If you are craving a break from the summer heat, the Valley of Flowers might just be the place for you.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the valley is known for its vibrant meadows, cascading waterfalls, and picturesque landscape.

Your journey will begin at the charming village of Govindghat which leads you through quaint Himalayan villages alongside the peaceful Pushpawati River. A 17-km long trek, which takes about three to four days to complete, will start in Govindghat. You can take a cab through major towns like Rishikesh and Haridwar.

If you want to take a flight, the nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. From the airport, you can either hire a taxi or take a bus to Govindghat. The closest railway station to Govindghat is Rishikesh, and you can take a taxi or a bus from here.

Bloggers Himani and Sagar Patel travelled to the Valley of Flowers in 2019 and shared their itinerary - Day 1: The couple drove from Rishikesh to Joshimath and checked into a local guest house. Day 2: The couple trekked till Ghangharia, which is around 9 km from the starting point and at an altitude of around 10,000 ft. “We stayed overnight at a campsite here,” says Sagar.

Day 3: They started their trek to the Valley of Flowers. “We then entered the Valley, which is 6-7 km long, and ends with a glacier,” he adds. Day 4: “We trekked from Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib, which is a steep climb but worth the effort. At the top, we enjoyed the Gurdwara and the serene lake,” they say.