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
Tour2292809894505/11/2025Verified Incredibly-Amazing-Adventure Trip in Trans-Himalayan Region Strongly Recommend the Mountain Intelligence crew for Trans-Himalayan region tourism. From the initial discussions our itinerary was based on our interests and personalized experiences. They live & breath the terrain therefore can plan and execute a tailored trip.We had an AMAZING 7-days and 6-nights adventurous trip through Ladakh. Very Big Thank You, Jigmed & Rigzin for arranging this incredibly memorable trip for us, it was Par Excellence experience !! Highlights of our trip … - Spot-on time-bound planning of destinations and sightseeing.- Safe drivers that navigated the intricately winding Trans-Himalayan terrain. Gulp, windy roads, unpaved in some parts where the vehicle is up against the mountain and valley's does make one's heart skip few beats !!- Transport vehicles were equipped with oxygen tank just in case one needs to address altitude sickness. Fortunately we did not need any medical attention (Pshew!!). - Tip for travelers: 1) Ascertain cardio fitness and blood-oxygen level is sustainable for high altitude. 2) Listen to your body and don’t push your luck, this will ensure a safe and enjoyable trip :-)- Hotels in Leh, Nubra Valley & Pangong Lake were cozy and served freshly cooked delicious food. Friendly hotel staff even catered to special food requests. Appreciation and tips goes a long way :-)- Special Mentions: * Artisanal Alchemy's Dining Experience was one-of-kind where "authentic" Ladakhi gastronomy was curated by the incredible host, Kunzes Angmo. She accompanied the delectable delicacies with interesting narratives of the cuisine origin, spices, and more. We strongly recommend this to folks that love & enjoy good food peppered with great history of Ladakh food stories :-) * De Reeva Resort, Pangong offers incredible views of the lake. It's a short walk to the lake to soak in the views, both at sunset and sunrise !!- Regret not being able to do the day-hike to Stok Changma due to road closures for the Ladakh Marathons. However the Artisanal Alchemy's Dining Experience 'more-than' made-up for this missed trek :-) killian c05/11/2025Verified Baby Trek with Family/Friends Great experience, thanks to Jigmet who was an excellent guide. Great moments shared with him also in the Home-Stay. He was able to adapt, both for the pace and for the deviations. Professionalism, reassurance and total confidence.I highly recommend. Wander5737454301217/09/2025Verified A wonderful experience in Ladakh with Mountain Intelligence We took a 7-day and 6-night trip through Ladakh with Mountain Intelligence. The tour included Leh and the Nubra Valley. We planned to reach Pangong Lake as well, but eventually decided to return to Leh for altitude sickness prevention.Our driver was exceptional: a very friendly boy, very helpful and attentive at all times. He even accompanied us to a health center in Nubra when we were not feeling well, which gave us a lot of peace of mind. In addition, he was driving safely and prudently along the complex roads in the region, which we greatly value.The stays in the different accommodations were also very nice, comfortable and cozy.In short, it was a very positive experience that I would recommend to anyone who wants to discover Ladakh with caring and responsible professionals. I would encourage everyone to share this adventure with Mountain Intelligence. Adventure4704013560920/06/2025Verified Superb❤️👍💪👏👏 Super Exciting Trip! The itinerary planned was so comfortable and suited to all four family members. Day wise activities, stay and travel was awesome. The vehicle provided was very comfortable and our guide was an excellent person full of experience, information and know how of each and every surprises within the mountains. He made our trip memorable one. The lunch, tea and dinner points en route were so excellent that food added extra points to our Leh trip. Thanks to whole team of Mountain Intelligence Treks! Great 👍 All the best to your incoming projects. 💐💐👍👍 Harsh Dabas01/06/2025Verified Wonderful Stay with Warm Hospitality We stayed at De Reeva Resort, Tso Pangong, for one night as a family (my wife, parents, and I), and had a truly memorable experience. The staff was incredibly helpful and attentive, ensuring all our needs were taken care of. The rooms were comfortable, and we felt well looked after throughout our stay. A special mention to the food — it was fresh, delicious, and comforting, especially in the cold weather. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a peaceful and well-managed stay near Pangong Lake! We stayed at De Reeva Resort, Tso Pangong, for one night as a family (my wife, parents, and I), and had a truly memorable experience. The staff was incredibly helpful and attentive, ensuring all our needs were taken care of. The rooms were comfortable, and we felt well looked after throughout our stay. A special mention to the food — it was fresh, delicious, and comforting, especially in the cold weather. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a peaceful and well-managed stay near Pangong Lake! Mani C29/01/2025Verified 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 L20/10/2024Verified 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 D08/09/2024Verified 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 Trail08/09/2024Verified 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 Lama01/09/2024Verified 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.Tripadvisor rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 22 reviewsVerified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more