Sham and Nubra Valley Trek

Your 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 3,500 meters. You can stroll around the hotel gardens or explore the colorful bazaar. Stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, you will first visit Shankar Math, a 200-year-old site that houses unique paintings, frescoes, and a giant statue of Avalokiteshvara with 1,000 arms and 1,000 heads. Your next destination will be the Japanese-built Shanti Stupa. The stupa’s magnificent crown echoes the ancient stupas of Nalanda and Rajgir. Next, visit the historic Leh Palace and enjoy a leisurely drive to Tsemo Monastery. Return to your hotel for a relaxing evening and a restful night.

Today’s excursion takes you through the Indus Valley. You will start after breakfast and visit the Shey Palace, the summer residence of the former Raja of Leh located on a hilltop, 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.

Your 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. Then, you will ended your 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. Afterwards, you will returned to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

After an early breakfast, you will drive for about 60 km for 2 hours to reach Likir (3500m). Upon arrival, you will be dropped off at the starting point of the trek near the monastery. You can have a brief visit to the Gompa to see the giant Buddha statue. Then, you will meet your trek guide and start your trek. Today, you will trek for about 3 to 4 hours to reach Yangthang (3600m), crossing Pobe la (3550m) and Chagatse la (3650m). You will stay overnight at a local homestay or guesthouse. The journey involves 2 hours of driving followed 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. You will spend the night at a local homestay or guesthouse. The total walking time for the day about 5 hours.

Today, you will start your 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, you will set off on a 4-5 hour trek to Temisgam, the largest village in the Sham Valley (3,200 m). your route will take you to the Lago La Pass, at an altitude of 3,750 meters. Once your trek is over, you will have lunch. You will then take a 2.5 hour drive to Lamayuru. There, you will check into a comfortable guesthouse. In the late afternoon, you will explore the local village and soak up the local culture. You 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. You will then return to Leh for 4-5 hours, 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, you will be transferred to the hotel. The evening will be free to wander around the local market.

You will start your morning with a 5-6 hour drive to Nubra, crossing the high Khardung La pass 5,359m (17,582ft). You will enjoy the majestic view of the Karakoram and Ladakh mountain ranges. You will spend the night in a Homestay.

Today you 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 you to Hunder. Unlike the single-humped camels found in Rajasthan and other parts of India, the Bactrian camel has two humps. Where you will spend the night at a Homestay.

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 market (local bazaar) or simply relax.

Today is your last day in Leh. Early in the morning, you will take a flight to Delhi. If you need a hotel near the airport for convenience or in the city for a more immersive experience, please let us know your preference and we can arrange accommodations to suit your needs.