Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib: season, trek and permits
Plan the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib trek: the June to October season, best bloom weeks, the Govindghat to Ghangaria route, permits, helicopter and costs.
By the Agrima Holidays Team · Updated October 2026 · 2 min read
About the trek
The Valley of Flowers National Park in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, is a high meadow that bursts into bloom each monsoon, with hundreds of species of wild flowers. Hemkund Sahib, a Sikh gurdwara by a glacial lake at about 4,630 m, sits on a neighbouring trail. Both start from Ghangaria, and most trekkers visit both.
Season
- The valley opens from 1 June to 31 October
- Mid July to mid August: peak bloom
- Hemkund Sahib opens in late May or June and closes in October
- June: fewer flowers, snow patches near Hemkund
- September: fading blooms, clearer skies
Route
- Rishikesh or Haridwar to Govindghat or Joshimath by road, a full day
- Govindghat to Pulna by road, then about 10 km on foot or pony to Ghangaria
- Ghangaria to the Valley of Flowers: about 4 km, a day trip
- Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib: about 6 km, a steep climb of about 1,100 m
Helicopters fly from Govindghat to Ghangaria, weather permitting.
Permits and registration
Register on the Uttarakhand pilgrim and tourist registration portal. The Valley of Flowers entry permit is issued at the forest checkpost in Ghangaria each morning. Overnight stays inside the valley are not allowed.
Fitness and safety
The trails are steep and slippery in the rains. Walk daily for a month before the trip. Carry a rain jacket, trekking shoes with grip and a walking stick. Landslides delay roads in July and August, so keep a spare day.
What it costs
Our Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib trip of six nights starts from the price on its package page, with hotels, meals and a car from Rishikesh.
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