Sham Valley Map : Road Map from Leh to Sham Valley

by Vargis.Khan

Below is a Sham Valley Map showing the route from Leh to Sham Valley, with all the major towns or villages, tourist attractions, and distance in between. The road runs between Leh and Kargil with the Sham Valley to its right. There are some villages in the valley that are accessible by road, as shown on the map.

Other remote villages of the valley can however be accessed only on foot. This is what is commonly known as the Sham Valley trek route. It is one of the most popular and easily accessible trek routes in Ladakh that mostly remains open all year long.

Please click on the map to view it in full size or download and save it to your hard drive.

Sham Valley Map

Sham Valley Map

In order to reach Sham Valley, you need to start from Leh on the Srinagar Leh highway. There are some major tourist attractions like Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Patthar Sahib, and Indus & Zanskar river confluence that you can cover on the way.

About 10 kilometers before Saspul, you leave the main highway. From here, you will take the road towards Hemis Shukpachan, and enter the beautiful Sham valley. Contrary to common belief, it is actually after you leave the highway here that you enter Sham Valley.

Sham Valley Trek Map

Another way to enter the valley is from Nurla, taking the small road towards Ang. If you however are in a mood to track, you can start from Likir and walk through the valley. On the way, you will experience the local Ladakh culture in its village. You will also cross 5 high-altitude passes on the way. It is a relatively easy trek considered perfect for beginners.

Conclusion

If you are planning a trip to Ladakh, a day’s journey to Sham valley is highly recommended. Distance to Sham valley is about 200 kilometers from both Leh and Kargil and a return journey can easily be done in a day.

If you are returning to Srinagar, then you can add a day to your return journey. You can stay at the village of Hemis Shukpachan and then continue towards Kargil the day after. For more details, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Sham Valley, both by road and trek.

I hope the above-posted Sham Valley map was of help. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask in the comments section below or at our Community Forum, and I will be happy to answer.

Related Articles

33 comments

Ramya April 13, 2023 - 6:47 pm

Hello Mr Vargis
I would like to know how is the route from Nubra to Pangong and how long does it take to reach Pangong from Nubra??

Reply
Vargis.Khan April 14, 2023 - 7:18 am

The road is good via Shyok road, for the most part of it. The travel time will be anywhere between 6 to 8 hours depending on where you started from in Nubra.

Reply
Mehul Dudhwala January 8, 2022 - 9:45 am

Sir
i would like know which is better to visit, whether Sham Valley of Nubra valley

Reply
Vargis.Khan January 12, 2022 - 9:34 am

Hi Mehul – Nubra Valley will be a better option

Reply
Bastav Mazumder November 11, 2019 - 6:20 pm

hello Vargis,
I have seen rate chart of Ladakh taxi union. I want to know whether Alchi-Likir-Lamayuru-Uleytokpo tour in 2 days includes sight seeing like Hemis, Magnetic Hill,Patthar Sahib,Indus-Zanskar confluence, Spituk?

Reply
Saibal Ghose June 8, 2019 - 9:00 am

Hi Vargis- Thanks for posting these extremely detailed & informative articles. Essential reading for any traveler to the Ladakh region who wants to research the area before traveling.
I have a query regarding Sham Valley. We are a group of 6 adults planning a 15 day trip to the region in Sept. Starting from Srinagar in 2 SUVs. After Kargil, can we make a detour for 2 nights through Sham valley before proceeding to Leh? Where to stay for 2 nights? One night may be at Hemis?
Also, are there another places that we should cover before ending up in Leh, instead of reaching Leh & then again back tracking part of the way to see other places? I assume that the Zanskar valley, Nubra Valley & the 2 lakes can only be done ex-Leh & not by taking detours from Srinagar-Leh highway?

Reply
Vargis.Khan June 8, 2019 - 8:20 pm

Hi Saibal – Hemis is the only place accommodation is available but you can try in other villages as well as paying guest. Yes you can take a detour to Sham Valley before reaching Leh. Other two places you can cover are Zanskar Valley and Batalik route before hitting the Leh town.

Reply
Saibal Ghose June 9, 2019 - 7:00 am

Thanks Vargas for your useful info. Shall take these
into account when planning the trip.

Reply
Vargis.Khan June 9, 2019 - 7:03 am

You are welcome !!!

Reply
Saibal Ghose June 9, 2019 - 7:22 am

Hi Vargis- one more query regarding the detour through Shan valley before hitting Leh. Since we shall be travelling in hired car with Srinagar registration, will this vehicle be allowed to take us through Shan valley/ Zanskar valley/Batalik?.Or do we have to hire local vehicle at Kargil in view of the restrictions imposed by taxi union?

Reply
Vargis.Khan June 9, 2019 - 7:34 am

Traveling through Sham Valley should not be a problem but in case anyone stops you, please do not argue with the locals and just come back to Leh

Reply
Saibal Ghose June 9, 2019 - 11:55 am

Many thanks for this useful information. One final query- I could not see Sham Valley on your web page listing for ILPs. I assume ILP will NOT be required for visiting Sham valley?

Vargis.Khan June 9, 2019 - 1:36 pm

Correct. There is no ILP required for Sham Valley

Poonam Kumari May 23, 2019 - 7:08 am

Hello Vargis,
Your blogs are really helpful. Thank you so much for providing us knowledge about Leh-Ladakh.
We are a group of 5-6 people, planning to visit Leh-ladakh between 8-14th august. Will it be a good time to visit? Will rain ruin the experience? What will be the road conditions of Srinagar-leh highway at this time?
Our itinerary will be like:
1) 7/08/2019 Delhi to Srinagar, will reach by 4.30pm
1) 8/08/2019 Srinagar to kargil, stay in kargil for one night, time taken to reach kargil?
2) 9/08/2019 Kargil to Leh via Sham valley, main attractions on the way we should cover?
3) 10/08/2019 Leh to Nubra valley, attractions and where to stay, Hunder/Dishit/Nubra valley/best place for camping and star gazing
4) 11/08/2019 Nubra Valley to pangong, what is the road conditions? Time taken to reach pangong? Nearest place to Pangong river for stay as I have read in one of your blogs that camping is not allowed anymore at Pangong Lake.
5) 12/08/2019 Pangong to Leh

Thank you

Reply
Ananya August 11, 2018 - 9:48 pm

Hi Vargis, I and my partner are visiting Leh during 29 th SEP to 8th October. We are planning to rent a bike (avenger, not bullet) for a trip from Leh to sham valley, with stay in Uleytokpo. Can you please advise on the road conditions, considering my partner is a regular driver.

The first part of our Leh itinerary is as below –
29th – Reach Leh, get permits, visit market, get acclimatised
30th – visit leh palace, hemis monastery, shey monastery, Shanti stupa etc.
1st – Leh to sham valley, stay at Uleytokpo
2nd – Uleytokpo, alchi and lamayuru sightseeing, back go Leh

Can we cover these in a bike? Or can we get a shared cab easily?

Would appreciate an early response. And thank you for your advise!

Reply
SAYALI July 19, 2018 - 3:19 pm

Hi Vargis, Thanks for sharing information.It helps us alot.
We are planning to go Sham valley from Leh with Bike.
I searched Hemis Shukpachan on Google map.But I did not find any road toward Hemis Shukpachan.
Please find image at below link-
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1AKLtpNpKpSHf7YcRUjm4ZIg3iFt4S97i

Is there any internal road going through villages,that Google is not showing 😀
Please guide us 🙂 Thanks in advance!

Reply
Vargis.Khan July 19, 2018 - 8:28 pm

Hi Sayali – There is a road, I can see it on Google maps. Just type Hemis Shukpachan to Leh and it will highlight.

Reply
Mariya Mulyava July 13, 2018 - 2:00 pm

Dear Vargis,

we are interested to rent offroadcar with driver-guide for 4 days in Leh. Would you recommend somebody? Thanks.
Mariya

Reply
Vargis.Khan July 13, 2018 - 2:08 pm

Hi Mariya – You can speak with Nasir in Leh @ 9906229203.

Reply
Maroof May 8, 2018 - 7:46 am

Hello Mr Khan, my name is maroof, i have 4 pax want to cover Magnetic Hills, Gurudwara Patthar Sahib and Indus&Zanskar river confluence and Hamis National Park , it possible they are driving by innova from leh Hotel ? please suggest

Reply
Vargis.Khan May 8, 2018 - 6:09 pm

Hello Mr. Maroof, I am not sure what the question here is but in case you are asking about booking a private cab then you may contact Nasir in Leh at 9906229203. He runs his own cab and is an excellent driver.

Reply
Chirag Jain June 26, 2017 - 11:10 am

Hello Sir,

I want your suggestion on Sham Valley Tour. I will be going by Royal Enfield with my wife and will be covering following places in sequence Magnetic Hill – Pathar Sahib Gurdwara – Indus & Zanskar river Sangam – Likir and Alchi Monastry – Moon landscape – Leh. Is it possible to do complete tour in a day and if yes then by what time we should leave for the tour in morning.

Reply
Vargis.Khan June 26, 2017 - 6:49 pm

Hello Chirag Bhai, Yes you can do this in a day but must start from Leh by first light of the morning. Possibly before 7 AM if you want to spend a little time at all these places.

Reply
Harshit May 24, 2017 - 4:49 pm

Forgot to mention, I will be going via Manali and returning via Manali. From this village, next day I intend to go to Turtuk/Hunder

Reply
Vargis.Khan May 24, 2017 - 5:13 pm

Go to Turtuk, there are more tourist attractions towards Nubra Valley than Sham Valley so spend time exploring those. Sham Valley is best enjoyed if you can spare a 2-3 days for a trek through the valley.

Reply
Harshit May 24, 2017 - 5:21 pm

Thanks Vargis. What do you suggest for going to Turtuk from Hemis Shukpachan? I guess it might take around 8-9hrs. Pls correct me if I am wrong.

Further, a side question. How much time it usually takes from jispa to leh on bullet if one is not stopping too much for breaks and is maintaining a descent speed (not in a rush mannner)?

Reply
Vargis.Khan May 25, 2017 - 1:40 am

You are welcome Harshit. It may take you up to 10 hours to reach Turtuk from Hemis If you want to do it, then ensure that you start as early as you can. You can easily do Jispa to Leh in one day. Once again, take a early start from Jispa, by first light of the day.

Reply
Harshit May 25, 2017 - 1:48 am

Thanks again Vargis. I wanted to know travel time between Jispa and Leh to ensure that I dont travel in dark as I am not comfortable doing that in hills with my wife alone. If I start at 5am from Jispa, is it easily feasible to reach Leh in late evening, not before complete dark?

One more thing, is there any good homestay or village nearby Leh (within 1.5 hrs drive) which I can make my base for Pangong & Tso-Moriri. I dont really want to stay in Leh city itself again after Turtuk but also I dont want to travel far from Leh.

Vargis.Khan May 25, 2017 - 2:20 am

Hey Harshit – Start between 5-6 AM from Jispa, keep our breaks limited and you will easily make it to Leh by 4 PM.

Ladakh is a very small town brother. You can cover the entire of it on foot in less than an hour. Stay anywhere, any place of your liking and you will never be far from anywhere. It is hardly 2 – 3 major roads anyways.

Harshit May 24, 2017 - 4:47 pm

Hi Vargis,

This place Hemis Shukpachan looks interesting! I will be going with my wife on our bike(only partner!) in June this yr and considering between this village and Turtuk. I want to live in a village and experience quaint local life away from crowd. Which one would you recommend?

Even if I drop turtuk, I will go to Hunder. But I heard that views from Hunder to Turtuk are awesome. So, if I skip Turtuk, will I be missing some really nice views not experienced anywhere in Leh?

I am planning to cover Pangong & Tso-Moriri apart from above.

Reply
Vargis.Khan May 24, 2017 - 5:11 pm

Hi Harshit – I would recommend Turtuk rather than Hemis though both are equally beautiful. Hemis is Buddhist majority while Turtuk is muslim majority. The reason why I am recommending Turtuk is because you can include it with visit to Nubra valley however for Hemis, you will have to dedicate one day towards Srinagar Leh highway since you are returning via Manali only. Go to Nubra and stay at Turtuk via Hunder Diskit, you will love it.

Reply
Rajesh Ranjan Pani May 20, 2017 - 6:26 am

Sir, We 6 are going to ladhak in 1st week of June. On 31 st May, 2017 we will be reaching Srinagar and then after we will proceed towards leh. We want to stay one night at sham valley between out journey to leh. Kindly inform whether inner line or any type of permit is required. If required the where to take permission & contact of any one ho shall facilitate the permission prior to our journey.

Reply
Vargis.Khan May 22, 2017 - 2:00 am

Hello Rajesh Bhai – No permit is required to visit Sham Valley. You can include it in your plan.

Reply

Leave a Comment