Avoid
Valley of Flowers in October
Uttarakhand, India
October: Valley of Flowers is closed. The gate shuts around October 1. The first snow arrives. The flowers go to seed, die back, and prepare for winter. The valley begins its eight-month sleep. The approach trail remains open for Ghangaria-Hemkund access briefly before that also closes. The valley will reopen in June.
The October story
Closed. The gate shuts. The rangers leave. The valley begins its descent into winter. The flowers go to seed, the plants die back to root systems, and the entire 87 sq km begins preparing for eight months under snow. The approach to Ghangaria may still be open briefly for Hemkund Sahib's last visitors. If you missed the 2026 season, plan for July-August 2027. Book Ghangaria by April. Start fitness preparation in May. Carry rain gear, camera protection, and a sense of wonder. The Valley of Flowers is one of the few places on earth that consistently exceeds expectations.
Why October scores 1/5
Weather
Closes early October. Valley brown and dormant. Only stubborn hikers remain. Trail closing for 8-month winter.
Roads & Access
self drive: Drive to Govindghat.. road condition: Char Dham highway.. public transport: Bus to Govindghat. Trek or helicopter.. from nearest city: Rishikesh 270km to Govindghat. Then 13km trek.. last km difficulty: hard (13km trek)
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 3/5. rescue: Forest Dept at valley gate. helpline: UK Tourism. ambulance: 108 (to Govindghat only). police station: Govindghat. nearest hospital: PHC Govindghat (basic). Joshimath 20km.
Network
VI: No, JIO: No, BSNL: Yes, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: No. BSNL at Govindghat. Zero at Ghangaria.
Kids
Kid-friendly (2/5) β Once-in-a-lifetime natural wonder, Hemkund Sahib gurudwara is educational
Elevation
3,658m β High altitude, acclimatisation needed
Who should go
- βTravelers with basic fitness
- βNobody β valley closed for the season
Who should think twice
- βThose with mobility issues
- βEveryone β season over, gate closed
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0/5 | Closed. UNESCO World Heritage valley buried under meters of snow. No access until June 1. Trail completely impassable. |
| February | 0/5 | Closed. UNESCO site buried under meters of snow. Trail from Govindghat impassable. No access until June 1. |
| March | 0/5 | Closed. Snow still deep. Trek trail buried. Hemkund Sahib route also shut. Opens June 1 at earliest. |
| April | 0/5 | Closed. Snow melting at lower elevations but valley floor still inaccessible. Trail preparation by forest dept. |
| May | 0/5 | Closed. Trail clearing in progress. Valley still has snow patches. Official opening June 1. Book Ghangria stays. |
| June | 2/5 | Opens June 1 but few blooms yet. Green grass, snowmelt streams. Good for avoiding Aug crowds. Leeches starting. |
| July | 4/5 | Blooms beginning, 8-16Β°C. Heavy monsoon rain daily plus leeches on trail. Worth it for early Brahmakamal and primulas. |
| August | 5/5 | PEAK BLOOM. Mid-Jul to mid-Aug is the iconic carpet. |
| September | 3/5 | Blooms fading by mid-Sept, 6-14Β°C. Late season flowers only. Trail to valley still open. Quieter than August. |
| Octoberviewing | 1/5 | Closes early October. Valley brown and dormant. Only stubborn hikers remain. Trail closing for 8-month winter. |
| November | 0/5 | Closed. First snow. Valley going dormant. Trail shut. Govindghat base quieting down. 8-month closure begins. |
| December | 0/5 | Closed. Deep snow buries the valley. UNESCO site hibernates. No access until June next year. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Rishikesh 270km to Govindghat. Then 13km trek.. Roads: Char Dham highway.. Self-drive: Drive to Govindghat.. Public transport: Bus to Govindghat. Trek or helicopter.. Last stretch: hard (13km trek)
Elevation
3,658m
Difficulty
moderate
Budget tier
budget
Permits required
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