ladakh tourism best time to visit

The Best Time to Visit Ladakh

Climate, Festivals and Other Things to Do

David Bathgate/Getty Images

High-altitude Ladakh, in the far northern Indian Himalayas , has an extreme climate with a long and brutal winter. Hence, the best time to visit Ladakh is during the region's summer when the snow on the high passes melts—that is, unless you're heading there for adventure travel!

Read more about the top things to do in Ladakh .

The Weather in Ladakh

The climate in Ladakh is divided into only two seasons: four months of summer (from June until September) and eight months of winter (from October until May). Summer temperatures are pleasant and range from 59 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 25 degrees Celsius), whereas winters are extremely cold. Temperatures in the region can drop as low as -40 degrees!

Peak Season in Ladakh

If you want to beat the tourist rush and get discounted accommodations, visit Ladakh in late April or May when the weather is starting to warm up and businesses are beginning to re-open. If you want to see plenty of snow but experience warmer weather, and don't mind the crowds, visit Ladakh during June or July. August is peak monsoon time and it does rain (either a lot or a little), so you may want to avoid traveling there then or go towards the end of the month. The bursts of colorful leaves on trees make mid-September until mid-October picturesque. Temperatures start dropping and the tourist season is over, so it's much quieter.

Getting to Ladakh

Flights to Leh, the erstwhile royal capital of Ladakh, operate year-round. Roads within Ladakh are also open throughout the year. However, the passes leading into Ladakh are buried under snow during the colder months. Therefore, if you wish to drive (the scenery is spectacular and it helps with acclimatization, although the two-day journey is long and grueling), the time of year will be an important consideration.

There are two roads to Ladakh:

• Manali-Leh Highway is the most popular route. It cuts through five high mountain passes including Rohtang Pass in the Pir Panjal range, and three passes in the Zanskar range (Baralacha Pass, Lachulung Pass, and Taglang Pass at 17,480 feet above sea level). This route does have a steep ascent, which may cause altitude sickness. It's open from around mid-June until early October. However, travel becomes risky from mid-September onward due to the chance of snow, and reduced options for accommodations and transport (many buses and taxis stop running).
• The Srinagar-Leh Highway (NH 1D) is the most reliable and least challenging route. It runs alongside the Indus River and via Zoji Pass, Drass ( the second coldest inhabited place on Earth ), Kargil, and Fotu Pass (the highest pass on the route at an altitude of 13,478 feet above sea level). It's usually open from mid-May or early June until the end of October or mid-November. However, July and August are best avoided, as you'll have to contend with both monsoon rain and the bulk of pilgrims going on the Amarnath Yatra. In addition, some people may wish to avoid Srinagar and Kashmir due to the ongoing civil unrest plaguing the area.

When to Visit Ladakh for Trekking Season

The main trekking season extends from June to September in Ladakh. However, the Chadar Trek is a renowned winter trek in the region. From mid-January until the end of February, the Zanskar River forms a slab of ice so thick that it's possible for humans to walk across it. It's the only way in and out of the snow-bound Zanskar region. The Chadar Trek, ranging from seven to 21 days in duration, moves from cave to cave along this icy "road." Read more about the best treks to take in Ladakh for all fitness levels .

Hemis National Park is open year-round but the best time to visit to spot the elusive snow leopard is between December and February when it comes down to the valleys.

Spring is one of the most beautiful and scenic times to visit Ladakh. Trees are blooming, yet the mountains are still snow-capped, creating amazing landscapes.

Events to check out:

• The annual Nagrang Festival typically takes place in March at Matho Monastery. It marks the appearance of trance oracles that perform stunning acts and give predictions.

Summer is popular with trekkers and visitors of all kind. Temperatures are warm, but rarely exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), and days are long and sunny. Both of the roads to Ladakh are easy to drive at this time of year as well, an important consideration for some travelers.

• The  Sindhu Darshan Festival (June)  is a performing arts and culture festival on the banks of the Sindhu River.
• The  Hemis Festival (June or July) is celebrated with two days of traditional music, colorful masked dances, and a fair full of striking handicrafts at Hemis Monastery.

Fall is not quite as busy as summer but still offers fantastic weather. While some campsites will have shut down for the season, hotel room rates are less than summer's peak.

• The  Ladakh Marathon (September)  hosts various running races in and around Leh, for Indian and international competitors.
• The tourist season winds up in Leh with Ladakh Festival (September), the biggest festival of the region. It features a captivating street procession, polo matches, archery shows, cultural performances, and handicraft exhibitions.
• September's Nubra Festival brings folk dances and music to different villages.
• The annual two-day  gustor  ritual is part of November's Thiksey Festival at Thiksey Monastery.

Winter in Ladakh is quite harsh, and thus, many travelers choose not to visit during this season. Those who do make the trek will be rewarded with solitude and a seemingly never-ending stretch of mountain ranges, valleys, and monasteries. Temperatures can be brutally cold. 

• Losar is a 15-day festival that marks the beginning of the New Year in Ladakh. The main celebrations happen on the first three days.
• Spituk Festival, held in January or February, marks the annual two-day  gustor  ritual at Spituk Monastery.
• Dosmoche, held in February, is part of a grand two-day celebration of good over evil, originally started by Ladakh royalty, at Leh Palace, and Diskit and Likir monasteries.

Known for its brutal winters, the best time to visit is during the summer when the snow on the high pass has melted.

Ladakh's busiest months are June and July, so if you want to avoid the crowds consider visiting in late April and May.

Monsoon season in Ladakh begins in July and ends in September, however August tends to be the peak month for heavy rain.

Britannica. "Ladakh." Retrieved March 8, 2021.

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The best time to visit Ladakh

By Arundhati Ail

The mesmerising landscapes of Ladakh have something to offer in every season, and when you plan your trip can make all the difference to your experience. Whether you’re looking to explore Leh, spot the snow leopard, trek through lush valleys or catch spring blossoms, a trip to Ladakh will require a fair bit of planning. Here are all the details you need on the best time to visit Ladakh.

Jump to: Best time to visit Ladakh Temperature in Ladakh When does it snow in Ladakh? Best time to spot snow leopards in Ladakh Cheapest time to visit Ladakh Busiest time to visit Ladakh How many days are enough for a Ladakh trip?

When is the best time to visit Ladakh?

The best time to visit Ladakh is in the summer. From April to mid-September temperatures are warmer and this is the peak season in Ladakh. The snow typically clears up by early April, and the Srinagar-Leh highway opens up for visitors. However, if you’re visiting between April and June, it’s best to fly in, as not all roads are fully functional during this time.

Summer is the best time to visit Leh, the Nubra Valley and high-altitude lakes like Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri, as temperatures are pleasant and roads are open. This is also the best time to visit Ladakh for treks like the Sham Valley trek and Markha trek. April is the apricot blossom season in Ladakh, and this is also a good time for birding and spotting wildflowers.

June to September is the best time to visit Ladakh for a road trip. The Manali road along Rohtang Pass opens up in June, and all the roads and passes in the region clear up by this time, making it the best time for bike trips in the region. Come winter , the lakes in Ladakh freeze over and are covered with a sheet of ice. The region receives heavy snowfall and the only way to reach is by air.

Temperatures through the year in Ladakh:

• Summer (April to July): 3°C-25°C
• Monsoon (July to September): 3°C-17°C
• Winter (October to March): -11°C-15°C

Ladakh lies in a rain shadow region and does not experience a heavy monsoon. While rainfall peaks in August, anticipate irregular showers even in the summer and winter.

When does it snow in Ladakh?

Snowfall in Ladakh typically begins in October, as temperatures drop and winter sets in, and can continue until late March. High-altitude passes like Khardung La can receive intermittent snow throughout the year. If you’re looking to visit for snow, it’s best to keep a watch on the weather forecast in the region for accurate updates.

When is the best time to spot snow leopards in Ladakh?

While winter in Ladakh is harsh, with minimum temperatures touching -11°C, it is also the best time to spot the elusive snow leopard. While November to April are best for snow leopard tours, Naturalist and guide Payal Mehta, who often leads snow leopard tours in Hemis National Park, advises against visiting during the bitter cold months from mid-December to late January. Winter tours are focussed on snow leopards, but Mehta also recommends looking out for smaller animals like the Himalayan wolf, red fox, bharal and urial, woolly hare, pika and more. Find a full guide to Hemis National Park here .

What is the cheapest time to visit Ladakh?

The harsh winter months make up the off season in Ladakh , which means hotel and flight prices are lowest during this time. It is not advisable to travel to Ladakh in peak winter (December to February). Heavy snowfall and extreme temperatures mean that several roads and passes are blocked or closed. While Leh Airport is operational throughout the year, flight diversions and cancellations are likely during this time.

When is the busiest time to visit Ladakh?

April to September is the peak tourist season in Ladakh, though road traffic tends to be at its highest between June and September when tourists opt to drive or bike to the region. If you’re looking to avoid the crowds, visit between October and November or March to May.

How many days are enough for a Ladakh trip?

About 7-10 days are ideal for a trip to Ladakh, given the travel time and acclimatisation. Irrespective of when you visit, account for 2-3 days to acclimatise to the high altitude at your accommodation. Ladakh is at an altitude of 3,000m and skipping this step can lead to altitude sickness. If you plan a 7-10 day trip, you can have five or more days to explore the region once you have acclimated. Most treks in the region last 5-10 days, except the beginner-friendly Sham Valley Trek that lasts three days. Beyond wildlife and treks, there’s a lot the region has to offer, including beautiful homestays and luxury tents , a dark sky reserve for stargazing and delicious local food .

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Ladakh Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

By: Author Tashi Lundup

Posted on Last updated: June 11, 2020

In this Ladakh travel guide, you'll learn the best time to visit Leh and Ladakh, how to get around, and what to see and do once you get there.

Ladakh, comprising Leh and Kargil districts, is situated amidst the Himalaya and the Karakoram mountain ranges.

Famous as a Buddhist ex-kingdom, Ladakh is well-known for its monasteries or gompas .

Ladakh is referred to as “Little Tibet” due to the strong influence of Tibetan culture on the region and “Land of High Passes” as it has natural beauty in abundance.

Ladakh is sandwiched between Tibet in the east, Kashmir in the west, the Xinjiang province of China in the north, Pakistan in the north-west, and Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul and Spiti valleys in the south.

Leh, the capital of Ladakh and one of the most popular destinations for tourists in the region, is located at an altitude of 3,500 meters.

The town of Leh was an important trade center for Central Asia on the Silk Route and also served as a transit point for traders on the Leh-Yarkand (presently in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China) route.

Table of Contents

How to Get to Ladakh

When to visit, how to get around , things to do , eco-responsible tourism in ladakh.

Ladakh is accessible either through the air or by road.

There are direct flights from New Delhi to Leh on all days, whereas direct flights are also available to Leh from Mumbai in summer.

Two roads connect Ladakh with the rest of the country.

One could reach Leh by road from Manali or Srinagar. The 490 km-long Leh-Manali highway is open from May or June until mid-October.

One has to cross three passes – Rohtang La (3,980 m), Baralacha La (5,030 m), and Taglang La (5,328 m) to enter Ladakh region from Manali.

On the Leh-Srinagar road, one has to cross two passes – Fotu La (4,108 m) and Zoji La (3,528 m) to reach Leh.

Summer is the best time to visit Ladakh. One could visit Ladakh from May to September when the weather is pleasant.

Ladakh is not accessible by road throughout the year as both the Leh-Manali and Leh-Srinagar roads are closed for more than six months due to heavy snowfall.

However, the roads within Ladakh are still open in winter.

When the roads are closed in winter, the airlines become the lifeline of the people.

It is altogether a different experience in winter with sub-zero temperatures and plenty of snowfall.

The Chadar Trek and Snow Leopard sighting trek are the major activities that are organized for tourists in Ladakh in winter.

See also: 5 Surprising Things About Backpacking Pakistan

The bus services in Leh are limited. While the remote and far-flung areas are connected through a bus run by the road transport corporation (RTC), the bus services in Leh town and peripheral regions are privately-owned.

As a result, the schedule of the bus service is often erratic.

Taxis are available for traveling in and around Leh.

One can choose different types of taxi, ranging from Toyota Innova to Maruti Van, depending on the budget.

People traveling alone or in a small group are encouraged to book shared taxi tours while visiting Ladakh .

Shared taxis are available for tours to all the major tourist attractions (Nubra valley, Pangong lake, Indus valley, etc.).

Using shared taxis will not only save money but also reduce the impact of carbon emissions on the environment.

It's not only weather that one should keep in mind while planning a trip to Ladakh. One has to keep acclimatization to the altitude in mind too.

At a minimum, allow for a full day of rest on the day you arrive in Leh. It is vital to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated at high altitudes.

Inner line permits (ILP) are required for both domestic and foreign tourists visiting any of the sensitive zones such as Nubra, Pangong, Tsomoriri, and the Aryan valley due to security reasons.

ILPs are available online for both domestic travelers and foreigners and are valid for 15 days.

1. Monasteries of the Indus valley: Leh, Shey, Thiksey, and Hemis

As Ladakh is a Buddhist-dominated area, the region is peppered with monasteries of different sects and size.

Perched high on the hill behind the nine-story high Leh Palace is the Namgyal Tsemo Monastery.

Constructed in the 15th century, the monastery is famed for its three-story high gold idol of Maitreya or the Future Buddha.

Shey, once the summer capital of Ladakh, is the house to Shey monastery renowned for a giant copper statue of Buddha gilded with gold.

On the way to Pangong Lake is the majestic Thiksey monastery that is famed for its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.

The monastery is famous for its 15-meter high statue of the Maitreya Buddha.

Perhaps the most famous and well-known monastery in Ladakh is the Hemis Monastery, located at a distance of 45 km from Leh.

One of the largest and wealthiest monasteries in Ladakh, Hemis Monastery is famous for the Naropa Festival, which is held every 12 years according to the Tibetan lunar calendar.

See also: Song Kol Lake: Horse Trekking in Kyrgyzstan

2. Nubra Valley

One of the major attractions in Ladakh is the Nubra Valley or “the valley of flowers.”

Compared to Leh (3,524 m), Nubra is at a lower altitude of 3,048 meters above sea level.

Nubra is also the gateway to the famous Siachen Glacier , which lies to the north of the valley, whereas the Karakoram Pass is in the northwest of the valley.

Hundar and Turtuk are the two most visited villages in Nubra valley.

Hundar is renowned for its dunes and the double-humped Bactrian camel.

The village of Turtuk, famous for the Balti tribe, was opened for tourists in 2010. The Balti tribe still follows its age-old customs.

Diskit monastery is the largest gompa in the valley, located just 7 km from Hundar.

3. Pangong and Tsomoriri Lakes

The other major attractions for tourists are Pangong and Tsomoriri lakes.

Pangong Lake, situated at the height of 4,350 m, is a five-hour drive from Leh.

Pangong Lake is 134 km long, and almost 60% of the length of the lake is in the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

Pangong Lake is an important breeding ground for a variety of birds, including many migratory birds.

Meanwhile, to the southeast of Leh in eastern Ladakh at a distance of 240 km far from Leh is the Tsomoriri Lake situated at an altitude of 4,522 m.

The lake is the breeding ground for the highly threatened black-necked crane.

One of the outstanding features of the area around Tsomoriri Lake is the nomads known for moving from one place to the other.

Tsomoriri, one of the highest brackish water lakes in the world, is 19 km in length.

Ladakh's ecosystem is fragile. Since Ladakh is a cold desert, water is a precious resource in the region.

However, due to rapid urbanization and an increase in the number of hotels and guesthouses, mainly in Leh town, people have abandoned centuries-old practices.

Instead of traditional dry compost toilets, flush toilets are being used in hotels and households. 

These are putting a lot of strain on the already depleted sources of water, such as natural springs and it's also contaminating the groundwater.

It is, therefore, advisable to save as much water as possible by taking a bath using buckets instead of showers.

Also, because Ladakh has limited waste management infrastructure, make efforts to reduce garbage by consuming less packaged food and plastic bottles.

It is estimated that more than 3.5 million plastic bottles for mineral water and carbonated drinks are generated in Leh each tourist season.

Instead of buying plastic bottles, refill water bottles from the hotel or water vending outlets in Leh, such as Dzomsa.

I hope this Ladakh travel guide has provided insight into what it would be like to visit this wondrous region of northern India.

Tashi Lundup has been working as a guide with Ju-Leh Adventure for almost 10 years; he has accompanied hundreds of tourist groups during treks and cultural tours in Ladakh. Tashi is also a writer for local magazines such as Stawa .

Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:

• G Adventures for small group tours.
• Hostelworld for booking hostels.

Friday 3rd of April 2020

Thanks for this very useful guide. I'm supposed to travel to Ladakh this summer, I hope it will be possible!

Hi Thom, I'm envious. I considered going to Ladakh overland while in McLeod Ganj (northern India) but ran out of energy after having been in India for seven weeks.

Whether you're able to go this summer or further in the future, I hope you have a wonderful time!

Supriya Kumar Mitra

Thursday 19th of March 2020

This year I will visited this place, Have you faced any breathing problem?

I did not travel to Ladakh personally, so I can't speak from personal experience. The high-altitudes do require you take time to acclimatize upon arrival, drink lots of water, try to get rest in the first few days and eat well.

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Best time to visit ladakh (A complete weather guide of Ladakh)

No matter what time of the year you visit Ladakh you will find something that will touch your spirit. Want to know which is the best time to visit Ladakh ?

Well, The Thumping Nomad lists down the complete weather guide of what you can expect when you visit Ladakh in different times of the year.

Millennials – the internet savvy, tech crazy, and the restless souls have a craving for everything they get to see on their digital sphere. They want the point of differentiation from others as well in every aspect. And at the very same time, they don’t want to be left behind. When its come to travel, there is one place that’s in the checklist of every one of them- Ladakh.

While most of them plan for Ladakh in the summer months to beat the tropical heat and get snapped among the snow-capped peaks and deserted open stretch of plains. Most of the camps, hotels and homestay start operations to cater to their basic need including a Wi-Fi connection. The deserted region of Leh goes running in full steam hosting the tourists and travellers alike.

Now comes the one who want to go a step ahead, who want to test their mettle, they test the waters in the sub-zero temperatures in the Himalayas. With very basic facilities at their disposal, they set out for a journey very few opt for.

April to May (Max Temp: 16.8ºC  Min Temp: -1.3ºC )

If you are one of those who likes to travel when the places are less crowded then this is just the ideal time for you as April marks the beginning of the tourist season in Ladakh. Hotels, guest houses and restaurants start to open. Also, camps at Nubra Valley , Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri open during this time.

Only by mid-May Srinagar-Leh highway opens so before that you can only fly to Ladakh by taking flight from Delhi, Srinagar, Chandigarh or Jammu to Leh.

As this is just the start of the season you can get good discounts from hotels, camps and guesthouses.

June to July (Max Temp: 24.5ºC Min Temp: 6.6ºC ) (Best time to visit Leh Ladakh by road)

This is the peak tourist season of Ladakh as both the highways ( Srinagar-Leh highway and Manali-Leh Highway ) are open by 1 st week of June. So if you are looking to complete the road trip circuit this is the best time to do so. This season can be considered as the Best time to visit Leh Ladakh by road (Bike or SUV).

[If interested check out a detail road guide for Manali-Leh-Highway ]

With the opening of roads, there is a huge engulf of adventure seekers to Ladakh by road. So if you are one of those who likes a healthy crowd and hustle bustle of a place then this is the ideal time to visit Ladakh.

Weather-wise this will be the best time to visit Ladakh as the weather is mostly pleasant during these months. Also, there will be a lot of festivals in local monasteries.

The most famous annual festival of Hemis Monastery is celebrated in July.

[Check out Various Monasteries of Ladakh ]

August to Mid September (Max Temp: 24ºC Min Temp: 5.4ºC  )

This is the time when the monsoon is in full swing in the Himalayas. Although Ladakh is cold desert and a rain shadow zone but travelling by road till Zoji La on Srinagar-Leh highway and till Baralacha la on Manali-Leh highway will be a difficult task. There can be a lot of landslides, rivers are full of water and there will be a lot of loose gravel and slush on the roads and this makes travelling tough via road during these months.

So if you are planning your journey during these months it is advisable to get yourself updated with weather forecasts.

Mid-September to October (Max Temp: 20.5ºC   Min Temp: -0.5ºC)

As the monsoon recedes from Himalayas and autumn starts to set in this will be an amazing time to see the wonderful colours of nature in Ladakh. Colour of river water again turns crystal blue or turquoise or green that’s for you to decide. Chill in the air sets in and most of the tourists have gone back. Most of the restaurants, hotels, guest houses and camps close by mid-October.

So if you are looking for a tranquil experience with beautiful shades of nature then this is the ideal time for you to visit Ladakh.

November (Max Temp: 7.4ºC  Min Temp: -6.7ºC )

By this time the temperature has dipped to sub-zero levels and winter has set in. Both the highways will be officially closed for vehicular traffic due to heavy snow. Almost all the tourists have left the scene.

Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri will be starting to freeze.

December to March (Max Temp: 6ºC   Min Temp: -14.2ºC  )

This is the time coldest time in Ladakh when the temperature can dip to -15 degrees at many places. And during this time Ladakh is totally cut off from rest of the world by road. The only way to reach Ladakh is to fly to Leh. But flight frequency is also very low during this time of year. Due to extreme cold and lack of basic facilities during this time of year acclimatization can be very difficult.

In recent years the Chadar Trek on river Zanskar River has become very famous in a month of January to Mid March.

So if you are looking for some Ice Age kind of adventure with bone-chilling temperatures then it’s high time because “ I Like to move it! Move it!”

Best time to visit Leh Ladakh on Bike

Surrounded by the Karakoram and Himalayan mountains  Ladakh  is the second largest district of India.  Ladakh literally  refers to the land of high passes and is a cold desert. This is a land of high passes, serene lakes, rugged terrain and vast open lands.  Ladakh  with its rugged terrain is beloved of adventure travellers especially the bikers. Since both the highways ( Srinagar-Leh highway and Manali-Leh Highway ) are open by 1 st week of June, so June to September will be the best time to visit Leh Ladakh on bike.

Temperature Data of Leh Ladakh

[For Historic data visit Climate Data Org ]

Festivals in Leh Ladakh

Ladakh is not only the place of scenic beauty but it’s having a beautiful Ladakhi culture as well. One should explore this Ladakhi culture while their visit. Festivals in Ladakh are in certainty the most ideal approach to get a look at the Ladakhi culture. Various festivals celebrations are going on throughout the year. See the updated(till the year 2020) list, explore and enjoy!

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Plan your trip during best season to experience the best of this stunning destination

Best time to visit Ladakh by bike or cab is during the month of June. The months from mid-September to mid-October are considered to be the best season to enjoy the stunning beauty of the landscape of Ladakh and Leh. The month of March is considered to be the best time to visit Ladakh for adventure trip. While the months from April to mid-May remain the peak season for Ladakh tourism. During the months from August to December, it gets quite risky and dangerous to visit Ladakh as monsoon and winter take a toll on Ladakh during these months. Hotel, flights and food may get expensive during the peak season in Ladakh. If you are planning to visit here during these months, book your tickets in advance. 

Bike Trip to Ladakh :

Best time to visit Ladakh on bike is during summer season. Summers in Ladakh are characterized by comfortable, and cozy weather with sun shining over the snow clad mountain peaks. The plain sailing roads without any blockage by landslides or snowfall, also make it the best time to visit Ladakh on bike . During winters and monsoons, it becomes quite difficult to travel by road. Warmer weather in summer months (May through early October) makes sightseeing in Ladakh quite enjoyable, and one can cover almost all major Ladakh places such as Pangong Lake and Nubra Valley that are open for tourists.

The best time to visit Ladakh by road is from mid-May to September as the Leh Manali Highway opens up via Rohtang Pass. Mid-September to mid-October is an amazing time to visit Leh and Ladakh as the place is permeated in flamboyance through the Srinagar-Leh as well as Manali-Leh roads. Road conditions are better during this time. For enthusiastic bikers, the best time to visit Ladakh on bike is during the months of July and August as all passes and streets to the land are opened and the land turns exceptionally welcoming. Let’s have a look at the segregation to decide on which is the best month to visit Ladakh.

April - June ( 2°C to 19°C ) :

With the month of April, travel passes for tourists are open. Hence, summer season is the best time to visit Ladakh . The weather during this time is crisp and the skies are clear, offering splendid views that can be enjoyed through a ride on bike or jeep.

During the late April, the region sees the melting of the lakes, and one can witness a spread of brilliant colours everywhere. And, with the beginning of the month of June, one can hop on an excursion to Rohtang Pass as well.

July - September ( 3 °C to 17°C ) :

Experiencing irregular heavy rainfall during the monsoon season starting from the month of July, it is advised not to get on an excursion to Ladakh this time. With frequent landslides, roadblocks, and snow slides, it becomes quite difficult to walk or drive here.

Though, the month of September can be considered as a good time to visit Ladakh. For, the precipitation stops and there is hardly any humidity.

October - March (-9 °C to 2°C) :

With temperature dropping to minus degrees, it is not recommended to visit Ladakh during the winter season. Covered with snow, driving through roads can be quite dangerous.

However, adventure lovers can choose to hop on Chadar Trek during the months of January to March.

Festivals in Ladakh

Festivals enhance the beauty of any destination, and that is true for Ladakh as well. The deserted land of Ladakh comes to life during these festivities wherein the natives gather around to become a part of the celebrations. Monasteries of Ladakh become venues of celebration where the locals perform famous folk dances, songs, and dramas of the region. Some of the popular festivals in Ladakh are -

Hemis Festival: Hemis festival is an important festival of Ladakh organised in June to celebrate the birthday of Guru Padmasambhava, who founded Tantric Buddhism in Tibet. Monks can be seen wearing sparkling brocade robes and colourful face masks. They perform a dance-drama displaying the life, principles, and mission of the Guru.

Thiksey, Karsha and Spituk Gustor: This two-day festival is celebrated in different months every year in Thiksey, Karsha, and Spituk. These Gustors signify the victory of good over evil. The performers wear variety of masks while they perform, and these masks symbolise gods, goddesses, guardians, and protectors. As the festival comes to an end, the evils are figuratively killed, and their images are burned.

Dosmoche Festival: Celebrated in May in the regions of Liker, Deskit monastery, and Leh, this is one of the most renowned festivals of Ladakh. The courtyard of the Leh Palace is the venue to enjoy this two-day festival in Leh. It is celebrated in the beginning as well as at the end of the Tibetian Year. Monks make their offerings using crosses made of threads to turn evil and ghosts into protectors and guardians of people against natural calamities that might occur in the following year.

Ladakh Harvest Festival: The Ladakh Harvest Festival commences from 1st September and lasts for 15 days thereafter. The natives celebrate their rich diversity with enthusiasm and vigor. Locals take part in dance performances, wedding ceremonies, drama, music, and many other forms of art.

Climate in Ladakh

Summer season in ladakh.

Summer (April-June): With the mountains warming up and the land blooming, it is a tourist season in this region. The landscape is quite barren framed by the snow-capped mountains giving it a beauty that is like no other, making it best season to visit Leh . The lakes begin to melt (Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri) painting the landscape with beautiful colors. Travelling by road is a popular way to see this region. The Passes Khardung La and Chang La are popular routes to take granting breathtaking vistas to be captured by the cameras. The Rohtang and Baralacha Pass are an ideal way to complete the circuit. This is a trip of a lifetime and the best time to visit Leh by road , many traversing it on a motorbike consider it a rite of passage.

Monsoon Season in Ladakh

Monsoon (July-August): With the heavy rains and with all hilly terrains, this region too gets blocked. Tourism shuts down due to the landslides and the ‘moving’ earth. Even though there is a different sort of beauty granted to the region during this season, only tourists in four wheel vehicles brave this region.

Winter Season in Ladakh

Early Winter (September-October): This is the time for trekking and exploring the region on foot making it the b est time to visit Leh Ladakh . The cool mountain breeze begins to set into the region. Occasional snowfall lends the region a dreamy glow. This along with the water bodies turning the most alluring shades of blue, the region seems to transform into a dream land turning this time best season to visit Leh Ladakh .

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FAQ's of Ladakh

How long would it take to get acclimatized in ladakh.

The time taken for acclimatization differs from person to person. Usually oen must rest for one whole day even if you are feeling ok. Avoid alcohol for a minimum of 3 days, and increase your intake of water. The biggest cause of Acute Mountain Sickness is dehydration.

Where can I do white water rafting in Ladakh?

There are several tour operators in Leh that provide rafting packages to travellers on the thunderous rapids of Indus and Zanskar Rivers.

Where can I enjoy camping in Ladakh?

Travellers can stay in a camp in towns along Leh– Manali highway, trek on Chadar River, and expedition to Stok Kangri summit.

Why should I go for nature walks in Ladakh?

An acclimatisation walk for a day or two is recommended for beginners looking to trek or visit higher altitudes in Ladakh.

What are famous treks in Ladakh?

Markha Valley trek, Chadar trek, Stok Kangri Trek, and Padum to Darcha trek are among some popular treks in Ladakh .

Is it safe to visit Ladakh?

Yes, it is safe to visit Ladakh. Ladakh is located in one of the safest parts of India, therefore it is safe to visit.

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Ladakh, the land of high passes, is a mystical region nestled in the Himalayas that has been a favorite of tourists, trekkers, and adventure enthusiasts for ages. The breathtaking beauty of the mountains, coupled with the rich cultural heritage and local traditions, makes it a must-visit destination for anyone who loves exploring unexplored territories. A tour to Ladakh is an adventure that one will never forget.

As you arrive in Ladakh, the barren landscape with snow-capped mountains and stunning views of the Indus river will leave you spellbound. The region has a distinct culture and heritage that can be seen in the local monasteries, temples, and festivals that are celebrated throughout the year.

There are many places to visit in Ladakh that are sure to amaze you. From the ancient monasteries of Hemis and Thiksey to the famous Nubra Valley and Pangong Tso Lake, the region is full of picturesque locations that will make you feel like you're in a dream. Adventurous souls can indulge in trekking, river rafting, and mountain biking in the region.

Our Ladakh tour packages offer a perfect blend of adventure, culture, and heritage. We take care of all the travel arrangements, including accommodation, transportation, and sightseeing, so that you can relax and enjoy your trip without any worries. Whether you are a solo traveler or traveling with your family and friends, our packages cater to all your needs.

Book your Ladakh tour package with us and embark on a journey of a lifetime. Explore the untouched beauty of the Himalayas and create memories that will last a lifetime..

What are the best places to visit in Ladakh?

The best places to visit in Ladakh are:

1. Pangong Tso Lake

2. Nubra Valley

3. Hemis National Park

4. Khardung La Pass

5 .Shanti Stupa

6. Thiksey Monastery

7. Magnetic Hill

8. Leh Palace

What are the best things to do in Ladakh?

Best things to do in Ladakh are:

1. Visit ancient monasteries like Hemis and Thiksey

2. Explore the stunning Pangong Tso Lake

3. Drive through the Khardung La Pass, the world's highest motorable pass

4. Go on a camel safari in the Nubra Valley

5 .Trek to the Markha Valley

6. Experience river rafting in the Zanskar River

7. Attend local festivals like Hemis Tsechu and Ladakh Festival

8. Enjoy a hot air balloon ride over the scenic Ladakh landscape

What is the best time to visit Ladakh?

The best time to visit Ladakh is from May to September, as the weather during this period is pleasant, and the roads are open. The summer months are ideal for sightseeing and adventure activities, while the monsoon season is best avoided due to the possibility of landslides and roadblocks.

How many days are enough for Ladakh?

To fully explore and experience Ladakh, it's recommended to spend at least 7-10 days in the region. This will give you enough time to acclimatise to the high altitude, explore the local culture and heritage, and indulge in adventure activities like trekking, river rafting, and mountain biking.

Are there any entry permits required to visit Ladakh?

Yes, entry permits are required to visit certain areas of Ladakh, including Pangong Tso, Nubra Valley, and Tso Moriri. These permits can be obtained from the DC office in Leh or through a travel agent. It's important to obtain the necessary permits before visiting these areas to avoid any inconvenience.

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Best Time to Visit Ladakh

Weather Conditions in Ladakh

For many people, visiting Ladakh is a dream. The seemingly unending winding roads, the open skies, the rugged mountains and the snowy peaks in the distance – who wouldn’t want to be a part of the world here? But Ladakh is also rugged terrain and you have to know the best time to visit Ladakh before you plan your trip.

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Most people have this image of themselves on a touring bike, zooming down the roads in Ladakh. But it is not like that all the year round. It is a good idea to read up on the best time to go to Ladakh before you plan your trip. Here’s a month-wise guide the best time to visit Ladakh tourism .

The tourist season truly begins in summer, from the month of April to be exact. In summer, lakes like Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri begin to thaw, and hotels and guesthouses begin to offer discounts. In April, the heavy snowfall stops. But the maximum temperature is 15 degrees centigrade while minimum is -1. 

However, the roads and passes are not open yet and the weather is still not sunny enough. So, if you’re wondering whether this is the best time to visit Leh Ladakh by road, it isn’t. It’s preferable to take a flight to Ladakh if you do want to visit in April.

If you’re in Ladakh at this time, you will be treated to a glorious vista of open blue skies. But it’s still a good idea to wear warm clothes at this time. 

The Srinagar-Leh roadway opens up at this time but it is still not the best time to visit Ladakh on bike. The temperatures are still on the low side and you don’t want to be caught unawares by the after-effects of winter as the roads are still slippery and wet from melted snow. There are still people who come into Ladakh at this time, but most of them do so by air as this is most comfortable. The Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport is the main airport where flights from Delhi, Srinagar and Jammu land. If you love snow, you will enjoy the sights around you as remnants of snow still persist at this time. It’s a good time to visit the monasteries as well.

In early June, the Manali road along Rohtang Pass opens up and June is actually one of the best times to visit Ladakh. You can still find snow on some of the roads and mountains. By mid-June most of the snow melts so you can visit the monasteries, stupas and lakes as well. From early June till November, you can reach Ladakh via the Kargil route. Some of the roads are flanked by high snow banks, especially around Rohtang and even Baralacha Pass. The snow, even as it melts away, can create some stunning landscapes. 

July, August and September

If you are a biking enthusiast, then these months definitely are the best time to visit Leh Ladakh on bike. All the passes and roads are open and clear. The different shades of browns, greens and white create beautiful vistas all around you, making for some stunning photo-ops. The max temperature at this time is a pleasant 25 degrees while minimum is at 10 degrees.

For those taking the Manali route, do note that the Rohtang Pass can get quite congested at this time. If you’re travelling from Srinagar, it is a good idea to leave early in the morning to avoid heavy traffic at Zojila Pass. 

The climate at this time is equable but it’s also unpredictable. The weather is overcast and Ladakh could get rainfall. Also, by mid-August, monsoons are in full swing and this means that rivers will be flowing full, so take due care while travelling. 

By September, the peak season is over and there will be fewer people around. In late September, if you’re lucky, you might be in for a treat with an early bout of snowfall. Road conditions are usually better in September, and so this is the best time to visit Leh Ladakh by road. 

The seasons change once more from late September to October. Ladakh is beautiful at this time and both, Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh roads are open and perfect for driving or riding on bikes. In fact, many people say this could be the best time to go to Ladakh. 

However, by late October the weather turns really cold and there are places that experience sub-zero temperatures as well. By this time, there are very few tourists around. By November, even though the highways are open, most people avoid travelling because of the extreme cold weather and the black ice which begins to appear by the end of this month.

November to March

This is Ladakh’s winter, where maximum temperatures are at 7 degrees and minimum hover at around -6 degrees. The weather is freezing cold and the highways are closed at this time. The Pangong lake and others will freeze over. But the roads to the lake and Nubra Valley over Khardung La Pass and Chang La Pass are kept open. 

December is the coldest month in Ladakh, and it is cut off from the rest of the country by road. Winters at this time are extreme. However, in January, up until mid-March, adventure enthusiasts come to Ladakh for the famed Chadar Trek across the frozen Zanskar River. It is extremely cold, with frequent and heavy snowfall. This weather is really for those who can bear the biting cold. Nevertheless, you will come across some amazing sights that will stay with you for the rest of your life. 

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Best Time To Visit ladakh

Ladakh also has earned many sobriquets. It is called 'Land of high passes' for some of the highest motorable mountain passes present here, for instance, Khardung La (17,000 Feet); 'roof of the world' for its location at a staggering elevation of 9,800 Feet and more as you ascend further; 'Little Tibet' for the boundary it shares with Tibet and sheltering a large Tibetan Buddhist population. It’s also growing to be India’s adventure capital. The remote, barren and beautiful land is filled with stark grey mountains, trekking routes, azure lakes, rivers, glaciers, and isolated tiny hamlets. In summer, the entire region buzzes with attractions, outdoor activities, and cultural activities, while winter allures with frozen white landscapes and monsoon bring out the picturesque romance. Seasonal impediments here are occasional landslides in monsoon and roadblocks in winter due to heavy snowfall. The best time to visit Ladakh depends simply on the kind of travel experience you have in mind.

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• Theme of Ladakh [Adventure, Romantic]
• You'll love Ladakh for [Scenic views, Vibrant culture, Adventure sports]
• Watchout for [Harmful UV rays, Breathlessness, Lack of modern amenities]
• Best Time To Visit April - September
• Altitude 9,800 ft. above sea level

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ladakh Travel Talk Sharing travel experiences - one story at a time

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Frequently Asked Questions

Best Season to visit Ladakh

The bliss of summer season in ladakh (april to june).

Indubitably, this is the best season to visit Ladakh. Eagerly anticipated, summer is the peak tourist season in Ladakh and temperatures around this time range from 30 degree Celsius to a minimum 5 degree Celsius. The snow has melted giving way to vibrant life and buzz of tourist activity. One can indulge in almost everything that this remote land has to offer when the sun is bright and pleasantly warm. Camping by the Pangong Tso Lake under a starry sky on a summer night is what tourists and enthusiastic travellers love to do. The lake is best enjoyed during day time when it mirrors the brilliant blue sky while surrounded by sweeping vistas of the mountains. Biking in Ladakh is a treat to the senses as you navigate the surreal landscapes and scenery. Drive through the unimaginable Khardung la (considered world’s highest motorable road) at a staggering height of 17,000 Feet. For thrill-seekers like you, summer season is a boon when mother nature opens its door to navigate their way through Ladakh’s gorgeous valleys, remote villages, centuries-old Gompas (monasteries), hidden valleys, formidable passes, and cosy homestays during treks that can take days to complete. Rafting is another activity enjoyed in summer in Ladakh, Kharu-Spituk route (for first-timers and amateurs) to the challenging Phey-Nimmo on the Indus River that takes days to complete. A miracle of nature, the Magnetic Hill (a gravity hill) must be explored to understand its rare phenomenon. Another major attraction, hop on to a Bactrian camel (double-humped camels) and take a safari across the dunes of Hunder in Nubra Valley. To top it all, Ladakhis celebrate the very colourful Hemis Festival (during June or July depending on the Tibetan calendar) at the 11th century Hemis Monastery. The spectacle of the masked dance – Cham, performed by the monks in brightly-coloured attire, dancing to the rhythmic music, is an event, you don’t want to miss! Locals come out in their traditional garb with their unique headgear and jewellery to celebrate.

The allure of monsoon season in Ladakh (July to September)

July through Mid-September brings monsoon in Ladakh and with it comes occasional landslides and roadblocks. Ladakh is a rain shadow area, which means the place enjoys moderate rainfall, yet whenever it does, there are bouts of the shower. The temperature at this time stays from a minimum 3 degree Celsius to maximum16 degree Celsius. The two rivers Indus and Zanskar swell up and meander through the valleys with their full might, is a sight to behold. If not outdoors, then experience monastic life in the spectacular monasteries (gompas) of Ladakh. There are several of them including Hemis Monastery, Thiksey Monastery, Diskit Monastery, Spituk Monastery, Phugtal Monastery, etc. On a beautiful rainy day, walk into one of the German bakeries in Leh town and sit leisurely sipping one of your favourite beverages as the rain thrum on the roof and windows. Better if you find a local eatery and try some of the Tibetan/Ladakhi cuisines; say dumplings or thukpa. As monsoon ceases toward the latter part of September, Ladakh is clad in gorgeous hues of nature in all its glory; the spectacle lingers on till early October. It is also the time preferred by thrill-seekers wanting to indulge in aero-sports.

The thrill of winter season in Ladakh (October to March)

A winter trip to Ladakh must be carefully planned amid harsh cold conditions with temperatures plummeting sub-zero levels that settles between -5 degree Celsius to -30 degree Celsius. Travelling to Ladakh during winter have their perks too, it unfolds amazing snow-covered landscapes, frozen lakes to walk over, icy treks among others. On top of it, there isn’t much tourist rush, and for adventure lovers, this means being able to enjoy Ladakh without interruption. Hotel rates are also cheaper. January is one of the best months to visit Ladakh for trekking as it is the time when one of the most adventurous and most difficult treks of the world - the Chadar Trek opens up till mid-March attracting adventure enthusiasts from across the globe. Walking over the frozen Zanskar River can be intimidating yet a speechless moment. Skiing and ice hockey are also other exciting winter activities here.  Both are a favourite pastime of the Ladakhis. No wonder, Ladakh is growing as a destination for winter sports lovers in India. Moreover, winter is the time for several cultural and religious celebrations in Ladakh. Join the locals to celebrate the winter festivals such as Thiksay Gustor, Ladakhi Losar, Spituk Gustor, Diskit Gustor and Yargon Tungshak, among others. When the cold takes on you, you can always warm up to Ladakh’s butter tea in the morning, or savour a hot bowl of thukpa for dinner.

How to reach Ladakh

• By Air : Leh Airport is officially known as Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport is the nearest airstrip to Ladakh, which is connected to cities Delhi, Jammu, Chandigarh and Srinagar via flights operated by airlines such as Air India, Spice Jet, Go Air and Vistara. It takes about 10 minutes from the airport to reach the nearest town of Leh in Ladakh region. The airport lies 3256 metres (10680 Feet) above sea level thus making it one of the highest airports in the world.
• By Rail : The closest railway station is Jammu Tawi Railway Station at about 700 km from Ladakh. From Jammu, you can head to Srinagar by road and then to Ladakh, which is about a two-day journey from Srinagar with a night halt in Kargil. Jammu Tawi is a major railhead in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and has good rail connectivity to major Indian cities such as Delhi, Pune, Chennai, Mumbai, Guwahati, Kolkata, Kanpur, Allahabad, and Varanasi.
• By Road : The Manali-Leh road and the Srinagar-Leh road are the two routes that lead to Ladakh. The Srinagar-Leh road (415 km) is open from the first week of May till December, depending on snowfall. There are beautiful villages and scenery on the way. You can stop for an overnight stay at either Dras or Kargil, which are 140 km and 200 km from Srinagar respectively. The high-altitude Manali-Leh road (482), which is snow-laden most of the year, opens around the first week of June and remains accessible till October. Travellers usually halt overnight at Jispa.

Q. What is the peak tourist season in Ladakh?

A: April to June (summer) and September is the best time to visit Ladakh. You will get some of the best sights and fantastic opportunities for sightseeing when the weather is pleasant, and the whole region is brimming with vibrant colours of mother nature.

Q. When is the best time to go on a road trip to Ladakh?

A: September would be the best time to do so. The roads are clear of roadblocks because of snowfall. The routes that lead to Ladakh - Srinagar to Leh and Manali to Leh is accessible with fewer challenges as compared to winter (November-February) and monsoon (July-August). Besides, the peak tourist season has almost ended then, and one can get the best deals on hotels too.

Q. Is it best to visit Ladakh in summer?

A: Summer (April-June) is undoubtedly the best season to travel to Ladakh. It is when the snow melts and spectacular hues are spread all across the region. Breathtaking scenery along with enchanting Buddhist festivals like the famous Hemis Festival (June-July) can be witnesses during this period. Trekking, rafting and camping too can be experienced. It is a high season for tourists.

Q. Can we visit Ladakh in December for Chadar Trek?

A: Frozen river trekking at Zanskar Valley, famous as the Chadar Trek is one of the most popular adventure activities in Ladakh . People from across the world come to this place to experience this highly adventurous trek. However, winters in Ladakh can get extremely cold, reaching sub-zero temperatures. Most trekking routes are closed after November due to heavy snowfall. If you are planning to go for Chadar trek in Ladakh, then it is open from mid-January till mid-March.

Q. What kind of clothes should we pack when travelling to Ladakh?

A: The temperature in Ladakh is freezing most time of the year, and the mercury plummets at night and gets chilly though the sun can be warm during the day and a t-shirt and pants would do you good. It is advised to carry warm clothes. Carry inner thermal suits, pullover, jacket, woollen socks, hand gloves. If you are visiting Ladakh in June and July, you will require windcheaters, raincoats and gumboots. Also, carry sunscreen as the sun at high elevations like Ladakh can be harsh on your skin during day time.

Q. When is the best months to visit Ladakh for budget travellers?

A: April and September are low season for tourists in Ladakh and is best suited for budget travellers. Around this time, many guest houses and hotels in Ladakh offer lucrative deals to lure tourists. You will get hotel rooms at low and affordable prices.

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Best time to visit Ladakh

Temperature, climate & weather, temperature and precipitation in leh-ladakh, what is the coldest month in leh-ladakh.

The coldest month is January, with an average temperature of -3°C (27°F) during the day and an average temperature of -15°C (5°F) during the night. As the weather is always dry and sunny, it does not feel as cold as one would expect and travelling in Ladakh at this time of the year is a wonderful experience.

How many days per year does it rain in Leh-Ladakh?

Ladakh is a high-altitude desert, there are only 13 rainfall days per year and 106 mm (4.2 in) of accumulated precipitation. This is the reason why water is a very precious resource and saving water when travelling in Ladakh is important.

What is the driest month in Leh-Ladakh?

The driest months are June and October, with less than half day of rainfall per month and 4 mm (0.2 in) of precipitation.

What is the warmest month in Leh-Ladakh?

The warmest month is July, with an average temperature of 25°C (77°F) during the day and an average temperature of 10°C (50°F) during the night. Average temperatures in August are just 1°C (2°F) lower.

What is the wettest month in Leh-Ladakh?

7-day weather forecast for leh-ladakh, best season to visit leh-ladakh, winter in ladakh (january, february, march).

Spring in Ladakh (April, May, June)

Summer in ladakh (july, august, september), autumn in ladakh (october, november, december), private taxi, shared taxi, map of ladakh, hotels in ladakh, sightseeing tours, tour packages, travel itineraries, practical info, ladakh travel guides, client reviews.

• Group Tours Calendar
• Planning, Sightseeing & Routes
• Preparing for Ladakh Trip
• Stay, Eat, Permits & Others
• Taxis, Self-Drives & Bike Rentals
• Public Transport & Budget Travel
• Preparing for Spiti Valley Trip

Best Time to Travel Ladakh & Zanskar Valley

A lot of people ask me this many times on the blog to suggest the best time to travel to Leh Ladakh , and I thought it is better to pen it down in an article so that it helps others too and does not repeat on the blog all over again and again.

Well, there are two roads that lead you to Leh Ladakh popular by the names of Srinagar Leh Highway and Manali Leh Highway . Both of them generally remain closed for more than six months from November to April or Mid-May every year because of heavy snowfall on various mountain passes that comes on these adventurous roads.

So, the only time to travel by road to Leh Ladakh is from Mid-May to Mid – October. And the second half of October is a risky affair to travel and May is the only likely option for Srinagar – Leh Highway as Manali – Leh Highway generally opens by June first week or late May.

But, still, the question is :

Let's quickly dive into the details:

“What is the best time to travel Leh Ladakh in these 5-6 months?”

Leh ladakh in april to mid-may.

April is the month when tourists or travelers from all parts of the world start to come to Ladakh. Restaurants start to either open or set up for the coming season. Similarly, the guest houses, camps at Pangong Tso, and Tso Moriri lakes also start to be set up.

By the second week of May, generally, the Srinagar Leh Highway opens, and the influx of tourists starts to get into Ladakh. Supplies flow in along with fresh vegetables and fruits. Hence life comes to normalcy in Ladakh.

In late April, all lakes including Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri start to melt, and by mid-May, they completely melt and start radiating the ever-beautiful blue hues under sunlight. Tourists / Travellers visiting these places get good discounts as it is the onset of the season and with fewer tourists around, it is indeed a better place to be.

The high mountain passes in Ladakh including both Khardung La and Chang La, are under heaps of snow, and passing through them is quite an experience in itself. Carrying shades/glares/goggles are highly recommended at this time of the year.

Leh Ladakh in May – June – July

As I said, in May, most likely, you will only find Srinagar – Leh to be open, so if you are interested in the complete circuit, then it is not the right time. In June beginning or May end, Manali road opens with the opening of Rohtang Pass.

In the initial 7-10 days, the roads are pretty much unstable with common snow slides, and intermittent blockages also happen, but gradually it settles down. And from Mid of June to July just before the onset of monsoon season, it is a very nice time to travel, and indeed a lot of people undertake the road journey to Ladakh at this specific window only.

Dheeraj Sharma

It is the perfect time for those who want to enjoy snow around the road and drive through the snow walls of Rohtang Pass / Rani Nalla and Baralacha La too. However, keep in mind that snow starts to melt which means, ferocious water crossings and rivers are pretty common in this period.

Later you will reach a water crossing in the day, slim are the chances to cross it. So, plan to leave early in the day and reach the early in the day on the destination to have buffer time as well.

from Mid of June to July just before the onset of monsoon season, it is a very nice time to travel and indeed a lot of people undertake the road journey to Ladakh at this specific window only. Best time to travel for seeing snow in Ladakh

Leh Ladakh in August

In August, monsoons are in a full flurry, and rivers and water crossings go ferocious at times when rain is pouring down. Landslides are common too in this period. However, there is a catch, the region beyond Zozi La Pass towards Leh from the Srinagar side and beyond Baralacha La pass towards Leh from the Manali side, being a rain shadow region does not get much affected by rains.

But, surely you will be facing the monsoon hassles up to Baralacha La pass from Manali side and Zozila Pass from Srinagar side. Of course, as happening for the last few years Rohtang Pass & Zojila are most likely to be a nightmare in this period.

Even the definition of Ladakh being the rain shadow region is changing now. We have started getting rain in Ladakh too or at least overcast conditions with light rains now and then. Few cloudbursts and flash floods also have occurred in a couple of years, including 2018. So, be ready for surprises even in the rain shadow region of Ladakh too in the coming years.

Leh Ladakh in September – October

Personally, this is my favorite season to travel to Ladakh with vibrant & burning colors all over in full glory. Post-monsoon, the region becomes devoid of rains and the chill starts to set in with some intermittent light snowfall.

However, the colors of fall/autumn are almost burning with beauty all over the Srinagar Leh Road, Manali Leh Road, and, of course, the entire Ladakh, including Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri & Nubra Valley. The road conditions also improve a lot in comparison to the rest of the season. You will witness the best roads of the season since the maintenance works also settle by that time. It is the best time to self-drive to Ladakh if you are taking a small car like a hatchback or sedan to Ladakh.

Even the water crossings are timid in flow with less water in them and are easy to pass by. The rivers turn into aqua blue color again, giving an entirely different aura to the region. Your body is at the maximum exposure to UV rays, and due to lack of moisture, it becomes a bit difficult to acclimatize as well. But, the beauty on offer is worth anything in the world 😀

Also, it is time when some camps have closed and packed up, and some still run. There is occasional snowfall as well, which might close the road for a day or two temporarily. The Raid-De-Himalayas rally also happens in this window which also disturbs you as a traveler to some extent.

Personally, this is my favorite season to travel to Ladakh with vibrant & burning colors all over in full glory. for those who love vibrant fall colors

Leh Ladakh in November

The period of late October and November is when the cold settles into Trans Himalayas completely with sub-zero temperatures at almost all places above 14000 feet especially over the Manali Leh highway and the high-altitude lakes. The colors though are still beautiful in the region, tourists have almost gone away and only a few brave ones remain 🙂 :).

Most of the guest houses, hotels, and restaurants are closed by this time along with camps at Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri lakes, which are packed up by the last week of September. Dhabhas and camps on Manali Leh Highway are also deserted, and locals go away to their homes to get ready for hibernation in cold winters.

Though both Manali Leh Road and Srinagar Leh Road remain open unofficially, it is highly not recommended to travel over them, especially the Manali Leh Highway with such cold conditions. There will not be many shelters available and black ice on roads that make driving a dangerous affair. Black ice is quite common in this period it starts to appear in October starting as well at some places though it does not last long in the early stages or the winter season.

Interesting Read: 5 Reasons to Avoid Manali – Leh Highway in October – November

Leh Ladakh in December – January – February – March

This period is the coldest in Ladakh where January is the coldest month of all seasons, and Ladakh is cut off from the rest of the world by road. Only a few brave and bold tourists are around even though the roads to Nubra Valley and Pangong Tso Lake over Khardung La Pass, and Chang La Pass respectively are kept open all around the year barring a few days of heavy snowfall .

Late January to February is also the time when many adventure tourists come to Leh Ladakh to walk over the frozen Zanskar River from Padum in Zanskar Valley to Leh , popularly known as Chadar Trek.

In this period, you are at the mercy of extreme cold. Snowfall as well is pretty common and mingled with high-altitude terrain; it makes life difficult to survive and acclimatize as well. The key is to take rest, ample rest in the initial days. Then, gradually start overreaching other high-altitude places. The food options are minimal, and most of the restaurant lives are deserted as their cook is out at their homes.

From November to December / Mid-January types, if the sun is shining the colors in the Lakes such as Pangong Tso or Tso Moriri is breathtaking but the options to stay near them are none or limited. Just some Home Stays in nearing villages where basic facilities will be available to brave the extreme cold.

After Mid-January, both Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri along with other high-altitude lakes start to freeze and become solid as earth as you can drive your car over it, leave alone walk over it. Be responsible and don’t do that of course 😉

These lakes remain frozen almost up to April. So, those looking forward to seeing the magical changing colors of these lakes with sunlight in the day shall refrain from making a trip to Ladakh from January to late April, which is almost for four months.

Still confused??

Are you still confused?? Don’t worry. I will suggest if you want to see heaps of snow and have a good adventure, then you must plan your road trip to Ladakh starting June first/ the second week up to mid of July types.

However, if you are more interested in nature’s lovely colors pallet and maybe you are very much into photography, then the late season is the time. You do not want to miss out on, i.e., late September up to the second week of October when colors are oozing out vividly all over Ladakh!!

Have a travel question?? You can subscribe to my YouTube channel and leave a comment to ask your travel questions on traveling to the Himalayas.

Do you have any questions or suggestions or need any help in planning your trip to Leh Ladakh? If yes, please feel free to post them either in the comments section of this article below. You can also take guidance from many travel experts in our DwD Community Forums and discuss your upcoming travel plans for Ladakh.

If you like the article, please feel free to share it with any of your family or friends who are planning a trip to Ladakh.

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I am Dheeraj Sharma - a traveler, techie, and Himalayan lover. Since 2009, I have been helping thousands of travelers every year plan memorable & budget-friendly trips to the Himalayas - Smartly, Safely, and responsibly.

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Hello I am planning to visit leh by flight on 29th August 2019 with my wife & 12 year old daughter. Is it save to travel that time considering rainy season.

Bro! We are a group of friends planning our trip from April 28th and fly directly to leh, will we be able to enjoy our trip without any obstructions(like snow ) or the pangong lake being Frozen or unavailability of accommodation ?

You should look at Leh – Ladakh in Winters – Most Common Itinerary

It will answer all your questions 🙂

What about mid May? I really want to see the unfrozen beauty of pangong!!

In that case plan for mid May to late May, it should melt by that time of the year

we have planned and booked flight ticket from Bangalore to Srinagar on 24th April and return from Leh on 6th May 2018. Plan is to spend 4-5 days in Srinagar and then travel by road to Leh and spend 6-7 days there visiting Nubra , pangong and other sorrounding.

Please suggest as we heard that Srinagar – Leh highway is closed till April end.

Sunil, Srinagar – Leh Highway may or may not be open by last week of April. Considering BRO has already opened Zanskar Valley road, I have hopes by mid of April, they will open Srinagar – Leh Highway too.

Hi Dheeraj,

We two friends are planning a leh ladakh trip in September. We want to experience everything including the snow; hence, what would be your suggestion? Is it good in September? Yes, then which part of the month? Waiting for your reply.

Hari, there will be no snow in September. If you want to enjoy snow, then you have to plan the trip in April – May but then roads are not open and only option is to fly to Ladakh. Else June is when you will find plenty of snow at passes in Ladakh and Manali – Leh Highway

Hi! Planning to go Leh by air on 24th Sep n bck by 2 October by road via Manali .i want to know if October first week will be safe by road from Leh to Manali n and also why return airfares are soo high from Leh.i Jst don’t want to get stuck there because of snow on d way bck

Chaand, just keep an eye on weather once you reach Leh and then take a call. Nowadays, usually first week of October os still OK to travel but sometimes it does snow. Also, plan to directly reach Jispa from Leh without halt at Sarchu.

Hello Dheeraj

I was planning for a trip from Manali tto Leh ladakh and back from Aug 26 to Sep 5. Is it a good timeI for travel? Read every where u mentioned that Aug is not a good time to visit Leh,,

Regards ANimesh

So here is what my Ladakh trip looks like… starting on 16th September and ending on 30th September.

Day 1: Noida – Patnitop (Overnight stay at Patnitop) Day 2: Patnitop – Sonmarg (Overnight stay at Sonmarg) Day 3: +++ Rest Day at Sonmarg + Sight Seeing in Sonmarg & Gulmarg +++ (Overnight stay at Sonmarg) Day 4: Sonmarg – Kargil (Overnight stay at Kargil) Day 5: Kargil – Leh (Overnight stay at Leh) Day 6: +++ Rest Day at Leh + Sight Seeing in & around Leh +++ (Overnight stay at Leh) Day 7: Leh – Nubra Valley (Overnight stay at Diskit) Day 8: Nubra Valley – Pangong Tso Lake (Overnight at Pangong Tso Lake) Day 9: Pangong Tso – Leh (Overnight stay at Leh) Day 10: Leh – Tso Moriri Lake (Overnight stay at Korzok) Day 11: Tso Moriri – Jispa (Overnight stay at Jispa) Day 12: Jispa – Manali (Overnight stay at Manali) Day 13: +++ Rest Day at Manali + Sight Seeing in & around Manali +++ (Overnight stay at Manali) Day 14: Manali – Noida Day 15: Buffer Days Day 16: Buffer Days

Do you think that this plan looks good? I am assuming that I have taken enough breaks in between for the body to acclimatize to the conditions up there! Let me know if there are any changes that you want to suggest!

I would also welcome any feedback from fellow members here!

Thanks and Regards, Abhishek

Looking for a suggestion.

Can I visit just Leh -> Zanskar -> Leh in August ? Is this is good time or will there be rains?

Plan: Sat, Aug 5: Leave Mumbai by flight to Leh, Start on bike / rent car to Kargil Sun, Aug 6: Kargil to Zanskar Mon, Aug 7: Back to Kargil Tue, Aug 8: Back to Leh Wed, Aug 9: Back to Mumbai

Please let me know if the climate is good this time and if this is doable in such short time.

Well since you are flying directly to Leh, it is rain shadow region and hence, even in monsoon, it is fine. However, Zanskar needs at least 4-5 days from Kargil and for Kargil – Leh you need minimum two days. Hence, in 5 days it is not possible.

ok.. thank you for the quick reply.. will plan it well for next year 🙂

Me and my husband are planning to visit Leh-Ladakh (via Manali) from Delhi in the third week of September’ 2017 in our “Ford Eco-sport”. We are a little confused whether it will be OK to take Eco – sport to Leh Ladakh. How much wear and tear can happen to it, and will our Ford Eco-sport will be able to sustain it, as the Ford guys told us not to take it to Leh-ladakh, as it is city car and not made for off road. Can you please guide us? Also, want to know how to connect with other people who are planning their visit to Leh-Ladakh at the same time as it will be good to stay connected with them while travelling.

Neha, Ford EcoSport is very capable of doing the Leh – Ladakh trip. So, don’t worry much about it, just be cautious in driving. You can read: 40 Must Have Things to Carry on Ladakh Self Drive Trip and 7 Useful Tips for a Self Drive to Leh – Ladakh

We are a group of people (2 couples) who would also be travelling to Leh Ladakh (starting on 16th September from Noida and ending on 30th September 2017). But we would be travelling to Leh Ladakh from Srinagar side and would be completing the circuit from Manali side. During the 4th week of September we would be on the Manali side.

It is surely a good idea to connect while travelling.

Cheers! Abhishek

Mr.Sharma, This was a wonderful article. Thank you for providing information. I would like to ask if first week of Aug would be a good time to visit Leh. I am planning to go by air to Leh. Please give your opinion. Thanks.

Since you are planning to go by Air, Ladakh is a rain shadow region and least touched by rains. So, it shall be fine to make a trip by air to Ladakh

Hello dheeraj sir, Is this itinerary good for the 25th october. is this the right time travel ladakh. can we go all the places ?? Day 1 : Rest n local sights Day 2 : magnetic hill n pather sahib n acclimatization. Day 3 : leh to nubra Day 4 : nubra to pangong via Agham Day 5 : pangong to leh Day 6 : Return

Plz reply soon. Thanks

Given the days at hand, it looks fine. Please keep in mind it will be very cold in October at PAngong Tso, best will be to stay at Tangtse or do day trip from Leh.

Thanks for your valuable information. Actually we are planning to visit leh ladakh in 2nd wk of september for 10 days. please tell whether camping is advisable or not during that season if yes mentioned the best place for camping. also tell either visiting all famous lake i.e. pang, tso moriri etc is possible or not.

Thanks again.

Dann, September is a very good time to travel to Leh – Ladakh. You can read: Top 10 Tips for Camping in Ladakh & Spiti Valley

thanks for your reply. tell me about permit also , can’t we get them online so that we can save our time over there? where are these permits required during the traveling ??

Well, the Permits for Leh – Ladakh are available online: Ladakh Inner Line Permits Available Online

However, only permits are applied and you have to take the print out and pay your permit fee in person in Leh at Tourist Info Center or DC office in Leh.

Hi Dheeraj! I want to ask you very important question regarding bikers? The tussle going on between bikers of Manali and Leh is only for Rental bikes? and what about bikers who are on there own bikes, do they also have to face anytype of problems???

There is no issue at all for the own bikes in Ladakh.

I’m planning for a trip to Leh via Manali. Is it okay to plan the trip in August, or it is more advisable to travel by end of June. This will be my first experience, and we’re planning for an SUV.

Best is to travel in September for better road conditions and less challenges, else up to mid July is OK. Avoid monsoon travel in August.

Dear Dheeraj, I am planning a 10 daya trip to Leh with my wife, 7yo son, two brothers starting on 15th June. I will planning to take my Baleno Diesel. It’s the very first time for me to visit Leh. Request your kind suggestions as I am really confused about whether I should make this trip or not. Also request you to advise on travel itinerary and stay options. Look forward for an early response. Thanks.

For hatchback/sedan taking on Manali – Leh Highway Or Spiti Valley via Manali Or Ladakh, please refer the link: FAQ | Can I do Leh – Ladakh / Spiti / Manali – Leh trip in Hatchback or Sedan? for more details.

It will take 4 days to reach Leh from Srinagar side starting from Delhi with stop overs at Jammu, Srinagar, Kargil and 3 days to come back from Leh from Manali side to Delhi with stopovers at Sarchu, Manali. This makes it 7 days. 1 Day is required in Leh for acclimatization. You have about 10 days. 1 Day can be used as Day trip to Pangong Tso and other day can be used as day trip to Nubra Valley or just Khardung La pass.

Opt to go via Manali – Leh Highway and I will suggest that you refer the thread for more details on the route and night halts though it is of 9 days: Manali – Leh – Ladakh – Manali | Itinerary for 9 Days . You can fit in plan I suggested in above para in this plan You can check the nice, preferred list of accommodation options in entire Leh – Ladakh (Leh, Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri) including moderate (cheap budget hotels as well) in the series of articles starting on the link here

Thanks again for your valuable suggestions. I have made up my mind for 9 days itinerary suggested by you via Manali -Leh route. Just bit concerned about road conditions vs Baleno. Will be happy if you suggest any precautions.

Actually I am looking for this type of information from very long time but bi cant found it clearly but you describe all this very clearly! Thanks for this article.

That is wonderful to hear, glad the article helped you.

Can we will go to Leh (Manali to Leh via jispa) own car Chevrolet Sail Uva Hatchback 2014 Model. Can I go Chevrolet Sail Uva Hatchback 2014 Model say Yes or Not If we go by my own car – Do you advised me witch route is best for me Manali – Leh – Srinagar/ Srinagar – Leh – Manali . witch cars can cross the Manali – Leh – Srinagar Plz guide me. Please Car Name

As you advised, i have an iternary for my trip. at first can i go to leh rout as shown below by Chevrolet Sail Uva Hatchback 2014 Model I am also running this car to west bangal, char cham, dharmshala, deu all gujrat. so please advice me this car is suatable for me. and with equipment is required for this route.

June – 3: Manali – Jispa (overnight stay) June – 4: Jispa – Sarchu (overnight stay) June – 5: sarchu – Leh (overnight stay) June – 6: Leh – ride to sham valley and sight seeing June – 7: leh – Nubra (overnight stay) June – 8: Nubra – Pangong tso (camping) June – 9: Pangong Tso – Tso moriri – Leh (overnight stay) June – 10: Leh – kargil June – 11: kargil – srinagar

I am still waiting for your suggestion.

Hello Mahesh,

Please avoid night stay at Sarchu and to Manali – Jispa, Jispa – Leh. Then use that day to make two day trip to Nubra Valley and two day trip to Pangong Tso by regular routes as the direct routes, hatches might not survive or you may get stuck in the middle of no help around. Skip Tso Moriri.

Also, if you do the trip in reverse direction, it will be much better. For hatchback/sedan taking on Manali – Leh Highway Or Spiti Valley via Manali Or Ladakh, please refer the link: FAQ | Can I do Leh – Ladakh / Spiti / Manali – Leh trip in Hatchback or Sedan? for more details.

Hello Dheeraj you are amazing ! I am much keen for bike trip on Manali Leh Highway in September as that is the time when road conditions will become good. But some of our female friends wants to live “Jab We Met” moment (or snow ki toh baat hi kuch or hai) so we are travelling in June.. My only concern is for road conditions in mid June specially “Rohtang Pass” I have heard that in june we have to deal with lots of slush on “Rohtang Pass” but as we are going before monsoon so we are hoping we will get some good roads as compare to july or August .. Your knowledge is highly appreciable. So what is your take on “Rohtang Pass” in mid of June ???

Shubham, for snow you have to make a trip around mid of June and also have to go through some bad sections of the roads. The roads will definitely be more challenging as snow melts during that time creating slush and water crossings at many places.

Thank you Friend, Under the guidance of “Devil on wheels” it seems like we are all ready for the trip & the conditions.. Yeah we are expecting water crossings & slush thats the main adventure of this trip but we hope not as much as you have shown in above pics during mid june “Nightmarish roads of Rohtang Pass” ???

Most likely, you will not face that much of slush during that time unless there is debris of fresh landslide.

Thank you so much Dheeraj 🙂

Hi Sir, Your page is awsome. We have a plan in August Please tell whether it is feasible or not.

14thAugust :- DELHI – Leh 15th August:- Leh 16th August:- Leh – Turtuk 17th August:- Turtuk – Nubra Valley 18th August:- Nubra – Pangong Via Aghyam Shiyok( We are in a doubt about it) 19th August:- Pangong – Leh 20th August:- Leh – Alchi – Magnetic hill – Kargil 21th August:- Kargil – Padum 22nd August:- Padum 23rd August:- Padum Or Rnagdum or Sankoo 24th August:- Back to Kargil 25th August:- Kargil – Srinagar 26th August:- Srinagar – Kolkata

Your plan looks good to me. On 23rd, you can stay at Rangdum. There is a new guest house there called LA Himalaya with attached bathrooms.

We have contacted Rigzin Da. He is managing except Kargil and Leh. Will it be wise to use Agyam Shiyok road to reach Pangong During August???

Well, as long as you can find some company to travel with you at Agham village, local driver should be able to get you through with that route. You will get to know about the present status once you reach up there.

Thank you so much dheeraj for your precious info 🙂 We are planning to visit Manali-Leh on the mid of June17 and will take halt in Keylong/Jispa & Sarchu but as it is the peak time of tourists attraction.. is it advisable to pre book our accommodations near Keylong/Jispa & Sarchu or we will easily get accomodations after reaching there ???

Arjun, I will not recommend you to have a night halt at Sarchu while going to Leh. You can stay while coming back. Keylong has plenty of options and if you are not particular, you can find. For Jispa, I will suggest to pre-book as limited options are there.

Thank you Dheeraj, There is no plan to have a halt at Sarchu as altitude is so high there but if we have to Just for the knowledge is it advisable to pre book our accomodations at Sarchu or we will get easily after reaching there??? & we will come back through via Srinagar 🙂

Good, yeah, in such a case it should be OK. Also keep Tso Kar in mind in case of emergency for a stay. It is not that far from the main highway.

There will be plenty of options at Sarchu, since, it is not final to stay there, better book it on the spot.

Hii Dheeraj thank you so much for your precious info 🙂 We are planning our trip to mid June17.. as it is the time when most tourists prefer to travel & we are planning to halt on Keylong/Jispa & Sarchu.. So do we have to pre book our accommodations as there are many tourists or we get accommodations easily after reaching there???

Replied on the other thread.

Hi Dheeraj, I am planning to visit Leh Ladakh in second half of October 2017. Is it advisable ? Will we get a chance to visit all the attractions ? Please give me your valuable suggestions.

Also to add, I am planning a trip of 10 days. I would request you to suggest me a better schedule.

Will you be flying to Leh or making road trip?

I will be flying. I have two options. Either in October 2017 Or around 15th May 2017. So, which option is preferable ? Please suggest me a better trip of 10 days.

Both the months are not so good for road trip but since you are flying I will suggest May over October with two points

1. In May you will find snow and pleasant weather at least in Leh, Nubra and around not as cold. 2. October, will be windy, cold and dry.

You should refer: Leh – Ladakh | Most Common Itinerary by Air

Are you making a road trip?

Hi Dheeraj, Thanks for the wonderful blog!!

Iam planning for a bike trip to leh via manali-leh route and come back through leh – srinagar highway to Delhi. I am planning to take this trip by either july or september. Also iam planning to complete the circuit in 9 – 10 days. Is it possible to complete it within planned time?? I wish to enjoy in light snowfalls. SO please advise me on the good time to take the rip.

Iam bit confused avout the permits. Do bikers from other state need to get permit in all places throughout manli leh highway??

In leh do we neef to drive j&k registered bikers?? Is own bikes or rented bikes not allowed in leh for expedition???

FInal question.. which is better to take the trip either through some travel agency package or going individual???

please clarify my doubts. Thanks in advance….

Give me your contact mail id……

Thank you Siraj.

It will take 3 days to reach Leh from Delhi via Manali side with stopovers at Jispa, Manali and 4 days to come back to Delhi from Leh via Srinagar side with stop overs at Jammu, Srinagar, Kargil . This makes it 7 days. 1 Day is required in Leh for acclimatization. You have about 10 days. 1 Day can be used as Day trip to Pangong Tso and other day can be used as day trip to Nubra Valley or just Khardung La pass.

Thanks a lot Dheeraj for clarifying my queries.

Could you please advice me on the best season to start my trip. I wish to enjoy the trip with snowfall. How long snow will be there once the passes are opened up?

On going through blog, i got the clarification about the bike permits in ladakh region. Thanks a lot for the briefly analysed blogs. It’s a really helpful and much needed one for all the new comers.

Do [email protected] provide any packages for the leh-ladak trip?? I have found this one while reading the blog. you have also suggested some to get in touch with them for bike rentals and packages.

Siraj, in that case plan the trip in second week of June when you can see snow on Zojila and Manali – Leh Highway. Snowfall is pure luck based. Yes, those guys provide customized packages of Leh – Ladakh

If you travel form Manali to Rohtang Pass, permit is required for bikes too.

Thanks Dheeraj!!

As you advised, i have an iternary for my trip.

June – 17: Manali – Jispa (overnight stay) June – 18: Jispa – Sarchu (overnight stay) June – 19: sarchu – Leh (overnight stay) June – 20: Leh – ride to sham valley and sight seeing June – 21: leh – Nubra (overnight stay) June – 22: Nubra – Pangong tso (camping) June – 23: Pangong Tso – Tso moriri – Leh (overnight stay) June – 24: Leh – kargil June – 25: kargil – srinagar (fly to home)

does this iternary looks good? Need your thoughts on this.

By june 10, the manali-leh highway will be clearing up? So, i need your advice on starting the trip by this date. Becoz, you have specified like wait for 2 weeks once the roads are opened to stabilize.

Siraj, please skip Sarchu as you will not be acclimatized to sleep up there altitude. Better make Jispa to Leh in a day. No need to do Sham Valley but do rest as Sham Valley can be covered while going to Kargil. You cannot do Pangong Tso to Tso Moriri to Leh in a day. Skip Tso Moriri for now. It is probable that Manali – Leh Highway will open by second week of June.

Thank you very much for giving lots of useful information which is really needed for all the travelers.

Me and my friends are planning to ley ladhak trip. please suggest me, which way to choose Srinagar – ley or manalli -ley. and I’m worried about AMS. kindly suggest the good time to visit. your suggestion will really help me to make my trip memorable.

Thanks In Advance Srinivas

Firstly, I will suggest you that please plan it in other direction as going via Srinagar – Leh Highway will be much much easier on your body and help you acclimatize to the high altitude of Manali – Leh Highway. Also, it allows you to enjoy the beauty of Manali – Leh by splitting the journey almost evenly in two days which is very difficult in the other direction. Thirdly, it will allow you to fit Tso Moriri lake into the itinerary in better way. You can read more reasons on the link here

You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Leh – Ladakh followed by many travellers including me at the link here for 13-14 days: Most Common Itinerary for Leh – Ladakh .

You can check the nice, preferred list of accommodation options in entire Leh – Ladakh (Leh, Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri) including moderate (cheap budget hotels as well) in the series of articles starting on the link here

Dear Dheeraj, Which would be a better date for arriving in leh this year 17 july or 24 july. We are 4 friends entering leh via srinagar and exiting via manali as per your suggestions. We would be taking zoomcar from chandigarh. We have to complete the chandigarh-leh-chandigarh circuit in 9 days . Kindly suggest keeping in mind the road and monsoon condition.

Faraz, I will prefer 17th July to travel to Ladakh. It will take 3 days to reach Leh from Delhi via Manali side with stopovers at Jispa, Manali and 4 days to come back to Delhi from Leh via Srinagar side with stop overs at Jammu, Srinagar, Kargil . This makes it 7 days. 1 Day is required in Leh for acclimatization. You have about 10 days. 1 Day can be used as Day trip to Pangong Tso and other day can be used as day trip to Nubra Valley or just Khardung La pass.

Also, I hope you are aware about: Rented Self Drive Cars in Leh – Ladakh Banned “FORCIBLY”

This is Akshay from Mumbai; Me and three of my friends have planned the trip to Leh-Ladakh from 26th May to 4th June.

Actually at the start we were five however one of our friend dropped out due to some reasons;so we are looking for a someone to join us.

If you see blogs and travel tips for Leh-Ladakh trip u will find out that 5 is the best count to have if you are planning for Leh-Ladakh and of course to cut down cost of private vehicle because private vehicle is one of the important factor to have cost effective leh ladakh trip.

So those who want join please contact at my email : [email protected] and contact no :9664823811.

Will explain you all our itinerary on call or mail but for your information we are coming to Srinagar by flight which has halt at Delhi so anyone can join us from Mumbai, Delhi or Srinagar.

P.S : Those who planning leh ladakh for long tym and those who got ditched by their friends this is the tym guyz..we will together make one hell of trip!!!!!!

Regards, Akshay Mayekar

It is best to post a travel calendar entry as well from the main menu

Hi Dheeraj, firstly thanks a lot for writing this blog. Its very informative. I have always wanted to take a bike trip to Leh. I have not been riding much for past few years & I am someone who is very much susceptible to cold. Going by you blog, road conditions are poor in June-July season and in mid-September temperature will be a challenge. This has got me confused. Can you suggest which time i should go ? Also I want to opt for a packaged tour. Can you suggest any particular group or website ?

Vivek, well, you should be able to do the trip in September. You can do it in second week of September and you should be good with road conditions and temparatures. If you are looking for a package tour, get in touch with [email protected]

Last year i had trip from 10 June16 to 21June2016 through Delhi-Srinagar-Leh-Pangong-Sarchu-Manali-Delhi. In 2017 i want to start the trip in April last week or early may. What you suggest Please Guide.

Ashish, you will be able to only make the trip to Ladakh in April by air only. Are you going by Air? Or in case in May if Srinagar – Leh road opens, you will be able to take that road. How many days you are thinking?

Thanks for your reply Dheeraj. I am planning around 10-11 Days by Own car. Please suggest the earliest suitable time and Itinerary.

Earliest will be June month to go from Manali – Leh Highway.

Opt to go via Manali – Leh Highway and I will suggest that you refer the thread for more details on the route and night halts though it is of 9 days: Manali – Leh – Ladakh – Manali | Itinerary for 9 Days . You can fit in plan I suggested in above para in this plan

hey dheeraj,

kiddo to the blogg. honestly i have been researching about my trip for the last one month nothing helped expect your blogg..we are number of 4 on bikes, planning to travel on 1st week of july 17.around 10 days trip .can please help us with details.i have covered almost all the parts of south india on bike,what are the best places to visit during this time and which route preferably. we are planning to rent a bike from LAH or delhi.one of this place preferably what-so over is better.thank you so much in advance .regards shemeem (Kerala)

Regarding bike rentals in Leh, check: Leh – Ladakh Bike Rental Rates 2017-18

thank you so much dheeraj .do you advice taking flight instead to leh and rent a bike would save some time ?? please advice as me and my friend are looking for a good bike trip :’) is it possible during the 1st week of july

Best option of travel is to reach Srinagar by air and then travel to Ladakh by road. Once in Leh, hire local bike on rent in leh and then do Ladakh sightseeing. Then either take Manali Leh highway with HPTDC bus or shared taxi or fly out of Leh.

Dear Dheeraj,

I am having Safari Storme SUV -Ex (2 wheel drive) and planned to visit Ladakh by road via Manali-Leh route in 3rd week of June-17. I would like to know, other travelers are using 2 wheel drive or 4×4 is compulsory?

Devendra, 4×2 will just do fine. No worries on that front. 10000s of 4×2 cars including hatches and sedans do Ladakh trip every year.

Dheeraj, I am very confused now. I am planning this trip in late August’17. Most probably between 25th August and 10 September. Is it sane to go as I do not have much biking experience. I have done few trips on my bike and I cannot postpone it to 2018 as my friend has already decided to go this year no matter what. Only 2 of us will go on separate bikes. What would you suggest considering we will be on bikes not cars.I am not considering June or July as there will be a lot of rush that time. And its all about peace 😛

August is not far behind in terms of rush Vaibhav. I will recommend that you plan the trip in September second half to beat the rush and help you being a novice biker. The roads and conditions are less troublesome.

lol same here

We are four cousins (men) planning to take Manali Leh in mid June’ to July 2017as mentioned in this article (Mid of June to July just before the onset of monsoon season)- Could you share the road time table and also the good time to travel

Pavan, are you making the Spiti Valley trip or Ladakh trip or combination of both?

This is a very nice blog and it was very memorable trip It was such a fantastic post I really really like It Thanks for sharing Nice Information

Thank you Dorjay

Thank you so much for your blog. You made my jaw dropped because of many amazing information you have provided.

I plan to solo travel to Ladakh this September with budget trip. My itinerary is as below:

Day 1 (Wed): Arrive Leh from New Delhi, rest in Leh Day 2 (Thu): Rest in Leh Day 3 (Fri): Day 4 (Sat): Tso Moriri, overnight in Changpa Day 5 (Sun): Tso Moriri, overnight near the lake. Day 6 (Mon): Back to Leh by bus, overnight in Leh Day 7 (Tue): Head to Nubra Valley, rest in Diskit/ Hunder Day 8 (Wed): Diskit/ Hunder/ Nubra Valley, overnight in Spangmik Day 9 (Fri): Back to Leh by bus Day 10: Head to Pangong Lake, overnight near the lake Day 11: Head to Leh, rest in Leh Day 12: Head to Padum, Zanskar Valley, overnight in Padum Day 13: Head to Leh Day 14 + Day 15: From Leh to Delhi.

Do you have any recommendation? Is it ok if I should take a cab to go to Tso Moriri, Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake and back by bus? Is it safe for female traveler to bike in Ladakh?

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

You have good amount of days in hand and hence I will suggest you to follow the route as per acclimatization rules. First visit Nubra Valley, then visit Pangong Tso and then visit Tso Moriri. Padum, Zanskar requires 4-5 days at ease from Kargil, so I do not see you having time for it.

Thanks so much Dheeraj! I really love to go to Padum and Zanskar. It’s not easy for me if I skip those places 🙁

But you do not have 4-5 days in hand from Kargil. Can you spare time for it or skip other places?

Do you have any recommendation to change my itinerary so that I can have 4-5 days for Padum and Zanskar? I can skip other places. Thanks Dheeraj.

I am going to suggest following plan:

Day 1 (Wed): Arrive Leh from New Delhi, rest in Leh Day 2 (Thu): Move to Kargil Day 3 (Fri): Kargil to Padum (Zanskar) Day 4 (Sat): Rest day at Padum (Visit Karsha, roam around in Padum) Day 5 (Sun): Rest day at Padum (Visit Zangla, Stongde monasteries) Day 6 (Mon): Move to Kargil Day 7 (Tue): Move to Leh Day 8 (Wed): Move to Nubra Valley Day 9 (Fri): Nubra Valley to Leh Day 10: Head to Pangong Lake, overnight near the lake Day 11: Head to Leh, rest in Leh Day 12: Head to Tso Moriri Day 13: Tso Moriri to Leh Day 14 + Day 15: From Leh to Delhi.

Sending you thousand of kisses! Thank you Dheeraj.

Thank you 🙂

This is an amazing website.

I am planning to start my bike expedition from 21st of September. My route is Jammu – Srinagar-Kargil-Zanskar-Leh-Nubra-pangong-Tso moriri-Keylong-Dalhousie-Dharamshala

It will need atleast 25 days to cover all these places and i am least concerned about time as i had quit my job. Now i have questions like,

1) If i start from Jammu on 21st and reach Kargil on 23rd, Is it advisable to reach Zanskar(Padum) on 24-25th? Are roads accessible at that time? 2) If i start from jammu and follow the Sarchu – Manali highway in 2nd week of October, Is it advisable? 3) Contrary, if i start from Manali Leh highway, can i cover zanskar in the second week of October? I had to cover zanskar anyhow, thats why my plans are becoming very confusing.

Please reply as its becoming very confusing for me.

I also manage my personal blog, http://www.theCrazyRider.com

Great to connect Sachendra.

1. Yes, you can reach there to Padum but it will be a bit cold. 2. It will be risky and I do not recommend in general. Read: 5 Reasons to Avoid Manali – Leh Highway in October

Well, same problem will be with Zanskar Valley, I will not recommend that too that late in the season.

We have an offer for Pajero white board from a rental company. Do we face any issues in Leh from taxi union check posts?

Best Regards Gopinath

If they check papers, they need to be in your name or someone you can prove relation with.

Hello Dheeraj,

your website is a bible. I have almost figured out everything reading it. I am planning to visit Leh in the first week of october. Flight from Delhi to Ladakh. Could you recommend some hotels good for this season? ANy special care I should think of since I am travelling with 10 year old. Thanks.

You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Leh – Ladakh by Air followed by many travelers including me at the link here for 9 days: Leh – Ladakh | Most Common Itinerary by Air .

For the leh – ladakh taxi union rate list 2015 – 16 including the contacts of some reliable taxi drivers within Leh – Ladakh, check the link here . You can get about 10-12% of discount by directly getting in touch with drivers and of course, talking in person rather on phone always help in bargaining more.

For the list of good restaurants in Leh – Ladakh or eateries or food joints where food is enjoyed by many travellers including me, you can check the link here: List of Good Restaurants in Leh – Ladakh | Restaurant Reviews

Check the list of things to carry for Leh – Ladakh or other trip including basic medical kit, clothing, must haves etc. at the link here: List of Things to Carry for Leh – Ladakh trip .

We are a couple from Kolkata planned to travel Kashmir and leh with all sightseeing via kargil road by hiring motorcycle.From 11th October to 21 October… Will it be troublesome?? But we don’t want to cancel it….please suggest me in details…

I will not suggest going beyond Penzi La that late in the season. It will be a bit risky and of course dry and cold.

Thanks for your suggestion .But we are not going to pensi la.we want to travel lamayur,nubra,pangong. in motorcycle.Please suggest in details how safe are these.Is it safe for a single couple to travel Kashmir and leh by bike in that time??

You said Zanskar Valley, so thought you want to go to there. That should be OK but avoid coming back from MAnali side. Srinagar – Leh route is still OK in October. It will be cold, there will be less tourists around and most hotels/restaurants will be closed for the season.

Thanks. But I want to know how safe is pangong and nubra road for bike tour for a single couple in 3rd week of October…?? Please suggest..what may be the difficulties for single couple??

Safety wise, Ladakh is one of the safest places in terms of crime and they treat tourists like guests. But, it will be damn cold and yes of course deserted roads will be there as less tourists will be present. The response time in case of need or any help will be more and more as less people travel on these routes..

Please suggest me where can we get bike for hire in Srinagar and leg in October… Do we need to book it early or available that we can go and burgain there.

Supriyo, most things are shut in Srinagar now a days. You cannot use a srinagar bike in ladakh for sightseeing, so be aware about that. One side drop of bike will cost around 10K more.

Thank you.I have installed and registered in DOW apps but but I can’t post anything.. Anyway, we are a single couple planned a bike tour from 11october to 21 october.We have planned to hire bike in Srinagar for 4 days and travel to leh via kargil by public transport and again hire bike in leh for 5 days.Please suggest for.. 1.Where can we hire bike in Srinagar?? Cost??terms?? Anything else that I don’t know?? 2.Where can we hire bike in Leg??Cost??terms?? Anything else?? 3.Is panggong,nubra,lamayuru routes will be OK in those seasons for bike riding?? 4.what are the necessary things we should carry?? 5.how to know if anybody want to join us?? 6.Budget stays in pangong,nubra etc. Please suggest anything more to keep in mind that I don’t know…

Your first 5 posts are not visible unless approved. Your posts are already there and answered: https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/india/plan-ladakh-zanskar-trip/topic4507.html#p34716

Hi Dheeraj, Congratulation for your blog.. it is really interesting and useful. My girlfriend and I would like to go to ladakh the newxt november.. but it seems so cold overthere… so What do you think? are there any other interesting mountains sites in the India Himalaya region that are more accessible in that period? Or… if I decided to go to Ladakh in that period… where do you think could go around? and how many degrees below zero could I experience? Thanks so much Simone

Hello Simone,

In Ladakh, you can very well make a trip to almost all the places within Ladakh but you will have to fly by air to Leh and fly out of Leh. Of course, you will have to bear with cold conditions and limited stay + food options. You can refer the plan at: Leh – Ladakh in Winters – Most Common Itinerary

Planning to go in mid august with friends and bike trip in and from leh itself..? Is it recommendable to go during that time of rains..?

Abhi please read: 10 Tips for a Trip to Ladakh in Monsoons

Your article is quite informative. Thanks. It would be nice if you can help me plan up my trip to Lay-Ladakh . Myself and my wife ( mid 40) and twin daughters aged 16 planning to travel to Lay from Bangalore on 9th of October, because, that’s when children get holidays and would like to stay at lay-Ladhak till 16th of October. ( basically 5 day, stay in Lay) Can you please suggest the places that we can cover and suggest an itinerary for me. We plan to take up a flight from Bangalore to Delhi. and after that, I have absolutely no idea about the mode of transport or route i should take. Is it better to go on our own or take up a camp. if taking up a camp, which one is better? Hope, that’s not very expensive. Please suggest. Looking forward to your reply.

Warm Regards,

I will be in leh on 12th July till 20th July 2016.

I have some questions in mind so could you please suggest me the best answer

In which place shall I stay in Leh?

Also, where shall I get good accommodation like tent or home stay?

In which place shall visit during the period i.e. between 12th July to 20th July 2016?

Also, it would be better if you suggest me the place where shall I get Bike on rent?

On 22nd July, I have trained from Jammu so is there any public transport or anything else through which I can go from Leh to Jammu via Kargil?

Apart from that you can suggest me better plan.

Awaiting for your prompt reply.

Hello Ashish,

I can answer you better if you tell me how are you reaching Leh on 12th July, I see you will travel by road to Jammu from Leh on 20th

Thank You Dheeraj for the replying . I will be reaching Leh by plane

Hi Dheeraj, I am planning to do circuit from Chandigarh – Srinagar – Leh – Manali – Chandigarh. Dates are 2 nd august to 13 august.

1. What is your opinion above dates of travel? 2. Will it be good for bike riding? 3. As heard of uttarakhand cloud burst.. So any chances of consequences? (I can understand it cannot be assured right now… but still if you have any predictions.)

Hi Swapnil,

You should read: 10 Tips for a Trip to Ladakh in Monsoons which will answer many of your doubts.

I am planing to travel Leh-Ladakh…we are 6 people…we will be traveling to and fro Leh airport from mumbai… But we are very much confused about the dates.. Please suggest Aug 26th to 4th Sep Sep 2nd to 11th Any 1..thou there isn’t much difference in the date…we are preferring Sep…but jz rains may spoil the trip so need your guidance

September will be a better time to do so.

I am from Bangalore and planning to do a solo trip on a budget in the month of August 2016. I have planned out a small itinerary, would love to have your opinion regarding the same. Day 1 : Bangalore to Delhi by flight Day 2 : Delhi to Manali by Volvo bus Day 3 & 4 : Manali to Leh by bus with overnight stay at Sarchu Day 5 : Local sightseeing/Rest Day 6 : Hire a bike in Leh for the rest of the trip. Sham Valley Day 7 : Leh to Nubra valley. Overnight stay at Hunder. Day 8 : Nubra valley to Leh Day 9 : Leh to Pangong Tso. Overnight stay at Spangmik. Day 10 : Pangong Tso to Leh. Day 11 : Leh to Delhi by flight. Delhi to Bangalore by flight.

Let me know what you think of this.

Hi Dheeraj, I am planning to travel to Leh-Ladakh in first week of October 2016 with hubby and 8 year old daughter. Please help me with below questions,

1. Is this time of the year OK for travel ? (considering kid in mind)Will it be too cold ? 2. Planning for self drive from Manali to Leh and then back from Leh by flight. 3. Is it good for traveling around Leh ? Weather conditions ? 4. Is it OK to travel by road with the kid ?

Thanks Ashwini

Hi Ashwini,

1. No, time is not OK most of the camps are winded up and it gets cold in high places in Ladakh 2. Manali – Leh is not recommended at all in October and especially with kids, will not suggest taking risks, even though now a days it is slightest. 3. Cold mostly.

We are following for advice to driver via Srinagar to Leh. But question are we allowed to driver a hire tempo traveller from punjab via Srinagar to Leh. And for local ladakh sight seeing via taxi.

No, ladakh sightseeing you need local ladakh tempo travller

Yes Dheeraj. I’m aware about the local sightseeing must be done via their local transport. But reaching Leh on our own hire vehicle(Tempo traveller) from punjab – are we allowed that via srinagar.

Or we need to take the tempo from srinagar itself.

We are planning our journey as below from 14th Jul to 25th Jul.

Day 1 – Delhi to Srinagar (flight) Day 2 – Srinagar to Pahalgam to Srinagar Day 3 – Srinagar to Gulmarg to Srinagar Day 4 – Srinagar to Kargil (Via Sonamarg and Dras) Day 5 – Srinagar to Leh Day 6 – Leh (Tour of Local Monasteries) Day 7 – Leh to Nubra Lake Day 8 – Nubra Lake to Leh Day 9 – Leh to Panggong Lake and Back to Leh Day 10 – Leh to Kelyong Day 11 – Kelyong to Manali Day 12 – Manali to Chandigarh

1. Need your advice on the plan – is it ok ? 2. Taking tempo traveler from punjab (For day 2 to 5 and 10,11, 12) 3. For local sighting seeing will take the local transport in leh (For day 6,7,8,9)

Regards, Karen Sandhu

1. Your plan looks OK to me. 2. Sounds good, local sightseeing you need local tempo traveller

Yes, Karen. you are fine to reach Leh in outside taxi or rented vehicle.

Hi, please give me update infomation for bus service timing from Leh to srinagar nowdays (Days and timing) and also tell me bus service or taxi in Low budget for visit Pangong Lake,Tso morriri , Nubra valley, khardungla top etc.

Please refer: Rates & Time table of Bus Services in Leh – Ladakh

I am planning a trip to Ladhak from 6th Aug to 17th Aug. A brief itinerary is as follows

Day 1st Pune – Srinagar airport – Local Trip Day 2nd Srinagar – Gulmarg– Srinagar Day 3rd Srinagar – Sonamarg – Kargil – Lamayuru ( We would prefer staying at Lamayuru instead of Kargil. Is this feasible? Day 4th – Lamayuru – Leh Day 5th Tour of Local Monasteries Day 6th Leh – Pangong Lake Day 7th Pangong – Leh – Khardungla – Nubra Valley Day 8th Back to leh Day 9th leh – Sarchu Here can we cover morey plains? Day 10th Sarchu – manali Day 11th Manali local sightseeing Day 12th Manali – Chandigarh Airport Drop

1. Any comments/suggestions on the itinerary? 2. Can we hire open jeep/mahindra thar in leh? If yes, can you share some relevant contacts?Chauffeur driven would also do. 3. You have already mentioned details about the weather conditions in the first week of August, but as we wont be riding on bikes, how much difficulties we might face? 4. How much it would cost approximately for the above itinerary considering we are 4 adults travelling.

1. Changes suggested below 2. No self drive option available in Leh, you can hire taxi there 3. Well, below Ladakh range, there will be rains which will have swollen water crossings, slush on roads, landlsides will be common too 4.

Day 1st Pune – Srinagar airport – Local Trip Day 2nd Srinagar – Gulmarg– Srinagar Day 3rd Srinagar – Sonamarg – Kargil Day 4th – Kargil – Leh Day 5th Tour of Local Monasteries Day 6th Leh – Nubra Valley Day 7th Back to Leh Day 8th Day trip to Pangong Tso or go to Sarchu/Pang from Panogng Tso next day Day 9th Sarchu/Pang Day 10th Sarchu/Pang – manali Day 11th Manali local sightseeing Day 12th Manali – Chandigarh Airport Drop

Thanks for the reply Dheeraj. Need clarification on below two points:

1. Regarding water crossings and slush on roads, how much does it affect while travelling in a four wheeler(we are not riding on bikes)?

2. Regarding open jeep/mahindra thar – We dont need a self drive vehicle. A car with driver will do. But the main requirement is we need an Open Jeep. So would be great if you can share some relevant contacts.

Hi, I am planning to visit leh on 2 Oct 2016 with my wife for around 10 to 11 days. I will fly from pune to leh. Then will book hotel there and take bike of rent i will visit different place there. So i have some question below: 1. How easily we can get hotel there with affordable rate during given time frame? 2.I will be traveling different place on bike with my wife , my wife don’t ride bike so is it possible to visit place like Chang La Pass,Taglang La Pass,Khardung La Pass,Tso Kar Lake,Pangong Tso Lake etc. in 7-8 days time frame. 3. Is it safe to travel in leh alone with wife ?

Thanks in advance. Rahul

Rahul in October it is off seaosn in Ladakh and cold too. Most of the camps besides the Pangong Tso lake gets packed up and most hotels/restaurant in Leh gets closed.

Hello, sir I want to know about Local bus service around leh Ladakh Local sightseenig is available on nowdays july 2016.plz Reply

No there is no local bus service in Leh for sightseeing purposes. Local tour operators might be running some taxis for the same.

I am planning to travel Srinagar-Leh-Manali with my mom. The trip would be for around 10-12 days and wil include Sonmarg, Dras, Kargil, Lamayuru, Leh, Nubra, Pangong, Sarchu, Rohtang and finally Manali. Which would be the best time to travel July end (around 27 July.) or mid September (around 20 Sep.)? How are the road conditions during the given period? Any suggestions or must visit places are welcomed!

Mid septembers is a good time to travel Ladakh, always. You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Leh – Ladakh followed by many travellers including me at the link here for 13-14 days: Most Common Itinerary for Leh – Ladakh .

Thanks for the deails.I have planned somewhat similar itinerary. The only difference is we will finishing the tour at Chandigarh. How is the weather during the September end (20-30 September)? Are there any chances of rain or snow fall? Does temperature dip ver much at night or high passes? Can you please mention some advantages of visiting Leh in September over July or any points which are best to visit in September? How much time does it take to reach Chandigarh from Manali as the last flight from Chandigarh is at 7 pm. ? Thank You!

Very little rain or snowfall may happen during that period. Regarding points, please read the article above. Chandigarh – Manali is around 9 Hrs

We have planned to ride Leh in September starting from 16 -Sep to 1st-Oct. We are 6 riders on our own starting from Jammu- srinagar-leh-manali-Chandigarh My main concern is the weather, road conditions & stay in last 2 weeks of September. My question are : 1: Is riding during this time safe( like landslide & rains) ? 2: is this the good time for the road trip ? 3: What about the camp stay in pangong? will that be open ? 4: Can we setup our own tent ? (with proper Sleeping bag n all) 5: Will there be snow ? 6: What about the land slide & rain in last two week of September ? Will we face that ?

Thanks in Advance

Regards. Bharat V

Hello Bharat,

1. YEs, time is good to travel, in fact best time to travel to Ladakh 3. Yes, there will be options available 4. Yes you can setup your own camps where other camps are pitched. DO NOT pitch at banks of the lake as it is not authorized and leagal to camp besides the lake. 5. In case it snows the day you visit. 6. Usually things are stable in September

I’m Bhoomik From Chennai

What are the places would u suggest to visit if i would like to cover Nook and corner of leh ladakh and near by and how many days will it take. Please suggest Me everything.

All depends upon how many days you have in hand and your mode of transport

Can Padum and Zanskar valley be travelled in third week of October??

I will not suggest it because the winter sets in by end of September and Penzi La can close for few days in case of heavy snowfall.

I am planning to travel ladakh in mid of june, and I want to visit Zanskar, I’ll follow your suggested common itinerary for this trip. So is it possible to cover Zansakar in this itinerary and if yes, can u please share me the travel guide to cover the same or any other possibilities.

Thanking you.

Zanskar Valley needs at least 4 days on confortable level ex. Kargil. Do you have 4 more days in hand?

Hello sir, I have planned for visit to Ladakh during 18june to 24 june .Is it the best time to visit .plz Reply

It is good time to visit Ladakh Raj

You are doing an excellent job. I would like to thank you sincerely for it. I have a query that I want to travel with my husband to Leh from 2 sep to 8sep 2016. But I am bit afraid as I have read that weather in leh keeps changing drastically and at that time it would be monsoon so lot of thunderstorm. I was going to follow your iteneary for this short trip of 6 nights stay. Could you please guide me and clear my mind, Is September a good month to travel? I am planning to viist Nubra & Panong Tso and stay 1 night at each place. If we get stuck at somepoint, Is help available? I know probably I am worrying too much but I woul dbe very thankful to you if you can throw some lights on my query. Thanking you

If you are flying in and flying out of Leh, there is no issues at all during that time. Ladakh is a rain shadow region and September is a good time to travel

Thank you Dheeraj for your prompt reply. Any extra precaution to be taken care of during the visit?

Hmm, well, do read 9 Mistakes People Commit on a Ladakh Trip AND Acute Mountain Sickness and Importance of Acclimatization

HI Dheeraj, Me and my wife wish to travel in the second week of August. Do you recommend that time for travel? its her birthday so don’t want to mess it up 🙂

It is monsoon time in general up there in North and at some parts of Manali – Leh Highway (like before Baralacha La) and Srinagar – Leh Highway (like before Kargil) you might need to face monsoon hassles but once you get closer to Ladakh, then Ladakh being rain shadow region is least affected by monsoon rains, though rains does reach Ladakh now but to minimum and mostly it might remains overcast conditions. There is no thumb rule of certainty about weather conditions but above is generally common pictures seen over last few years except ugly 2010 …

Please refer the link in our community: FAQ | Is Monsoon season good time to travel to Ladakh? for more details.

Hi Dheeraj. We are 4 persons all adults of a family two gents and two ladies plan to visit zhanskar valley from Jalandhar. Pl suggest best itenry We have a total of 7-8 days from 11 June We will be going in Pajero sports 4by4

Harish, I always suggest: Zanskar Valley – Most Common Itinerary

I am planning to visit ladakh in September so can we find snow at that time of period

Snow will not be present in the month of September in Ladakh unless it snowfall on that very day when you are there

hi Dheeraj.

Your posts are so so awesome.

I need your advice on our road trip plan. We are a group of 8 friends, 25-35 yrs old males & females, planning for Delhi-Leh-Delhi by our own two cars. I am keen to have your advice on the following:- 1. Are Maruti Swift diesels recommended for this trip? 2. Except me, all other 7 friends are first timers for Ladakh trip but all of them have done lot of self driven road trips in north india, so is it advisable for us to go to ladakh during Jun-July or Aug-Sep?

your valuable insights will be highly helpful for all of us. Thanks.

hello Dheeraj,

I will be travelling to Leh Ladakh during 1st october to 12th october on my Santro. Is it doable on a Santro? i will self drive and travel with my wife and son. Please advice.I will be going via Srinagar.

Thanks for setting up all the information in one place. I have planned trip to LEH during September. Travel plan is for ~22 days, in that I would like to cover kargil/leh/manali/delhi[in and around places ]/Agra and then I would ride back to Bangalore. Here’s what I have planned, please help me to head in right direction and plan better.

TRIP START DATE: SEP 02 2016 [ Friday night ] END DATE: SEP 25 2016 [ Saturday ]

Sep 2nd [ night ]:- I will be getting my bike [ Apache 180 ] from Bangalore via train and reach Delhi on Sunday 04 Sep 04 : Will head to Pathankot . [ THAT’s ALL ] After going through all the places suggested by you for other travelers, I had made a rough plan on where to visit. But then I would like to hear it out from the right person rather than going with one of mine.

Looking forward for advice to plan things even better.

This is from Delhi to Delhi, now depending upon days left in 22 days with you, you can try to spend more time at places example go to Turtuk in Nubra Valley, take three day journey over Manali – leh Highway

U r just amazing!!!

I have planned a family trip to Leh – Ladakh during 10 Oct to 16 Oct 2016. It will be a 12 member group with age ranging from 7 years to 65 years. Will be reaching Leh by flight from Delhi and return on 16 morning by flight. The flight tickets are already booked. I have the the following questions: 1. Will it be appropriate to travel with such age group? (Keeping in view the temperature and terrain) 2. Suggest me the places to visit as I have not yet planned the itinerary. 3. Suggest me suitable hotels/ camps/ homestay for your suggested itinerary. 4. What is the minimum temperature expected during our visit?

Needless to say, it will be quite cold up there in Ladakh especially at places like Pangong Tso. You do not have much time on hand so can follow the first 6-7 days of itinerary in: Leh – Ladakh | Most Common Itinerary by Air

Hi dheeraj I read all your post for leh ladak i was very impress I would like to take three days journey on Srinagar – leh highway I would like to use alternate route which goes Kargil ,Batalik ,Dah,Skurbuchan My back journey is leh to manali iwould like to go to spiti valley too Can you set my iternary and which is the best season to visit and how many days should I keep no time limite I

Hello Sonali,

You can follow th below plan:

Day 1 | Delhi – Jammu / Patnitop — Overnight at Jammu or Patnitop

Day 2 | Jammu / Patnitop – Srinagar — Enjoy walk around Dal lake and may be Shikara ride as well — If you have time then check out, floating market, Shalimar Garden. — Overnight at Srinagar

Day 3 | Srinagar – Zozi La – Drass – Kargil — Enjoy the vistas enroute — Have late drunch meal at Drass is you are a vegetarian as sometimes it gets difficult to find veg. food at Kargil — Overnight at Kargil

Day 4 | Kargil – Lamayuru – Leh — Cover Mulbekh Maitrey, Lamayuru Moanstery, Lunar Landscapes — On the way you can also see Gurudwara Pather Sahib, Magnetic Hills, Confluence at Nimmu — Overnight at Leh

Day 5 | Leh Local Sightseeing + Inner Line Permits — To know the about the places to visit check the link: Travel Guide for Local Sightseeing of Leh Town in Ladakh — For more details on inner line permits process and to download application form read the link  here — Overnight at Leh

Day 6 | Leh – Khardung La – Diskit – Hunder — Head for Nubra Valley and stay overnight at Hunder — On the way enjoy a cup of soup at Highest Motorable Pass (as claimed) Khardung La

Day 7 | Hunder – Sumur/Kyagar – Panamik – Sumur – Khardung La – Leh — Sumur has a famous monastery to check out and Panamik has hot water springs — Overnight at Leh

Day 8 | Rest day at Leh to enjoy local culture and some shopping OR Monastery tour — Monastery tour may include Hemis, Thicksey, Stakna and Shey monasteries. They come on the route of Pangong Tso but as you will be doing day trip, it will be a bit hectic to include them on that day only. — Overnight at Leh

Day 9 | Leh – Hemis Monastery – Pangong Tso Lake — Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey and Shey on the go towards Pangong Tso — Overnight at Pangong Tso (Spangmik)

Day 10 | Pangong Tso Lake – Shey – Thicksey – Leh — Overnight at Leh

Day 11 | Rest day at Leh to enjoy local culture and some shopping OR Monastery tour OR you can do tour to Sham Valley — Monastery tour may include Hemis, Thicksey, Stakna and Shey monasteries. They come on the route of Pangong Tso but as you will be doing day trip, it will be a bit hectic to include them on that day only. — Sham Valley include Alchi, Likir, Basgo Palace, Magnetic Hills, Confluence at Nimmu, , Gurudwara Pather Sahib — Overnight at Leh

Day 12 | Leh – Tso Moriri via Chumathang — Cover Karzok Monastery — Overnight at Karzok or Tso Moriri

Day 13 | Tso Moriri – Tso Kar – Debring (Manali – Leh Highway starts) – Moore Plains – Pang / Sarchu — Try to start early in the day so that you reach Sarchu where the accommodation options are better than Pang — Overnight at Sarchu or Pang

Day 14 | Pang / Sarchu – Baralacha La – Jispa — On the way cover Suraj Tal, Deepak Tal which are on the road sides only — Overnight at Jispa

Day 15 | Jispa – Chandratal Day 16 | Chandratal – Kaza on the way (Ki, Kibber, Gette) Day 17 | Kaza/Langza Homestay (Hikkim, Koumik, Langza) Day 18 | Kaza – Pin Valley – Dhankar – Tabo Day 19 | Tabo – Kalpa Day 20 | Kalpa – Narkanda Day 21 | Narkanda – Chail / Shimla – Delhi

Add a day from Kargil to travel to Dah – Hanu villages and next day traveling to Leh from Dah – Hanu or Alchi wherever you take the night halt.

Hi dheeraj,

Your blog is amazing and definately a bible for ppl who want to travel to ladakh..i’m planning for 11 day trip to leh ladakh starting from either 3rd sept to 13sept or 9th sept to 19th sept. Can you please suggest me a gud detailed itinerary and also which dates would be best. Im from chennai and would prefer taking flight from chennai to leh and back..also can u suggest me whr all can i rent bikes.i would wanna drive a bike around for the experience and thrill of it..would like to do some camping as well.. Thanks in advance Regards, Neelam

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The best time to visit Leh Ladakh is from late April to mid-July, when both the Srinagar Leh highway and Leh-Manali highway are open, allowing for easy access to the region. This period also offers the opportunity to witness the breathtaking snow-capped landscapes, especially along the Leh-Manali highway. Another favorable time to visit is from mid-September to October when Ladakh is at its most beautiful, and visitors can enjoy discounts due to fewer tourists. However, it's advisable to avoid traveling to Leh Ladakh during the monsoon season from late July to August due to the risk of landslides. During this time, the roads, particularly the Srinagar Leh highway and Leh Manali highway, are often covered in sludge, making travel hazardous. Peak Season: The peak tourist season in Leh Ladakh is from April to mid-July, attracting a significant number of visitors eager to explore the region's stunning landscapes and cultural heritage. During this time, the weather is favorable, and the roads leading to Ladakh are open, making it an ideal time for adventure enthusiasts and sightseers alike. Shoulder Season : September to October marks the shoulder season in Leh Ladakh when the region is still accessible, and the weather remains pleasant. This period offers a quieter and more serene experience compared to the peak season, with fewer tourists and discounted rates available for accommodations and activities. Off Season: The off-season in Leh Ladakh falls from November to March, as well as July and August. During these months, the region experiences harsh weather conditions, with extreme cold temperatures and the risk of road closures due to snowfall. Additionally, July and August are prone to monsoon rains, leading to landslides and making travel challenging and risky. As a result, visitor numbers decrease significantly during the off-season, and many establishments may close temporarily.

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• Best Time to Visit Ladakh: Discover the Finest Travel Season

The best time to visit Ladakh to explore the region at its finest is during summer, which lasts from June to September. Also known by the name ‘Little Tibet of India,’ Leh Ladakh is like a paradise during this time of the year. The pleasant atmosphere, clear sky, and sunny days make it a perfect time to explore the picturesque beauty of the region during summer. You can engage in various outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, and white-water rafting during this season.

However, the exploration of the captivating landscape of Ladakh is not just limited to summer. As the region goes through different seasons throughout the year, each offers its own unique opportunities for adventure. From traversing through the breathtaking natural vista to exploring the ancient monasteries and local culture, Ladakh will make your adventure unforgettable any time of the year. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to choose the season that suits you best.     

1. Summer (June to September)

2. monsoon (july to september), 3. autumn (september to october), 4. winter (november to february), temperatures in ladakh by month, rainfall in ladakh by month, what is the best time to visit ladakh, peak tourist season in ladakh, discover the must-see destinations of leh ladakh, travel tips for the ladakh tour, cultural exploration: festivals and event calendar, explore different seasons in ladakh.

Ladakh, a.k.a. ‘Little Tibet’ is a land of enchanting natural beauty and dramatic landscape. This Himalayan region experiences five major seasons throughout the year. Each season comes with different atmospheric characteristics offering different travel experiences. To learn more about the seasons, delve into the details below.

Summer is considered the best time to visit Ladakh and lasts from June to September. This season is popular among the tourists. During these months, the weather is most favorable with average temperatures ranging from 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F). It is an ideal time for outdoor adventures such as cycling, biking, trekking, camping, and so on. 

While Ladakh is known for its arid climate, it does experience a mild monsoon season. This season extends from July to September and coincides with summer. Rainfall is minimal compared to other regions of India, but occasional showers may block the roads. During occasional downpours, the region also experiences mudslides, imposing difficulty in traveling. When it’s not raining, the sky is clear with sunny days. The average temperature during this time is similar to that of summer, i.e. 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F).

Autumn can also be considered as another best time to visit Leh Ladakh. Stretching from September to October, autumn comes with a delightful transition from summer to winter. The landscape transforms into a palette of golden hues as the leaves change color. The terrain is vibrant with picturesque visuals. The average temperature during this season ranges from 15°C to 20°C (59°F to 68°F). 

With the start of November, winter comes into action lasting until February. The region is covered in snow with stunning visuals of the towering snow-capped mountains. The average temperature during this time of the year falls below 0°C (32°F). During winter most parts of the region become inaccessible by road, and the areas become quieter and less crowded.

• Spring (March to May)

With the end of winter, spring rejuvenates the vista with vibrant blossoms. Spring lasts from March to May and kicks in with a burst of flora throughout the landscape. Apricot and almond trees are common sights during this season. It is also an ideal time for photography enthusiasts. The weather is much milder than in winter with average temperatures ranging from 5°C to 15°C (41°F to 59°F).

What to Expect from Ladakh Travel in Each Season?

As each season has different characteristic features, your travel experience will also vary accordingly. Below are some pointers that give you a glimpse of what each season has in store for your Ladakh tour:

• Mild and pleasant daytime temperatures
• Accessible roads to major attractions
• Vibrant landscapes with blooming flowers and lush greenery
• Peak tourist season with crowded popular destinations
• Ideal time for trekking, biking, and outdoor activities
• Cultural festivals in monasteries are in full swing
• Minimal rainfall
• Ocassional showers can lead to blocked roads and landslides
• Lush green landscape with various shades of green
• Fewer tourists due to the inconvenience of occasional rain showers
• Transition from summer to winter with cooler temperature
• Stunning fall foliage with golden hues
• Pleasant weather and fewer crowds
• Ideal for trekking and exploring remote monasteries
• Clear skies for stargazing
• Snow-covered landscape adds pristine charm to the entire vista
• Extremely cold weather conditions with limited road access to some areas due to heavy snowfall
• Engage in winter adventure activities such as trekking, ice festivals, and wildlife watching
• Opportunity to experience the region in a quieter environment
• Limited tourist infrastructures, but offers less crowded accommodations
• The landscape rejuvenates with fresh blossoms.
• Apricot and almond tree blossoms make the terrain picturesque
• Perfect for landscape photography
• Treks at lower altitudes become accessible
• Relatively smaller crowd than in the summer

Let’s look at the weather in Ladakh month by month. The table below shows the average temperature and rainfall, giving you a clear picture of how the weather changes in the region.

The unique terrain of Ladakh is primarily characterized by a cold and dry climate, resulting in low rainfall in the region. Located in the rainshadow region of the Himalayas, Ladakh typically experiences minimal precipitation, usually below 10 mm, except during the months of July and August. The table below offers a comprehensive analysis of Ladakh’s annual precipitation.

The live graph and current forecast containing rainfall, temperature and winds frequency in Ladakh region will help you plan your trip better:

The most favorable time to visit Ladakh for most travelers is during summer, the months from June to September. During this period, the weather is at its most pleasant, with daytime temperatures ranging from 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F). Summer allows you to access all major attractions and engage in a variety of activities, including trekking and biking. The landscape is revived with vibrant colors suitable for photography. Besides, summer is another best time for Leh Ladakh is autumn and spring. Both these seasons offer the enchanting landscape of Ladakh and allow you to explore the terrain in relatively quieter surroundings. 

The peak tourist season in Ladakh is during the summer months, from June to September. During this time, Ladakh experienced the highest influx of tourists. Because of the milder temperature and clear view of the landscape, this season is more appealing to travelers. Several factors contribute to the popularity of Ladakh in the summer. Besides the captivating natural beauty, it’s a good time to explore the cultural festivals and events during this season. The roads leading to Ladakh from other parts of India are also open, making it accessible to a broader range of visitors.    

Ladakh is a crown jewel of India with fascinating destinations to visit. This is the northernmost part of India and is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, monasteries, and unique culture. In your journey, consider exploring some of these popular tourist destinations:

• Leh : It is the capital city of Ladakh and is a hub for its rich culture, tradition, and history.
• Pangong Lake : It is an iconic high-altitude lake most known for its alluring shades of blue. It is also famous for camping and stargazing.
• Tso Moriri Lake : This is in a remote region surrounded by snow-capped mountains. It offers a scenic view and a peaceful ambiance for relaxation.
• Nubra Valley : You can visit Nubra Valley via Khardung La Pass, one of the highest motorable passes in the world. 
• Hemis Monastery : This is the largest monastery in Ladakh situated about 45 km from Leh. It is famous for the Hemmis Festival and its ancient architecture.
• Zanskar Valley : It is popular for its trekking route and offers the exploration of the beautiful village of Padum.
• Alchi Monastery : It is famous for its exceptional artwork and is one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Thiksey Monastery : Nestled on a hill, this monastery offers panoramic views of the Indus Valley.
• Spituk Monastery : This monastery is famous for its annual Gustor Festival and offers a serene setting for exploration.
• Chang La Pass : This is another high-altitude pass in Ladakh known for its pristine beauty and the Chang La Baba Temple.

These are just a few of the many wonderful Ladakh attractions for exploration. In addition, you may also check out some of our exceptional Ladakh tours as mentioned below:

• Ladakh Tour with Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake
• Ladakh Extended Tour
• Impressions of Ladakh   

These expert travel tips will help to explore the place with ease. Therefore, consider incorporating these tips to get the best out of your adventure:

• Plan your trip in advance. Make sure to book accommodations and transportation early, especially during the peak tourist season.
• As Ladakh is situated at around 3,500 m (11,500 ft.), acclimatization to the altitude is essential.
• Dress in layers and pack thin or thick clothes as per the season you are traveling.
• Use sun protection such as sunglasses, hats, or sunscreen.
• Stay hydrated.
• Be aware of altitude sickness in the Himalayas and apply necessary preventive measures.
• Respect the local culture.
• Be prepared for changing weather and road conditions.
• Make sure to carry all necessary permits and travel documents.
• Travel responsibly and do not litter the place. 

Explore Ladakh in the best way possible with these top things to try in Leh Ladakh , and make your dream adventure an epic success!

With the majority of local people following Buddhism in Ladakh, they celebrate various Buddhist festivals and events with utter joy. Some of the most revered festivals and events are:

• Ladakh Festival : This festival is celebrated annually in September to boost tourism during the tourist season or the best time to visit Ladakh. The celebration involves traditional music, dance, and a variety of local cuisines.
• Hemis Festival : This is an annual celebration held in July at Hemis Monastery featuring masked dance performances by monks.
• Stok Festival : It is celebrated in August at the Stok Palace as a part of a cultural celebration.
• Nubra Valley Festival : It is celebrated every September in Nubra Valley marked by the celebration of local culture and tradition.
• Lamayuru Gustor Festival : This Buddhist festival is celebrated in October at the Lamayuru Monastery.
• Losar Festival : It is a Ladakhi New Year celebrated in December or January with joyous music and dance.
• Thiksey Gustor Festival : It is celebrated in October at Thiksey Monastery featuring mask dances and rituals.
• Saka Dawa Festival : Celebrated in May or June, this festival marks the birth of Buddha, his enlightenment, and death.

The best time to visit Ladakh may not be the same for everyone, and we can assist you in determining which season best suits your adventure preferences. Join hands with Himalayan Glacier LLC and embark on an epic journey to Ladakh. With our expertise and dedication, we ensure that your Ladakh experience is not only memorable but also transformative. Our team of experts and Ladakh tour guides, boasting decades of experience, will ensure you make the most of your trip. Prioritizing your safety and comfort, Himalayan Glacier will help you discover the enchantment of Ladakh. Contact our team of experts via WhatsApp at ( +1-410-307-00 07) for more details.

A leading adventure & tour operator in the Himalayas since 1992, Himalayan Glacier Adventure & Travel Company® is the #1 guiding adventure travel company on Mount Everest Base Camp and beyond with 98% success rate. Each of our holidays is truly a tailor-made package which we design for all ages, groups, families & solo travelers.

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Is it safe to travel to Ladakh alone?⛰️Summer or winter- Which is the best time to visit Ladakh!

Is it safe to travel to Ladakh alone? While Ladakh is relatively safe for solo travelers, it’s essential to exercise caution, especially when trekking in remote areas or driving on mountain roads. It’s advisable to inform someone about your itinerary and carry emergency essentials.

The best time to visit Ladakh is during the summer months from May to September when the weather is pleasant, and most of the region’s attractions are accessible.

Everyone who visits Ladakh, frequently referred to as heaven on earth, is charmed. Memorable landscapes are created by the spectacular Himalayan terrain, calm streams, and towering mountains against a clear blue sky.

Ladakh attracts an immense number of tourists every year because of its exceptional beauty. While some people like the summer because of its comfortable temps for exploring, others prefer the hard winters because of their desire for adventure and the challenging weather.

• 🌦️ Understanding Ladakh's Climate

☀️ Summer Season (March to June):

⛈️ monsoon season (july to september):, ⛄ winter season (october to february):, q. is ladakh accessible during the winter months, q. are there any festivals celebrated in ladakh, q. what should i pack for a trip to ladakh, q. can i visit ladakh during the monsoon season, 😇 conclusion, 🗨️ share your thoughts in the comments: what do you think is the best time to visit ladakh, 🌦️ understanding ladakh’s climate.

Ladakh’s climate is characterized by its extreme temperature variations and low precipitation levels. The region experiences two distinct seasons: summer and winter.

🕒 Unveiling the Best Time to Visit Ladakh

Planning a trip to Ladakh requires careful consideration of the timing, as this remote region experiences extreme weather conditions throughout the year.

• Ideal for exploration, with temperatures ranging from 5°C to 25°C.
• All tourist attractions are open, offering breathtaking views of mountains, passes, lakes, and villages.
• Glaciers melt, creating colorful landscapes and vibrant hues of nature.
• Experience local festivals like YuruKabgyat, Saka Dawa, and Hemis Festivals.
• Roads are less rugged, perfect for road trips.
• Rainfall is short-lived but may enhance adventure activities like river rafting.
• The temperature remains pleasant, ranging from 5°C to 20°C.
• Perfect for experiencing Ladakh’s rainfall and snowfall amidst comfortable temperatures.
• Ladakh receives heavy snowfall, with temperatures dropping significantly.
• Ideal for trekking enthusiasts, especially for the Chadar Trek at Zanskar Valley.
• Accessible primarily by flights, offering unique experiences like Snow Leopard Safari.
• Adventurous activities abound, though roadblocks due to snowfall may occur.

The best time to visit Ladakh depends on personal preferences and interests. Some cherish the tranquility of summer, while others seek the thrill of winter adventures.

🙋🏻‍♀️ FAQs About Travelling To Ladakh

There are a lot of questions that come to our mind while planning to travel to Ladakh, some of the commonly asked questions are answered below.

A. Yes, Ladakh is accessible during the winter months, but travel may be challenging due to heavy snowfall and sub-zero temperatures. However, winter sports enthusiasts can enjoy activities like ice skating and snow trekking.

A. Yes, Ladakh is known for its vibrant festivals, including the Hemis Festival, Ladakh Festival, and Losar, which offer unique insights into the region’s culture and traditions.

A. It’s essential to pack warm clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses, and adequate hydration supplies, especially if you’re traveling during the summer months. Additionally, carry any necessary medications and consult your doctor regarding altitude sickness prevention.

A. While Ladakh experiences minimal rainfall, the monsoon season from July to August may lead to road closures and landslides, affecting travel plans. It’s advisable to check weather forecasts and road conditions before planning your trip.

In conclusion, Ladakh beckons adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike with its unparalleled beauty and rich cultural heritage. By understanding Ladakh’s climate, festivals, and attractions, you can plan your visit to coincide with the best time to experience everything this enchanting region has to offer.

And, don’t forget to plan your dream vacation with Fiery Trippers for a personalized and romantic getaway.

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Rahul Siddharth

He is a dedicated travel writer with a wealth of 10 Years + experience that enriches his narratives. He holds a degree in Hospitality and Hotel Administration from IHM Dehradun, which he couples with hands-on expertise in the field. Drawing from his diverse experiences, Rahul's writings offer readers a captivating glimpse into the world of travel. Embark on a journey of exploration and inspiration with Rahul as your guide. Read More

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Best Time to Visit Ladakh – A Complete Travel Guide

If you asked when is the best time to visit Ladakh, my answer would be that it depends on you. Let me explain. The best time to visit any place is different for every person. I am basing this on assumption on the fact that not everyone is looking for the same thing. Other factors like budget, mode of travel, etc also come into the picture.

With that being said, there is a certain time of the year when every tourist destination receives the majority of its visitors. In the case of Ladakh, it is the months from June to September that are considered as the best time to visit. But will that suit you as well? If yes, then which month is the best? Read on to find out.

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When is the Best Time to Visit Ladakh

Ladakh presents a different color in every season. Every month brings its own set of surprises and its own set of delights. It has a little bit for everyone; from adventure seekers to photographers, to people looking for a bit of solitude to even families looking for a fun vacation.

It is that forbidden mysterious land that opens its doors for visitors only for a few months and then shies away under a thick white sheet of snow. Deciding on the best time to visit Ladakh can be a little confusing so let me break it down month by month.

Please note that in this article, I will only talk about the best time to visit Ladakh. For other details like how to reach, what to see, where to stay, and public transport services, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Leh Ladakh – Complete Travel Guide .

The temperature that I am mentioning below is the historical average in Leh City. Depending on the time of day, it will be different. High altitude areas like Pangong Lake and passes en route will be way colder than this. Please remember that during the night, the temperature here can go down to as low as 40 °c.

Ladakh in January to March

Until the month of March, winter in Ladakh remains at its peak. The temperature at night can drop to as far as minus 20 degrees Celsius.

January and February is the best time if you want to plan a trip to visit Ladakh in winter. All the lakes including Pangong and Moriri are completely frozen at this time. The famous Chadar trek also happens around this time only.

You cannot camp at Pangong Lake in winter though. There will be no campsites available and you will have to look for a guest house in either Durbuk, Tangtse, Spangmik, Man, or Merak. If you did not find accommodation, you will have to return to Leh after making a day trip to the lake.

Since all hotels are not operational at this time, you will have to call ahead and inquire. A few hotels remain open in winters as well but you will have to make your bookings in advance.

Running water may not be available everywhere as the water in taps freezes. Hot water will be presented to you but in buckets. Please check with your hotel about this before booking your stay.

Electricity too is limited to only a few hours of the day. It is not an ideal time to go unless you are capable of handling the extremely cold weather.

• Average Temperature in Leh City: -10 °c Minimum and 15 °c Maximum
• Clothes Needed: Heavy woolens, caps, windproof jacket, warm socks, thermals

Ladakh in April

Come April and everyone who is planning a trip to Ladakh that year starts to get anxious, waiting for the highways to open. Snowfall stops and summer starts to step in.

BRO continues to work clearing the snow and both the roads remain closed for most of the month of April. It is towards the end of April that Srinagar Leh highway is declared open but that depends on the weather and is not always the case. Sometimes the date can even get pushed up to early May.

Hotels and guest houses start to open up preparing for the tourist season. The only way to reach Ladakh in April is either by flight or by Srinagar Leh road towards the end of the month.

April is not really an ideal time to go, though. You do not get to see any snow and the weather will be freezing cold. You may have trouble finding accommodation and will miss traveling on Manali Leh or Srinagar Leh highway.

By Late April, all the lakes including Pangong and Moriri would have completely melted to their natural blue. The roads towards Nubra and Pangong are open this month. However, the route may get closed temporarily if it snows at Khardung La or Chang La.

• Average Temperature in Leh City: 5 °c Minimum and 25 °c Maximum
• Clothes Needed: Woolens, caps, windproof jacket, thermals

Ladakh in May

The month of May marks the beginning of the Tourist season in Ladakh. Srinagar Leh highway is declared open either by late April or early May. The opening of the Manali Leh route depends on how fast BRO is able to clear the snow but it is usually towards the end of the month.

Hotels and guesthouses would have become operational completely. There would still be a lot of snow around, especially towards the top of the peaks.

The roads at this time are usually in a bad situation as BRO starts the restoration work. Visiting Ladakh this time would mean that you either go there by Air or take the Srinagar Leh Highway in traveling early in the month.

If you want to include the Manali route as well, plan towards the end. Before doing so, make sure the road is open for tourists. You can check this post, Manali Leh Highway & Road Conditions where I post updates regularly.

• Average Temperature in Leh City: 13 °c Minimum and 28 °c Maximum
• Clothes Needed: Regular summer clothes, light woolens, caps, windproof jacket

Ladakh in June

The tourist season by this time is at its full peak. All the hotels and guest houses would be completely functional. This is the time to go if you also want to catch some snow at the passes on Manali Leh highway.

The roads however are still not completely restored and you may encounter a lot of rough patches on your way. You also will encounter a lot of water streams on the way as the snow starts to melt. By end of June, the region around Srinagar and Manali also starts getting pre-monsoon showers.

• Average Temperature in Leh City: 17 °c Minimum and 30 °c Maximum

Ladakh in July

This is one of the perfect months for the Ladakh trip if you can make it in the first half before Monsoon hits the Himalayan region. Roads are in near perfect condition and all of Ladakh is open for visitors including some of the internal roads like the Wari La Pass route.

Ladakh at this time is filled with tourists and the valleys will present you with grand vistas all around. If visiting in the latter part of the month, be ready to handle rains on the way.

• Average Temperature in Leh City: 16 °c Minimum and 35 °c Maximum

Ladakh in August

If greenery is on your mind, then this is the time to go. You may encounter rain but it is mostly limited to areas around Kullu, Manali, Srinagar, and Sonamarg.

Ladakh is in a rain shadow area and experiences very little rain. With all the global warming though, things have started to change and it can rain even in Ladakh sometimes. The unfortunate cloud burst incident of 2010 is an example of that.

Once you cross Baralacha La on the Manali Leh route and Zoji La on the Srinagar Leh highway, you ideally enter a rain shadow area where there is either very little or no rain at all.

If you are prepared and do not mind the rain, traveling at this time will present you with lush green valleys. You should also be for a lot of slush, landslides, and puddles. If the weather turned worst, the roads can also be blocked temporarily until they are cleared.

For a road trip by bike at this time, make sure you waterproof everything.

• Average Temperature in Leh City: 18 °c Minimum and 35 °c Maximum

Ladakh in September

The month of September is a perfect time for a Ladakh visit.  Monsoon would be gone but would have left plenty of greenery behind in Kashmir and Himachal. Ladakh will be blossoming with colors everywhere.

Hotels and guesthouses will be all functional and roads in near perfect condition. The entire Ladakh brims with astonishing beauty at this time. If you were lucky and traveling after 15th September, you may also catch a snowfall at the top of any of the passes en route.

Ladakh in October

October marks the beginning of the winter season. Cold starts to settle everywhere. High altitude regions already start experiencing zero degree temperatures at night and there is a high chance that it may snow anytime.

Hotels and guest houses mostly would have closed already by late October. The top of almost high altitude passes would have received snowfall.

Srinagar Leh route remains open for most of October. Manali Leh Highway however closes around the 10th of the month. If planning a road trip this month, make sure you plan your itinerary in a way that you cross the Manali route maximum before the 10th.

• Average Temperature in Leh City: 0 °c Minimum and 20 °c Maximum

Ladakh in November & December

Come November, the Srinagar Leh road closes and Ladakh gets totally cut off by road. A trip at this time can only be planned by flight. Srinagar Leh route may remain open in November sometimes but it is not advised at all to travel on.

The month of December is mostly the same as November. Both these months are probably the worst time to go. The weather will be very cold, vistas will be dull and you will not get to enjoy the trip.

Winter trip means snow all around which is not the case in November and December. Leh City in fact will be deprived of snow at this time.

• Average Temperature in Leh City: -7 °c Minimum and 10 °c Maximum

So depending on what I described above, below is a summary of the best time to visit Ladakh.

Best Time to Visit Ladakh by Road

The best time to visit Ladakh by road is the months of June, early July, and September.

Srinagar Leh highway opens sometime in April and closes by mid-November. Manali to Ladakh opens by late May and will close by Mid October.

The first few weeks of this time will present you with highly damaged roads that may even get temporarily closed. Later few weeks towards closing will always pose a risk of snowfall at top of the passes which may close the roads again. July and August will pose the problem of monsoon.

So by road, you should choose a time when the roads are stable and you can cover both the highways. Start from either Manali or Srinagar and end the trip at the other place, completing the Ladakh circuit.

Also read: Srinagar Leh Highway Route Guide and Road Map

Best Time to Visit Ladakh for Photography

The best time to visit Ladakh by photography is the months of July, August, and September. But it actually depends on what you are interested in shooting. If greenery is on your mind then your best bet would be August and September. During the monsoon, the valleys of Manali, Kashmir, and Lahaul are at full blossom and a delight to shoot.

If you do not want to risk the rain, the best time to visit Ladakh for Photography would be September. Monsoon would have just left the valley but you will still find plenty of green around Manali and Kashmir.

Go to Suru Valley and Zanskar and you will have grass and leaves changing colors from green to orange and even red as the fall season progresses. The same is the case with Nubra valley as you proceed towards Turtuk Village .

If you want to shoot a white Ladakh, then you should plan in late January or early February. On an overall basis, September is the best time to visit Ladakh for photography. Ladakh in September means multiple colors all around under a deep blue sky and you will just love what you shoot at this time.

Best Time to Visit Ladakh by Bike

Late June, early July, and September is the best time to visit Ladakh by Bike. Any earlier than this will see you struggle on bad broken roads.

August will have you getting drenched in rain as the Monsoon at this time is at its full swing which also means more furious water crossings. Any later than September will be too cold to be riding on motorcycles to Ladakh with a risk of snow and black ice.

Also read: Manali Leh Highway Route Guide and Road Map

Best Time to Visit Ladakh by Car

The best time to visit Ladakh by Car is from June to September. But it depends on what do you exactly mean by Car and what would you rather prefer.

If your car is a Sedan or Hatchback, you should only plan in early June and September. By this time, there are no chances of any rain or landslides, water crossings are not that furious or deep, and road conditions are a little better.

If you are in a 4X4 or SUV, then you can go anytime between June and September. If you want to go offloading and want to drive on broken roads, do it in May after Srinagar Leh highway opens or early June as soon as the Manali Leh highway is declared open.

Best Time to Visit Ladakh with Family

The best time to visit Ladakh with family is from July to early September. If you are traveling by Air and hiring a taxi in Ladakh with family, then any month between July and September is an ideal time to go.

If you are however planning to drive on your own, then do it in early June or September. You of course do not really want their hearts pounding as you take the car across a running water stream, or through slush on a narrow road, or getting stuck somewhere after the road is closed due to a recent landslide.

The weather after September 15th gets a little cold to be enjoying with your kids and elders. For more details, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Ladakh with Family .

Best Time to Visit Ladakh by Flight

The best time to visit Ladakh by flight is from May to September. But this is open for discussion as well. Going by air will pretty much come down to what you are looking for and when can you go.

Ladakh is accessible by Air throughout the year. You always have the option of hiring a cab there for local sightseeing. If snow is what you want, visit in January or February. Otherwise, any time from May to September will be ideal to be in Ladakh.

Best Time to Visit Leh Ladakh for Honeymoon

The best time to visit Ladakh for a honeymoon is in April, September, or early October. The weather at this time will be just perfect for a honeymooning couple.

Other than this, you can actually go anytime between April to Mid-October if you are catching a flight. The only problem is that the sun in June, July, and August is a little too harsh for a honeymoon.

For a road trip, September is a good time if you want a trip with very less adventure, or anytime from July to September if your spouse is as adventurous as you are.

Best Time to visit Ladakh for Snow

The best time to visit Ladakh to see snow is in late January, February, or early March for a winter trip and May, early June, late September, and early October for a summer trip.

January to early March is when the region is buried under a thick sheet of snow. The lakes of Pangong and Tso Moriri will be completely frozen at this time.

If you only want to see a little bit of snow and do not want to plan a winter trip, you should plan in May or early June. This is when you will definitely find some snow at the top of the passes. You can also plan in late September or early October and may even catch a snowfall at this time.

Best Time to Visit Ladakh by Public Transport

If you are planning to travel by Public transport, you should visit Ladakh in July, August, or early September. The buses from Manali and Srinagar to Leh and other internal areas of Ladakh remain available during this period only.

This is also the time when the entire valley is filled with tourists. If not a bus, you have the highest chance of boarding a shared taxi within your budget in these months.

There will be very little waiting time anywhere. Even if you cannot find a bus or taxi, you will still have the option of hitchhiking.

Also read: Complete List of All Tourist Attractions in Ladakh

Best Time to Visit Leh Ladakh via Manali

Manali Leh highway opens in early June. So anytime between 15 th June till 15 th July and September would be best to travel on this road.

The first two weeks of June will put you on bad roads with a possibility of a temporary shutdown due to restoration work. August will see you getting drenched in rain and may even come across a landslide. October onwards will have you encounter extreme cold with a high chance of snowfall at Baralacha La.

Best Time to Visit Leh Ladakh via Srinagar

The best time to visit Leh Ladakh via Srinagar is in May, June, early July, and September. It is pretty much the same deal as the Manali Leh highway. The only difference is that this road opens a month earlier and closes a month later.

An ideal time from Srinagar would be between Mid May to early July and September.; for the same reasons that I mentioned for Manali Leh road. Rains can play havoc around Zoji La so late July and August are best avoided.

Also read: Is Srinagar Leh Highway Safe for Tourists?

 Best Time to Visit Ladakh on a Budget

If planning a budget trip to Ladakh, the best time to go would be anywhere between July and September. All hotels are open during this time and you have a higher possibility of finding accommodation within your price range.

Public transport services too will be all operational and you can easily find a Bus or shared taxi towards any desired destination. Go any earlier or later than this and you may struggle to find budget accommodation and transport.

Best Season to Visit Ladakh

The season of summer and fall are the best to visit Ladakh. The weather in summer is suitable for all kinds of tourists and will make the journey pleasurable.

Go there in September during the fall season and you will witness the natural beauty at its best. You will see beautiful colors within the shades of grey of a cold desert under a deep blue sky. It is not just the trees, leaves, and flowers that you will find colors in, but also in the mountains.

Also read: How to Plan a Trip to Ladakh by Public Transport

Best Month to Visit Ladakh

June and September are the best months for a trip to Ladakh.

Best Time to Visit Ladakh in Winter

Late January, February, and early March are the best time to visit Ladakh in winter.

I think I have covered the topic of the best time to visit Ladakh from every aspect here, and I hope this information 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.

Vargis.Khan

Not much to write about me really except for that I love to travel around whenever I can and to wherever I can. This blog is just a small attempt to share my travel experiences with the world. Hope you like it !!!

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How to plan a trip to leh ladakh, srinagar leh highway status 2024 – 2025, zojila pass road status and condition 2024 –..., 126 comments.

Thank you for sharing this info. I am planning a trip to Ladakh next month. Hope my trip will be successful.

Have a safe trip bhai !!!

I have decided to visit Ladakh via Srtinagar and back via Manali in between last week of July and first week of August with my family. What is your opinion please?

Bhai if possible push it by a few weeks. You know how monsoon has been so far in the year. Heavy rains everywhere

Hi Vargis Bhai, I have planned for Ladakh tour via Srinagar and willing to back via Manali from last week of July to first week of August with my family. Will it be suitable?

hi khan bhai, i am solo starting from Jammu to ladakh and then via Manali to chdigarth. apoox 13 days travel. should i start from Jammu on 1st September or last week of September. i am asking as my train is weekly once from Mumbai.

Hi Sanju Bhai – September 1st week will be a better choice

hi khan bhai, i am solo starting from jammu to ladakh and then via manali to chdigarth. apoox 13 days travel. should i start from jammu on 1st september or last week of setember. i am asking as my train is weely once from mumbai.

Hi Sanju Bhai – September 1st week will be a better choice

Hi Vargis, I’m planning a car trip to Ladakh in Aug 1st week with family. It’s a duster 2 wheel drive. I plan to go from the Manali side, and come back from the same route as I don’t intend to go to Zojila and Srinagar. Will it be raining too heavily? Or is it just mild rains which is manageable to drive. While I’ve a lot of driving experience, but I’ve driven only a bit in mountains. Regards, Amit

Hi Amit – Hard to say right now to be honest, will depend on the weather. There could be heavy rains on Manali Leh stretch, especially between Manali and Sarchu.

Thank you so much for writing such exceptional vlogs. Please help me in one thing: may I visit Ladakh from Manali side in early October with sedan car with my wife and 11 years old child?

Thank you, Sujit. Visiting in early October is doable. Which car do you have?

Dear Vagiskhan ji, your way of explaining the touring is amazing. You covered all the points of all sections of people. Your article is like a data set about Ladakh tourism . Thank you so much ji. We four people planning to be there in September last week by public transport or by rental car from Delhi. We are little bit confused in between the two. Our motto of journey is to enjoy the Himalayas inch by inch…. In that way rental taxi seems to be the best I believe… Kindly give your opinion Ji …

Me and My friend are planning trip to Leh ladhak between May last week and June First Week, we have heard that its very cloudy in this period of time, So whats your suggestion ?

No, it’s not. I am myself planning a trip at this time

Excellent blog Vargis bhai .. just happened to stumble upon it and am enjoying reading the details you have provided. I am planning to visit Ladakh this year and finding it difficult to choose between late May (kids vacations so can easily leave them with parents) and late September (best time scenery wise). Just hoping I won’t miss much if I travel in May

Thanks, Nilesh Bhai. May end will be a better option with kids.

Excellent detailed travelogue

Thank you !!!

Hi Vargis, I am planning a bike trip to Leh Ladakh via Srinagar at 1st week of August with my wife. Is this a good time to visit Ladakh or should I wait till September.

Hi Robin – It will be best to wait until September

Hi – we are planning a trip around this Diwali. While I understand the cold part, not sure why you say November is the worst part to visit. Can you pls elobrtare?

Is it safe to travel Leh in a hatchback with a family of three?we are planning the first time.is the road from nubra to pangong good?is the month of September good for budget travelling

[…] You can travel in early October as well but can be a little risky. Nakee La starts receiving snow towards the end of September and so do the other 4 passes. Traveling in October means that there will be a high chance of the road getting blocked by snow, leaving you will be stranded. For more details, please take a look at When is the Best time to visit Ladakh. […]

I have gone through your writings. Excellent! We are planning to to Ladakh next year. We are senior citizens from Kerala trying to drive down

Hi, I have been following your blog on Leh Manali highway. As the clearing work by BRO has started. Will it be accessible by 20th of May. I am planning to take Srinagar Leh for Leh and return from Leh to Manali

Yes it will be

Hi, You have wealth of information, feeling lucky. As you have said in earlier blogs that Manali leh route is inaccessible in May and opens in first week of June. Will it be different this year as it will be accessible by 20th May.

Thanks for your reply.

Hi Vineet – Chances are that yes it will be all open by 20th this year

Thanks a lot

Hi Vargis, We are planning for a bike trip 2 guys and one girl from manali to leh by bike on 13th june to 23rd june. Are the roads open or blocked ??Is it good time to go by bike. please let us know . And we are not going in any package groups so are there frequent garage shops on the way if anything happens to the bike ??

We are 9 pax. 4 couples and a single ladie. Ages between 45 and 70 years old. We want to travel to Ladack during Ladack Festival, in September. Please suggest us an itinerary from Delhi to Ladack, including Daramsala also. We want go by car and train and back Delhi by flight. Thanks Anabela Marinho

Hello Sir, Actually, we are (Couple) planning to visit Leh in Last week of March. Could you please guide for same.

Please read this Deepak.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/leh-ladakh-in-march/

Hi, Your travel blogs are very detailed and informative, useful for me as a solo traveler. Pls inform how long does it take to get necessary permits for specific tourist spots in Leh Ladakh

Thanks Thyagrajan. Only a couple of hours at most. Or you can just tell the hotel to arrange it for you.

Hi vargis, I will be thankful if you help me out here, four of us planning to visit Leh after 15th oct , will reach Srinagar by flight and then will head out to Leh and the other places like Pangong Nubra etc, then returning to Delhi from Leh by flight …. is it possible at that Time…..?????

Hi Vargis, I am awed reading your blog containing such a detailed info on Leh. A group of 4 of us are planning to visit Leh in the Last week of October. You said the best time to go for biking is till September. So is not OK if we try to bike in October last week? Cant we get a budget home stay and bike rent facilities at that time?

Hi Mukund – A trip in October will be great as well but since you are on bike, you would have to be prepared for cold weather. If you were planning after October 15th, you may also have to keep Manali Leh route out of your plans.

jammu tawi to srinagar road is full time open or not..i am planning to go by bus………i will come from delhi to jammu tawi by train,…then i want ti take public transport bus…srinagar to leh bus available??

Yes it is available

Hi Varis Bhai, Nubra to Pangong route via shyok in last week of July.. is it commutable? I heard Shyok river water is too high…

Hi Arindam Bhai – Sorry for replying late. Yes it is possible in July, shouldn’t be a problem.

Dear khan, you hv suggested in stead of booking travel co, hired car are available after landing. Can you suggest for staying arrangement in diff places

Hi Varghis bhai,

I am planning a Leh trip from 13 July to 25 July on motorbike. IS t his best time to visit Leh…considering there will be no rain?

There can be some rain around Kashmir Valley and Manali Deepu Bhai so please pack and prepare accordingly.

Hi Bhai, I am From Pune. me n my 3 friends planning for Leh trip in August (20-29) or October (10-18) by flight from delhi to Leh.. Which is most preferable dates?

And more are roads are open if we go from Manali or Srinagar?

Srinagar Leh road will be but Manali to Leh may get closed.

Hi Pranita – October 10-18 will be preferable. It will be a bit cold but number of tourists would definitely be less

Thanks for reply. But we are not getting tours on October. They are saying it’s not preferable and we don’t arrange in October. What to do ?

Why do you want to go with a tour company? Just fly into Leh and rent a taxi there. That will cost you much less.

Hi Vargis Bhai.. I am from Kerala Planning for a Solo bike ride from Chandigarh to Ladakh in the Month of September (Say from 8 to 17). I have R15 V3. Please advice if it is Ok with R 15? Can you please help me finalizing an itinerary for me for this schedule? Thanking you in advance. Manoj Daya

Remove the lower faring from the bike Manoj Bhai, rest should be fine. Please take a look at the following post about itinerary.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/ladakh-travel-guide/

Hello Vargis bhai,

I’m very grateful for your blogs and info as it helped me a lot last year when i did Manali-Leh-Srinagar. Thanks a ton.

I’m planning for another ride this year and i have mentioned itinerary below. Kindly review once and let me know if you find any challenges or have any alternate suggestions. Your approval will be my ‘Final-Go’ 😛

Sept 22nd : Chandigarh – Narkanda 23rd : Narkanda – Chitkul 24th : Chitkul – Nako 25th : Nako – Kaza (via Geu mummy temple) 26th : Villages around Kaza 27th : Kaza – Chandartaal 28th : Chandartaal – Jispa 29th : Jispa – Leh 30th : Leh (get the ILP and all) 1st Oct : Leh – Tso Moriri 2nd : Tso Moriri – Hanle 3rd : Hanle – Umling La – Hanle 4th : Hanle to Leh 5th : Leh – Sonmarg 6th : Sonmarg to Gulmarg 7th : Gulmarg (Local) 8th : Gulmarg – Sheshnag (via Srinagar and Pahalgam) 9th : Sheshnag – Jammu/Udhampur 10th : Jammu/Udhampur – Chandigarh.

Please let me on the closure of any routes mentioned above if you think the dates doesnt go with the climate. Also if you find that Oct 1st or 2nd week is too late to ride on those roads due to snowfall or closing the road for usual traffic (Keeping in mind that roads can be closed anytime due to climate but still)

P.S : I have Royal enfield Himalayan with me to ride, just so that it can help you to analyse the status.

Please reply back with your opinion.

Thank you for all the assistance, Sagar

Hi Sagar Bhai,

1. Umling La in all probability won’t be allowed. 2. Leh to Sonamarg will be too long, you may have to break at Drass. 3. Add a day in Pahalgam. Gulmarg to Pahalgam and then trek to the lake will be tough. And it would be a shame to come to Pahalgam and not stay there a day.

Wow, Thank you so much for opening up my mind Vargis bhai 😛 So you mean to say – Umling la is not possible at all ? 🙁 Its not open for civilians yet thats what you meant ? – As i will be travelling to leh via Kaza and not Rohtang, then ILP is not necessary right ? But what if they ask me for ILP in Koksar and Sarchu check post ? Will they leave me without ILP ? – So you would suggest a day ride from Gulmarg straight to Sheshnag and next day stay at Pahalgam then leave towards chandigarh ?

1. As of last year and as of now Umling La is out of bound for tourists. We should know more once tourist season starts. 2. ILP is something u get for Ladakh in Leh. If you are asking Rohtang Permit, then you do not need it as you will come from Kaza. 3. No. Reach Pahalgam, check in to a hotel and plan the trek the next day. Keep a day in Pahalgam for sightseeing purpose.

Im from Malaysia and Leh has been in my bucket-list. I find your articles helpful and based on that I have outlined the below itinerary: Day 1- Fly fr Delhi to Leh. Walk around Leh in the evening. Day2- Leh & surrounding- Shanti Stuppa, Leh Palace & Thiksey Monastery Day 3- Leh- Nubra Valley- Khardungla Pass, Maitreya Buddha Statue, Hundur Sand dunes Day4: Nubra-Panggong Tso Day 5: Panggong Tso to Leh via Changla Pass Day 6: Leh- Basgo- Hall of Fame, Basgo Monastery, Magnetic Hill Day 7: Back to Delhi.

Intially planned end of May but flight cost was very high. Thinking of 20th April/ Aug 9th/ 9 Sept.

My question: Hows the itinerary and what would be the best time to go among the dates. Its for 2adults and 1 child (9yo).

Sorry long post. TQ

Hi Shamini – Yes the itinerary is perfect but only if you are going to rent a private taxi for entire trip. There is no public transport available on Nubra to Pangong direct route.

Hello. I am planning to visit Ladakh & Nubra valley in first week of March 2019. 1. Could you let me know what temperature will I get at that time? 2. Will I get running water in tap, electricity, and basic other necessities at that time? 3. Will I be able to stay at Nubra Valley at that time?

See this post please.

Hello bro… We r planning to visit ladhak on 30 dec to 2 jan is it a right time to visit there with family even i have one kid and he is 8 year old.. We r planning to come there by air from delhi…

Kindly give me a right feedback

Waiting for your kind reply??

Kunal Bhai it is not the best time but you can go if it is snow what you are after. Weather is very cold so please pack accordingly and take care of your little one. Keep him well covered and protected. Don’t let him run around and exhaust himself.

Hi friend, myself Aravind from Bangalore. We are planning to visit leh on first week of November. Is this the good time to visit considering climate and hotel availability?

November is not the best of the times to visit Ladakh but you can definitely plan a trip still. Just make sure that you pack well because it is really very cold over there right now.

We are 4 adults planning to go to Leh ladakh via Manali 1st week of October. I know this is not the right time to ask but it will be helpful if you could just suggest about the roads & things to carry.

Roads are all open and will be by first week of October. For things to carry, please see the following post.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/ladakh-checklist-things-to-carry-for-ladakh-trip/

Hi Vargis, we are 6 people planing to visit leh ladakh by next march end april first week. is it good time to visit there in march april.

Hi Sapan – You will have to take a flight as both the roads will still be blocked. It is a good time though since there won’t be many tourists around

Vargis bhai, which mobile network will work straight from jammu – leh – manali? i’ve reached jammu jammu today. pls suggest!!

Shubham Bhai only BSNL / MTNL will work at majority of the places. Rest all will be limited to only a few places.

Hello Vargis,

We are 5 adults planning to go for a trip to Leh ladakh from 11th aug- 18th august or 28th july – 4th august.

1.Could you just suggest if it the right time to visit all the sites in Leh enjoy the sight seeing. 2. Will it be raining heavily during this period? And will this spoil our sight seeing? 3. We are traveling by flight on both the dates.

Kindly give your suggestions.

Thank you, Shrddha

Hi Shrddha – If you are reaching Leh by flight and coming back the same way then you do not have to worry about rain. Ladakh is in rain shadow and it either rains very less there or not at all. Risk of rain is on the Manali – Leh and Srinagar – Leh route but you won’t be on those roads anyways.

Thank you for your reply. Yes we will be travelling by Flight. So as per your suggestion its a good time to go in mid August without worrying much about the rains and impact on the sight seeing , Right ?

Regards, Shrddha

And also since our tour is restricted to 6 days we are not visiting the Sham Valley and Shey village. Do you suggest we do these places or is it fine to drop them.

No, if you only have 6 days then drop these places.

Hi Shrddha – No one can really predict mother nature for sure. It is not supposed to be raining in Ladakh at all but then a cloudburst did happen in 2010. Historically though and with the exception of that one year, it doesn’t rain in Ladakh so much that it would disrupt your plan. If it does then there could be a temporary roadblock at top of the passes but that is usually for a few hours, at worst a day.

I m planning a trip to ley ladakh with my family via car. I wanted to see snow on both sides of the road, wanted to enjoy snow and wanted the journey to be safe. Roads should be clear and not broken as well. Plz recommend the month for the trip for both the routes( via manali and srinagar)?

If you want to see that much of snow that either go in April end or May first week as soon as Srinagar Leh highway opens. Or go in May end or June first week as soon as the Manali Leh highway opens. You will however only find this kind of snow either at Zojila top, or Rohtang Top or Baralacha La top, nowhere else.

You are welcome

Hello vargis bhai….thanks for this valuable information…I am planning my trip around 14th june via manali to leh road by hrtc bus….plz tell me whether hrtc bus service will be available at that time and will it be safe to travel manali leh highway around mid june ??

Hi Harry, It depends on how soon the road opens but in all probability, yes the HRTC bus will be available.

Thanks bhai

You are welcome Bhai

I would like to thank you for your blogs as they help a lot. After reviewing your blogs we planned for Saach Pass last year and now planning for Leh.

We are a family of 4, 2 kids age 8+ and 3+and planning to travel by safari in end of May via Srinagar Leh Highway.

Last year in Saach kids didn’t experienced any severe problem so we are daring this trip although we have bought oxi meter and cylinders for this trip

We would like to plan the trip for 10 days and would appreciate your advise

Regards Vani

Hi Sachin, Pleast take a look at the post below for some tips while traveling to Ladakh with kids. Please let me know if you need any other help.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/traveling-to-ladakh-with-children/

Hi Mr Vargis,

We are planning to visit Kashmir this coming September from 10 -19 and there will be 5 of us. FYI, we will arrive New Delhi on Sept 9 at 10.00 pm and will overnite in airport before we can catch early flight on the next morning.

Since this will be our first time travelling India/Kashmir, would like to seek your advise/opinion where should we drop first : i) Ladakh – then take bus from Ladakh to Srinagar and flight from Srinagar back to New Delhi or ii) Srinagar – then take bus to Leh (Ladakh) and fly back to New Delhi

– Is it enough time (10 days) to cover both Srinagar (Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam & Yusmarg) and Ladakh (Pangong Tso Lake, Tso Mariri, Khardungla Pass, Nubra Valley, Turtuk & visit old town city)? – Which route/way will be easier and cheaper? – Is there any place (above listed) is not suggested to visit in September? – is it possible for you to draft out rough itinerary for us for this trip?

Our flight from New Delhi to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) will be on 19 Sep at 11.10pm.

Hello Reita,

1. Landing in Sriangar, taking a bus to Ladakh and then flying out of Leh will be better. 2. 10 days is not at all sufficient to cover all the places. You must add more days to your travel plan. 3. Sriangar to Ladakh will be easier. 4. All can be visited in September. All areas are open. 5. 19 days as I suggested will not be enough. You will have to add more places. You will also have to hire a local taxi in Sriangar to cover Gulmarg, Yusmarg, Pahalgam etc. It will be hard to cover these by local buses.

Hi Vargis ji,

I am Sushruth from Mysore . My friends and I are planning to visit leh and Ladakh from 18th of June to 30th , we are more inclined towards hiring a self driven car ( may be zoom car) from Delhi and travel towards Leh. Is it advisable to self drive or do we need to accompany driver along with us , we are finding it difficult to decide on this factor since quite a few people have expressed that it is very difficult to drive on this highway . What do you advise ?

Hello Sushruth Ji – As long as you have decent enough driving experience including plains and hills both then it is Ok to drive on your own to Ladakh. Do keep in mind though that self drive rentals are only allowed till Leh. You will not be able to use it for sightseeing in Ladakh and will have to rent a loca taxi for that purpose.

Thank you. Aren’t the self driven cars allowed in nubra valley , khardung la and pangang so ?

You are welcome and no they are not.

hi, i am from haridwar, we (three families) are planing our trip in August (9th to 15th). is this a good time to travel leh ladakh and if you can please guide me about the iternary, places to visit n stay

August is the time of Monsoon but yes you can go. How are you traveling and for how many days?

Hello Vargis Bhai,

Thanks for the detail info. I am planning my trip based on your blog.

I am from Bangladesh and planning for a Bike trip from Manali to Leh with couple of my friends. We have two choices for the trip. 14th June to 24th June and 20th August to 30th August.

Which time will be perfect for us?? We are semi professional riders 😛 😛

Hello Islam Bhai, June will be better as August is the time for monsoon and that may create some problem.

Hi Vargis Bhai, happened to read about ‘black ice’. Is thia a real threat for riders? Have you personally experienced it? Am going on 1st week of september. Will you be around there that time?

Hello Dennis Bhai – I have experienced it but not while going to Ladakh. It was during a different trip in Himachal. Don’t worry, you won’t find any of it in September. Threat of black ice is usually early in the morning, after the sun comes up it melts away.

Sir, myself from Kerala. I am planning to visit Leh , by the the first of October. Bolero is my vehicle. I am planning around a15 days trip. I covered all your articles. Great help you are offering through this. Is that a good option, that start by 1st October or start by last week September like 25th .. ???

Thanks in advance

Hello Sarath – Timing is OK. I would recommend that you start by last week of September, take the Manali Leh highway to reach Ladakh and come back via Srinagar.

Thanks a lot, friend. I guess tyre sealants are not a practical option…

Hi Vargis, how are the possibilities of getting a puncture along ladakh route? 9Since enfield isnt tubeless) Is SLIME sealant a good option? getting conflicting opinions..curious to know what you say about slime/ any other sealant for tubed tyres. Thanks

Possibiity is high DJ Bhai. During my last trip to Ladakh, I had 9 flat tyres total in 12 days, almost one every day. Best way out is to carry 2-3 spare tubes, a foot pump and tools to replace the tubes. Go to any mechanic or puncture repair shop and learn how to replace the tube. Once you know how to do that, you are good to go. If you get a flat tire, replace the tube, pump the air in and be on your way. Get the puncture tube fixed at the next repair shop you come across.

Hi Vargis, Do you have any updates on latest weather status in leh, Nubra and Pangong. I am planning to do these 3 places from 10th to 18th July on bike. Should I expect lot of rains?

Hi Bhushan – No rain around Leh, Nubra and Pangong. All routes are open.

Hi, thanks for so vivid details.we have planned a trip of 11 days from 29th August to 8 September 2017 covering the full moon on 6 September.includes srinagar 1 day,kargil 1 day,leh 4 days,nubra 2 days,pangong 1 day,tsomoriri 1day. Is this period or planning good for visit leh.

Hi Sougata, Timing is good. Let me know how how you have prepared your itinerary, how and where you are traveling from and I can suggest if the planning is good as well.

Our journey starts by night stay at srinagar (29th August) then to kargil(30th August) and leh (31st August& 1st sep ),nubra ( 2 nd & 3rd sep), back to leh (4th sep),pangong (5th sep), pangong to tsomoriri (6th sep),back to leh (7th sep), morning flight to Delhi(8th sep).we don’t want to cover leh manali route so it ends at leh.

Adjust one day from somewhere in the itinerary between Pangong and Tso Moriri. It is actually a 2 days journey. Which route do you intend on taking?

drive to Tomoriri via Tsagala.Leave in the morning and drive to Chumathang stop at Upshi for passport checking. On the way visit Sumdah village and then to Tso-moriri.

I am a bit confused here. Do you want to go to Moriri from Pangong via Changthang or from Leh via Chumathang?

Hi ! We, a family of 5 adults and 2 children, will not start from Manali for Leh before 30th September this year. Can we get any Govt transport that time? Please advise.

You may be able to board the HRTC bus, provided that it has not already snowed anywhere on the highway. HPTDC bus service gets withdrawn by Sep 15th.

Hi, is there local bus transport available from Leh to khardungla?

yes you can take any bus going towards Nubra valley. Read the article below for more details.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/leh-bus-service-buses-ladakh/

Hi, is there JKRTC bus service available from Leh to Khardungla?

Thanks for this truly well written article!

Thank you for taking the time to drop a note Dennis.

Hi, I am from Kerala, planing for a solo Enfield Ladakh ride in Sept. Any riders like to join? [email protected]

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Plan Your trip

• Best Time to Visit
• Best Time to Visit Ladakh

Ladakh, the Union Territory of India, has three seasons throughout the year: summer, monsoon & winter, out of which monsoon is almost negligible, since it hardly ever rains. The best time to visit Ladakh depends on the kind of experience you are looking to have, as both summer & winter bring their own delights.

• Best time to visit
• How to Reach
• Places to Visit
• Things to Do

When to Visit Ladakh for Holidays?

You can visit Ladakh anytime you want, although the tourist season begins from May and continues all the way to September. Since it hardly receives any rain, monsoons are a great time to visit it too. It is also accessible by flights during winters.

Climate in Ladakh

Summer Season (April till June, Temperature 5°C to 25°C)

The summer season in Ladakh begins from April and extends till June. During this time, the temperature ranges between 5℃ and 25℃. The tourist season in Ladakh begins in May.

Monsoon Season (July to September, Temperature 10°C to 25°C)

Ladakh is located in a high-altitude region, and receives very little to no rain from July to September. This is a great time to go sightseeing & enjoy all the other activities that Ladakh has to offer.

Winter Season (late October to February, Temperature -5°C to 10°C)

Winters in Ladakh begin from October and last till February. The entire region receives heavy snowfall, with some areas receiving heavier snowfall than the other. Places like Kargil experience harsh winters. The Chadar Treks, one of the most famous treks in Ladakh, is best enjoyed from mid January to mid February.

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Best Time To Visit Ladakh

From the month of May, the climate gets pleasant and Ladakh begins to receive visitors from all parts of the world. So, the best time to visit Ladakh is in summer, from mid-May to late September to get the best possible weather and the most spectacular scenery. During these months the pristine natural beauty of Ladakh would be at its best with scenic landscapes, lovely lakes, snow-capped mountains, and magnificent plateaus.

• Peak Season –  May to September
• Shoulder Season –  April, October, and November
• Low Season –  December to March

Ladakh is famous for its scenic conditions, which make Ladakh a popular summer vacation destination. And May to September is a great time to visit Ladakh to get the most from your trip. But there are many tourists who prefer to visit Ladakh in spring or winter. And if you are one of those then don’t worry, we have got you covered. You will find all the information you need about all the seasons of Ladakh and why should you visit Ladakh during that season. So, that you can get most of that season and enjoy your time best in Ladakh. After reading this article you can take an informed decision that which season is best for you to visit Ladakh.

Climate and weather of Ladakh

Ladakh has unique seasons, especially if you are new to the area or India as a whole. The area experiences extreme weather conditions. You need to be familiar with this fact before planning your tour. Even the most experienced tourist in the area will agree that the exact dates for opening up roads leading to this fantastic area are not static. It changes depending on the prevailing weather. And the monsoons in this region are far fewer as compared to the rest of India and hence you can see more variety in the climate and weather. The winter is mostly very cold and the monsoons do not make much impact on the climate of Ladakh. You can visit Ladakh in winter too but be ready to encounter extremely low temperatures during this time. The months of May to September are ideal for most of the tourist planning to visit Ladakh. During this time the climatic conditions are much milder than during the cold winter seasons.

Tourist preferred months to visit Ladakh

We have gathered information after doing some surveys to know the tourists’ preferred time to visit Ladakh and found some interesting facts. And we will answer you exactly which season would be best for you to visit Ladakh. We have grouped different months of the year as per the visiting preference of travelers.

• Pleasant climate (May, June, July, August, and September). Best time to visit Ladakh.
• Mild Cold weather (October, November, and April). Good time to visit Ladakh.
• Extreme cold weather (December, January, February, and March) . Chadar Trek Visit time.

Pleasant Climate (May, June, July, August, September) – Best time to visit Ladakh

Why you should visit now.

These months are well-known for their pleasant climate with a mildly cool breeze at night. Adventure seekers from across the country throng to Ladakh to enjoy the charm of this pleasant climate. Also, the most popular tourist destinations with unique geographical features are easily accessible by road during these months. All these provide amazing opportunities for tourists to view the lovely valleys, spectacular peaks, and stunning landscapes of Ladakh. The beautiful, sunny weather also allows you to try and experience Lakhadi cuisine taking in the outside environment as many times as you want without worrying about the cold or the rain. You can also get luscious teas and local Tibetan and Lakhadi beverages and food like delicious Momos or Thukpa. During the summer season is when the markets are at their peak all the businesses including bakeries, restaurants have got their best products out at very affordable prices.

Starting from the month of May, all the businesses and tourist spots would be opened. Markets have started to function in full swing allowing you to cosset in almost everything that this amazing place has to offer. The bright sunny sky and pleasurably warm weather with a mildly cool breeze is a treat to the soul. Beautiful camping sites like the Pangong Tso Lake, watching nature do its wonders and all the birds, insects, and trees dancing to the rhythm of nature takes the human delight and glee to another level. Watching an abundance of tourists all coming from different areas of the country during this peak season makes you appreciate diversity and you can’t help but be happy around people that are likely engulfed by the beauty of this small little town. Beautiful lakes can be enjoyed best in day time of summer, reflecting the vast blue sky, all-encompassing the beautiful Himalayan Mountains, whereas at night the beauty of lakes is enhanced by the starry night skies.

These five months are also the best time to visit Ladakh for bike riders. Biking in Ladakh is a luxury to the senses as you steer the dreamlike sceneries and landscapes. Traveling through the incredible Khardung la that is possibly the world’s highest motorable road at an overwhelming height of 17,500 feet is nothing less than a heavenly experience. If you are an adventure seeker, the summer season is the best to plan a trip, when the ecosystem is refreshed and wildlife and nature unlock its gate to helm their way through Ladakh’s elegant valleys, culturally rich villages, centuries-old Gompas (monasteries), veiled valleys, arduous passes, and snug accommodations during journeys that can take days to complete that you will be able to treasure for the rest of your life.

Activities during this period

Among so many other activities you are offered in this place, you can also enjoy rafting in this season in Ladakh that will cover the Kharu-Spituk route for first-time travelers to the stimulating Phey-Nimmo on the Indus River for people who are pro at rafting. The summer season in Leh Ladakh offers your senses with many miracles of nature, you can take safari across dunes of Huner in Nubra Valley and hop on Bactrian camels or indulge in aero-sports offered by the region in this season for the adrenaline junkies. Also, the high treks in Ladakh can be best enjoyed in the summer months. In fact, the summer season is the best time for trekking in Ladakh. The moderate temperature makes Ladakh a wonderful place for summer trekking. The cool climate and the challenging landscape of Ladakh make Ladakh one of the most popular destinations for summer trekking. And the Ladakh tour packages available during summer help you make the most of this and other adventurous activities available in Ladakh.

Festivals during this period

Depending on the Tibetan calendar you can also experience the Hemis Festival that falls around summer as well in the Hemis Monastery enabling you to experience one of the oldest and richest cultures of the world. The display of Cham-the masked dance by the Monks in cultural attires that are colorful and hypnotic with the beautiful tunes of their indigenous music is a sight that you will get to see only if you are lucky and plan your trip in this season. Locals are dressed in their traditional apparel with their inimitable headgear and jewels to celebrate this festival.

However, if you were to take all these elements into consideration, you might realize that May to September is the best time to visit Ladakh to make the most of your vacation. Not only does Ladakh offer some of the best scenery to be found anywhere, but it also offers a great vacation or getaway atmosphere for many people who want to get away from the larger cities and the hustle and bustle of life. And that is why it is among the finest places on the planet where a lot of tourists come to experience its unmatched beauty during this time. So, these five-months are the best time for travelers to visit Ladakh. During our survey, we found most of the tourists who were visiting during these five months were completely satisfied with the moderate and pleasing weather.

Travel tips

• Book your flight tickets early, as, it’s a peak season the prices would go higher.
• Rest on the first day of arrival and stay hydrated for acclimatization
• Carry an oxygen cylinder in your vehicle before visiting higher altitude places
• Wear sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful rays.
• Wear goggle during sunny days
• Check the weather prediction report a day before your visit
• Carry a BSNL, Airtel, or Jio postpaid SIM card with you

Mild cold weather (October, November, and April)

Now that you know that May till September is the best time to visit Ladakh, you should also know what’s in the months of April, October, and November that might interest you to visit this enchanting place.

The weather would not be balmy during these months, as a spell of winter should be in effect. April is the end of the winter season and November is the beginning of the winter season. You might also experience snowfall during these months. As much as snowfall is a beautiful blessing of Nature and all the living things, plants we consume, the water we drink, wildlife would not be able to survive without this blessing. However, it can get messy and cause many problems as well especially for tourists who travel around Leh Ladakh instigating sporadic roadblocks and landslides, you can be prone to a bit of danger. Many people don’t tend to travel to Leh Ladakh in this season because it limits their sightseeing and other activities, the markets also slow down so you can have difficulty finding things that you need. To enjoy the full and true spirit of Leh Ladakh you should opt to plan your trip between May and October. Sometimes the temperature drops below the freezing point during these months. The nights are very cold and uncomfortable as complained by a lot of tourists.

Also, it is not a suitable time to ride a bike in Ladakh. The cold weather makes it very hard for bike riders to keep themselves warm and enjoy the beautiful sights of Leh Ladakh. As beautiful and magical as the scenery can be October is not the best time for a bike trip to Leh Ladakh to be able to enjoy the place abundantly and whole-heartedly, you will be feeling cold more than anything else.

It may not be the best time to visit Ladakh, but don’t get disheartened, streets are less crowded during this time. And these months are the ideal time for travelers on a budget to Ladakh because the peak tourist season is just starting in May or ended in September and good hotel rooms are available at affordable rates. And It would be easy to find a hotel in Ladakh that suits your needs and budget. There are many luxury hotels that offer great prices during these non-tourist seasons.  When it comes to the great sceneries during these months, nothing beats the scenic view of snow-capped mountains. The vibrant and fresh atmosphere that gives the crisp feeling and the spectacular scenery of majestic mountains make it an unforgettable experience for many travelers. The cool breeze of the Himalayas will blow the chill winds of winter. You can still visit some of the most beautiful attractions of Ladakh. In fact, most of the tourists are captivated by the splendor and grandeur of these rejuvenating landscapes. Tourists who visit Ladakh during these months should dress up properly in warm clothes because this is the time to beat the cold!

As per the travelers, the weather is good but a little chilly during these three months of October, November, and April. However, some tourists found nights to be very cold during November and April. So, visiting Ladakh during these months of the year is a good idea but you should carry enough warm clothes to wear.

• On the day of arrival, rest for few hours for acclimatization and stay hydrated
• Carry warm clothes like thermals and sweaters
• Carry mask and sanitizers
• Check weather prediction report at least a day before your visit
• Carry a lip balm
• Carry a power bank with you, as there are multiple power cuts in Ladakh

Extreme cold weather (December, January, February, and March)

These are the coldest months of the year, that’s why it’s often difficult to bear for the people who visit Ladakh during this time of the year. Most of the recreation options are closed during this period because of the freezing cold air and heavy snowfall. Most of the attractions and other significant places remain shut during this period and the only popular activity is the Chadar trek on the frozen river of Zanskar. Moreover, only a few shops remain open for shopping during the winter months. The weather is so varied that you never know what kind of weather you’re going to get – you could be lucky enough to get a sunny day, or you could be subjected to what is sometimes referred to as ‘the winter of your life. There are many reasons for this, not least the fact that Ladakh is so isolated during this period that there is little chance of experiencing the rest of the world while you’re there. Since there is snow all over the place, it is advisable not to go outside during the time of the heavy snowfalls. Moreover, ensure to have an appropriate pair of winter footwear as they are more difficult to deal with in the snow .

This is definitely the coldest time of year, but it certainly has its share of spectacular scenery. You can enjoy the amazing view of snow-covered landscapes and the majestic mountains. But it’s not just the landscapes and the mountains that are popular in winter – the amazing Ladakhi culture has a huge part to play. There are many interesting festivals, and you can take part in the process, or simply enjoy and admire it. If you would prefer to take part in winter activities, there are several options. You can go ice climbing, and ice skate in the many places that are open during these months. Or if you’re feeling brave, you can try the Chadar trek to enjoy the walk on the frozen river Zanskar. Chadar trek starts in the month of January and ends in February. You can enjoy the wonderful view of unique waterfalls during the Chadar trek.

Besides, the cold climate makes for some of the best winter sports such as ice skating and snowboarding. However, due to the low infrastructure in Ladakh and the shortage of essential winter supplies, these sports remain difficult to enjoy to the fullest. The winter in Ladakh also offers the visitors a chance to explore the beautiful landscape, frozen lakes, rivers, cliffs, alpine terrains, and more. Also, you can enjoy the festival such as Spituk Gostor festival, Ladakh Losar (New year of Ladakh), Stok Festival, Dosmoche, Thiksay Gostor, etc. And there is something absolutely amazing about seeing a Ladakh glacier up close. You can explore them during this time and there are guided tours available where you can follow the path of the glaciers and see them in their glory. And, there are also numerous places where you can enjoy the wonders of the enchanting icy surfaces. There are several winter resorts in Ladakh that provide the required comfort and facilities for the winter in Ladakh tour.

It’s important to be aware of the weather conditions before embarking on your Ladakh getaway. Even if you don’t have to deal with snow, the temperature can drop to below the freezing point at -20°C. So you want to make sure that you can bring warm clothes and a few layers of clothing. You also need to think about bringing an extra pair of boots to protect your feet. After all, you won’t want to be out in the middle of nowhere in the dead of winter – why get yourself in trouble?

• On the day of arrival, it is very important to rest to acclimatize the body and stay hydrated
• Carry a winter jacket
• Don’t leave the plane on arrival until you wear the winter jacket and woolen cap
• Carry heavy woolen socks, woolen monkey cap, and woolen hand gloves
• Carry a lip balm and cold cream
• Carry a power bank with you, as the cold temperature drains out the battery quickly. And there are multiple power cuts in Ladakh

Month-wise  weather data  of Ladakh to choose the best suitable month for you to visit

As, weather plays a very important role to time your visit to Ladakh, use the month-wise weather data of Ladakh given in the table above before planning a visit to Ladakh.

Read the month-wise summarised data of the weather of Ladakh and temperature below which would be very helpful to plan your visit to Ladakh. The data given on this page is pulled from the climate-data website , and timeanddate website , as the data of these websites, are more accurate than any other weather data of Ladakh. The data shows the average weather of the whole Ladakh. So, the actual weather may vary from place to place in Ladakh.

Weather in Ladakh during the month of January

January is the coldest month of Ladakh. HIghway to Ladakh from Srinagar and Manali would be closed during this month. Taking a flight to Leh would be the only way to reach Ladakh in January. This extremely cold weather affects the water supply. If you visit Ladakh in January you will notice water scarcity. A lot of shops and tourist spots would be closed during this month. There would be heavy snowfall during this month. You can ice skate on the surface of frozen lakes, as the surface of lakes and rivers freezes. Also, Chadar Trek on the frozen Zanskar River starts in January until mid-February. If you are an adventure seeker, you can visit Ladakh in January for the Chadar trek.

• The average maximum temperature in January 2021: -15.3 °C (4.4 °F)
• The lowest temperature: -26.2 °C (-15.1 °F)
• The average snowfall in January 2021 was of 8 days with a total of 35 mm.
• The longest day of the month was the 31st of January 2021.
• The shortest day of the month was the 1st of January 2021.
• The number of daylight hours on the longest day in February 2021 amounts to 10 hours, 31 minutes, and 04 seconds.
• The number of daylight hours on the shortest day in February 2021 amounts to 9 hours, 55 minutes, and 32 seconds.

Weather in Ladakh in the month of February

The month of February is more or less the same as the month of January. February is the second coldest month of Ladakh. The highway would be closed making flight the only viable option to arrive Leh. Chadar trek continues during this month too and a lot of tourists participate in the Chadar Trek. You can visit Ladakh during this month for snow leopard trekking in Hemis National park. Don’t worry it would be very less crowded and you would really enjoy it.

• The average maximum temperature in February 2021: -13.1 °C (8.5 °F)
• The lowest temperature in February 2021: -22.8 °C (-9 °F)
• The average snowfall in February 2021 was of 9 days with a total of 43 mm.
• The longest day of the month was the 28th of February 2021
• The shortest day of the month was the 1st of February 2021
• The number of daylight hours on the longest day in February 2021 amounts to 10 hours, 32 minutes, and 46 seconds
• The number of daylight hours on the shortest day in February 2021 amounts to 11 hours, 25 minutes, and 05 seconds.

Weather in Ladakh in the month of March

The month of March is considered the last month of winter. And finally, the spell of harsh freezing winter ends with the end of this month. However, the weather would still be very cold but lesser cold than the month of February. You can visit Ladakh in March to see the snow on roads and mountains.

• The average maximum temperature in March 2020: -9.4 °C (15 °F)
• The lowest temperature in March 2020: -20.8 °C (-5.4 °F)
• The average snowfall in March 2020 was of 9 days with a total of 45 mm.
• The longest day of the month is the 31st of March 2021.
• The shortest day of the month was the 1st of March 2021.
• The number of daylight hours on the longest day in March 2021 amounts to 12 hours, 31 minutes, and 12 seconds.
• The number of daylight hours on the shortest day in March 2021 amounts to 11 hours, 27 minutes, and 11 seconds.

Weather in Ladakh in the month of April

The month of April is the end of the winter season and the start of the spring season. This is the month when tourists start visiting Ladakh. But don’t expect the usual Indian spring season which is mild and pleasant. It would be ice cold at some places during nights with the temperature dropping below -2°C at some point.

Although there won’t be any heavy snowfall, there might be some light snowfall during this month. The Zojila road which is the gateway to Ladakh usually opens in the month of April. But don’t rely on it. And the traffic movement starts with a lot of tourists visiting Ladakh. If you visit Ladakh by road during this month, you might experience some roadblocks and you have to wait for a long time to get the road cleared.

The early weeks of April might be very cold but you will notice green leaves bursting out of trees in the last week of April. The green leaves start growing from the month of March but can be seen clearly in the month of May. The glaciers starting to melt during the mid-spring season and during the end of the spring season, the water level of rivers slowly rises .

• The average maximum temperature in April 2020: -4.3 °C (24.3 °F)
• The lowest temperature in April 2020: -16.6 °C (2 °F)
• The average snowfall in April 2020 was of 8 days with a total of 45 mm.
• The longest day of the month 30th of April 2021.
• The shortest day of the month 1st of April 2021.
• The number of daylight hours on the longest day in April 2021 amounts to 13 hours, 31 minutes, and 21 seconds.
• The number of daylight hours on the shortest day in April 2021 amounts to 12 hours, 33 minutes, and 12 seconds.

Weather in Ladakh in the month of May

The weather would be pleasant with bright sunny days in May but the nights would be chilly. The snow begins to melt during this month and a lot of tourists who visit Ladakh by road get to see snow for the first time. This month is considered to be a good time for travelers to visit Ladakh by road.

• The average maximum temperature in May 2020: 1.5 °C (34.7 °F)
• The lowest temperature in May 2020:-11.1 °C (12 °F)
• The average snowfall in May 2020 was of 8 days with a total of 45 mm.
• The longest day of the month 31st of May.
• The shortest day of the month 1st of May
• The number of daylight hours on the longest day in May 2021 amounts to 14 hours, 16 minutes, and 05 seconds.
• The number of daylight hours on the shortest day in May 2021 amounts to 13 hours, 33 minutes, and 10 seconds.

Weather in Ladakh in the month of June

The month of June brings the end of the spring season. The weather would be very pleasant during day time but some nights would be chilly at higher altitude areas like Pangong. The month of June is one of the best months to visit Ladakh.

• The average maximum temperature in June 2020: 8.6 °C (47.5 °F)
• The lowest temperature in June 2020: -4.6 °C (23.7 °F)
• The average snowfall in June 2020 was of 8 days with a total of 43 mm.
• The longest day of the year is the 21st of June 2021.
• The shortest day of the month 1st of June 2021.
• The number of daylight hours on the longest day in June 2021 amounts to 14 hours, 26 minutes, and 09 seconds
• The number of daylight hours on the shortest day in June 2021 amounts to 14 hours, 17 minutes, and 00 seconds

Weather in Ladakh in the month of July

May, June, July, and August are the best four months of Ladakh weather with a pleasant climate and moderate temperature. The natural beauty of Kargil can be seen in its best during this month. Tourists love the weather of Ladakh during this time of the year.

• The average maximum temperature in July 2020: 14.8 °C (58.7 °F)
• The lowest temperature in July 2020: 2.5 °C (36.4 °F)
• The average snowfall in July 2020 was of 10 days with a total of 53 mm.
• The longest day of the month 1st of July 2021.
• The shortest day of the month 31st of July 2021.
• The number of daylight hours on the longest day in July 2021 amounts to 14 hours, 23 minutes, and 43 seconds.
• The number of daylight hours on the shortest day in July 2021 amounts to 13 hours, 51 minutes, and 41 seconds.

Weather in Ladakh in the month of August

The climate would be pleasant with bright sunny days. The weather at night might be very pleasing during this month. Visiting Ladakh during this month would be a great idea considering the pleasing weather. However, the sunshine would be of very high intensity, so, you should wear sunscreen and sunglasses during this month in Ladakh.

• The average maximum temperature in August 2020: 15.3 °C (59.5 °F)
• The lowest temperature in August 2020: 4.1 °C (39.4 °F)
• The average snowfall in August 2020 was of 11 days with a total of 64 mm.
• The longest day of the month is the 1st of August 2021.
• The shortest day of the month is the 31st of August 2021.
• The number of daylight hours on the longest day in August 2021 amounts to 13 hours, 50 minutes, and 07 seconds.
• The number of daylight hours on the shortest day in August 2021 amounts to 12 hours, 54 minutes, and 44 seconds.

Weather in Ladakh in the month of September

Although the month of September is a time of Summer in Ladakh, the last week of September brings chilly air of winter and the temperature might begin to decrease. For the local inhabitants of Ladakh, this month is the best month of the year. As harvesting starts in September. A lot of festivals can be seen during this month of pleasant weather.

• The average maximum temperature in September 2020: 10.5 °C (50.8 °F)
• The lowest temperature in September 2020: -1.6 °C (29.1 °F)
• The average snowfall in September 2020 was of 7 days with a total of 37 mm.
• The longest day of the September month in the year 2021 is the 1st of September.
• The shortest day of the September month in the year 2021 is the 30th of September.
• The number of daylight hours on the longest day in September 2021 amounts to 12 hours, 52 minutes, and 42 seconds.
• The number of daylight hours on the shortest day in September 2021 amounts to 11 hours, 52 minutes, and 04 seconds.

Weather in Ladakh in the month of October.

The month of October is the Autumn season of Ladakh. The Last week of October may bring the cold weather of early winter. On sunny days it might be mild temperature during day time. But the nights of October month might be very cold. Also, there is a chance that you might experience snowfall during this month. Visiting Ladakh during this time of the year would be very affordable, as hotels and Taxis offer great discounts.

• The average maximum temperature in October 2020: 2.3 °C (36.2 °F)
• The lowest temperature in October 2020: -11.2 °C (11.9 °F)
• The average snowfall in October 2020 was of 4 days with a total of 19 mm.
• The longest day of the month is the 31st of October 2021.
• The shortest day of the month is 1st of October 2021.
• The number of daylight hours on the longest day in October 2021 amounts to 11 hours, 49 minutes, and 58 seconds.
• The number of daylight hours on the shortest day in October 2021 amounts to 10 hours, 49 minutes, and 20 seconds.

Weather in Ladakh in the month of November.

This is the month of late autumn or early winter. If there would be snowfall during this month, it would bring the cold breeze of winter. Also, the Zojila road gets blocked. If it doesn’t snow then the temperature might stay above freezing point and the Zojila road remains open. So, if you are visiting Ladakh during this month, you should consider booking the return ticket to not take the risk of the Zojila roadblock.

• The average maximum temperature in November 2020: -5.9 °C (21.4 °F)
• The lowest temperature in November 2020: -19.8 °C (-3.6 °F)
• The average snowfall in November 2020 was of 4 days with a total of 20 mm.
• The longest day of the month is the 1st of November 2021.
• The shortest day of the month is the 30th of November 2021.
• The number of daylight hours on the longest day in November 2021 amounts to 10 hours, 47 minutes, and 28 seconds.
• The number of daylight hours on the shortest day in November 2021 amounts to 10 hours, 03 minutes, and 53.

Weather in Ladakh in the month of December.

December is the month of extreme cold with a freezing temperature. All the water bodies get frozen during this month. During this month the temperature barely rises above 0°C. Heavy snowfall during this month causes the temperature to fall below the freezing degree.

• The average maximum temperature in December 2020: -12.6 °C (9.3 °F)
• The lowest temperature in December 2020: -25.4 °C (-13.8 °F)
• The average snowfall in December 2020 was of 5 days with a total of 25 mm.
• The longest day of the month is the 1st of December 2021.
• The shortest day of the year is the 21st of December 2021.
• The number of daylight hours on the longest day in December 2021 amounts to 10 hours, 02 minutes, and 53 seconds.
• The number of daylight hours on the shortest day in December 2021 amounts to 09 hours, 52 minutes, and 29 seconds.

Best time to visit the top tourist attractions in Ladakh.

Best time to visit nubra valley in ladakh.

Nubra Valley is famous for its wonderful natural landscapes and unique sand dunes that offer a spectacular view of natural beauty. The road to the beautiful valley of Nubra is accessible throughout the year. But during the months of November to March, the weather would be extremely cold and there would be snowfall. The month of April is a good time to visit Nubra, but the chill of winter would be still there and you might feel very cold during the nights. However, May and June is the best time to visit Nubra. when the weather would be pleasant. The months of July and August are also not a very good time to visit the Nubra valley. As you might experience very blazing hot weather during the day time. September is a great time to visit Nubra with its pleasing climate. And October is also a good time to visit Nubra valley, but the nights might be very cold.

So, the best time to visit Nubra Valley is April, May, June, September, and October. During these months, a walk through this valley will rejuvenate your mind and spirit. Trekking in and around the Yarab Tso is the perfect way to explore and enjoy the natural beauty of Nubra valley. And camel Safari would be best enjoyed during these months of the year. And the night camping would be amazing, in the evening, people sit around a fire to sing, talk and share poetry. The distance from Leh to Nubra Valley is around 160km and it would take 4 to 5 hours drive to reach.

Best time to visit Pangong Lake and Tsomoriri Lake in Ladakh

The Pangong and Tso Moriri Lake are the two most famous lakes of Ladakh. May to September is the best time to visit these enchanting Lakes. You can also visit the lakes during winter, as the lake gets frozen, you can walk or ice skate on it. But to enjoy the wonderful view of these lakes to their fullest, May to September is the best time to visit.

Best time for Leh Sight seeing in Ladakh.

You can visit Leh any time of the year for sightseeing. Famous tourist attractions in Leh are Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace, Hall of fame, Magnetic Hill, Spituk Monastery, Gurudwara Pather Sahib, Sangam: Indus-Zanskar river Confluence, Rancho’s School, Shey Palace, Thiksey Monastery, and more. The best tourist preferred time to visit these places is April to October.

Best time for Kargil Sight seeing in Ladakh.

The natural beauty of Kargil can be enjoyed any time of the year. But the peak tourist season of Kargil sightseeing is May to October. During these months the Zojila road stays open, so a lot of tourists visit Kargil via Srinagar. Famous tourist attractions of Kargil to enjoy during these months are Kargil Warfare Memorial, Suruh Valley, Hunderman Village, Pensila valley.

Best time for Zanskar Valley in Ladakh.

Zanskar valley is very popular among tourists as it provides magnificent sightseeing panoramas. The best time to visit Zanskar valley is from Late June to September. During these months you can enjoy the picturesque and attractive locations in this valley, which adds all the more to its popularity. The picturesque surrounding and the peaceful environment of Zanskar are very soothing and help one to reflect on their happiness and sorrows. You can arrive at Zanskar valley from Srinagar to Kargil and then from Kargil to Zanskar. Or you can travel Zanskar valley directly from Leh.

Best time for Chadar trek in Ladakh.

January and February are the months when the thick ice sheets of frozen Zanskar river are good enough to trek.

Final words

You can visit Ladakh any time of the year if you are free only at a particular time of the year. However, if you have the flexibility in scheduling your vacation to visit Ladakh any time of the year, then May to late September is the best time to schedule your visit to Ladakh.

If you are planning your visit right now. Visit the Ladakh tour Packages page and go through the packages that we offer. If you have any more questions, you can send us a mail or call us between 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Related Questions

Leh ladakh opening time 2021.

The NH1 road from Srinagar opens earlier than the Manali road. And the NH1 road usually opens in April. In the year 2021, the road was opened on the 28th of February, but heavy snowfall on the Zojila pass caused the road to block again. As per the officials, the road would open again in the first week of April.

How many seasons are there in Ladakh?

For the local residents of Ladakh, the seasons are like any other place. i.e, 1. Spring. (April, May, and June) 2. Summer (July, August, and September) 3. Autumn (October, November, and December) 4. Winter (January, February, and March)

Which is the hottest month of Year in Ladakh?

July and August are the hotest months of the year in Ladakh.

Which is the coldest month of Year in Ladakh?

January is the coldest month of the year in Ladakh.

Which month does it snow in Ladakh?

Snowfall can be seen anytime during the months of October, November, December, January, February, March and April. But January and February are the months of Heavy snowfall.

When can I see snow in Ladakh?

There can be snowfall anytime up to the month of April in Ladakh, but the snow at the roadside melts completely only in the last week of June. So, you can visit anytime up to June to see snow in Ladakh. However, you need to visit Ladakh via NH1 road from Srinagar to play with snow at the roadside. Snow at mountains and glaciers can be seen around the year, and you can visit any time of the year to watch this snow from a distance.

When does the Zojila road gets open?

The status of Zojila completely relies on the weather. Heavy snowfall causes the road to gets blocked. The snowfall has to be cleared out of the way to open the highway for traffic. The roads usually gets blocked in the month of November and open in the month of April. However, changes in weather may change the pattern.

Is the weather of Ladakh suitable for vacation?

The weather of Ladakh in summer is deemed suitable and pleasant for tourists to spend their vacation. Check the table given above to see which month is best for you to visit Ladakh. However, you will notice a difference in Ladakh weather because of the high altitude nature of this area.

Is the humidity very low in Ladakh?

The amount of precipitation in Ladakh is very variable. Ladakh is one of the driest parts of the country. In this dry village, sweet and rich apricots grow.

How to prepare for Ladakh weather?

If you have already planned for a Ladakh trip. It would be best to check the weather forecast in the evening before you start your trip. The weather keeps changing, so, don’t rely on one forecast. Keep checking the forecast. The forecast of weather is most accurate a day earlier. Double-check the morning of the Ladakh trip.

Regardless of the predictions, the weather may change really quickly and dramatic differences between one place and the another are no exception. Therefore it is best to be prepared for weather variations. Pack some warm clothes, no matter what season you are traveling to Ladakh or whatever the forecast is predicting.

Book your Ladakh Trip with us for the best deals. Find our Leh Ladakh bike trip packages here.

Sam K. Pandepa

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Best Time To Visit Ladakh

Best season to visit leh ladakh.

The Best time to visit Ladakh is during the summer season from the month of April to July during this time Ladakh temperature is between 15 to 30 Degree Celsius. Ladakh is known for its extremely low temperatures almost all through the year. While it is quite pleasant in the summer time, the winters are exceedingly cold unforgiving. Well, in that case, naturally the best time to visit Ladakh is during the summers.

Summers in Ladakh (June- September) are truly beautiful with moderate temperatures and hospitable environment for the tourists. During the remaining part of the year, the Manali-Leh highway which is the only means to reach Ladakh , remains non-functional. Although, there is another route, that can be used to reach the place, the Srinagar-Leh highway, it can get affected with landslides as well. Moreover, it is during summers that you can enjoy the entire setup of the place in totality. Said to be a dream destination for most of the people, Ladakh comes across to be a worth visiting place for the travellers. Be it the splendid set up showcasing snow covered mountains well blended with alluring valleys and lakes, Ladakh is sure to touch your chord at its best. Beautifully displaying the sights of the splendid field of valleys and slopes adjoined with the relishing knowledge of perseverance via the spectacularly beautiful neighbourhood, this place calls to endure you with the best experience.  However, the land of Ladakh has its own charm in the winters as well. This is the reason why many people, especially the truly adventurous ones, seek to visit the place when it is blanketed in snow. The Frozen River Trek , which is also one of the most famous and unique treks, is also carried out in winter, upping the excitement quotient in the travellers to visit Ladakh during this harsh but glorious period. Check out some more amazing best places to visit in Ladakh before you plan your trip.

2023 Most Popular Ladakh Tour Packages

Ladakh during the summer time (march- june).

While you ponder over and continuously think about the, you would be happy to read through this piece of information that endures enlightening to the fullest regarding the popular times to visit Ladakh along with the Best Season to Visit Ladakh.

Ladakh Temperature

20-30 Degrees

Ladakh weather remains warm and comfortable and sun shines brightly.

Why to visit now

Out of all the seasons, summer calls to be one of the best seasons when you can witness and enjoy the energizing surrounding of the place to the fullest. At this season the snow seems to have softened rendering spectacular buzz of sceneries.The late April showcases excellent changes. The Pangong Tso lake and the Tso Moriri lake begin to melt fast at this time considerably disclosing the spectacular hue and sight of the place. At this time Leh out cases beautiful weather condition endowing clear sky.At this time, you must consider visiting places like Stongdey Monastery, Likir Monastery, Shey Monastery and Thiksey Monastery .

Significance

At this time you can also relish best festivals like YuruKabgyat, Hemis Festivals, SakaDawa which is only held during the month of June. The Hemis festival which is celebrated in honour of the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, Guru Padmasambhava is one to witness. It showcases the amazing masked performances, brightly hued costumes and unique music which simply cannot be missed.

Know before you visit

Between April to mid of May there is no heavy snowfall and the summer season slowly and steadily takes over the place completely. The travellers who aim to visit Ladakh during this time can search for homestays, hotels , places, and guesthouses on many online sites.  If you plan on visiting during this span of time then you must definitely opt for flight booking as all the passes and the roads to the place is generally blocked or are not open. However, though it is summer time Ladakh weather at this time is not warm or sunny. The beginning of the seven to ten days in the month of June isn’t meant for traveling purpose to Ladakh as most of the roads at this time is blocked. At this time, if you wish to travel to Ladakh, you must definitely choose flight as this is the best option if you wish to travel. The major airport in the area to visit this area during the summer season is the KushokBakulaRimpochee Airport. Also, in the mid of this time, the travellers must surely visit the highway in between Srinagar and Leh. This is the highway that remains open at this time of the year. If you wish to visit Ladakh by road during this time then you must consider going from the Valley of Kashmir via Kargil, which is about a distance of four hundred and thirty-four kilometres. This is the route that remains open from the early month of June to the month of November. Finally, the longest road route that is about a distance of four hundred and seventy-three kilometres, the Manali-Leh road route is open in the middle of June and remains open until early October.

Wear sunscreen and protect yourself from direct sunshine as the thin atmosphere here can cause the sunrays to get quite intense. Beginning of the season still calls for you to pack in some warm clothes as the nights can get bit too cold.

Ladakh during the Monsoon time (July-August)

Temperature.

10-20 Degrees

Monsoons in Ladakh are as harsh and untoward as winters if not more. The air is crisp, blue and usually clear. Beginning in July, monsoons in Ladakh do not last long, and whatever little rainfall that the area receives is generally in the form of heavy but short-lived downpours.

Why you should visit now

Ladakh weather is refreshing and perfect for outings. It is also a great time for adventure activities such as white water rafting which can be indulged in at Indus and Zanskar rivers. The period from May to October is also a wonderful time for going on the many treks organized in the area, especially the Kang Yatse trek, Markha Valley trek and the one from Spituk to Stok .

Monsoon is the time of many mesmerizing festivals such as Karsha Gustor that is held at Karsha, Zanskar Valley’s biggest monastery; the PheyangTsedup, which is the annual festival, organized at the Pheyang monastery; KorzokGustor, which is held at Korzok monastery, located near Moriri Lake.

The place is infamous for occasional incidents of landslides and cloudbursts during this period. This time of the year, roads, especially the Manali-Leh highway can become hard to traverse owing to washing off of the narrow road or landslides due to rains.

If travelling to Ladakh in Monsoons, it is necessary that you pack such clothes that are light weight and easy to dry and wear shoes that are waterproof. Make sure you also carry a raincoat and/or an umbrella and sunscreen with you. Check the weather report before embarking on your journey to stay safe.

Ladakh during the winter (September-February)

Below 0 Degree (minimum most recorded temperature here is -23 Degrees)

During the winters Ladakh temperature steadily drops from September (5 Degrees to -21 Degrees ) to January (-2 Degrees to -14 Degrees ) and then gradually rises again. The weather is pleasantly chilly at the early phase (September-October) of the season, with cold winds blowing in the evenings. The latter phase of winters (November-February) can be extremely unbearable with temperatures dipping violently, making it impossible to enjoy your stay. Temperature in Kargil during this part of the season can drop up to -50 Degrees !

Winter calls to be the time when you can relish the beauty and adventure of trekking through one of the best treks in the world known as the Chadar Trek. Moreover, you are also sure to relish trekking over the solidified and grand Zanskar River, which is highly loved and cherished by the travellers. Only the early phase of the winters are good for travelling to the place. This period is ideal for many great and popular treks in Ladakh including the famous Frozen River Trek or the Zanskar Valley trek. The period from mid of January to March is however best suited for Chadar trek .

Many remarkable festivals fall during the wintertime in Ladakh. These prominently include SpitukGustor, Stok Monastery Festival, Dosmoche, ThiksayGustor, Matho Monastery festival and Ladakhi Losar. While the ones falling in summers are shadowed by tourist crowds and photographers, attending these winter fests are sure to give you a glimpse into the lives and culture of the locals like none other.

Know Before you visit

Ladakh sees very sparse crowd of tourists from November to February due to heavy snowfall in the area. This is also the reason why many trekking routes too are closed down at times. Also, be prepared for frequent power cut in this season.Hance, book some amazing Ladakh Tour Packages online here with Thomas Cook.

The extremely low temperature and high altitude can cause AMS or common cough and cold. Hence, it is good to be prepared with necessary precautions such as multiple layers of warm clothing, necessary medicines and taking enough fluids. You can take oxygen at oxygen bars if experiencing dizziness and headaches, which is common due to the high altitude. Carry a 1000mAh power bank and several spare batteries as the cold tends to drain out batteries quickly.

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