Question 1

Where does Sham Valley Trek start?

Accepted Answer

Sham Valley Trek starts from the gorgeous hamlet called Likir. Starting at the edge of this tiny hamlet, the trek heads downstream, and then back up the hill as you turn right and leave the village. 
The journey continues uphill and you will cover an altitude of nearly 3500 meters during this trek. The trek itself is quite easy and the path is clear. Occasionally, you will also notice the trekking path veers quite close to the main road. 
The trip will end when you reach the Hemis Shukpachan area. This region is located at a staggering height of 3700 m above the sea level and offers some of the most stunning views of the valley.

Question 2

How can I reach Sham Valley Trek ?

Accepted Answer

The starting point of the trek is Likir village, which is located in the Leh region. To reach Leh, you can either take a flight to the airport, or take a road trip from Manali. 

By air, the main airport in the city is the Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, and it is very well connected with Delhi and some of the major cities in the country. 

If you want to travel by road,  Leh is connected to the rest of the country via two highways – NH 1D or Srinagar-Leh Highway and Manali-Leh Highway. The former passes through Kargil and the Zoji-La pass, whereas the latter goes through Rohtang Pass and Tanglang la. 

To reach from Leh to Likir, the standard way is to simply hire a taxi. It will cost you somewhere around INR 2000 per person, and the entire journey will take nearly 2 hours. Make sure you leave Leh early so that you can reach Likir just in time to start your trek before sunset.

Question 3

How long is the Sham Valley Trek?

Accepted Answer

To cover the entirety of Sham Valley trek, you will need just 4 days, if you are talking a one-way trek. A round trip will be at least 5 days, because you will need one day to return to Leh.

Question 4

What is the height of Sham Valley Trek?

Accepted Answer

The trek starts at a height of 200 meter above the sea level and ends at a height of 3700 meter. Therefore, the total height of the trek is nearly 3500 meters.

Question 5

Is Sham Valley Trek dangerous?

Accepted Answer

No, Sham Valley Trekking is one of the easiest treks you can undertake in the Leh Ladakh valley. The paths are straight and clear, and you will even come close to the road sometimes. The entire trek is quite smooth, with no rough terrains or hard climbs. 

The trail is rated easy to moderate and there is no danger involved at all. In fact, some people even call the Sham Valley trek a baby trek because of how easy it is. You will encounter some beautiful villages, easily crossable mountain passes, barley fields, and lovely streams. The walks are extremely pleasurable, and offer some of the most stunning views of the valley.

Question 6

What will be the weather conditions in Sham Valley Trek?

Accepted Answer

If you happen to visit Sham Valley during the summer season, that is, between may and middle of October, you will encounter extremely pleasant weather conditions. The temperatures during this time range between 20 degrees and 30 degrees. 

It is ideal to visit the valley between July and August because this is the only time when the Manali Leh and Srinagar Leh Highways are open.