Valley of Flowers Trek

Nestled high in the West Himalaya,India’s valley of flowers national park is renowned for its meadow of endemic alpine flowers and outstanding natural beauty. This richly diverse area is also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic clack bear, snow leopard, brown bear and blue sheep. The gentle landscape of the valley of flowers national park complements the rugged mountain wilderness of Nanda Devi national park, inscribed on the world heritage list in 1988. Together they encompass a unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and Great Himalaya, praised by mountaineers and botanists for over a century and in Hindu mythology for much longer.

This hidden treasure or Nature’s beautiful secret was revealed to British mountaineers Frank S. Smythe and Mr. R L Holdsworth on 9^th July 1931, when they reached here after a successful expedition of Mount Kamet. Drawn by the irresistible lure of the place Smythe revisited in 1937. In 1938 he published a book “The Valley of Flowers” celebration the beauty of this extra ordinary Valley.

Valley of flowers trek date for 2015

DEPARTURES for Valley of Flowers Trek 2015 

• 1^st Batch   :  4th -9th July 2015
• 2^nd Batch  :   11th – 16th July 2015 
• 3^rd Batch   :   18th -23rd July 2015
• 4^th  Batch  :   1st – 6th August 2015
• 5^th  Batch   :  8th – 13th August 2015
• 6th Batch : 15th – 19th August 2015
• 7th Batch : 22nd- 26th August 2015

Pictures from Last years Trek

Potentila atrosanguinea

 

Blue Poppy

 

Fallen Gracefully

 

Peeping Out

 

In Paradise Called Valley of Flowers

 

Silver Fir

 

Breathtaking !!

 

I Support Green Hiker !! Green Hiking Tips

Green Hiker tips

HIKING

• Hike in a single file in the middle of the track to avoid further erosion.
• Keep noise levels low, especially when traveling through a forest
• Minimise the use of automobiles wherever possible

CAMPING

• Choose a homestay or a community-run camping site wherever possible
• Set camp 30m away from lakes and streams
• Set up a temporary dustbin to dispose of waste by all campers. Make sure to carry it away

FIRE

• Never leave a fire unattended this will rule out chances of a devastating forest fire
• Minimize the use of growing vegetation as firewood. Opt for kerosene or fuel efficient stoves
• Avoid burning plastic or other toxic substances

COOKING

• Carry food that cooks faster and more easily, to reduce fuel consumption
• A small solar cooker will serve the purpose keeping the environs clean too

WATER

• Never discard rubbish into water bodies.
• For washing, carry water 30 m away from the lake
• Use biodegradable organic soaps for washing and cleaning. These will minimize water pollution

WILDLIFE

• Do not feed wild animals since human food may be damaging to them
• Avoid flash photography. Take pictures from a distance
• Observe wildlife from a distance, especially at sensitive times like mating, nesting and raising young

WASTE

• Never leave behind litter while hiking or camping. Stuff the rubbish into your pocket/backpack/garbage bag to take back with you
• Try and sort your garbage into biodegradable and non-biodegradable at the base camp itself. Ensure that the mouths of the bags are tightly fastened. This will prevent the contents from scattering and emitting foul odour
• Use toilet facilities and where not available, dispose of solid human waste like this – Dig a 15cm hole in the ground, more than 30m away from the lake, campsite and track. Cover it up with soil when finished
• Opt for light, unbreakable utensils instead of plastic or Styrofoam

PEOPLE

• Respect the local people, culture and customs
• Get local guides or choose homestays so that the economic benefits remain in the region
• Help your guides/porters to follow the rules as well. They will then be mindful of them in the future

 

source:http://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/critical_regions/high_altitude_wetlands/green_hiker/what_you_can_do/green_hiker_tips/

 

Flawless Beauty

M Teresa

When we were on our way back from Ladakh after Stok Kangri’s successful summit, we stopped for lunch at a restaurant and this beautiful old woman was the owner. She reminds me of Mother Teresa although I have never seen her. After our lunch we sat with her for almost half an hour and had discussion about her looks, family and when we were leaving asked to pose for this photograph.