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Go Backpacking > Destinations > Asia > India > Day 3 – Yumthang – Valley Of The Flowers

Day 3 – Yumthang – Valley Of The Flowers

June 7, 2008 By Dave

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A few of the peaks visible at 5am

I couldn't sleep well the second night, so at 4:45am I got out of bed to check for mountain peaks like a kid checks for presents on Christmas morning. My insomnia was rewarded with views of snow-covered mountains in almost all directions. Perhaps not as much snow as I had hoped, however beggars can't be choosers.

Raging river

A few massive waterfalls seemed to start at the top of one mountain ridge, while the loud sound of rushing water I could hear was a nearby river we had crossed the previous night.

Yumthang Valley

Once everyone was up and about, we learned our guide had arranged for the hotel owner's son to drive us to Yumthang Valley in a nice, comfortable, private SUV. Riding in an SUV with a considerate driver made up for the death-defying experience the night before. Meanwhile, our original driver was awaiting the spare part needed to fix the jeep we'd take back to Gangtok after lunch.

Dave and Dave upon a boulder

Passing through a rhododendron forest, we came upon Yumthang Valley, along with a horde of Indian tourists. The altitude was around 3,800 meters, and cloud cover would again mask the peaks of the mountains around us. Our guide said we would've seen new snow falling if we had arrived a day earlier!

Flags, a river, and a glimpse of snow

The Lonely Planet describes the sight as follows: ” …weather permitting, you should have 360-degree views of an utterly magnificent Alpine scene: glaciers, spiky peaks and a veritable candelabra of jagged mountains rising toward Tibet.”? It is amazing how much time and energy a traveler can invest in an experience so dependent on mother nature.

A yak grazes by a field of white prayer flags

The ride back to Gangtok was tortuously long. Even though I hadn't been feeling motion sickness on all the jeep rides, I was fed up and feeling worn out by the time we were done. The decision to condense a 4-day trip into 3 days, late starts, and breakdowns left us all feeling as though we spent too much time in the jeep.

Border Roads Organization (BRO) at work

Typical hairpin turn

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Filed Under: India

About Dave

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 65 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Originally from New York, Dave now calls Austin, TX home. Find him on Instagram and Twitter.

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Comments

  1. crambox says

    June 8, 2008 at 2:48 am

    Great shot of you and dave up on that boulder even with the clouds. The photos you took are fantastic!!!

  2. crambox says

    June 7, 2008 at 9:48 pm

    Great shot of you and dave up on that boulder even with the clouds. The photos you took are fantastic!!!

  3. Kango Suz says

    June 9, 2008 at 10:21 am

    Love the photo with the yak and the prayer flags – the contrast is amazing. Although the road in the last photo makes me wonder how you managed not to get car sick!

  4. Kango Suz says

    June 9, 2008 at 3:21 pm

    Love the photo with the yak and the prayer flags – the contrast is amazing. Although the road in the last photo makes me wonder how you managed not to get car sick!

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