Chenap Valley Trek- Mini Valley of Flowers

Chenap Valley, located in Chamoli District, is one of the most beautiful yet unknown treks in Uttarakhand. Similar to the Valley of Flowers, Chenap Valley is known for its wide variety of flower species, which is why it is often referred to as "Mini Valley of Flowers". When the flowers are in full bloom, every part of the trail comes alive with wildflowers.
 

During the trek, trekkers may come across vast meadows, towering mountains, and majestic Himalayan peaks. However, it is not easy to witness such breathtaking views, as the trail is located on the ridge of the mountain, which is quite narrow and steep. Due to this, the trek is not considered suitable for beginners.
 

Situated at a height of more than 12,000 feet, the Chenap Valley trek is now gaining attention among trekkers. The total distance of the trek is around 30 km, which is a perfect blend of adventure and panoramic landscapes. The ideal time to visit Chenab Valley Trek is post-summer and winter season. In this Chenap Valley Trek, we have shared everything you need to know.

Base Camp

Joshimath, a popular town in Chamoli, is the base camp of the Chenab Ghati Trek. It offers various basic amenities like ATMs, restaurants, hotels, homestays, and taxis. Generally, base camp is the place where trekkers can book their stays and leave their extra luggage before starting their trek. It is the perfect place for the trekkers to adapt to the weather and conditions. However, it is not the last motorable point of our trek journey. From here, trekkers need to hire a taxi service up to Vishnuprayag. Once at Vishnuprayag, trekkers can start their trail towards Thaing Village.

Trek of the Year 2025

Unlike the Valley of Flowers Trek, the Chenap Valley not widely renowned among trekkers and remains unexplored. To promote this beautiful trail, the Uttarakhand Tourism Department has declared it "Trek of the Year 2025". From September 2025 to March 2026, the Chenap Valley Trek will be promoted as a winter tourism attraction. 
 

For its promotion, the District Tourism Development Department has also announced a subsidy of Rs 2,000/- for the trekking agency to participate in this trek. The subsidy will be provided to the first 300 trackers on a first-come, first-served basis. To receive this subsidy, agencies must include trekkers from other states. The ratio of trekkers from Uttarakhand and other states should be 2:1.

Trek Difficulty Level

If we talk about the difficulty level, the Chenab Valley Trek is of a moderate difficulty level and requires good physical fitness along with prior trekking experience. The Thaing Village to Dhar Khadak route is particularly steep and will surely test your endurance and stamina. Being located on the edge of the mountains, this narrow and steep trail becomes more difficult and requires caution and focus. Along with this, the fourth-day journey is also challenging, as the route consists of a steep and narrow path, which makes it difficult for trekkers. Due to this, the Chenap Ghati Trek might not be suitable for beginners. Due to this, the Chenap Ghati Trek might not be suitable for beginners.

Chenap Valley Trek Itinerary

Journey Commenced From

The Journey to the Chanap Ghati Trek begins from Rishikesh, popularly known as the Yoga Capital of the World. Rishikesh is well connected to major cities across the country by road, train and air. The Yog Nagri Rishikesh Railway Station is the nearest one that offers direct trains from the national capital, Delhi. In addition, the city is easily accessible by road using buses, taxis, cabs, etc. The nearest airport that connects Rishikesh to other cities is Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport, located about 16 km from Rishikesh.

Chanap Valley Trek Route: Key details

Chenap Valley Trek Route Map

The base camp of the Chenap Ghati Trek is Joshimath, located around 247 km from Rishikesh. It takes around 8 to 9 hours to reach Joshimath by car, bus or shared taxi. However, the journey time may vary depending on the traffic and road conditions. 
 

Chenap Ghat Trek usually commence from Thaing Village, about 15 to 16 km away from Joshimath. Its first 12 km distance up to Vishnuprayag can be covered by taxi, and from there you have to trek around 4 km to reach Thaing Village.  
 

The route involved in the Chenap Bugyal Trek journey is shared below: - 
 

Rishikesh - Devprayag - Rudraprayag - Karnaprayag - Chamoli - Joshimath - Vishnuprayag - Thaing Village

A Trail to the Chenap Valley Trek

The Chenap Valley Trek is a 30 km long trek that usually starts from the Thaing Village. The arduous journey of the trek can be completed in seven days. Along with its challenging route, the trail is also known for its mesmerising views. To relive our seven-day journey, we have shared its day-wise detailed itinerary below: -

Day 1: (Drive from Rishikesh to Joshimath)

On day 1, we had to reach the starting point of our journey, i.e. Rishikesh. After assembling there, we hired a taxi (you can also take a bus or shared taxi available from Rishikesh Bus Stand) to begin our journey.
 

In the first phase of our trip, we have to reach Jyotirmath (formerly known as Joshimath), which is around 247 km from Rishikesh.
 

Along the way, we witnessed some popular locations, including Devprayag, where the confluence of the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers forms the sacred Ganges. After a few hours of journey, we stopped to seek the blessing of the Goddess Dhari Devi, known as the protector of the Char Dham. Apart from this, we also halted at Karnaprayag, a place dedicated to Karna (a prominent character from the Mahabharata).
 

After a tiring journey of almost 9 hours, we finally reached Joshimath, which also served as the base camp for the journey. After booking our stay, we took some time to relax our bodies. As we are not used to this cold weather, it will be enough for us to adapt to the conditions and weather. 
 

One thing which I would like to add here is that whatever the season, the weather here always remains cold. Exhausted from the long journey, we slept much before our usual time, as we had to start our journey early in the morning.

Day 2: (Joshimath to Thaing Village)

On the second day of our journey, we will reach Thaing Village, which is around 13 km from Joshimath. Out of this distance, we will cover the first 9 km by taxi up to Vishnuprayag, and the last 4 km on foot. Taxis to Vishnuprayag are easily available from Joshimath, which takes around 1-2 hours. From there, we begin our trek to Thaing Village. 
 

During the trail, you will find a small dhaba where you can rest and enjoy a cup of tea. The zig-zag trails lead you through Thaing Village. The village is surrounded by lush green mountains, whose peace and calmness are just remarkable. It is a small village, home to about 300 to 400 families. After turning back, the mighty Nanda Devi peak made our day with its breathtaking view. The second day of the journey ends here, where we will stay overnight in our camps.

Day 3: (Thaing Village to Dhar Khadak)

Today, we will travel to our next destination, i.e. Dhar Khadak. It is around 4 km from our first campsite, which usually takes around 4 hours to reach. After ascending for some distance, the trails start descending, and in some minutes, we arrive at a bridge that connects Geewani Village. After crossing it, we came across two routes, one going downwards and the other upwards. We take the upward trail to continue our journey. After walking some distance, we reached Geewani Village, where we found a natural water source to refill our bottles. We always admire this thing in our Himalayas, that there is never a scarcity of water. After some miles, you always find a water source to quench your thirst.
 

As we are enjoying the scenic views, we reach a point from where the entire Thaing Village and Joshimath are visible. After moving forward, the trail becomes narrower and steeper. After crossing all these hurdles, we finally reached our campsite, and seriously, it is the most beautiful place. The surreal view of the valley and the majestic Nanda Devi mountains shows their immense beauty. Another interesting thing about this place is that we start witnessing the colourful wild flowers.

Day 4: (Dhar Khadak to Chenap Top)

This is the most challenging and important day of our trek, as today we witness the Chenap Top, the place we came for. We wake up early and start preparing for the day. The total distance to cover is about 6 km, which usually takes about 5 hours. Since we are on the ridge of the mountains, we move slowly and carefully while watching the scenic view of the valley. Soon, we are surrounded by a dense oak forest. As there is no water source in the jungle, we have to utilise our water carefully.
 

After marching a steep trail, we enter a flatter section. However, rain has made the path muddy, making it more difficult to navigate. The last 30 minutes are the most difficult part of the journey, as its steep and narrow path is testing our stamina and determination. 
 

We are marching slowly, and when we are about to give up, the meadows of Chenap Top appear. After seeing the beauty of the Chenap Top, we all forgot our fatigue, pain and thirst. Its beauty cannot be expressed in words. Literally, Chenap Top is something different from other popular treks in Uttarakhand.
 

In past, we have seen meadows in Dayara Bugyal Trek and Chopta Tungnath Trek, but this bugyal hit you different from the inside.
 

The vibrant wild flowers, the lush green meadows, and the towering Nanda Devi create a magical scene in the backdrop. From here, we also spot some prominent peaks like Hathi Parbat, Tishul, and Nanda Ghunti. After setting up our camsite, we are excited for the next morning, as we don't want to miss the epic sunrise from the height of 12,000 feet.

Day 5: (Chenap Top to Thaing Village)

We woke up early, as today we have to reach our first campsite in the Thaing village, which is around 12 km from the Chenap Top. Also, we don't want to miss the sunrise. After enjoying the sunrise, we filled our water bottle, packed some snacks, and began retracing our route. It took us around 7 hours to retrace the path that we covered in the last three days.

Day 6: (Thaing Village to Joshimath- via Vishnuprayag)

After an overnight stay at the campsite in Thaing village, we start moving towards Joshimath, retracing the Day 2 journey. Today, we decided to rest in Joshimath and explore the town, since travelling to Rishikesh was not possible.

Day 7 (Drive back to Rishikesh)

After breakfast, we checked out of the hotel and left for Rishikesh. To save time, we had already booked a cab the previous evening. However, roadways and private buses, including shared taxis, are easily available from Joshimath.

Backpack Check List for Chenap Valley Trek

Accommodation

Joshimath, the base camp of the journey, offers a variety of hotels and homestays. Although it is not the last motorable point of the trek, it is still the most favourable place where all basic amenities are available. Trekkers can either book their stays in advance or walk in directly. However, during the Char Dham Yatra, Joshimath often seems crowded, as during this time you might come across people on their way to Badrinath Temple, Hemkund Sahib and the Valley of Flowers. If we talk about some popular accommodation options, which can be recommended are: -

• Hotel Shivalik
• Hotel Brahma Kamal
• Hotel Divine Residency.
• Siddharth Homestay
• The Kafal Homestay.
• Hotel Sapphire.
• Hotel Dronagiri.
• Hotel Manik Palace.
• The Tattva.

Important Tips for Trekkers

• Prior trekking experience is mandatory; beginners must avoid this trek.
• Physical fitness is necessary as the trail consists mostly of stretches that are narrow and steep.
• The weather always remains cold, so ensure carrying the essential woollen items.
• Avoid travelling during the monsoon, as it may bring lots of challenges.
• Carry enough cash, as ATMs are not available in the region.

Helpline Number

• In case of emergency, reach out to your trek guide or dial 112.
• For subsidy related: -
  • District Development officer Chamoli at 01372- 253185
  • Email Helpdesk: - tourismchamoli@gmail.com
  • Uttarakhand Tourism Department Email Helpdesk: adventurewingutdb@gmail.com