Sham Valley Trek

The easiest and beautiful trek for beginners in Ladakh

📅
Duration
7 Days, 6 Nights
🔼
Highest Altitude:
3900m
🛑
Grade:
Moderate
👍
Best Time:
Jan - Dec
🌞
Temperatures:
8 - 18 degrees in summers. -6 to -20 degrees in winters
🚩
Starts From:
Leh
🛪
Airport:
Leh, Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport ( IXL)
🚉
Railway:
Katra, (KEA), Jammu Tawi ( JAT)

Key Geographical Highlights

Reach Leh find other treks

Daywise Itinerary For Sham Valley Trek

(click to read detailed route briefing, elevation graph, altitude time info and photos from the day)

▼ Day 1Arrival DayLeh 3500m
Arrive In Leh
Overnight In: Leh (3500m )
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Cost Of Transport Included: YES ( Leh Airport to Hotel)
Where and How To Reach Leh
Arrive in Leh airport. Our team meets you in the airport and drives you to the hotel for checkin. Owing the altitude of Leh which is above 3500 meters, we should rest the complete day today and monitor our health properly. Our guide will meet you in the evening and brief you about the upcoming days.
Day 1
220 - Delhi
Day 1
3500 - Leh
2hrs.
▼ Day 2Acclimatization DayLeh 3500m
Explore Shanti Stupa, Tsemo Monastery & Nearby. - 3 Hrs. 5 Kms
Overnight In: Leh (3500m )
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we take a monitored soft walk arounf the higher points if the Leh city to acclimatize as well as to experience the beauty of the beautiful capital city of Ladakh. IN the morning we walk up to the Tsemo Monastery hovering over Leh and the Leh Palace. We finish in the Leh main market where we stop for shopping and lunch. We need some rest after that. IN the evcening we meet again to walk up to the iconic Shanti Stupa situated in a hillock above the Leh city. We can even meditate there. The view of the sunset from Shanti Stupa and the peace around will make up your day. We then come back to our hotel and prepare for our trek tomorrow.
Day 2
3500 - Leh
Day 2
3500 - Leh
Day 2
3600 - Shanti Stupa, Tsemo Monastery
Day 2
3500 - Leh
5Km, 3hrs.
▼ Day 3Pass Crossing DayYangthang 3670m
Cross Likir Monastery And Reach Yangthang via Phobe La - 4 Hrs. 10 Kms
Overnight In: Yangthang (3670m )
Accommodation: Homestay
Meals Included: All Meals
After breakfast, we drive to Likir which is the starting point of the trek. We take some time out to visit the iconic monastery before we start our simple walk accross the beautiful Sham Valley of Ladakh. The walk is more-or-less even and simple.
Day 3
3500 - Leh
Day 3
3650 - Likir Monastery
Day 3
3800 - Phobe La
Day 3
3670 - Yangthang
10Km, 4hrs.
▼ Day 4Trekking DayHemis Shukpachen 3650m
From Yangthang (3670m ) To Hemis Shukpachen (3650m ), Via - Tsermangchen La (3900m ) - 3-4 Hrs. 10 Kms
Overnight In: Hemis Shukpachen (3650m )
Accommodation: Homestay
Meals Included: All Meals
Today our walk is similar to the previous day, however with an elevated degree of beautiful and merriness as we get further deep into the heart of the Sham Valley. The odd shades of green in an otherwise pale valley owing to the hard work of the locals makes adds to the beauty of the valley.
Day 4
3670 - Yangthang
Day 4
3900 - Tsermangchen La
Day 4
3650 - Hemis Shukpachen
10Km, 3-4hrs.
▼ Day 5Pass Crossing DayAng 3400m
Cross Mebtak La And Reach Ang - 3-4 Hrs. 10 Kms
Overnight In: Ang (3400m )
Accommodation: Homestay/Tents
Meals Included: All Meals
Today we walk into one of the most beautiful vollage in Sham Valley
Day 5
3650 - Hemis Shukpachen
Day 5
3800 - Mebtak La
Day 5
3400 - Ang
10Km, 3-4hrs.
▼ Day 6Trekking DayLeh 3500m
From Ang (3400m ) To Leh (3500m ), Via - Temisgam (3250m ), Alchi Monastery (3100m ) - 4 -5 Hrs. 2 Kms
Overnight In: Leh (3500m )
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We finish the trek in Temisgam and then drive back to Leh. Enroute Leh, we visit the famous Alchi monastery
Day 6
3400 - Ang
Day 6
3250 - Temisgam
Day 6
3100 - Alchi Monastery
Day 6
3500 - Leh
2Km, 4 -5hrs.
▼ Day 7Departure DayDelhi 216m
From Leh (3500m ) To Delhi (216m ) - 2 Hrs.
Accommodation: None
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cost Of Transport Included: YES
Its an end of our service here. We move forward with our onwards journey.
Day 7
3500 - Leh
Day 7
220 - Delhi
2hrs.

Sham Valley Trek - An Elaborate Description

Sham Valley Trek LAdakh
Sham Valley Trek In Winters

Sham Valley Trek in Ladakh is perhaps the easiest yet so beautiful trek to be done in the land of high passes. The altitude of the trek stays within the limits of 4000 meters and involves a few mountain pass crossings which are very easy.

Starting from Leh, the drive to the road head for the trek itself is such a beautiful experience on the winding roads of the magical valley. Passing by the Gurudwara Patthar Sahib, Magnetic hill, Sangam ( Confluence point of Indus and Zanskar rivers ) and the historically important village of Basgo on the Leh - Srinagar Highway. The Sham Valley trek starts from Likir.

Likir hosts one of the ancient monasteries of Ladakh and holds a significant place in the religious faith of Tibetan Buddhism. Before we start our day's trek, we visit the monastery and offer prayers in the traditional way. Likir monastery also has a small school of monks and spending some time with the little kids will be one of the most treasured and enlightening experiences of your travel plan.

The Sham Valley trek is a short one and one can finish it in 4 days at leisure. The trek route passes touches some of the most beautiful villages and monasteries of Ladakh. Passing by the photogenic villages of Hemis Shukpachen, Ang and Temisgam, this trek can even be done on homestays. Probably, homestays are the best ways to do this trek as it involves you much more with the locals exposing you to an in-depth cultural understanding and exchange of knowledge.

The trek is very interesting with continuously changing landscapes and villages. The scene alters frequently between greens valley and barren mountains. While on the trek, you sight with few houses, old monasteries and very fertile fields growing spinach, carrots, cabbage, potatoes, coriander, onions, apricot trees, and walnut trees guarded by the tall poplar trees. On the other end, you witness the barren mountains of the Ladakh Himalayas too, which have their own colour and charm.

Staying in homestays will allow you to stay with the local family and their way of life. The most important room of any household is the kitchen which will house a few traditional Tibetan vessels and a Bukhari (firewood container ) right in the centre of the kitchen. It's the place where delicious meals are cooked and stories of the day are shared.

Sham Valley is also popular for sighting the mighty Snow Leopard and other wildlife of the region, especially Lynx and red fox.

The trek is extremely beautiful and is a photographer's delight, as most of the places in Ladakh are. If you are trekking here, do not forget your cameras, especially some portrait and wide-angle lenses.

Sham Valley Trek LAdakh
Beautiful green farmlands of Ladakh

How We Grade Our Treks and Expeditions

Easy

Usual daily walks of 4 - 5 hours in altitude below 4000 meters. The sleeping altitude on these treks are below 4000 meter and the trails are gradual involving no steep ascent or descent. Sometimes, the trail may be longer, but on level trails. The duration of trek may be a week or lesser than it. The trek is not too remote and evacuation might be possible from almost any point of the trek

Moderate

The trek duration each day may span from 4 - 5 hours, but on some days, it may push up to 8 - 9 days. The trail might involve steep ascents or descents on occasions This kind of treks demand good fitness, and trekkers must involve themselves in cardio exercises regularly to do these treks comfortably. Sleeping altitude are below 4000 meters or little above it, but the trail might go as high as 4500 - 5000 meters. The trek is bit remote and evacuation might be possible from almost all, but not all campsites

Moderate +

This type of treks are bit more demanding than the moderate ones. It might involve few days of very long walks at higher altitude, or serious gradients, exposures, more remote or involves sleeping at higher altitudes for more days.

Strenuous

The trek duration each day may span from 5 - 8 hours, and may go up to to 8 - 9 on few days. The trail involves steep ascents and descents. Good fitness are demand of these treks, and trekkers must involve themselves in cardio exercises regularly to do these treks comfortably. Sleeping altitude may go above 4000 meters or little above it on couple of days, but not more than that. The trail might go as high as 4500 - 5200 meters. These trek are remote and evacuation might not be possible from all the campsites

Challenging

The trek duration each day may span from 5 - 8 hours, and may go up to to 8 - 9 or even more than that on few days. The trail involves steep ascents and descents. Crossing a glacier or a scree zone might be a feature of these treks. You might on some occasions, require technical equipment like rope, ice axe and snow stacks etc to complete these treks. Good fitness are demand of any treks, but these treks demands strong character. Sleeping altitude may goes well above 5000 meters on some days. The trail might go as high as 5000 - 6000 meters. These trek are high or remote or both. The trek usually might be a week long.

Sometimes irrespective of altitude and distance, a trek may ge graded Challenging if the route is treacherous, which might demand some footing skills or assistance of ropes and other equipment

Challenging +

The trek duration each day may span from 5 - 8 hours, and may go up to to 8 - 9 or even more than that on few days. The trail involves steep ascents and descents. Negotiating glacial moraines, scree zones, crossing them, camping on them etc are features of these treks. You might also require technical equipment like rope, ice axe and snow stacks etc to complete these treks. Good fitness are demand of any treks, but these treks demands strong character. Sleeping altitude may goes well above 5000 meters on some days. The trail might go as high as 5000 - 6000 meters. These trek are high and remote. A good technical support team and knowledgeable local guide is a must. Only experienced trekkers are advised to do these treks. The trek goes over 2 week and may be longer than that.

Sometimes irrespective of altitude and distance, a trek may ge graded Challenging if the route is treacherous, which might demand some footing skills or assistance of ropes and other equipment

Cost Terms For The Sham Valley Trek

Cost Terms

The above-mentioned cost is in the range of minimum to maximum per-person cost for this trek as per 1 - 12 people team.PackageInclusions as per this cost can be read below.
5% GST (goods and service tax) is applicable for all our purchases.
We follow dynamic pricing as per the actual team size on the trek. Going by our standardized service, appropriate safety measures, quality equipment, and ecologically sustainable - small group commitment, a higher team size will lower the cost whereas a lower team size will significantly increase the cost.
Group segmented pricing if not provided here, please write to us using the contact page or text us on Whatsapp number +918017216725.
You may choose to keep the trek open or make it private depending upon your requirements or choice. The actual per-person cost of the trek is subject to the actual team size joining the trek. If you make any customizations that drastically change the itinerary and cost as mentioned here, then it will mandatorily have to be a private group only.
If we have dates listed on our website on Our Upcoming Treks and it is not marked as private, it means other people have booked this trek for that date and have opened it up for other members to join to lower the cost. If your dates and choices match, you may join these treks
You may join an existing open group listed on our website or create your own group as per your convenient dates and choose to either keep it private or open it up to lower the cost if other members join the trek.
At any point, the team size cannot be more than 12 members ( 10 for challenging treks) unless there is a unique exception requested or agreed upon by all the team members.

International Guests

Trek cost for foreigners is slightly higher than the cost for our Indian guests, mainly due to the higher permit fee applicable for admission to National Parks or protected forest areas. Sometimes, it may be higher due to higher local crew wages and other specific arrangements we make to ensure a safe, comfortable and enriching travel experience in India. However, we absolutely DO NOT 'hyper-charge' our International Guests ever and at the same time, ensure that we meet all the standards for highly qualified trek leaders and guides, safety, medical preparation, evacuation strategy, rescue arrangements, eco-sensitive travel, high-value knowledge sharing about the area and customs of the locals.

Extra Cost For International Trekkers Rs. 2000 per person.

Booking Process

Booking can only be done after multiple communication via email / Whatsapp / Calls. After connecting with us and discussing your needs, we finalize the trek and its requirements. After finalization, partial booking fees can be paid online or through direct bank transfers after which we trigger our preparations and arrangements for your trek. International Trekkers can pay the partial booking fees using PayPal, Wise, Western Union or Direct Wire Transfer.

Customized Private Group For Sham Valley Trek

Trekking is a very personal activity and is perhaps one of the very few activities that give you enough time to indulge with yourself or your beloved people, a group of special friends, or close family members. It helps you transform personal bonds to the next level as it brings out everyone's best and truest self. Trekking is most enjoyed when it is done in a small private group, personalized to serve your specific needs. The Himalayas are best experienced when there is silence and solitude around and when you are surrounded only by your best people. Your trek is most enjoyable when all the pain of arranging a smooth trek is taken care of by us, and you focus just on your trek and yourself. Most importantly, a small private trekking group is very flexible, personalized, and more enjoyable, is the safest, and follows the principles of Sustainable and Responsible Tourism. Most trekkers book us for arranging personalized private treks catering to their specific and unique requirements - Customize This Trek

Must Read - Important Pre-Booking Information

from Rs. 30000 to Rs. 130000/-
+5% GST PER PERSON

Batch Size:
25-40 <10