highest Sikh shrine. With vetted mountain stays in Ghangaria and Joshimath, seamless private transport from Rishikesh, and dedicated guide support, this journey offers an unforgettable blend of natural beauty and spiritual serenity.
Tour Itinerary
1
Assemble by 6:00 AM at the designated SkyGlobals assembly point in Rishikesh or Haridwar. Travel along the Badrinath National Highway (NH-07), following the Alaknanda River upstream. Stop to view the sacred river confluences: Devprayag (Bhagirathi meets Alaknanda to form the Ganga), Rudraprayag (Alaknanda meets Mandakini), and Karnaprayag (Alaknanda meets Pindar). Continue past Chamoli and Joshimath down into the riverbed valley hub of Govindghat (5,997 ft). Check into your hotel, verify your Char Dham / Hemkund biometric registration cards, attend a trek orientation, and rest. Dinner and overnight stay in Govindghat.
2
After breakfast, take a 15-minute shared taxi ride to Pulna village (6,560 ft), the motorable roadhead.
The Trail: Begin the gradual 10 km stone-paved climb alongside the surging Laxman Ganga river, walking beneath shady pine, deodar, and rhododendron canopies. The path features handrails, fresh water points, and dhabas.
(Mobility alternatives: Registered ponies, palkis/dolis, and pitthu baskets are available at Pulna. A commercial passenger helicopter shuttle also operates from Govindghat helipad to Ghangaria, subject to weather clearance).
Arrive at the base camp village of Ghangaria (9,800 ft) by afternoon. Check into your hotel or guesthouse, hydrate with hot ginger tea, and acclimatize. Dinner and overnight stay in Ghangaria.
The Trail: Begin the gradual 10 km stone-paved climb alongside the surging Laxman Ganga river, walking beneath shady pine, deodar, and rhododendron canopies. The path features handrails, fresh water points, and dhabas.
(Mobility alternatives: Registered ponies, palkis/dolis, and pitthu baskets are available at Pulna. A commercial passenger helicopter shuttle also operates from Govindghat helipad to Ghangaria, subject to weather clearance).
Arrive at the base camp village of Ghangaria (9,800 ft) by afternoon. Check into your hotel or guesthouse, hydrate with hot ginger tea, and acclimatize. Dinner and overnight stay in Ghangaria.
3
The National Park Entry: Cross the forest check-post at 7:00 AM. Clear identity logging and pay the Forest Department eco-permit fee. Cross an iron bridge over the Pushpawati River.
The Alpine Bloom: Ascend a rocky, scenic trail framed by birch trees into the wide, U-shaped glacial valley. Walk through fields carpeted with over 500 species of wildflowers, including Himalayan blue poppies, morina, bellflowers, geraniums, and river anemones. Hike past the memorial grave of British botanist Joan Margaret Legge (12,100 ft).
Curfew Return: Enjoy your packed lunch along the riverbank (zero-litter policy strictly enforced). As mandated by forest regulations, begin walking back toward the gate by 2:00 PM to exit before 5:00 PM. Return to Ghangaria for hot tea and snacks. Dinner and overnight stay in Ghangaria.
The Alpine Bloom: Ascend a rocky, scenic trail framed by birch trees into the wide, U-shaped glacial valley. Walk through fields carpeted with over 500 species of wildflowers, including Himalayan blue poppies, morina, bellflowers, geraniums, and river anemones. Hike past the memorial grave of British botanist Joan Margaret Legge (12,100 ft).
Curfew Return: Enjoy your packed lunch along the riverbank (zero-litter policy strictly enforced). As mandated by forest regulations, begin walking back toward the gate by 2:00 PM to exit before 5:00 PM. Return to Ghangaria for hot tea and snacks. Dinner and overnight stay in Ghangaria.
4
The Sacred Ascent: Start early by 5:30 AM. Tackle continuous stone-paved switchbacks climbing over 4,300 vertical feet above the tree line. The air thins noticeably past 12,000 ft, where the rare, sacred Brahma Kamal blooms along the rocky cliff walls.
The Holy Shrine (14,107 ft): Reach the ridge framing the emerald Hemkund Sarovar, surrounded by seven snow-capped mountain peaks. Pilgrims may take a holy dip in the cold waters before entering the star-shaped Gurudwara for morning prayers (Ardas). Warm up inside the Langar hall with hot chai and khichdi. Visit the adjacent ancient Lakshman Mandir.
Afternoon Curfew: Shrine regulations mandate that all pilgrims begin descending by 1:30 PM to avoid freezing mist and altitude sickness. Trek back down to Ghangaria. Dinner and overnight stay in Ghangaria.
The Holy Shrine (14,107 ft): Reach the ridge framing the emerald Hemkund Sarovar, surrounded by seven snow-capped mountain peaks. Pilgrims may take a holy dip in the cold waters before entering the star-shaped Gurudwara for morning prayers (Ardas). Warm up inside the Langar hall with hot chai and khichdi. Visit the adjacent ancient Lakshman Mandir.
Afternoon Curfew: Shrine regulations mandate that all pilgrims begin descending by 1:30 PM to avoid freezing mist and altitude sickness. Trek back down to Ghangaria. Dinner and overnight stay in Ghangaria.
5
After breakfast, make the comfortable 10 km downhill descent back to Pulna village. Board your waiting private vehicles and transfer up to the town of Joshimath (6,150 ft). Check into your hotel and enjoy hot showers. In the afternoon, visit the 8th-century Adi Shankaracharya Math (Jyotirmath) and the sacred Kalpavriksha tree, or explore the local market. Dinner and overnight stay in Joshimath.
6
Depart early after breakfast for the descent down the Alaknanda and Ganga river valleys. Stop for lunch along the river near Srinagar or Byasi. Arrive in Rishikesh / Haridwar (or Dehradun Airport - DED) by 5:30 PM, dropping off at your scheduled train or flight connections to conclude the expedition.
