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Wildflower meadow below steep green mountains in the Valley of Flowers

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Uttarakhand · India

Valley of Flowers trek: grade, cost & permits

A UNESCO site that only exists for about ten weeks a year, when the snowmelt and the monsoon turn a high valley into three hundred species of wildflower.

Photo: Original: Rohit Sharma Derivative work: UnpetitproleX · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

GradeMedium
Duration6 days
Highest point3,658 m
SeasonJul–Sep only
Cost from base₹9,000per person
BaseGovindghat, via Joshimath

A UNESCO site that only exists for about ten weeks a year, when the snowmelt and the monsoon turn a high valley into three hundred species of wildflower.

Good for soloGood for couplesGood for groups
Live weather

On the trail now and the next 7 days

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Forecast for the trek's map point. It is usually colder and windier at the top.

Step 2 of 6Next: Route
Your trip plan · PDF

Valley of Flowers, planned for you

Day-by-day timings, the route, what each part costs, where to sleep and eat, and a checklist. One PDF that works offline: print it, or send it to everyone going.

  1. Day 1 Valley of Flowers: the trek
    • TravelBase: Govindghat, via Joshimath
    • PermitPermits and entry
    • On the trailMedium trek to 3,658 m₹9,000

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The route

Tap a place: the map zooms to it.

On the map

Valley of Flowers · Open in Google Maps ↗

The climb

1800 m2200 m2600 m3050 m3658 m3050 m1800 m Start · 1800 mEnd · 1800 m 3,658 m

How to reach the start

Train to Haridwar or Rishikesh, then a ten-hour bus to Joshimath and on to Govindghat.

Directions to the trailhead ↗Open in Google Maps ↗
Step 3 of 6Next: Permits

Permits and rules

Permit: National park permit with a daily entry cap. No camping inside the valley — you walk in from Ghangaria each day and walk out.

Rules change. Check the park office or official booking system before you travel.

Step 4 of 6Next: Gear

What to carry

Step 5 of 6Next: Cost

Altitude safety

Valley of Flowers reaches 3,658 m, high enough for acute mountain sickness (AMS). Climb slowly, drink water, and tell your guide about headache, nausea, dizziness or breathlessness. If symptoms get worse, go down: descent is the treatment. Take travel insurance that covers trekking at this altitude and rescue.

What it costs

Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 6 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.

Your group, from the base₹18,000
Couple · from Govindghat, via Joshimath
Per person₹9,000

Covers local transport, permits or entry, a guide where needed and food on the trail. Getting to Govindghat is extra.

Step 6 of 6Next: FAQ

Photos

Questions people ask

How hard is the Valley of Flowers trek?

Medium grade. It takes 6 days and climbs to about 3,658 m. A UNESCO site that only exists for about ten weeks a year, when the snowmelt and the monsoon turn a high valley into three hundred species of wildflower.

Do I need a permit for Valley of Flowers?

National park permit with a daily entry cap. No camping inside the valley — you walk in from Ghangaria each day and walk out.

How do I reach the Valley of Flowers trek?

Train to Haridwar or Rishikesh, then a ten-hour bus to Joshimath and on to Govindghat. Base: Govindghat, via Joshimath.

What is the best season for Valley of Flowers?

Jul–Sep only.

How much does the Valley of Flowers trek cost?

From about ₹9,000 per person from the base, covering local transport, permits or entry, a guide where required and food. The journey to the base is extra.

What should I carry?

Rain gear, this being peak monsoon. Boots with grip; the path is wet stone.

Nearby treks

Row of snow peaks seen from Kuari PassKuari Pass (Curzon Trail)Moderate · 5 days · up to 3,815 mFrom ₹10,000Panorama of snow peaks seen from the Brahmatal ridgeBrahmatalModerate · 6 days · up to 3,846 mFrom ₹11,000Open meadow of Dayara Bugyal with snow peaks behindDayara BugyalEasy · 5 days · up to 3,750 mFrom ₹11,000

Places to stay near by

Stone Tungnath temple with the Chandrashila ridge rising behind it, UttarakhandChopta & TungnathThe highest Shiva temple in the world at the end of a three-kilometre walk, with the whole…From ₹1,000/dayPanchachuli II peak seen from MunsiyariMunsiyariThe five Panchachuli peaks filling the window of a ₹900 homestay, at the end of a ten-hour…From ₹1,000/dayForested Kaudia (Kodia) ridge in Tehri GarhwalKanatalA pine-and-oak ridge on the Chamba-Mussoorie road, with a hilltop goddess temple above it and…From ₹1,600/day

Sacred places near by

Grey stone Kedarnath Temple below steep Himalayan slopes, UttarakhandChar Dham — Uttarakhand10–12 days · from HaridwarFrom ₹18,000

Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we don't sell packages or bookings, we take no commission, and we link to maps and official sites, never to booking sites. Every guide is free; our only paid products are optional downloadable trip plans and itineraries. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.

By Gokul · Updated 6 October 2026 · Photo: Original: Rohit Sharma Derivative work: UnpetitproleX · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Daniel Romanson · CC0 · source · Photo: Rohit Sharma · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

From the base · —
Cost