Location
Sham & Nubra Valley
5.0
Looking to add Sham Valley to your Ladakh itinerary? This guide has all the details you need for a memorable day trip from Leh. Get ready to discover essential information and must-see places for an unforgettable experience.
Sham & Nubra Valley
12 Days
Visit and trekking
Hotels and tents
Included except in Leh
Min 2 Pax.
Summer
5840m on vehicle
The Sham & Nubra Valley Trek in Ladakh is a 12-day adventure in one of the most breathtaking regions of Ladakh. This trek is perfect for nature lovers and adventure seekers. It begins with a scenic flight from Delhi to Leh, where you will stay in comfortable hotels and base camps.
In Leh, you will explore historical sites like Shankar Monastery, famous for its massive statue of Avalokitesvara, and the Shanti Stupa, which offers beautiful views of the region. You will also visit the Leh Palace and take a leisurely walk to Tsemo Monastery. The Sham Valley trek involves crossing high mountain passes and visiting remote monasteries.
The journey continues with a jeep safari in the Nubra Valley. To the north of Nubra lies the Siachen Glacier, and to the northwest are the Sasser Pass and the famous Karakoram Pass. The Karakoram Pass historically connected Nubra to Xinjiang in China and was a key trade route to East Turkestan and Central Asia as part of the Silk Road.
The Shyok Valley, known for its vast alluvial plains, is home to Bactrian camels roaming the dunes and grazing on sea buckthorn bushes. The valley is home to nomads, yaks, goats and sheep. The unique flora and fauna add to the extraordinary charm of the region.
Our journey begins with a flight from Delhi to Leh, the capital of Ladakh. It takes an hour of mountain flight over the majestic Himalayas to reach Leh, the capital of the ancient Buddhist kingdom of Ladakh. Upon arrival in Leh, you will receive a warm welcome and be transferred to a Ladakhi-style hotel. Take the day to rest and acclimatize to the high altitude of 3,505 meters. You can stroll around the hotel gardens or explore the colorful bazaar. Enjoy an overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast, depart for a half-day excursion to Leh. You will first visit the Shankar Monastery, a 200-year-old site with unique images, murals and a massive statue of Avalokitesvara with 1,000 arms and 1,000 heads. Our next stop is the Japanese-built Shanti Stupa.
The drive there offers beautiful views of the lush countryside below. The stupa’s grand crown echoes the ancient stupas of Nalanda and Rajgir. In the afternoon, visit the historic Leh Palace and enjoy a leisurely drive to Tsemo Monastery. Return to your hotel for a relaxing evening and a comfortable overnight stay.
Today’s excursion takes you through the Indus Valley. We start after breakfast and visit the Shey Palace, the summer residence of the former Raja of Leh located on a hilltop and housing the largest golden-topped Victory Stupa. The monastery also houses a two-storey statue of the seated Buddha, made of copper and gold, of magnificent grandeur. You can also see many chortens to the east of the building.
Our next destination is Thiksey Gompa. This monastery resembles the Potala Palace in Lhasa and has an imposing structure offering panoramic views of the lush green Indus Valley from its hilltop location. Inside, there are chambers filled with statues, stupas and thankas. It houses 60 resident lamas and one of the largest libraries in Ladakh.
We ended our day of sightseeing with a visit to Hemis Gompa, the largest and most important monastery in Ladakh. Built in the 17th century by Chapgon Gyalshas, it has enjoyed the patronage of the royal family since its inception. The monastery is adorned with several gold statues and stupas decorated with precious stones. It also houses a superb collection of thankas, one of which is said to be the largest in existence and is exhibited only once every 11 years. Afterwards, we returned to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
After an early breakfast, we will trek for about 60 km for 2 hours to reach Likir (3500 m). Upon arrival, we will be dropped off at the starting point of the trek near the monastery. We can have a brief visit to the Gompa to see the giant Buddha statue. Then, we will meet our trek guide and start our trek. Today, we will trek for about 3 to 4 hours to reach Yangthang (3600 m), crossing Pobe la (3550 m) and Chagatse la (3650 m). We will stay overnight at a local homestay or guesthouse. The journey involves 2 hours of driving followed by 4 hours of walking.
Today you will have a full day tour. Pack a lunch and head to Ridzong, about 3,500m above sea level. Ridzong is also known as the Yellow Hat Buddhist Monastery. During your visit, you will explore the isolated and lonely Rizong Monastery and the Nuns’ Monastery. The descent to the monastery takes about 2 hours, followed by a 3-hour climb on the way back to Yangthang. We will spend the night at a local homestay or guesthouse. The total walking time for the day is about 5 hours.
We start our day with a hearty breakfast before embarking on a 3-4 hour trek to reach the village of Hemis Shukpachan at an altitude of 3600 meters. This charming village is famous for hosting the famous “Losar” festival, which celebrates the Ladakhi New Year. En route to Hemis Shukpachan, you will cross the Tsermangchan La pass (3750 m). Once you reach the village, you will check in for the night in a guesthouse or homestay.
Today, after a hearty breakfast, we will set off on a 4-5 hour trek to Temisgam, the largest village in the Sham Valley (3,200 m). Our route will take us to the Lago La Pass, at an altitude of 3,750 meters. Once our trek is over, we will have lunch. We will then take a 2.5 hour drive to Lamayuru. There, we will check into a comfortable guesthouse. In the late afternoon, we will explore the local village and soak up the local culture. We will rest in a simple but comfortable guesthouse, preparing for more adventures tomorrow. The journey involves approximately 5 hours of walking and 2.5 hours of driving.
In the morning, explore one of the most revered monasteries in Ladakh. The current building, perched above the village oasis, is a more recent addition, while the original monastery from the late 10th century is still visible in ruins below the village. The building is well maintained and the main hall contains statues of five transcendental Buddhas, with Vairocana at the center. The landscape around Lamayuru village resembles a moon formation.
We will then return to Leh for 4-5 hours and visit Alchi Monastery, known as a jewel among the monastic foundations of Ladakh. This monastery houses many giant clay statues of the Buddha in different forms. However, the main attraction is the 1000-year-old murals, which are definitely worth a visit. Upon arrival in Leh, we will be transferred to the hotel. The evening will be free to wander around the local market.
We will start our morning with a 5-6 hour drive to Nubra, crossing the high Khardung La pass (5840 meters). You will enjoy the majestic view of the Karakoram and Ladakh mountain ranges. We will spend the night in a simple and basic camp.
Today we will explore the high-altitude desert and visit the monasteries of Diskit and Samsthaling. This Buddhist valley is home to several important centers of Buddhist learning. In the afternoon, you can choose to take a short ride on a double-humped Bactrian camel, which will take us to Hunder. Unlike the single-humped camels found in Rajasthan and other parts of India, the Bactrian camel has two humps. We will spend the night at a base camp.
After having breakfast, you will take the scenic drive back to Leh, which will take about 5-6 hours. The drive will take the same route via the Khardung La Pass. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel. Enjoy your evening exploring the local bazaar or simply relax. You will spend the night at the hotel.
Today is our last day in Leh. Early in the morning, you will take a flight to Delhi. If you require a hotel near the airport for convenience or in the city for a more immersive experience, please inform us of your preference and we will arrange the accommodation that best suits your needs.
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