5N/6DLadakhLeh Ladakh Classic
2N Leh · 1N Nubra · 1N Pangong · 1N Leh- Hotels
- Meals
- Transfers
- Sightseeing
Starts from
₹18,900
per person
Sham Valley, Leh
Magnetic Hill, Pathar Sahib, the Sangam, Likir and Alchi
- Type
- Valley
- Location
- Leh, Ladakh
- Time needed
- 1 day
- Best time to visit
- April to October. July and August for apricots and rafting at the Sangam.
About Sham Valley
Sham Valley is the stretch of the Indus valley west of Leh, along the road to Kargil and Srinagar. It is lower than Leh and has several of Ladakh's popular sights within an easy day trip. No permit is needed, which makes it a good outing during your first days in Leh.
The first stops are close to Leh. Gurudwara Pathar Sahib is a Sikh shrine linked to Guru Nanak, looked after by the army, where visitors are offered langar. A little further on is Magnetic Hill, a stretch of road where an optical illusion makes vehicles seem to roll uphill. Near Nimmu is the Sangam, where the green Indus meets the darker Zanskar river, with river rafting in summer.
Further west are the monasteries of Likir, with a large golden statue of Maitreya Buddha, and Alchi, known for its very old wall paintings and wood carvings. Basgo, with its ruined fort and temples on a ridge, is on the way. Apricot orchards line the villages of the valley in summer.
Things to do at Sham Valley
- Stop at Gurudwara Pathar Sahib and have langar
- Try the Magnetic Hill illusion with your vehicle
- See the Sangam of the Indus and Zanskar rivers, and raft there in summer
- Visit Likir Monastery and its Maitreya Buddha statue
- See the old wall paintings at Alchi
- Stop at Basgo for its ruined fort and temples
How to reach Sham Valley
- By road from Leh: Pathar Sahib is about 25 km, Magnetic Hill about 30 km and the Sangam about 35 km. Likir is about 55 km and Alchi about 65 km, so a full day by car covers all of them.
Tips before you go
- This is a good day trip for your second or third day in Leh, as it stays at or below Leh's altitude
- No permit is needed for Sham Valley
- Cover your head at Gurudwara Pathar Sahib. Scarves are usually available at the entrance
- Rafting at the Sangam depends on water levels and season, so book it locally
Packages that cover Sham Valley
5N/6DLadakhView
6N/7DLadakhLeh Ladakh Explorer with Turtuk
2N Leh · 2N Nubra · 1N Pangong · 1N Leh- Hotels
- Meals
- Transfers
- Sightseeing
Starts from
₹22,900
per person
Nearby places to visit
War museum · Leh
Hall of Fame
A museum run by the Indian Army near Leh, honouring soldiers who served in Ladakh, with galleries on the Kargil war and life on the Siachen glacier.
Time needed: 1 to 1.5 hoursRead more →Monastery · Lamayuru
Lamayuru Monastery
One of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh, on the Leh to Srinagar road, above eroded hills often called the moonland.
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours, plus a full day of driving from LehRead more →Must visit
Town
Leh
Ladakh's main town, with Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa and a busy main bazaar. Your base for the first and last nights, and the place to acclimatise.
Time needed: 2 to 3 days, split between the start and end of the tripRead more →Sham Valley: FAQs
Does Magnetic Hill really pull cars uphill?
No. It is an optical illusion. The lie of the land makes a gentle downhill slope look like an uphill one, so a vehicle in neutral seems to roll uphill.
Is a permit needed for Sham Valley?
No. Sham Valley, including Magnetic Hill, Pathar Sahib, the Sangam, Likir and Alchi, does not need a permit.
Can Sham Valley and Lamayuru be done in one day?
Yes, as a long day trip from Leh, but it is a lot of driving. Many people do Sham Valley on its own, or stop at these places on the drive to Kargil and Srinagar.