The Valley of Flowers is a UNESCO World Heritage Site high in the western Himalayas — a 2 km wide, 10 km long alpine meadow at about 3,500 metres, carpeted with over 300 species of wildflowers from July through September. If you are expecting cultivated roses, think again: these are all wild species, from blue poppies and primulas to saxifrages and orchids, set against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks.
Getting there requires a 14 km trek from Govindghat to Ghangaria (the base village), and then another 3 km to the valley itself. The trail is well-worn but steep in places. Most trekkers stay in Ghangaria and make the valley a day trip. August is peak season, when the flowers are at their most spectacular and the monsoon rains keep the meadows lush.
The valley is often combined with a visit to the nearby Hemkund Sahib, a Sikh shrine at 4,329 metres — one of the highest in the world.