How To Do Valley of Flowers Trek
How To Do Valley of Flowers Trek: Know Everything
Valley of Flowers National Park
Valley Of Flowers National Park is a beautiful high-altitude valley located in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is known for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and the variety of flora. This richly diverse area is also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, musk deer, brown bear, red fox, blue sheep(Bharal), and monal pheasant, and many medicinal plants like Saussurea Obvalata(Brahma kamal), Saussurea Simpsoniana(Fen Kamal), Ainsliaea Aptera, Dactylorhiza Hatagirea, Picrorhiza Kurrooa, Aconitum Balfourii, Polygonatum Multiflorum, Fritillaria Roylei, Podophyllum Hexandrum, etc.
The Valley of Flowers has 520 types of high-altitude plants, out of which 498 are flowering species (Angiosperms) and 22 types of non-flowering plants (Gymnosperms and Pteridophytes). One can find 100-200 species with ease in the valley.
Why do you need to prepare for the valley of flowers trek?
Facts about Valley Of Flowers Trek
- Trek Distance
- ~50km
- Max Altitude
- ~4300m
- Difficulty Level
- Moderate to Difficult
The trek for the Valley of Flowers starts from the Govindghat, around 1830m elevation, and 13 km ascent for the Ghaghariya at 3050 m altitude. This 13 km long ascent to cover ~1200 m altitude can make you very tired and with the luggage even more. A mild AMS ( Acute Mountain Sickness or Altitude Sickness ) may occur at 2500m-3000m altitude. If you are facing any AMS symptoms at Ghanghariya, it’s better to take at least one day of complete rest at Ghanghariya.
If you plan to visit Hemkund Sahib, then that might be more AMS prone to you because the elevation gain for the 7 km trek is more than 1400 m, 500m more than the advisable 900m gain in a day for AMS, which could be a dangerous situation in AMS. Consider visiting Valley of Flower first, then the Hemkund Shahib the next day.
How To Prepare For Valley of Flowers
Do some preparation every time you visit the Himalayas, whether you are a first-timer or an experienced one. Here are 5 things to do before Valley of Flowers Trek:
- If it’s your first trip above 3000m, consult your Doctor and do a basic Checkup for Acute Mountain Sickness. Keep precautionary medicine.
- Rain Coat/Poncho, waterproof bags, and Waterproof shoes with good grip are a must.
- Pack only the most necessary things only to make your bag as light as possible (under 10 kg).
- Do yoga, jogging, staircase, and breathing exercises at least one month prior.
- Fun factor: learn some common flowers found in the valley and identify them on your visit. It will add more fun and interest to your trek.
5 things to do before Valley of Flowers Trek
🔔 Subscribe to the Himalayan Pathik’s YouTube channel
