Rishikesh is where most people stop, and it is worth two nights – the evening aarti at Parmarth, the footbridges, and the ashrams that made the town famous. But the state proper starts above it.
Garhwal is the Himalaya without the Ladakh logistics: green, walkable, and reachable by road. The Valley of Flowers opens for about ten weeks a year and is exactly what it says.
A starting point, not a fixed departure. Every element below can be lengthened, shortened or swapped.
The bridges, the aarti, and a morning on the river if you want it.
The long climb by road, breaking it properly rather than driving it in one go.
The base for the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund. Walking days, simple lodges.
Down and across for the long view of Nanda Devi and Trisul.
Sal forest, elephants, and a slim chance of a tiger on the way to the plains.
Every journey is quoted individually once we know your dates, party size and pace. The first conversation is free.
The Valley of Flowers is open roughly June to early October and is at its best from mid-July – outside that window there is nothing to see. Ghangaria is reached on foot or by pony from Govindghat, about 13km. The Char Dham pilgrimage clogs these roads from May; we route around the worst of it.
Fly to Dehradun and drive, or take the overnight train to Haridwar. Everything above Rishikesh is by road, on mountain roads.
The Valley of Flowers is a national park and needs an entry permit, issued at Ghangaria – we arrange it. Carry photo ID.
Ghangaria is at 3,000m and Hemkund at 4,300m – altitude is a real factor and we build in a day to adjust. The valley walk is 4km each way over rough ground; Hemkund is a serious climb.
Proper walking boots, a waterproof that works, and a warm layer even in August – it rains most afternoons in the valley season.
Add a week, drop the walking, bring the children, or start somewhere else entirely. We redraw every itinerary from scratch.
