When to visit›Uttarakhand›Valley of Flowers›May
Valley of Flowers in May: mostly shut — here's what's open
Closed in May.
Valley of Flowers is shut in May; this page is for planning the trip around when it reopens. In May the weather is usually mild and mostly dry. Stays run about 30% below the usual rate this month.
The next season opens in July, 2 months away. It reopens in June, next month. The rains usually arrive in July, 2 months away. Deep winter usually sets in in December, 7 months away.
Valley of Flowers is closed in May
The Valley of Flowers is open 1 June to 31 October (entry 7 am to 2 pm, out by 5 pm) and Hemkund Sahib from late May to about 10 October; Ghangaria, the only place to stay, closes with them. The way in is on foot: about 10 km from Pulna, 4 km past Govindghat, up to Ghangaria.
May weather & what it actually feels like
May: Peak pre-monsoon heat — the harshest month of the year to be here.
What a day in Valley of Flowers looks like
The things most people actually do here, by time of day.
Morning
- Pulna to Ghangaria trek (about 10 km)6h · strenuous
- Valley of Flowers walk from Ghangaria (4 km each way)7h · strenuous
About 13h of activity in total — the planner spreads this across your days and fits travel time around it.
What a May trip costs · 3 days, total for two
Budget
₹8,251 for two
- Stay · 2n₹2,499
- Food₹3,120
- Local + entry₹2,050
- Buffer₹582
Mid-range
₹17,799 for two
- Stay · 2n₹4,410
- Food₹7,200
- Local + entry₹4,900
- Buffer₹1,289
May multiplier already applied (0.70× on stays). Covers stay with GST, food, local transport, entry & activities, 8% buffer for two people sharing one room — the same figures the planner opens on. Excludes travel to Valley of Flowers. How we price this
Getting to Valley of Flowers
Usually the biggest line in the budget — and the one the estimate above leaves out.
Rishikesh → Govindghat
cab · 10h
₹5,900
1 way / person
Rishikesh → Joshimath
bus · 10h
₹350
1 way / person
Cheapest listed route is Rishikesh → Joshimath by bus. Return for two works out to about ₹1,400 — so a whole trip lands near ₹9,651 for two, travel included.
Fares are typical one-way estimates per person from Valley of Flowers's common gateways, not live prices — book early and expect festival months to run higher.
Every month, scored
What you’ll actually do in Valley of Flowers
Worth knowing for when you do go — several of these are unavailable in May.
- Valley of Flowers walk (4 km from Ghangaria)
- Hemkund Sahib gurdwara and glacial lake (6 km climb)
- Pulna–Ghangaria trail (about 10 km)
- Ghangaria, the base village
- Govindghat gurdwara on the Alaknanda
- Badrinath and Mana up the road from Govindghat
- UNESCO World Heritage Site with Nanda Devi
Not in May: Monsoon alpine blooms, peak July–August.
Within reach: Ghangaria · Hemkund Sahib · Govindghat · Badrinath · Joshimath.
Packing for May
- Light layers and a jacket for the evenings.
- Sunscreen and a cap for long days outdoors.
- Walking shoes with grip and a power bank — charging points and signal are patchy on hill roads.
May questions, answered
Is May a good time to visit Valley of Flowers?
No — Valley of Flowers is closed in May. The Valley of Flowers is open 1 June to 31 October (entry 7 am to 2 pm, out by 5 pm) and Hemkund Sahib from late May to about 10 October; Ghangaria, the only place to stay, closes with them. The way in is on foot: about 10 km from Pulna, 4 km past Govindghat, up to Ghangaria.
How much does a trip to Valley of Flowers cost in May?
A typical 3-day trip for two costs from ₹8,251 (budget) to ₹17,799 (mid-range), excluding travel to Valley of Flowers. Seasonally adjusted for May.
When is the best time to visit Valley of Flowers?
The best months are July, August, June. From May: The next season opens in July, 2 months away. It reopens in June, next month. The rains usually arrive in July, 2 months away. Deep winter usually sets in in December, 7 months away.
What is there to do in Valley of Flowers?
Valley of Flowers walk (4 km from Ghangaria). Hemkund Sahib gurdwara and glacial lake (6 km climb). Pulna–Ghangaria trail (about 10 km). Ghangaria, the base village. Govindghat gurdwara on the Alaknanda. Badrinath and Mana up the road from Govindghat. Rishikesh is the nearest railhead, 275 km away.
Is Valley of Flowers open in May?
The Valley of Flowers is open 1 June to 31 October (entry 7 am to 2 pm, out by 5 pm) and Hemkund Sahib from late May to about 10 October; Ghangaria, the only place to stay, closes with them. The way in is on foot: about 10 km from Pulna, 4 km past Govindghat, up to Ghangaria.
Part of a longer route
Most people visit Valley of Flowers as one stop of several.
Nearby, same trip
Also on in Uttarakhand in May: Ganga Dussehra (Haridwar, Rishikesh).
Elsewhere in India in May
Instead in season this month, from Tourisma's ranking of all 238 destinations for May.
- Haridwar · Uttarakhand · from ₹6,526 for two, 2 days
- Rishikesh · Uttarakhand · from ₹7,733 for two, 3 days
- Gulmarg · Jammu & Kashmir · from ₹9,694 for two, 2 days
- Bomdila · Arunachal Pradesh · from ₹4,855 for two, 2 days
- Tawang · Arunachal Pradesh · from ₹10,176 for two, 3 days
- Ziro Valley · Arunachal Pradesh · from ₹4,855 for two, 2 days
- Kodaikanal · Tamil Nadu · from ₹6,390 for two, 2 days
- Yumthang Valley · Sikkim · from ₹5,335 for two, 2 days
Want this as a real plan?
Valley of Flowers in May, priced for your group, dawn-starts built in — about 40 seconds.