Sham Valley Trek
Duration: 6 Nights / 7 Days
Route: Leh - Indus Valley sightseeing - Likir - Yangthang - Hemisshukpachen - Timoszang - Leh
Highest Peak: Meptak La (3980m)
Difficulty: Moderate
Our Sham Valley Trek is a short trek which is a great way to experience high altitude trekking for those without much experience, or for those who want a few days to acclimatize before embarking on something longer. Suitable for moderate levels of fitness, the Sham Valley trek provides an option for comfortable home-stays en-route, as well as many chances for wildlife spotting and the amazing mountain views that Himalayan trekking is famous for.
*We can arrange everything you will need including a trekking guide, cook, helper, tents, mattresses, homestays, all food, transport and ponies. Local homestays are also available as a cheaper option.
Duration: 6 Nights / 7 Days
Route: Leh - Indus Valley sightseeing - Likir - Yangthang - Hemisshukpachen - Timoszang - Leh
Highest Peak: Meptak La (3980m)
Difficulty: Moderate
Our Sham Valley Trek is a short trek which is a great way to experience high altitude trekking for those without much experience, or for those who want a few days to acclimatize before embarking on something longer. Suitable for moderate levels of fitness, the Sham Valley trek provides an option for comfortable home-stays en-route, as well as many chances for wildlife spotting and the amazing mountain views that Himalayan trekking is famous for.
*We can arrange everything you will need including a trekking guide, cook, helper, tents, mattresses, homestays, all food, transport and ponies. Local homestays are also available as a cheaper option.
DAY ONE: Leh (acclimatisation day)
An early morning arrival at Leh airport where you will be greeted by our company representative and transferred directly to your Leh based accommodation. After check-in spend a full day taking rest and adapting to the high altitude of Ladakh. Enjoy the surrounding mountain views and take in the local gardens before dinner before overnight stay in our prearranged Leh guest house.
DAY TWO: Leh - Thiksey – Hemis – Shey – Leh city sightseeing
An early morning start as you depart Leh at 6:30am in order to witness the mesmerising morning puja at Thiksey monastery. Famous for its striking resemblance to the ‘Potala Palace’ in Lhasa, Tibet… the Thiksey gompa is a great place to start your journey of Ladakh and you will surely find peace within the traditional rituals of the local monks and their ritual morning prayer. Next, proceed to Hemis Gompa which is the largest, richest and most populous monastery in all of Ladakh and boasts over 1000 active monks in its many branches. You will have a number of opportunities to take photos and learn about the monks daily routine before visiting the Hemis museum where you can see artefacts dating back to the original construction of the facility in the 11th century. Next, make your way to Shey Palace – known for being the previous summer retreat place of the historical King and Queen of Ladakh. Enjoy the views before returning to Leh in time for an early lunch and then continue your afternoon with a half-day of city based sightseeing beginning at the ancient Tse Mo castle where you can get a great view of the town and see the crumbling architecture of the major sights. Walk through the 9 stories of the 17th century built Leh Palace before returning to our prearranged accommodation for overnight stay.
DAY THREE: Leh - Hall of Fame - Pathar Sahib - Sangham - Magnetic Hill - Basgo - Alchi - Likir
Wake early and travel west of Leh to the popular ‘Hall of Fame’ war museum. Here, you can learn about Ladakhi history pay your respects to the Indian army as you view the museum of war memorabilia. Next, continue on to the Sikh temple known as ‘Pathar Sahib’ before taking a pit stop at the mysterious Magnetic Hill where you can experience reverse gravity in action as your vehicle appears to move without power. Continue on your safari journey and arrive at the Sangham lookout where you can view the meeting point of the intersection of the Zangskar and Indus rivers and then drive through the ‘pretty-as-a-postcard’ Basgo village. Arrive at Alchi monastery (famous for its Kashmiri influenced architecture) just in time for lunch and then make your way to Likir village where you can rest in a village homestay before commencing the trek tomorrow morning.
DAY FOUR: Likir - Yangthang (Approximately 5 hours trekking)
In the morning, enjoy breakfast in the Likir homestay, and collect your packed lunch before commencing your trek. Start in Likir village and walk along the road that ascends to Phobe La pass (3580m) and take a descending track which leads to a gorge and then finally back down to the road. At this point you can view Sumdo village with its few houses before making the climb back to Chagatse La pass (3630m). In the afternoon, you will cross a local stream via a small wooden bridge before arriving at Yangthang village for overnight homestay.
DAY FIVE: Yangthang to Hemisshukpachan (3600m) (Approximately 2 - 3 hours trekking)
After breakfast, take a relatively short walk to Hemis Shukpachen village. Along the way, you will cross Tsermangchan La (3720m) and arrive to the village which is famous for its allegiance to its rich Ladakhi culture and superstitious beliefs of its people. (There is a bunch of juniper trees on one side of the village which do not get disturbed by the villagers because of a superstitious belief they attach with it!) Arrive at your overnight homestay accommodation.
DAY SIX: Hemisshukpachan to Tingmoszang (3650m) - Leh (4 hours trekking and 2 hours driving)
Today you will cross you last pass for the trek - ‘Meptak La’ (3980m) and then reach Ang village. Keep walking to Tingmoszang and our driver will be waiting to return you back to Leh for overnight stay.
DAY SEVEN: Departure
Our driver will collect you from your Leh based acommodation and transfer you directly to the airport in time for your early morning flight.
An early morning arrival at Leh airport where you will be greeted by our company representative and transferred directly to your Leh based accommodation. After check-in spend a full day taking rest and adapting to the high altitude of Ladakh. Enjoy the surrounding mountain views and take in the local gardens before dinner before overnight stay in our prearranged Leh guest house.
DAY TWO: Leh - Thiksey – Hemis – Shey – Leh city sightseeing
An early morning start as you depart Leh at 6:30am in order to witness the mesmerising morning puja at Thiksey monastery. Famous for its striking resemblance to the ‘Potala Palace’ in Lhasa, Tibet… the Thiksey gompa is a great place to start your journey of Ladakh and you will surely find peace within the traditional rituals of the local monks and their ritual morning prayer. Next, proceed to Hemis Gompa which is the largest, richest and most populous monastery in all of Ladakh and boasts over 1000 active monks in its many branches. You will have a number of opportunities to take photos and learn about the monks daily routine before visiting the Hemis museum where you can see artefacts dating back to the original construction of the facility in the 11th century. Next, make your way to Shey Palace – known for being the previous summer retreat place of the historical King and Queen of Ladakh. Enjoy the views before returning to Leh in time for an early lunch and then continue your afternoon with a half-day of city based sightseeing beginning at the ancient Tse Mo castle where you can get a great view of the town and see the crumbling architecture of the major sights. Walk through the 9 stories of the 17th century built Leh Palace before returning to our prearranged accommodation for overnight stay.
DAY THREE: Leh - Hall of Fame - Pathar Sahib - Sangham - Magnetic Hill - Basgo - Alchi - Likir
Wake early and travel west of Leh to the popular ‘Hall of Fame’ war museum. Here, you can learn about Ladakhi history pay your respects to the Indian army as you view the museum of war memorabilia. Next, continue on to the Sikh temple known as ‘Pathar Sahib’ before taking a pit stop at the mysterious Magnetic Hill where you can experience reverse gravity in action as your vehicle appears to move without power. Continue on your safari journey and arrive at the Sangham lookout where you can view the meeting point of the intersection of the Zangskar and Indus rivers and then drive through the ‘pretty-as-a-postcard’ Basgo village. Arrive at Alchi monastery (famous for its Kashmiri influenced architecture) just in time for lunch and then make your way to Likir village where you can rest in a village homestay before commencing the trek tomorrow morning.
DAY FOUR: Likir - Yangthang (Approximately 5 hours trekking)
In the morning, enjoy breakfast in the Likir homestay, and collect your packed lunch before commencing your trek. Start in Likir village and walk along the road that ascends to Phobe La pass (3580m) and take a descending track which leads to a gorge and then finally back down to the road. At this point you can view Sumdo village with its few houses before making the climb back to Chagatse La pass (3630m). In the afternoon, you will cross a local stream via a small wooden bridge before arriving at Yangthang village for overnight homestay.
DAY FIVE: Yangthang to Hemisshukpachan (3600m) (Approximately 2 - 3 hours trekking)
After breakfast, take a relatively short walk to Hemis Shukpachen village. Along the way, you will cross Tsermangchan La (3720m) and arrive to the village which is famous for its allegiance to its rich Ladakhi culture and superstitious beliefs of its people. (There is a bunch of juniper trees on one side of the village which do not get disturbed by the villagers because of a superstitious belief they attach with it!) Arrive at your overnight homestay accommodation.
DAY SIX: Hemisshukpachan to Tingmoszang (3650m) - Leh (4 hours trekking and 2 hours driving)
Today you will cross you last pass for the trek - ‘Meptak La’ (3980m) and then reach Ang village. Keep walking to Tingmoszang and our driver will be waiting to return you back to Leh for overnight stay.
DAY SEVEN: Departure
Our driver will collect you from your Leh based acommodation and transfer you directly to the airport in time for your early morning flight.