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.

Question 7

Can I do Sham Valley Trek solo?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can absolutely do Sham Valley trekking solo if you have previous experience with trekking and know the region well. The area is not dangerous in any way and the trek itself is quite easy, so anyone with some prior knowledge of the terrain and weather can undertake this trek quite easily on their own. 

However, if you do not have experience trekking in Leh Ladakh or if this is your first-time trekking, it is recommended to go with a group.

Question 8

How much does the Sham Valley Trek cost?

Accepted Answer

The Sham Valley Trek cost should not be more than INR 15k per person. However, this is largely dependent on your travel arrangements, accommodation options, how long your trip is, and what you plan to eat. If you want to hire a car for the trip from Manali to Leh, that will of course increase the cost of the trek. Additionally, if you want to stay in high-end hotels and are particular about your meals, it will also make the trip more expensive.

Question 9

How much weight do I have to carry on this trek?

Accepted Answer

Since you will be ascending during the trek, it is recommended to not carry a backpack of more than 12 kg during the journey.

Question 10

What will be the temperature on Sham Valley Trek?

Accepted Answer

Depending on when you are undertaking the Sham Valley Trek temperature in the summer can vary between 9-10 degrees at night and 20-30 degrees during the day. During winters, the temperature at night can be as low as 5 degrees and in the day, it is around 10 degrees.

Question 11

What is the best time to go for Sham Valley trek?

Accepted Answer

The best time to Trek to Sham valley is between July and August. This is because not only is the weather quite pleasant during these months, the various highways and passes in the region are also accessible during these months.

Question 12

What is the difficulty level of Sham Valley trek?

Accepted Answer

Sham Valley trekking is considered to be easy to moderate as far as difficulty level is concerned. Some people even call the trek a baby trek because of how easy it is.

Question 13

What things should I carry while going on Sham Valley trek?

Accepted Answer

Here are the most important things you should carry when going on Sham Valley Trek:

Duffel bag
Sleeping bag
Daypack
Lip balm
Wind jacket
Sunglasses
Gloves
Trekking boots
Water bottle
Sneakers
Flashlight with batteries
Cotton socks
Energy bars
Cotton shirts, trousers
Swiss army knife
Raincoat
Thermal clothes
Money pouch
Medicines
Trekking pants

Question 14

Is it safe to do Sham Valley trek?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Sham Valley is extremely safe for trekking. People go for trekking here every year and this region is completely safe.

Question 15

Can beginners do Sham Valley trek?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this is an easy to moderate trek. The terrain is not rough, the paths are clear and straight, and there are no difficult passes or mountains to cross. Beginners can easily complete this trek without any problems.