Luxury Sham Valley Tours
The lower Indus valley west of Leh — green villages, apricot orchards and the oldest monasteries in Ladakh, at an altitude that is easy on the body.
Plan My Sham Valley Trip
Overview
Sham Valley At A Glance
Sham is the stretch of the Indus valley that runs west from Leh. It sits lower than the town, around 3,000 to 3,300 metres, which makes it the gentlest part of Ladakh to travel in. The valley floor is green with barley and apricot orchards. Whitewashed monasteries stand on the ridges above the villages. Alchi holds wall paintings from the eleventh century that survive nowhere else in Ladakh. Lamayuru sits above eroded badlands that people call moonland. Likir has a huge gilded Buddha in the open air, and its potters still work by hand. Basgo is a ruined mud-brick fort on a crag. A night or two here, at Nimmu or Nurla, turns a rushed day-trip into a real leg of the trip.
- Where To Stay
- Nimmu House, The Apricot Tree
- Continue To
- Kargil, Leh, Nubra Valley
What To See
What To See In Sham Valley
Sham Valley's real highlights are what a private guide builds each day around.
Lamayuru Monastery
One of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh, on a crag above eroded badlands people call moonland.
Basgo Fort
A ruined mud-brick citadel and its temple towers on an eroded ridge above the Indus, once a royal capital.
Sham Valley Walk
An easy walk between the villages of the lower Sham valley, on the trail people call the baby trek.
Likir Pottery Workshop
A short session with one of the last village potters in Ladakh, at the wheel in Likir.
How To Travel
Journeys Through Sham Valley
Every journey comes with a private guide and driver for each day on the road. Full details live on each journey's own page.
Where To Stay
Where To Stay In Sham Valley
Stays are chosen for the setting and the service, then matched to the pace of your route.
Nimmu House
★★★★
Nimmu House is a former Ladakhi noble's home in the village of Nimmu, about forty minutes west of Leh, near the meeting of the Indus and Zanskar rivers. The old house has five rooms, restored with traditional Ladakhi woodwork and furniture. In the orchard around it stand seven canvas tents, each with a proper bed, a bathroom and a wood stove. The garden runs to apricot, apple and walnut trees, and there is a small farm with yaks and dzos. It is an eco-boutique property. Power is mostly solar, water is heated by the sun, and the kitchen cooks with vegetables from the garden and Ladakhi recipes. Nimmu is lower than Leh, which helps with the altitude, and it is the natural first or last stop for the Sham valley and Alchi.
The Apricot Tree
★★★★
The Apricot Tree stands just outside Nurla village, on the road between Leh and Lamayuru, looking down on the Indus. It is a modern hotel built in the Ladakhi style, with carved wood, stone walls and warm interiors. The rooms are large and well heated, and most face the river and the mountains beyond it. There is a garden, a terrace restaurant and a quiet lounge. Nurla is a good base for the western Sham valley. Alchi is a short drive one way, Lamayuru the other, and the hotel sits low enough that guests sleep well. It is the sensible premium choice for a night or two in Sham, a real hotel with hot water and heating rather than a basic guesthouse.
16
years crafting private India journeys
30,000+
travellers guided end to end
4.5
from 15 reviews on Trustpilot
Ministry of Tourism
NIDHI Certified Tour Operator
Rajasthan Tourism
Recognized Travel Agency
Travel for LiFE
Sustainable Tourism Pledge
Google Reviews★★★★★
Verified business reviews
Frequently Asked
Questions About Sham Valley
Are your tours in Sham Valley private?
Yes. Every journey is private. You travel with your own guide and driver, and the pace is yours to set.
Can I combine Sham Valley with other cities?
Yes. We can join Sham Valley to other cities in Ladakh in a single route, with transfers and stays planned around it.
Can you arrange hotels in Sham Valley?
Yes. Stays are part of every journey. We match them to your budget and to the pace of your route.
How do I plan a trip to Sham Valley?
Share your dates and who is travelling using the form on this page. A specialist replies with a private route for you to review.
Continue The Route
More Of Ladakh
The other cities in Ladakh we build private journeys through, each with its own guide.
Kashmir to Kanyakumari
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Start Planning Your Sham Valley Journey
Tell us a little about who's coming and when. A private itinerary comes back built around your answer.