LADAKH – Sham Valley Trekking and Cultural Tour

Detailed itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival in Delhi, overnight at the hotel

  On arrival in Delhi you will be met in the arrivals hall at the airport and then driven to your hotel. Overnight at Hotel Ashok Country Resort (D).

• Day 2: Flight to Leh (3,500 m) – most of the day relaxing at the hotel and welcome lunch with your guide – evening walk in the bazaar

  Early in the morning you will be driven to the airport. After an impressive flight of around one hour over the high peaks of the Himalaya, you will arrive at 3,500 m in Leh. You will be taken to your hotel and spend the rest of the morning resting and on a first acclimatisation. On this day you may experience physical reactions (e.g. headache, shortness of breath) to the unfamiliar altitude. After a welcome lunch we take a short walk in the afternoon into the bazaar of Leh. This will be a leisurely stroll that lets us get used to the special atmosphere of this town. Overnight at Hotel Glacier View or similar category (B|D).

• Day 3: Morning visit to the monasteries of Shey & Thiksey, afternoon at leisure

  After breakfast we will be driven to the ruins of Shey. This was once a former palace of the Ladakh dynasty, before it moved to other places such as Leh and Stok. From here there is the possibility to hike to the next site, Thiksey Monastery. The walk takes about an hour and a half on almost level terrain, but at challenging altitude. Thiksey is also known as the ‘Mini Potala’, as the complex closely resembles the famous monastery palace in Lhasa. In one of the halls of the monastery you can admire the 15-metre-high statue of the future Buddha — Maitreya. From the roof of the monastery you have a very fine view across the entire valley. Overnight at Hotel Glacier View or similar category (B|D).

  

• Day 4: Sightseeing and walking in and around Leh – preparation for the trek

  Visit to Shankar Gompa & Shanti Stupa, evening walk to Tsemo Gompa above Leh Palace. Later that day your trekking guide will give you information about the trekking tour at a briefing. Overnight at Hotel Glacier View or similar category (B|D).

• Day 5: Water rafting, visit to Likir Monastery and drive to Yangtang at 3,680 m – 2 hours of driving

  Soon after breakfast we will be driven to the starting point for the rafting, presumably near Phey, from where we set off. This is optional and you will be given detailed safety instructions by the rafting guides before departure. The rafting is mostly grade 2 and 3, so the white water is not too demanding, and after about 3 hours you reach the exit point at Nimmu, at the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus. Those who are not interested in rafting can visit Spituk & Phyang monasteries and join the group at Nimmu. On the way to Yangtang we also visit Likir Monastery. We arrive in Yangtang shortly before evening. There is enough time for a short walk to explore the small village and observe local life in this remote settlement. Overnight at a homestay with a local family (B|L|D).

  

• Day 6: Trek to Ullay at 3,900 m – 4 hours of hiking

  We drive northwards along a river (Ullay Topo) and begin our trek. Here, erosion has created some impressive rock formations, which we can admire on the hike to Ulley. In winter Ulley is a famous spot for observing the elusive snow leopard. We reach it in the afternoon and, shortly before evening, can still walk a little above the village — also to be able to say that we have reached 4,000 metres. Overnight at a homestay with a local family (B|L|D).

• Day 7: Trek to Hemis Shukpachen at 3,660 m, crossing the Shangpo La (4,080 m) – 5 hours of hiking

  Today we follow the same path as yesterday out of the village and then keep to the north-west. From here we reach a small green meadow after crossing the rocks. We are now at the foot of the Shangpo La (pass) at 4,080 m, our first pass. From there we can enjoy a beautiful view of the settlement. We then continue our descent to the village of Hemis Shukpachen. Pretty streams, many fields and a recently erected statue of Buddha in the middle of the village await us. Overnight at a homestay with a local family (B|L|D).

  

• Day 8: Trek to Tingmosgang at 3,200 m – 5 hours of hiking

  We leave Shukpachen and pass a group of juniper trees (“Shupka” in the local language). These trees also gave the village its name. Our destination today is Tingmosgang, in a landscape known as ‘Lower Ladakh’. Even so, we are still constantly above 3,000 m. Overnight at a camp hotel / fixed camp (B|L|D).

• Day 9: Trek to Khalsi, crossing the Bong Bong La (3,630 m) and drive to Lamayuru at 3,500 m

  Tingmosgang is one of the larger, more prosperous and beautiful villages in Ladakh, which becomes obvious as we hike through the village to the foot of the Bong Bong La at 3,630 m, our last pass. As we climb, we gain wide views of the Sham Valley, with streams and Tia Monastery in the background. From here it continues downhill to the nearest road at Khalsi. It is now also time to bid farewell to our camping crew and the other staff before we are picked up and driven to Lamayuru. Shortly before evening there is still enough time for a short walk to get to know the village. Overnight at a simple hotel in Lamayuru (B|L|D).

  

  

• Day 10: Drive to Alchi

  In the morning we will visit Lamayuru Monastery. It houses some of the largest thangkas, which are unrolled during the famous masked-dance festival and are partly very old. More than 150 monks live here permanently. On the subsequent drive we cross one of the most extraordinary landscapes in Ladakh, known as ‘Moonland’ because of its erosion forms and unusual colours. We will reach Alchi in the afternoon, take a leisurely walk through the village in the evening and see many barley fields, apple orchards and apricot trees. Overnight at the hotel (B|D).

• Day 11: Visit to Alchi Monastery and drive to Leh

  This morning we will visit Alchi Monastery, as fewer tourists are about in the early hours. This monastery was built around the 11th century by the famous Tibetan translator Lhotsava Richen Zangpo. Because of its remarkable paintings it has been on the UNESCO tentative World Heritage list since 1998. After visiting the monastery we drive back towards Leh, arriving there in the afternoon. Overnight at Hotel Glacier View (B|D).

• Day 12: Day at leisure for individual activities in Leh

  Today is our last day in Ladakh and free for individual activities. Perhaps you will pick up a few more souvenirs, or simply let the atmosphere of this land — with its unusual views, colours, sounds and scents — wash over you one last time. Overnight at Hotel Glacier View (B|D).

• Day 13: Flight to Delhi, short sightseeing in Delhi in the afternoon

  You will be driven to the airport for an early flight to Delhi. Depending on your arrival time in Delhi, you can gather first impressions on a sightseeing tour of the city centre with a visit to the India Gate and past other buildings that are symbolic of the colonial architecture. Overnight at Hotel Jay Pee Siddharth (B).

  

• Day 14: Optional day trip to Agra by train or free for individual activities. Transfer to the airport in the evening for the return flight

  Depending on your flight schedule, there is the option to visit the Taj Mahal before flying back home. We travel by train to Agra and take a short excursion to the famous Taj Mahal, the 17th-century mausoleum of Mumtaz, built by her husband, the then Mughal King Shah Jehan. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is also counted — thanks to its extraordinary beauty and perfect architecture — among the seven new wonders of the world. After returning to Delhi and after dinner, you will be driven to the international airport for your farewell (B).

  We reserve the right to make changes to the programme due to special events, force majeure or weather conditions.

  Legend: B = Breakfast | L = Lunch | D = Dinner