Sham Valley Trek
The Sham Valley Trek, also known as the “Baby Trek,” is an ideal adventure for beginners and nature enthusiasts. Starting in Leh, you’ll acclimate to the altitude and immerse yourself in local culture. The trek leads through the picturesque Sham Valley, featuring apricot orchards, quaint villages, and ancient monasteries.
As you traverse traditional Ladakhi villages like Yangthang and Tingmosgang, you’ll experience warm local hospitality. Exploring centuries-old monasteries such as Alchi provides insight into the region’s rich Buddhist heritage. The trek combines easy walks with slight challenges, allowing you to enjoy breathtaking landscapes at a relaxed pace.
Camping under the expansive Ladakhi skies, surrounded by towering peaks, offers a serene experience. Savoring delicious local cuisine enhances the journey. The Sham Valley Trek blends picturesque landscapes, cultural encounters, and the tranquil spirit of the Himalayas, leaving lasting memories.
The trek begins in Likir, winding through narrow gorges, barley fields, and charming villages. Crossing passes like Phobe La and Mebtak La provides panoramic mountain views. Walking through apricot orchards and visiting monasteries like Likir, Hemis, and Alchi enriches the cultural experience. Comfortable campsites, chosen for their stunning views and peaceful surroundings, allow immersion in Ladakh’s wilderness.
Designed for trekkers of all levels, the Sham Valley Trek offers a taste of Ladakh’s beauty without extreme altitudes. With a well-paced itinerary, friendly guides, and breathtaking landscapes, it promises a memorable adventure in the heart of the Himalayas.
For more details, visit the Hiking page.
Trip Itinerary
Start your journey from Leh, the heart of Ladakh, with a drive to Likir Village, located 50 kilometers away. Visit the Likir Monastery, known for its impressive Buddhist heritage. Begin the trek from Likir, hiking through scenic landscapes to reach Yangthang Village, where you will spend the night in a cozy homestay.
After breakfast, continue trekking towards Hemis Shukpachan, passing through picturesque villages like Ridzong and Ang. Stop at Ridzong Monastery, famous for its strict monastic traditions. Reach Hemis Shukpachan, interact with the friendly locals, and enjoy a peaceful overnight stay in this charming village.
Today's journey takes you through breathtaking landscapes and traditional Ladakhi villages like Temisgam and Tia. Arrive at Tingmosgang Village, home to the historic Tingmosgang Monastery, where you can explore ancient Buddhist artifacts. Settle in for an overnight stay in this cultural hub.
After breakfast, begin the final leg of your trek towards Khaltse. En route, visit the Alchi Monastery, famous for its ancient murals and Buddhist art. From Tingmosgang, embark on a scenic drive back to Leh (85 kilometers). Upon arrival, relax and explore Leh’s vibrant markets and local attractions.
Trip Inclusions
- Comfortable Vehicle: For sightseeing on all days as per the itinerary
- Accommodation: At all locations on double (for couples & special requests) and triple sharing basis in standard hotels/camps in Leh
- Buffet Breakfast and Dinner: Starting with Dinner & ending with Breakfast as per itinerary
- Experienced Guide: Experienced and Certified Trekking Guide
- Supported Staff: Supported Staff Including Cook, Helper, Horsemen (Only applied for Camping)
- Inner Line Permits & Ladakh Union Fee: Assured
- Trek Certificate
- Oxygen Cylinder & First-Aid: During the tour
Trip Exclusions
- Airfare: Not included
- Lunch: Lunch in Leh
- Insurance: Please Note : We strongly recommended please check with your insurance company to cover your insurance above 5000m
- Monastery Fees: Not included
- Adventure Activities: Any kind of adventure activities are not included
- Tips: Tip for the Supported Team is not included
- Travel Insurance: Not included
- Other Expenses: Anything not mentioned in the inclusions
Mani C2025-01-29Verified Ice climbing It was a amazing experience, I was a beginner and rigzin helped me a lot to climb my first ever wall. They had all the gears and I always felt safe. Will do it again when I am in leh. Clement L2024-10-20Verified Incredible Experience in the Himalayas I had a truly unforgettable experience climbing all 6070m of UT Kangri with Rigzin, supported by his team from Mountain Intelligence. Rigzin provided incredible help in pushing me up the mountain despite the going getting tough for me, especially in the final 500m of elevation or so. My acclimitization was not the best (my fault) and so the altitude was a challenge. Nonetheless, Rigzin supported me every step of the way and helped when he was needed the most. On the descent, I accidentally fell into a river and suffered some cuts and abrasions. Rigzin and team went out the way to send me to a hospital and got me checked. It goes without saying that I could never have made it up and down safely without their help!I wish them all the best and definitely look forward to the next adventure with them! William Dickens D2024-09-08Verified An incredible time in the Himalayas We had an unforgettable experience touring Ladakh, all thanks to Rigzin and Mountain Intelligence. From the moment we first inquired, their team stood out for their quick, prompt responses and excellent value compared to other operators. Our entire trip was seamlessly planned, from airport pick-up to drop-off, with every detail in between—accommodation and the itinerary—carefully organized to suit our needs. Rigzin and his team made everything feel effortless, allowing us to fully enjoy the stunning landscapes and rich culture of Ladakh. We can’t recommend Mountain Intelligence highly enough for anyone looking to explore this beautiful region. Thank you Rigzin for an incredible trip! Alpine Trail2024-09-08Verified Amazing UT Kangri Expedition with an Excellent Team I just returned from an incredible UT Kangri expedition at 6070 meters with Mountain Intelligence Company and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. The trip was perfectly organized, and everything went smoothly thanks to the fantastic team. Rigzin, our main guide was outstanding. He is a true expert in mountain climbing and made sure we were safe every step of the way. His experience and careful planning helped us reach the summit and get back to base camp without any issues.The whole organizing team did a great job with all the details from the gear we needed to the logistics. They made the whole process easy and stress-free.If you’re planning a high-altitude adventure, I strongly recommend Rigzin and his team. They made our climb an amazing experience and I’m grateful for their hard work and expertise. Thanks Rigzin and Mountain Intelligence for a fantastic adventure! Sonam Lama2024-09-01Verified Leh Ladakh Private Tour by Mountain Intelligence I had an amazing trip to Leh Ladakh with Mountain Intelligence Treks led by Rigzin Angdu. From booking to the end of the journey, everything was perfect. The itinerary was well-planned, the accommodations were comfortable and the guides were knowledgeable. The trip was safe, enjoyable and great value for money. I highly recommend Mountain Intelligence Treks for an unforgettable Ladakh experience. Jose María S2023-09-03Verified A memorable tour in Zanskar We just completed the "Ladakh Zanskar Expedition" by Mountain Intelligence.What a magnificent experience! Losal, our guide and driver, made of this a memorable trip. Being a Zanskari himself, his insights about everything we were seeing along the way were priceless. An excellent an calm driver, he safely drove us across Zanskar all the way to Srinagar in Kashmir.Zanskar is such a beautiful territory. We can only wonder how all the new roads and construction will transform this beautiful and still remote region. As for now, it preserves the beauty of nature in its most overwhelming and magnificent form. Peter2023-08-08Verified Good value for money Very good organisation.Rigzin the owner came to visit us in our guesthouse for all the explanation and to arrange the permit.We went out for 4 days.Beautiful views, authentic homestays.Our guide Urgyan was great, received a lot of explanation and an expert in his field.Will definitely come back.Because our daughter had to stop the trek due to altitude sickness, they adjusted the price afterwards, very fair. Dreamer497832538212023-06-30Verified Unforgettable stay in Ladakh We spent 10 days in Ladakh and it was really great. The visits were well organized. The monasteries and landscapes are magnificent. We started the Markha trek but asked to change itinerary en route because of a health problem, and Rigzin proposed a great alternative route that allowed us to discover daily life in a Ladakhi village. We really enjoyed our stay in Ladakh with Mountains intelligence Treks. Vebhu Bhatnagar2022-06-22Verified Wonder Experience Our trip to Leh & beyond was well planned & executed by Rigzin Agndu Mountain Adventure.The stay & food was good.They also had good support for medical services. Akansha M2021-06-27Verified Nice experience Organize ur trip with mountain intelligence the guide is so good nd the ladak trip give us best experience of my life