Ladakh Adventure with Sham Valley Trek

On arrival at Leh Airport, Alkof Holidays representative will welcome you and transfer you to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure, acclimatize yourself to the altitude and climate in Leh. In the afternoon, visit Leh Palace also known as Lachen Palkar Palace is a former royal palace overlooking the city of Leh. Also explore the white-domed Shanti Stupa that sits pretty on a hilltop. Later, you can explore the local market where the shopper's can spend time buying authentic Tibetan handicrafts such as Prayer Wheels, Stoles, Pashmina Shawls among others. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to visit the splendid Sham Valley. A visit to this place is often an overwhelming experience as this place was constructed by the Indian Army to commemorate soldiers who lost their lives during Indo-Pak wars. It brings you up, close and personal with the sacrifices of our soldiers. Later, visit the Kali Mata Mandir followed by famed Buddhist monastery, the Spituk Gompa - an 11th-century structure. After that visit Gurudwara Patthar Sahib built by the Lamas of Leh to honour Guru Nanak Dev's visit in 1517. Also visit the Magnetic Hills, to experience the optical illusion where the downhill road actually looks like an uphill road, further driving through a picturesque landscape we reach the confluence of The Indus and Zanskar River. Later drive back to the hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast at the hotel, embark on a mesmerizing drive to the Nubra Valley - known as Ldumra or the valley of flowers in Leh. It is situated in the north of Ladakh between the Karakoram & Ladakh ranges of the Himalayas. The average altitude of the valley is 10,000 ft. above sea level. On the way to Nubra Valley, cross the Khardungla Pass which is 18360 ft. above the sea level and is the highest motorable pass in the world. As we drive through this, you witness stunning vistas encompassing snow-capped peaks, majestic mountains, and experience the drive which will take you through the bridge that has been laid on a glacier and also made it to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Arrive at Nubra Valley, and proceed to the stunning silver sand dunes of Hunder, sitting at an average altitude of 10, 000 feet, Hunder is a small village where the Shyok River meets Nubra River. Enjoy a camel safari on the double humped camels, which are reminder the bygone era of Silk Route trade, and are found only in the Nubra Valley. Dinner & overnight stay at the camp or hotel.

After breakfast, we'll hit the road for Turtuk, a unique border village nestled between the Himalayas and Karakoram ranges. This village, home to the Balti people with their delicious food and rich traditions, was once part of Pakistan until 1971. You'll see the Shyok River flowing by and even catch a glimpse of the Pakistani side of the border from a viewpoint. Many families in Turtuk have relatives living across the border now. The village is famous for its juicy apricots and a special sword dance performed during celebrations. Get ready for some amazing photos here – someone even said "only smiles are sweeter than apricots in Turtuk!" In the evening, we'll head back to Nubra Valley for overnight stay.

After breakfast, we'll visit Diskit Monastery and then head towards Pangong TSO Lake, on the way via the Shyok route.

Get ready to be amazed by Pangong Lake! This stunning lake is a must-see for any visitor to Ladakh. The water is crystal clear and surrounded by breathtaking mountains, lies in the neighbourhood of the famous Chushul Mountains, and making it a popular spot for movies. The lake is long and narrow, with salty water that's home to many birds. In the evening, settle at the camp by the lake for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast at the camp, soak up some more of the beauty of Pangong Lake and explore the surrounding area. In the afternoon, we'll head back to Leh, stopping by the impressive Hemis Gompa monastery along the way. This historic monastery, founded in the 17th century, is famous for its annual Hemis festival. Once we reach Leh, you'll check into your hotel and have the rest of the day free to relax, explore the local markets, or do whatever interests you. Overnight stay at the hotel in Leh.

Get ready for an adventure! After breakfast, we'll take a scenic 1.5-hour drive to Likir. From there, we'll embark on a 5-hour hike that's mostly parallel to a road leading up to Phobe La Pass (3580 meters). At the pass, we'll leave the road for a fun downhill section through a gorge, eventually rejoining the road with views of the small village of Sumdo. We'll cross a wooden bridge over a stream and tackle a final climb up Chagatse La Pass (3630 meters) before reaching our campsite in the charming village of Yangthang. Overnight stay at the camp in Yangthang.

Today's hike is a shorter journey, taking us to the beautiful village of Hemis Shukpachen. We'll cross Tsermangchan La Pass (3720 meters) for stunning views before reaching the village. Hemis Shukpachen is steeped in culture, with unique myths and mysteries. You'll see a grove of juniper trees left undisturbed by the villagers due to a fascinating local belief. The village itself is charming, with a couple of guesthouses and homestays where we'll be staying for the night.

Our trek today tackles Meptak La Pass, reaching a height of 3980 meters. Once we conquer the pass, we'll descend to the village of Ang. From there, it's just a short, 30-minute walk to Tingmosgang, a larger village compared to the others we've visited. Overnight stay at a homestay in Tingmosgang.

Our adventure continues west towards Tia village. After crossing a bridge, we'll take an easy climb south to reach Bongbong La Pass (3600 meters). From there, it's a short, 30-minute walk to rejoin the main road. Get ready to be amazed! On the way back to Leh, we'll stop at Lamayuru, the lunar-like landscape of Moonland. The rock formations here are truly out of this world, just like the moon's surface! Our final stop is the spectacular Lamayuru Monastery, an 11th-century wonder nestled in a beautiful valley. After soaking up all the sights, we'll head back to Leh for a relaxing dinner and overnight stay.

The adventure comes to an end, but the memories will last a lifetime! We'll depart Ladakh with a heart full of incredible experiences. We will make sure that you catch your flight on time at Leh airport for your onward journey.

YES. We can customize your India Holiday Package, as per your interest, and preferences.

On arrival at Leh Airport, India, our local representative will be there at the airport holding a placard of your name for identification. We shall also provide you list of emergency 24 hours contact numbers for any emergency.

Although tipping in India is not compulsory, doing so is a nice gesture. In some circumstances, a small tip is expected. The rules of etiquette for gratuity in India are a little muddled as a colonial past, tourism, and cultural influences clash. We do recommend tipping at various instances, but tip higher only when you are very happy with the service. Tip can given after completion of the services from 5$, 10$ or more as per your choice and depending on how much satisfied & happy you are with the service provider.

With Alkof Holidays, you get 24X7 personal assistance from your dedicated tour manager over phone, WhatsApp, Skype, or Email.