From handwoven shawls to apricot jams, these villages near Leh are quietly leading a movement in women-led local enterprise.
Ladakh is not just a land of monasteries and mountains—it’s a growing hub of community-based tourism and self-help group (SHG) enterprises that are reviving traditional crafts, building sustainable livelihoods, and offering visitors an authentic taste of local culture.
In this multi-part series, we take you through village-by-village insights into Ladakh’s vibrant SHG ecosystem—where to go, what to buy, and how your visit directly supports women entrepreneurs, farmers, and artisans.
Where: Just 7 km from Leh
What to Explore:
Saboo is a scenic farming village that blends craft heritage with homestay hospitality. The Saboo Women’s SHG and members of the Ladakh Women’s Federation here produce beautiful wool-embroidered stoles, homemade apricot jam, dried fruits, and seasonal pickles.
You can also participate in short kitchen-based workshops, and many women-run homestays serve traditional Ladakhi meals using ingredients from their own farms.
Why Visit: It’s ideal for those short on time but keen to experience local life. It also makes a great half-day trip from Leh.
Best Time to Go: May to October (apricot season peaks in August)
Keywords: Saboo village Ladakh, SHG in Leh, apricot jam Ladakh, women homestays Leh
What to Find:
Right next to Saboo Gompa is a monastery-run SHG where women prepare prayer flags, incense sticks, and rosaries—ideal for spiritual gifts and souvenirs. These products are sold to support both the monastery and local women artisans.
Why It Matters: Few monasteries in Ladakh have women-led SHG units—Saboo is a model in this space.
Where: About 19 km west of Leh
Highlights:
Phyang has emerged as a community-led agro-tourism hotspot. Here, SHGs like Snow Valley SHG and Phyang SHG Cluster offer a range of experiences—from farm visits and seasonal vegetable harvesting to craft demonstrations in thangka sketching and local food processing (like dried apricots or barley roasting).
Homestays offer immersive experiences, and the annual Phyang Tsedup festival is a bonus if you’re visiting in July/August.
What to Buy: Seasonal farm products, wool stoles, dried fruits, and handmade notebooks using natural pigments.
Keywords: Phyang agro tourism, Snow Valley SHG, Ladakh SHG crafts, Leh village stays
Artisan Group: Phyang Monastic Women’s SHG
Just outside the ancient monastery, women trained in sacred arts create miniature thangkas, beaded wrist malas, and symbolic amulets. The proceeds go toward monastery upkeep and women’s welfare projects.
Traveler Tip: They also offer guided art interpretation sessions if contacted a day in advance.
Where: Between Leh and Nimo, about 20–25 mins from Leh
What’s Unique:
Phey is not just a farming village—it’s a living lab of organic farming practices. SHGs like the Phey Women’s Collective and Phey Organic SHG host workshops on:
Many homestays also serve barley-based dishes like Skyu, Ngampe, and Tangtur—prepared the old-fashioned way.
Best Time to Visit: June to October (farming season)
Keywords: Organic farming in Ladakh, Phey SHG Ladakh, barley dishes Leh, farm-based tourism Ladakh
Where: Sham region, 3.5–4 hrs west of Leh
Why Visit:
Wanla is known for its revival of handloom weaving. The Wanla Looms SHG and Zanskar Threads SHG are engaging young women in weaving shawls, woollen socks, and blankets using native wool.
Homestays in Wanla offer a peaceful break from the touristy circuits and are ideal for travelers wanting slow, mindful travel.
What’s Special: You can join a half-day weaving demo and even try your hand at spinning and loom work.
Where: On the Leh–Kargil road, famous for its “moonland” landscapes
What You’ll Find:
Near the monastery complex, the Lamayuru Nunnery SHG and Lamayuru Craft Collective sell:
Many products are made by nuns and women from nearby villages. Visitors can also attend chanting sessions and spiritual story circles hosted by local women on request.
Ladakh’s villages are not just destinations—they’re living ecosystems of craft, cuisine, agriculture, and belief. And behind each homestay meal or woolen stole is a woman entrepreneur, a collective effort, and a local story worth supporting.
By choosing SHG-led experiences and products, you’re not only traveling responsibly, you’re also helping build resilient, dignified livelihoods in a rapidly changing Himalayan economy.
Part 2 – Nubra Valley & Changthang SHG Enterprises
Explore women-led herbal wellness in Panamik, Balti crafts in Turtuk, yak wool weaving in Korzok, and salt harvesting in Nyoma.
From pottery workshops to Ladakhi cooking sessions, uncover the authentic experiences that Leh offers. Dive into the local culture with hands-on activities that will leave lasting memories.
Leh is home to some of the most stunning and serene monasteries in the world. Visit these sacred sites, learn about their rich history, and experience the spiritual calm of Ladakh.
