Valley of flowers with family in julyend-early august

nyraghu

There are porters with `kandis' (carrier baskets) who can carry children. If you are walking, you may not want to send your child far ahead on a pony; in that case, a `kandi' is the only option. Moreover, ponies are not allowed in the VoF itself, so a `kandi' is the only alternative to walking there.

The maximum altitude you will reach on the VoF trek is about 3400m. When I went there I was 42, and I am not a particularly active or fit person, yet I didn't have any problems. (However, we didn't hurry through the trip, e.g., we spent three days in Ghangaria, going to the Valley every morning.) So, I think oxygen cylinders are unnecessary on this trek for most people.

Raghu.

VSK Sharma

All the best for your trip and do not worry much.Keep a day in hand thats all.

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ks_bluechip

Here are the links to pictures of my recent 4 treks in Uttaranchal:

1. Har-ki-Dun (Valley of Gods) - 6 Days 78 Kms Trek ks_bluechip's slideshow on Flickr

2. Yamunotri - 1 Day 10Kms Trek
ks_bluechip's slideshow on Flickr

3. Gangotri-Gaumukh - 3 Days 36 Kms Trek
ks_bluechip's slideshow on Flickr

4. Valley of Flowers - 3 days 42 Kms Trek
ks_bluechip's slideshow on Flickr


Updating my Travel Blog, for these 4 treks, will take a week or so.

- KS

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ks_bluechip [My Travel Blog] [My Flickr Photo Sets]

Dilliwala

Good morning, sir!


The only way to travel....

ks_bluechip

Dilliwala, good morning to you too!

It has been my practice... and reinforced over years, by experience ... that for all treks & travels in India (except of course family trips, with wife!) it is best, to just have an overall plan in mind ... never do micro-planning and never book hotels & travel arrangements in advance. (BTW: one should never go on a High-Season Holiday ... if you want to enjoy them).

In India, many unexpected things happen (not only mudslides, land-slides, rock-falls ... but also many Man-slides .. like bandhs / bhook-hadthals / chakka-bandhs etc). Detailed plans mostly breakdown. But always alternatives/solutions spring up. I have never been left in a total lurch even in most remote places! By and large local people are kind and helpful everywhere.

A take-it-easy attitude, not worrying too much in anticipation of problems and "will cross the bridge when it comes" kind of mental make-up, helps in having a stress free trek/travel/holiday!

- KS

Sadanand Kamath

In my first formal trek in 1985, the punch line was 'whatever the weather, whatever the obstacles, we shall overcome them'. This motto has helped me a lot in my trekking days.

Sadanand

Dilliwala

Second that. Too much planning = too many disappointments.
Minimum basic planning = minimum disappointments. And maximum appointments (wait a minute - that's not right, is it?), I mean max enjoyment, espesh when unexpected.
The one thing I keep my eye on is where the nearest G/KMVNs are on my route/s, so if I don't make it to my preferred stopover then at least I know where the next one is. Only once, at GMVN Pauri, did i not get a room, but then got one the next day.
Last month I had planned to go to Almora. Ended up in Munsyari instead!

praveen_yadlapalli

Hello,

We are planning to trek VOF first week of this sep

We are going on dhoon express(3009) to haridwar on the morning of Sep 1st(expected time 4:20). Can we get a bus from Hariwar to Joshimath? How many hours it takes? and when is the last bus from haridwar to joshimath?

Thanks in advance
Praveen

ks_bluechip

I noticed this time: The GMVN's have put up signboards on the Highways everywhere .... saying where the next GMVN is and how many Kms away it is! Useful!! So far the only GMVN that turned me away saying they are full was Mussorie.

Dilliwala

Surprised no one's answered this yet, espesh as a few people have travelled that way recently.
1. Yes. According to the district admin's website the first bus for Joshimath is UA Transport Corp (SRTU) leaving at 5 am. Great for u if your train's on time. Also GMOU at 6 am.
2. It's 275 km, so will take 8-9 hours.
3. As reported in some other thread, GMOU has buses thru the day, despite what the a.m. website says. Best is to check with both operators on arrival. Or call them if u want confirmed info before arrival - the fones are on the a.m. pages.

praveen_yadlapalli

Thank u for the info. I'll check it out

deeps79

so is season gonna last till end Sep ?
what would be status of flowers around mid september ?

those who have come back recently please update on the bloom time

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Sadanand Kamath

Normally, flowering season in VOF is July-August, the peak season of flowers being mid-July to mid-August. On the basis of the pictures of flowers uploaded by KS, Somnath and others who had been to VOF this July, my guess is most of flowers may wither away by end-August.

Sadanand

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Sirf ek kadam utha tha galat rahe shauk mein
Manzil tamam umr hame dhunti rahi.

[Just one wrong step on the way of the quest
My destination looked for me all life long]

ks_bluechip

Deeps and Sadanand,

I was also under the impression (like SK) that August was best time to see flowers. But a seemingly knowledgeable staff at VoF entry check post said that Sept (till mid-sept) is best season as you can get whole valley views, paeks and flowers best in the sunny weather then. I am not sure how accurate his commnet is. Perhaps some other experts can comment on sept for VoF.... KS

deeps79

Thanks Sadanand and KS

i know abt mid july to mid aug but this yr i have been hearing (also read Ks post earlier) that season gonna last till mid sep....just wanted to confirm it again from someone who has come recently from there........

Thanks again