best time to visit ladakh by car

The Best Time to Visit Ladakh

Climate, Festivals and Other Things to Do

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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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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 follow me on Instagram and subscribe to my YouTube channel to ask your travel questions in a direct message on Instagram or comment on my YouTube videos.

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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Best time to visit Ladakh | Reach Ladakh by bike, car, or any | A complete guide

Ladakh becoming so famous among tourists for its spectacular landscape and culture. Ladakh has become the bucket list of almost everyone. You are probably among them and you are searching on the Internet “ what is the best time to visit Ladakh”?

So, don’t worry! I’m here to answer all the questions in your head. I live in Ladakh and I have experience and full knowledge about all destinations of Ladakh.

So many travelers visit Ladakh yearly for various purposes like adventure activities, spotting snow leopards, stargazing, and many more.

They have the same questions as you do. They ask “What is the Best season to visit Leh Ladakh by bike, car, and by air? In this article, I’m going to provide you the authentic information about Ladakh that will be helpful to you.

Table of Contents

Best time to visit Leh Ladakh in 2024

Ladakh is one of the highest habitats in India, Having rough and dry terrain. The average altitude of Ladakh is 3000 meters above Sea level. Which is why it is called “the land of high passes” . If we talk about the best time to Leh Ladakh in 2024 .

It depends on you, if you like summers you can visit Ladakh in summer and if you like snowfall and cold weather conditions you visit Ladakh in winter as well. But the ideal time to visit Ladakh is April to August if you don’t like cold temperatures.

Best time to visit Leh Ladakh by road

Ladakh can be accessible by road from Srinagar Highway (NH1) and Manali Highway (NH3) almost throughout the year if there is no extremely heavy snowfall on both highways. Border Road Organization (BRO) always tries to keep both highways open.

If we talk about the best time to visit Leh Ladakh by road is during summer (April to September) because the road on both sides can be closed anytime during the winter season. It is always recommended to check the weather forecast before traveling to Ladakh via road.

Best time to visit Leh Ladakh by bike

Ladakh is heaven for bikers because of its beautiful roads and tough terrain. It offers a breathtaking landscape and challenging water crossing. Lots of bikers want to ride through this terrain for that adrenaline rush.

Talking about the best time to visit Ladakh by bike is in summer (May to August ) because the roads from both sides may close in winter. Roads in winter in Ladakh become very slippery and you can’t even ride your bike because of the cold.

Best time to visit Leh Ladakh by car

Visiting Ladakh in your own car gives you the flexibility to travel freely. The best time to visit Leh Ladakh by car is from May to August . When both Srinagar Leh highway (NH 1) and Manali Leh highway (NH3) are open.

Once you reach Leh you can visit every destination of Ladakh in your car freely. It’s always recommended to carry spare parts of your car like tires and extra fuel while traveling to Ladakh. You should also check the weather updates.

Best time to visit Leh Ladakh with family

Even though Ladakh is located at a high altitude, many families visit Ladakh from all over India. You also can visit Ladakh with your family. If you are wondering what is the best season to visit Leh Ladakh with your Family.

The best time to visit Leh Ladakh with family is in summertime because if you have a child or senior citizen with you they may feel discomfort because of extreme weather during winter. It’s recommended to do good research before visiting Ladakh.

Best time to visit Leh Ladakh for snowfall

Ladakh is famous for its high peaks and extreme cold weather. People visit for its unique landscape and weather. If you are planning to visit Ladakh to experience snowfall, you have to visit Ladakh during winter. The best time to visit Ladakh for snowfall is mid-December to mid-February.

You may have read “ Ladakh is closed during winter” on other travel websites, but it is not true. Ladakh is accessible throughout the year via Air. It’s always recommended to check the weather update before visiting Ladakh for Snowfall.

Best time to visit Leh Ladakh for stargazing

Ladakh is very well known for its stunning night sky view because Ladakh has almost no light pollution and it is located at a high altitude. Where ever you, go you can see the very clear night sky in Ladakh. Recently Hanle in Ladakh is declared as India’s first Dark Sky Reserve!

The best time to visit Ladakh for stargazing is April to June and September-October during this time you will find less dust and humidity in Ladakh.

If you are visiting Ladakh for stargazing, it is highly recommended to visit Hanley village because it in an altitude of approximately 4,500 meters (14,764 feet) above sea level and has no light pollution.

Best time to visit Ladakh to spot snow leopard

Ladakh is known for its high-altitude biodiversity and has India’s largest National Park which is Hemis National Park. It is home to some of the rarest animals in the world like leopards, Asiatic ibex, the Tibetan wolf, the Eurasian brown bear, and the red fox.

Wildlife photographers and wildlife lovers visit Ladakh to spot the nearest animal in the world especially the snow leopard because two-thirds of the snow leopard population in India is found in Ladakh.

The best time to visit Ladakh to spot snow leopards is during winter from mid-January to March. Snow leopards move after their prey when the mountains of Ladakh receive snowfall blue sheep, ibex, and other animals descend to lower parts of Ladakh. During that time you have a higher possibility to spot snow leopard.

how many days are enough for Leh Ladakh?

10 days are enough to complete the major destination of Ladakh.

In which month Ladakh is open?

Ladakh is always open if you visit via Air.

Which month Ladakh has snowfall?

Ladakh usually receives snowfall from mid-December to mid-February.

In this article, I have shared my knowledge and experience of Ladakh and I answered the Best time to visit Leh Ladakh . It depends upon you, for what purpose you are visiting Ladakh, Because Ladakh has something to offer to everyone in every season but all it matters is your purpose of the visit to Ladakh.

I hope that I was able to answer your questions, thanks for reading this article. If you have any feedback or questions feel free to send.

Similar experiences: How to reach Pangong Lake from Manali,

Famous things to buy from Nubra Valley Ladakh.

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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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Best Time To Visit Leh Ladakh

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What is the best time to visit Leh Ladakh?

The best time to visit Leh Ladakh is from May end to the middle of July as the roads to Ladakh are open both from Srinagar Leh highway and Leh-Manali highway during this time. Also, there is a good amount of snow, especially on the Leh Manali highway. Another good time to visit Leh Ladakh is from the middle of September to October, when Ladakh is at its most beautiful. It is also possible to get good discounts during this time due to the lesser number of tourists. It is advisable to avoid visiting Leh Ladakh during the monsoon from July end to August as the region is prone to landslides. Also, the Srinagar Leh highway and Leh Manali highway are full of sludge, making travel very risky. 

Weather in Leh Ladakh

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Events in Leh Ladakh

Activity: mountain biking.

June - September

Activity: Trekking

Mask dance festivals, lamayuru monastery.

12th - 13th June

Karsha Gustor Festival, Zanskar

11th - 12th July

Ladakh Marathon

9th September

Frozen River Trek

January - February

Dosmoche Festival

2nd February to 3rd February 2019

Matho Nagrang Festival in Ladakh

23rd February 2024 to 24th February 2024

Sindhu Darshan Festival, Shey Manla

June 12, 2019 - June 14, 2019

Hemis Festival of Ladakh

11th July, 2019

Ladakh Festival

25th - 28th September 2019

Losar Festival

27th December, 2019

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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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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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Best Time to Visit Leh Ladakh – By Bike, Car, or Air

If you are planning to visit Leh Ladakh, and you want to know the best time to visit Leh ladakh. Then in this article, we have broken every details you want to know.

Leh Ladakh is the dream destination of every traveler of India and many foreign travelers. Thousands of people visit it every day and the main question of every traveler is ” When is the best time to visit Leh Ladakh”, which is the best month, which is the best way.

For some people, winter is best and for others, summer is best. So in this article, I will cover the pros and cons of all the months, people visit Ladakh.

A common mistake that people think is that Ladakh is a summer place and is totally isolated during winters. I would say that, you can also enjoy Ladakh during winters, although it get several feet of snow fall during winters.

Several people visit Ladakh during winters as the entire place feels totally different and the chadar trek is very popular.

Here are the Best time to visit Ladakh

Best time to visit Ladakh by Road

To visit Ladakh there are 2 ways:

• Srinagar Leh Highway
• Manali Leh Highway

The Srinagar Leh highway opens in May and closes by mid-November whereas Manali Leh highway opens in june and Closes by Early-October.

Try Choosing the September Month , as during this time you can experience snowfall on top of the hill and khardungla and the road is pretty stable and you can cover both the highways.

If you want to travel during warm weather, then the best time to travel is Mid-June to Mid-September, keeping in mind that even during the warm season you would require to wear warm clothes.

Best time to visit Ladakh on a Budget

If you want to visit Ladakh within your budget then the best time is between July and September . The reason is all hotels are open, restaurants are open, public transport services are all open. So as a result, you can find better alternatives as per your budget and there is no chance of monopoly.

During this time there are lots of travelers and everything is operational. You will find all shops, hotels, homestays, restaurants open.

So you can stay and eat anywhere and everything is normally priced, as every hotels and restaurant want to attract customer and make money. And this can’t be achieved if your prices are way high.

Best time to visit Ladakh on Bike

If you are not from India, then let me make you clear that in India bike means a Motorcycle. So if you are traveling on a bike, then the month of June, July, August, and September would be the best.

Before and after these 4 months, you may struggle on roads due to blockage, bad road conditions, and landslides.

But during July and August, you may face heavy rain and furious water crossing due to monsoon. But after September the winter hits and you may experience too cold during riding bike and it becomes risky.

Best time to visit Ladakh by Car

Before you figure out the best month to visit Ladakh by car, you should first know which car you are taking to Leh ladakh.

If you are thinking to take a sedan or hatchback, do not think about it in any month except August and September as sedans and hatchbacks cannot cross furious water crossing nor it can deal with landslides and bad roads conditions.

If you have a SUV or a 4×4 then you can visit Leh Ladakh from June to September. You can also enjoy off-roading specially on Srinagar Leh highway.

Best time to visit Ladakh by Air

Visiting Ladakh by air is possible through out the year, as Leh has an Airport. But the thing you should first find out is what you want to to visit when you arrive via air.

As most people travel through road to enjoy the journey and view all places that comes in that way.

So, if you travel via air. You can hire or book a cab and visit local sightseeing. If you love snow then visit in the month of January or February and if you want to enjoy the summer than the month of July, August and September will be best.

Note : If you travel via air to Leh, then you may need a day or 2 to get acclimatize. So consider the extra 3 days as rest only days. Since during acclimatization, you may feel doziness and vomiting tendency.

Best time to visit Ladakh traveling by public transport

The best time to visit Leh Ladakh by public transport is July, August, and September. As public transport is via road, so its the same for the things that we mentioned on the best time to visit Ladakh via Bike or car.

During this time you will have the highest chances to get a shared taxi or a traveller and can travel easily as the roads are pretty stable, all restaurants and hotels are open and the valley is full of tourists.

Best Time to Visit Leh Ladakh for Honeymoon

I wouldn’t personally recommend Ladakh for Honeymoon, as everything there throughs you a challenge wither physically or mentally.

Its a very harsh climate, extreme cold or hot, and the sun very harsh. If you don’t enjoy long riding or trying challenging roads then it can turn into a disaster.

The best place is Manali and its local surroundings for your honeymoon.

If still you want to visit Ladakh then the Best month is Late July, August and Early September. Don’t delay or visit way to early than this months because it would be either too rainy or too cold.

The Best Month to Visit Ladakh

Every month is good for Ladakh depending on the amount of thrill you want. We have Divided into 3 sections that are good for everyone:-

• The Summer/ Monsoon Season ( April to July )

The Perfect Season ( July to September )

• The Winter Season ( October to February )

The Summer/ Monsoon Season

The Summer and the monsoon season is during the April, May, June and July. This month also marks the beginning of the tourist season and people visit in great numbers during this time.

The temperature during this months ranges from Max 15° C to Minimum -7° C.

You may experience snow in several places mostly on top of the mountains and high passes. The lakes are frozen or are slowly dissolving and the weather is pleasant and you may experience some rainfall and landslides during this time.

The roads are full of travelers and bikers from all around the world and the hotels and restaurants are open. which makes stays and food available throughout the journey and the price is also very reasonable.

This is the perfect season to visit Leh ladakh as all the passes and the roads are open and the mountains invite you explore it. The weather is warm and comfy and you can experience clear crystal water.

The whole place turns into a colorful canvas that keeps changing its beautiful color every hour. The mountains colors changes from green, to brown to dark, black to yellow and so on.

The maximum temperature is 25° C, Minimum -10°.

Start your journey early morning to avoid the rush and traffic jam at Rohtang Pass and Zojila pass.

You can also experience several festivals that are celebrated by the locals. The festivals are Karsha, Phyang, Sachukul, Karzok and Dakthok. During this time, there is also a great festival in Pangong Lake.

Best time to visit Ladakh for photography

Its always a good time for photography. Ladakh offers several climates and the environment changes every few kms.

So you can grab your camera and take beautiful pictures of places you have never been before.

So I hope by now you have the answer to – Can I use low powered Bike for Leh Ladakh

If you are not aware of how to book your expedition for Ladakh, Click here to book Manali to Leh & Nubra Trip

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A Useful Guide for Leh Ladakh Road Trip

In northern India’s Trans-Himalayan Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh is a popular tourist destination. Today, tourists worldwide visit this hilly location to admire its beauty.

Ladakh road trip is known for its magnificent scenery and historic Buddhist monasteries. It is called “Little Tibet” since it borders Tibet, and many of its population practise Tibetan Buddhism.

Ladakh has lots to see and do, but tourists should be aware of and take precautions against the severe environment, high altitude, and lack of oxygen.

An Overview of Leh and Ladakh

Leh, Jammu & Kashmir is India’s northernmost point. Most of this desert is 3,500m over sea level. Snow-capped mountains, pristine lakes, and rocky terrain characterise the region.

Leh Ladakh residents have retained their customs for millennia. Visitors can visit Buddhist monasteries and temples and attend cultural events year-round.

Trip Preparation

Plan your schedule before starting your leh ladakh road trip . Take into account these factors:

Optimal Tourist Season

April to July are perfect months to visit Leh Ladakh because of good weather and road conditions. The paths are impassable in winter due to excessive snowfall.

Most Delhi residents take the Manali-Leh Ladakh highway. The 1,000-kilometer journey from Delhi to Leh Ladakh via Manali takes two to three days. The trip from Srinagar to Leh Ladakh covers 434 kilometres and usually takes between 12 and 14 hours.

Permits for ladakh road trip may be required for visitors to enter specified places. The office of the Deputy Commissioner is where you can get these permits in Leh. Permits are typically valid for a certain time and geographic area.

Transportation

From Delhi, you can take a taxi to Leh Ladakh or drive yourself. Another option is to take a bus from Delhi to Manali or Srinagar and then transfer to another bus or taxi to reach Leh Ladakh.

Accommodation

Leh Ladakh is home to many hotels, guesthouses, and homestays, perfect for travellers of all budgets. Hotel arrangements must be made early during peak seasons.

Things to do in Leh, Ladakh

Leh Ladakh is nirvana for outdoor enthusiasts. Some ways to spend your time here:

To See Some Monasteries

Ladakh has various monasteries, including Hemis, Thiksey, and Diskit. These monasteries teach tourists about the region’s history and culture.

Lakes Exploration

Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, and Tso Kar lakes in Leh Ladakh are clear and beautiful. Visit these lakes for nature and beauty.

Markha Valley, Chadar, and Stok Kangri Treks are Ladakh’s best treks. Walk these pathways to appreciate the region’s stunning scenery from a new angle.

River Rafting

The Zanskar River in Leh Ladakh offers India’s best white water rafting. River rapids delight travellers as they descend a narrow gorge.

The one-of-a-kind souvenirs and crafts sold in Leh Ladakh are well-known as well. In the shops and markets of Leh, tourists can purchase authentic Tibetan and Ladakhi goods, including prayer wheels, thangkas, and pashmina shawls.

Problems That May Arise While Travelling

Leh ladakh road trip is not for the faint of heart. High altitude passes, and poor roads are only two examples of the difficult terrain that must be traversed on this expedition. Here are some obstacles you might encounter on the road:

High Altitude Sickness

Due to the high altitude, visitors to Ladakh (also known as Leh) may suffer from extreme mountain sickness. Your body will have an easier time adjusting to the higher altitude if you take it easy and drink plenty of water.

Rough Roads

The roads in and around Leh Ladakh are relatively good. This implies travellers should expect a difficult ride.

Few Conveniences

Few people live there, so petrol stations, ATMs, and hospitals may be rare.

Preparing for the Road Trip

A safe and comfortable ladakh road trip requires vehicle preparation and packing of the right supplies. Consider the following.

Travelling from Delhi to Leh Ladakh is difficult and requires a robust car. The most suitable vehicles for this trip are SUVs and 4×4. Service your automobile before the trip to ensure it’s in good condition.

Spare Parts

A leh ladakh road trip requires you to bring tools and extra parts, just in case. Spare tyres, gas, engine oil, coolant, brake oil, and fuses are all items that should be kept on hand.

Navigation Tools

Travellers on a ladakh road trip should be prepared with navigational aids like maps and GPS gadgets. Better road markings are needed in the area, but these tools will get you around well.

Clothing and Gear

It’s possible to experience any weather in Leh Ladakh. Therefore, it is crucial to pack the proper attire and equipment. Cold weather attire, solid footwear, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a cap are all recommended.

Foods and Water

Due to the area’s low population density, you may want assistance locating suitable eating establishments. Having enough food and water for the trip is a must.

As the little firm Discover India By Car, we aim to make your leh ladakh road trip you’ll always remember. Our headquarters can be found in New Delhi. It was started by Ankit Phalswal (known to friends as Sugar), a competent and seasoned driver with lots of experience in tour operations in North India. He is always willing to lend a hand, and if he can’t be there in person, he’ll get back to you as soon as possible with the name and contact information of one of the many excellent drivers he employs.

Q1. How to plan Ladakh trip by road?

A. You can get to Ladakh in two different ways. Two such routes exist: the Manali-Leh Highway and the Srinagar-Leh Highway. There are no other road access points to Ladakh. The Leh-Srinagar and the Leh-Manali roads open in April, whereas the latter open in late June or early July.

Q2. What is the best time to travel Ladakh?

A. Temperatures in Ladakh range from about 15 to 30 degrees Celsius in the summer, making that time of year the best time to visit.

Q3. Is it possible to travel Ladakh by car?

A. Regarding popular road excursions in India, the Leh-Ladakh route takes a lot of work to beat.

Q4. How many days to go Ladakh in car?

A. Depending on how many sights you hope to see, vacation duration options range from seven to fifteen days.

Q5. Do we need oxygen cylinder for Ladakh trip?

A. Renting an oxygen cylinder in Leh is a good idea if you want to be safe during your vacation to Leh-Ladakh.

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Best Time To Visit Leh Ladakh – The Ultimate Travel Guide

For all of the tourists that are planning their trip to Leh-Ladakh, this guide will cover everything you need to know about hotels, restaurants, activities, and more. Leh Ladakh is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves the outdoors and is looking for a place that is completely off the beaten path. It’s a beautiful yet rugged region in north-western India, packed with high-altitude lakes, soaring mountains, and lush green valleys. The best time to visit Leh Ladakh is from the month of April to July!! 

The Ladakh region has seen a huge uptick of visitors over the last few years, which has led to some negative impacts on both its natural beauty and traditional cultures. 

This guide will give you everything you need to know about Ladakh: from attractions, hotels, restaurants, and day trips. Whether you are looking for luxury retreats or a rustic guesthouse, we’ve got you covered.

We curated this list based on the experiences of others and ourselves, so in addition to reviews from our readers and friends (and other visitors), we have also included some of the highlights from our own experiences to make sure that your trip is thoroughly enjoyable. 

Planning Your Trip to Leh Ladakh

While Ladakh is a small region, it is quite difficult to travel around, due to its remote location. This is especially true for first-time visitors. Most of the travel and sightseeing options are centered in Leh, the capital of Ladakh, so this should be your first stop. From here you can take short excursions and day trips from Leh to the surrounding region of Zanskar . Because most hotels cater just to foreign tourists, your stay in Leh will be quite comfortable and luxurious, with modern amenities found in most five-star resorts. In most cases, visitors to Ladakh will fly into the tiny airport in Leh. Most of your sightseeing and travel will be done by car, so make sure that you choose a driver or travel companion who knows the roads well. Driving in Ladakh is an experience unto itself, and can be quite daunting for first-time drivers. It is recommended that you get a good night’s sleep before driving at high altitudes; altitude sickness can hit even experienced travelers. The best time to visit Leh Ladakh is from the month of April to July!! 

Most of the hotels sell packages for their guests, where everything (including transportation) is kept affordable. In addition, you’ll often find many romantic options for couples in Leh, so you can spend more time exploring the lesser-known corners of this magical region. 

Travel Tips for Leh Ladakh

There are several accommodations situated around Leh, including homestays (which can prove to be a cheaper but more authentic option) and hotels catering primarily to tourists. In total there are over 20 hotels located throughout the city, which include luxury resort-like accommodations as well as guest houses that look like traditional houses. Most travelers come to Leh during the summer, but if you are looking for something a little different, the shoulder season (May-June and September-October) can be spectacular; waterfalls are still doing their thing (and not frozen), and it is easier to get a room at hotels and homestays. If you are looking for a bit of luxury in Leh, check out The Snow View or Hotel Tibet. For something more intimate and romantic, check out Himalayan Heights.

Most tourists visit Ladakh in summer when the weather is nice, although it is possible to visit during other times of the year as well. It’s recommended that you check the forecast to find out what season will suit you best. Leh can get quite cold in winter, with snowfall and temperatures falling below zero. Some travelers even suggest visiting Ladakh in May or June, as this is when most of the lakes and rivers will still be full from the spring melt. All of this makes traveling during the summers pretty crowded and can make it difficult to find a room at some accommodations (such as homestays).

For visitors looking for some outdoor action, rafting, paragliding, or trekking are all options for exploring the mountains surrounding Leh. For even more adventure, you can even visit Zanskar, but this will require some rugged trekking and travel. To get to Zanskar from Leh, you’ll have to pass through high mountain passes and cross several rivers. This makes it considerably more difficult for tourists to visit Ladakh in this region for an extended period because of the weather conditions (Zanskar is much colder than Leh). In the summer months, between June and September or October, the days are long but the weather is harsher. For those who are looking for an authentic experience, staying in a homestay is one of the best ways to experience Ladakh. 

The Best Places to Visit in Leh Ladakh

Before heading to Leh, you should look at a map of the region and pick out the places you would like to see. This includes all of the points of interest as well as surrounding areas that may be worth exploring on your own. Below are some of our favorite places in Leh Ladakh:

Changtse Monastery – Home to a collection of Buddhist artifacts, this monastery is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists. The main complex consists of two parts: a temple and a large prayer hall, which were built in the 14th century. There is also an Information Office inside the monastery that has loads of information about Buddhist culture and religion. In addition, you can view some pieces of art, including a mandala and two statues of the Dalai Lama.

Namgyal Monastery – This monastery hosts monks who are studying in the Nyingmapa tradition. The two-story library has more than 1,000 books stored inside it, while the large assembly hall is used for ceremonial events and concerts. A small museum inside showcases images of Ladakh’s history and culture (including artifacts such as ancient manuscripts). The best time to visit Leh Ladakh is from the month of April to July!! 

Shi Monastery – For those with a little more time on their hands, this monastery is worth visiting. It is located near the village of Lho, so it can be easily reached from Leh by car. Much of the monastery is built into the mountain, which is quite beautiful to look at. It also has a large monastery gompa (shrine) for daily practice and chanting. The buildings here have golden roofs and ornate windows, sort of like medieval castles.

Khardung La Pass – This pass sits at an elevation of 16,480 feet, making this one of the highest passes in the world connecting India with Tibet and China. Accessible only in the summer months (when there is no snow or ice), this pass boasts incredible views as you drive up to it.

Leh Ladakh is home to so many interesting places, which means that you will never run out of options when it comes to exploring the region. In addition to all of the religious sites included in this list, there are also plenty of natural wonders such as beautiful waterfalls and stunning mountains all over the region. You’ll never be bored while in Leh, so make a point of taking in what this fascinating region has to offer! Also keep in mind that the best time to visit Leh Ladakh is from the month of April to July!! 

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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).

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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
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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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Road Trip from Delhi to Leh Ladakh – A Complete Guide

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Are you wondering how to plan a road trip from Delhi to Leh Ladakh? You’ve come to the right place! Here’s a complete guide to help you plan your road trip to Leh Ladakh from Delhi.

Nothing can beat the road trip to Ladakh when it comes to road-tripping. This is one road trip in India that tops the bucket list for India .

This Leh Ladakh trip from Delhi brags about challenging and treacherous snow-carpeted passes like Rohtang La, Baralacha La, Khardung La, Chang La, and Zoji La, deep valleys, high altitude plains (Morey Plains), and unending glistening streams. It’s absolutely the stuff dreams are made of.

With stunning landscapes, unpaved and challenging roads, and low oxygen levels; this road trip sure is a master-stroke for adventure travelers.

While traveling to Ladakh is once in a lifetime affair but it’s not at all easy.

Best Time to Visit Leh Ladakh

With moderate temperatures and perfect weather conditions; April, May, June, and September are the best months to visit Leh Ladakh. Leh Manali Highway remains closed during the winter season.

Planning an Itinerary For a Road Trip to Leh Ladakh From Delhi

A road trip , or for that matter any trip starts at home. The most important thing to do before embarking on any journey is to chalk out a rough itinerary.

First, figure out whether you want to go via Manali and come back via Srinagar or the other way around.

Both ways, it takes 3 days to reach Ladakh. In total, 6 days on the road.

Now, choose the places you want to see and the number of days you can devote. A perfect trip to Leh-Ladakh should range from 12-14 days.

And if you wanna witness the amazing Spiti Valley , add 4-5 days to your itinerary.

Delhi to Leh by Road: Road Map

There are two route options for traveling from Delhi to Leh by car:

Delhi to Leh Route Via Leh-Manali Highway

Route 1: Delhi – Chandigarh – Manali – Leh

Road Map: Delhi – Chandigarh – Manali – Rohtang – Gramphu – Kokhsar – Keylong – Jispa – Darcha – Zingzingbar – Baralacha La – Bharatpur – Sarchu – Gata Loops – Nakee La – Lachulung La – Pang – Tanglang La – Gya – Upshi – Karu – Leh

Distance: 960 km

Driving Time: 24 hours

Delhi to Leh Route Via Srinagar-Leh Highway or NH1

Route 2: Delhi – Ludhiana – Srinagar – Leh

Road Map: Delhi – Ludhiana – Jalandhar – Pathankot – Jammu – Patnitop – Anantnag -Srinagar – Sonamarg – Zoji La – Dras – Kargil – Lamayuru – Alchi – Nimmoo – Leh

Distance: 1228 km

Driving Time: 27 hours

We drove from Delhi to Ladakh via the Manali-Leh Highway and drove back from Leh to Delhi via the (NH1) Leh-Srinagar Highway.

Pahalgam was a bit out of the way but we added it to our itinerary because of our sheer desire to witness the kaleidoscopic vistas of the valley. Our road trip itinerary blends two of the most fascinating and beautiful destinations – Kashmir and Ladakh of India into one.

Preparing a Car for the Delhi to Leh Road Trip

I was under the impression that a road trip to Ladakh needs an SUV but was stunned to see people driving Nano, Maruti 800, i20, and Santro on the road to Leh.

If you are thinking of renting a car , I would definitely recommend renting a 4×4 vehicle as it’ll make your trip easier.

Get your vehicle serviced before embarking on this tedious journey.

It’s essential to keep the complete toolkit with a puncture repair kit, foot pump, and extra fuel in a container.

My friend’s car got punctured near Lachung La Pass and surprisingly, not even a single car stopped to help.

One major tool from the toolkit was missing and it created havoc. My friend’s husband walked or rather climbed a few km to get help.

It was scary.

Please be sure to pack the car essentials when traveling on lifeless roads like these. Don’t forget to keep the RC and pollution certificate in the car.

Things to Pack for Ladakh

The weather in the Ladakh region is erratic. Days are hot while nights are chilly.

Icy cold winds cut through you, more if you choose to stay in tented accommodation.

Pack an equal number of warm and summer clothes (depending on the number of days), a good raincoat or windcheater , sun caps , glasses , sweaters or jackets (at least two warm and one light jacket), and sunscreen lotion .

If possible carry a small tent with a sleeping bag for an emergency as the roads are unpredictable and you never know when road closures leave you marooned on the road.

Carry two to three pairs of shoes because playing in the snow at passes can dampen your shoes.

It’s utterly important to pack a first-aid kit with all the required medicines and a portable oxygen cylinder .

Other essentials include photocopies of your ID card and Inner line permit documents .

Do carry loads of camphor as it’s a real Catholicon to treat Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).

Permits for Ladakh

Only a certain number of vehicles are allowed to cross Rohtang Pass per day. So, please get a permit for your travel date in advance to avoid disappointment.

Permits are issued by DC in Kullu . It can be applied online too.

An inner line permit is required if you are planning to visit the border areas like Chushul which is issued by DC in Leh or can be applied for online .

Food Options on the Way

Stuff your car with 2-3 cartons of bottled mineral water , as one needs to be hydrated all the time because of the low-oxygen environment.

Store dry snacks (avoid salty stuff) like cookies, chocolates, candies, and dry fruits. Turnip and Radish prove to be curative in high-altitude areas.

There are plenty of dhabas (roadside food stalls) along the way. Food options include tea, coffee, paranthas, rajma-rice, momos, sandwiches, chowmein, and of course Maggi.

There are some fine restaurants you’ll bump into during the road trip but nothing like eating at a roadside food stall as it gives a real road trip feel.

Expenditure

The total cost depends on the set of hotels you choose for your stay. We chose homestays and mid-range hotels which proved to be good.

In addition to accommodation, other expenses include fuel charges (INR 15,000 or USD 183 approx.), road taxes or tolls (INR 2,000 or USD 25 approx.), and food (INR 12,000 or USD 146 approx.). Our cumulative expenses (2 adults + 1 child) reached around INR 56,000 or USD 700 approx.

Day By Day Itinerary of Road Trip to Leh Ladakh From Delhi

Delhi to leh via manali-leh highway (958 km), day 1: driving from delhi to manali.

Route: Delhi – Chandigarh – Manali (531 km | 12 hours 30 minutes)

Today, you’d be on the road, mostly. It takes around 13 hours to reach Manali from Delhi provided you don’t stop anywhere. With pitstops and breaks which you are bound to take, it takes more time, obviously.

You can enjoy some of the best things Manali has to offer if you arrive early or else, can relax and rest.

Overnight at Manali .

Recommended Hotels in Manali: Snow Bliss Manali | Snow Valley Resorts Manali | Baragarh Resort and Spa

Click Here to Find the Best Deals on Hotels in Manali

Day 2 : Driving from Manali to Tandi

Route: Manali- Palchan – Kothi – Gulaba – Marhi – Rani Nala  – Rohtang – Gramphu – Khoksar– Sissu – Tandi ( 110 km | 3 hours 30 minutes)

We relished momos, rajma-rice, and a hot cup of tea at a Dhaba in Khoksar (Lahaul Valley), refueled the cars at a petrol pump in Tandi (last on this route, so quite crucial), and stopped by to witness the beautiful confluence of Chandra and Bhaga rivers at Tandi.

Edit: We traveled to Ladakh in 2017 when the Atal Tunnel was yet to be constructed. Atal Tunnel (9.02 km) connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti. It cuts short the road distance by 46 km between Manali and Leh. This reduces the driving time by 4 to 5 hours.

Updated Day 2 Route via Atal Tunnel: Manali – Palchan – Burwa – Teling – Sissu – Tandi (66 km | 2 hours)

Overnight at Tandi (camps).

Pro Tip: If you choose to spend the night at Jispa, you can save a day. This way, you’ll drive to Jispa on day 2 and drive from Jispa to Leh on day 3.

Recommended Campsite in Tandi, Kyelang: Tandi Sarai

Day 3: Driving from Tandi to Sarchu

Route: Tandi- Keylong – Jispa – Darcha – Deepak Tal – Patsio – Zingzing Bar – Suraj Tal – Baralacha La – Bharatpur – Sarchu (116 km | 3 hours 30 minutes)

Don’t rush, you don’t visit places like these every day. Deepak Tal and Suraj Tal are the preferred stops on the way. These turquoise lakes are mesmerizing and each one has a story to tell!

Savoring Maggi (literally, a lifesaver in mountain ranges) at Zingzing bar before ascending the mighty Baralacha La was a much-needed break for us.

Crossing Baralacha La (second highest pass on the Manali-Leh Highway) is an experience in itself.

Overnight at Sarchu (camps).

Click Here to Find Out the Campsites in Sarchu, Himachal Pradesh

Day 4: Driving from Sarchu to Leh

Route: Sarchu- Gata Loops – Nakee La – Lachulung La – Pang – More Plains – Tanglang La – Rumtse – Upshi – Karu – Leh (250 km | 6 hours 40 minutes)

Most of the places during our day 3 journey tempted us to get out of the car to enjoy the virgin nature.

Gata Loops ( 21 hairpin bends), Nakee La and Lachulung La (high mountain passes), Pang (this is where one starts feeling high altitude sickness and this is where colors of Ladakh become more conspicuous), More Plains (the unceasing stretch of plains at such high altitude enveloped by mountain ranges comes as a surprise and seems unnatural and stunning), Tanglang La (second highest pass as claimed), and Upshi (police checkpoint to mark your arrival to or departure from Leh); all the places need your attention.

Overnight at Leh. It’s advisable to take rest for a day to better acclimatize to a low-oxygen environment.

Recommended Hotels in Leh: The Grand Dragon Ladakh | Gomang Boutique Hotel

Recommended Local Homestay in Leh, Ladakh: Tukchu Homestay in Leh, Ladakh (We stayed at Tukchu , and loved it to the core!)

Click Here to Find Out the Best Deals on Hotels in Leh, Ladakh.

Explore Leh-Ladakh

Day 5: driving from leh to pangong tso and back to leh.

Route: Leh – Karu – Sakti – Chang La    – Durbuk  – Tangtse – Lukung – Pangong Tso (223 km | 5 hours 30 minutes)

Enjoyed the snowball fight (why should kids have all the fun?) at the mighty Chang La Pass . Staying for more than 10 minutes can make you feel sick (low oxygen levels).

One can plan a night’s stay at Pangong Tso to truly witness the breathtaking exquisiteness of the lake and watch the classic sunrise and sunset over the artistic landscape.

We, because of the kids, resisted the temptation and decided to come back to Leh the same day. Though we witnessed the beautiful sunset at Chang La.

Overnight at Leh.

Day 6: Driving from Leh to Nubra Valley and Back to Leh

Route: Leh – Khardung La- Diskit – Hunder (126 km | 3 hours 30 minutes)

Spend some time at Khardung La Pass, a gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valleys. At an altitude of 18,379 ft, it’s known to be the highest motorable pass in the world.

Bacterial Camel Safari at Hunder (kids adore it) and a visit to the gorgeous monastery with the tallest Buddha statue at Diskit are must-do activities. Plus, you can enjoy the views of the beautiful Shyok River. If you are on a laid-back vacation, you can choose to spend a night at Hunder / Diskit . We had to rush to cover the maximum number of places in numbered days.

Day 7: Exploring Leh City

We’ll do local sightseeing and how can we forget shopping at Leh.

There’s nothing like relishing the local culture of the place you are visiting.

Some of the places worth visiting in Leh include – Thicksey Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa, Hall of Fame, Stok Palace (not for the museum but for the special momos prepared in the royal kitchen), Shey Palace , and Druk Padma Karpo School (Rancho’s School).

Overnight at Leh .

Return Journey – Leh to Delhi via Leh-Srinagar Highway (1231 km)

Day 8: driving from leh to sonamarg.

Route: Leh – Nimmu – Lamayuru – Kargil – Drass – Zoji La – Sonamarg (344 km | 8 hours)

A confluence of Zanskar and Indus at Nimmu , Lamayuru Monastery , Lunar Landscapes ,  Gurudwara Pather Sahib , Magnetic Hills , and Kargil War Memorial (Vijaypath) are must-see places in this route.

Enjoy the beautiful landscapes en route.

Hold your breath as you cross one of the most dangerous mountain roads in the world, Zoji La Pass . It connects Ladakh to Kashmir. The pass is closed from November to March due to extreme weather conditions.

Night Stay at Sonamarg .

Recommended Hotel in Sonamarg: Hotel Village Walk

Day 9: Driving from Sonamarg to Srinagar and Exploring Srinagar

Route: Sonamarg – Ganderbal – Srinagar (80 km | 2 hours 15 minutes)

Spend your day exploring Lal Chowk , Dal Lake, Mughal Gardens, and Pari Mahal at Srinagar.

We shopped for authentic Kashmiri handicrafts at the J&K Tourism Art Emporium . Lal Chowk is famous for its dry fruit shopping. Do try walnut fudge at Hazratbal Bakery .

Night Stay at Srinagar .

Recommended Hotels in Srinagar: The Orchard Retreat & Spa   | Four Points by Sheraton Srinagar | The Lalit Grand Palace Srinagar

Click Here to Check Out Unique Houseboat Stays in Srinagar.

Day 10: Driving from Srinagar to Pahalgam and Exploring Pahalagam

Route: Srinagar – Pahalgam (90 km | 3 hours )

It’s magical to Immerse in the beauty of the Valley of Shepherds . Located on the bank of the Lidder River , Pahalgam is a real treat for your eyes and soul.

Beautiful spots like Baisaran, Aru Valley, Lidder Valley, Betaab Valley , and many more spellbind you.

Hiking on a horse to the magical highland vistas of a tiny village called Aru is something you shouldn’t miss! Friendly horsemen with their lovely stories make the ride one of a kind.

Overnight at Pahalgam

Recommended Hotels in Pahalgam: WelcomHotel Pine N Peak | Heevan Pahalgam | Royal Hilton Pahalgam | The Villagio

Day 11: Driving from Pahalgam to Jammu

Route: Pahalgam- Anantnag – Patnitop – Jammu ( 252 km | 7 hours 15 minutes)

Patnitop or Patni Top is a beautiful hill resort. You can choose to spend a day here if you’ve time. We didn’t have enough time to enjoy the beauty of this hilltop tourist destination so drove to Jammu for an overnight stay.

Overnight at Jammu

Recommended Hotels in Jammu: Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Jammu | K C Residency Jammu | Zone by the Park Jammu

Day 12: Driving from Jammu to Delhi

Route: Jammu – Pathankot- Jalandhar – Ludhiana – Ambala – Karnal – Panipat – Delhi (589 km | 10 hours 20 minutes)

The drive is long and not at all scenic. Start early. There are plenty of restaurants, dhabas, and cafes on the way.

Wondering where to stay in Delhi?   Check out the best hotels to stay in Delhi .

What to do in Delhi?

If it’s your first time in Delhi, there’s so much to explore in and around Delhi. Check out the best places to visit in Delhi . If history tickles you, we suggest visiting Humayun’s Tomb , Tughlaqabad Fort , and Safdarjung Tomb in Delhi.

Are you a street art lover? Delhi has got you covered! Take a stroll around the open-air art museum, Lodhi Art District in Delhi and admire the imaginations of street artists from all around the world.

If traveling to Delhi with kids, Shankar’s International Doll Museum in Delhi is a place to be.

Major Attractions That We Missed on the Leh Ladakh Car Trip

List of some of the beautiful places which we couldn’t witness but you can definitely plan to:

• Zanskar Valley (detour from Kargil to Padum)
• Marsimik La (3 hours from Pangong Tso, needs an extra day)
• Tso Moriri (240 km from Leh)
• Spiti Valley (Manali – Solang Valley – Rohtang Pass – Gramphu – Khoksar – Gramphu – Kunzum Pass – Kaza)

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Anjali Chawla

18 thoughts on “Road Trip from Delhi to Leh Ladakh – A Complete Guide”

Thank you for reading!I appreciate it 🙂

That sounds like a really nice trip, lovely views! I would love to take photos there! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for reading! You would love taking pictures at Ladakh as it’s known to be a photographer’s heaven!

The campsite looks like you’re in some foggy wonderland! I would love to be able to visit there sometime soon! Thank you for sharing!

What a beautiful journey! Thank you for sharing. We spent almost 4 weeks in India in January and drove 3000km in a tuk tuk from Ft. Kochin to Jaisalmer. It was extraordinary and we have been looking at going back. I think we would love this drive, thank you for the tips.

Thank you, Darcee! I’m so glad you loved your trip to India. You should surely try this road trip next time when you are here. Do let me know if you need any help in planning this epic road trip 🙂

wow Anjali, you took me on a virtual trip to Ladakh. One of my another bucket list is to drive upto there all by myself. Lets see how soon can i make it possible. Very well scripted.

Wow..I think in my head I hv already travelled to Manali Leh Ladakh Srinagar Jammu and I am back home… wonderful way of writing.. beautiful pictures..thx for all the tips and details of every place…guyz but you travelled in pre covid era..is it’s still same I hv my doubts..plz help….

That’s amazing. It feels so overwhelming when our write up connects with the readers and they find helpful. Yes we did travel in pre-Covid time and are waiting for things to improve to head back again. But post-Covid there will be the precautions that need to be taken of social distancing and masks.

The wonderful word-by-word picturisation of every minute and detailed information has proven to be immensely helpful for me to plan my second visit to Leh, Laddakh(the last happened to be in Aug’1993. Undoubtedly and unquestionably, Anjali your pen-down skills are impeccable. God bless you n your lovely travel-mate, your cute daughter.

So happy to hear that. We are glad that we could help you plan a trip to Ladakh. It gives us satisfaction that our efforts are appreciated. Feel motivated. Thanks

We are gleaming with joy hearing your kind words. Thank you for all the wishes and blessings. Hope you had a wonderful trip.

In fact you have discovered the essence of life and the way one should live like. Thank you so much for the valuable guidance and a worth experiencing the experience of yours which has filled the imaginations of my 4th coming visit to Ladakh and Kashmir. Thank you so much for your pain is taking efforts and value ab feedback. God bless you. Dev Ashish Boss New Delhi

Hi, Just wondering what currency your estimated costs are in? I loved you post and we are looking to head this way April next year. Also did you drive yourselves?

thanks Nell

The costs are in Indian rupees. I should have mentioned it. My bad. I’ll update it and will include the estimate in USD too. No, we hired a professional driver with good experience driving on challenging terrain. The car was ours. However, my friend’s husband (my friend and her family accompanied us on the trip) was confident enough to drive on high-altitude terrain, so he managed to drive the car himself.

Found your post interesting to read. Good Luck for the upcoming update.This article is really very interesting.

I have done road trips from Bangalore to Coorg and Ooty and other places around Bangalore many a times. My bucket list is Manali to Leh. While I know the experience on a two-wheeler is unparalleled, I am more comfortable driving and am planning to rent a car from some car rental companies like Zoomcar. What do you suggest?

Hello Parth,

Thanks for reaching out. Renting a car, preferabely SUV or 4X4, for a road trip from Manali to Leh is a good idea.

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Best Time To Visit Leh Ladakh: A Complete Guide

Last Updated: October 19, 2023

Leh Ladakh, often referred to as ‘The Land of High Passes’, is a mesmerizing destination nestled amidst snow-clad mountain peaks and alluring valleys. When you decide to visit Leh Ladakh, timing is everything. Here, we present a detailed guide to ensure you choose the best time to visit, optimize your trip, and revel in all the beauty and adventure Leh Ladakh has to offer.

The Summer Season (April-June)

The peak season (july-august), the autumn season (september-october), the winter season (november-february), 1 the best time to visit ladakh and leh.

The months from late April to early June mark the beginning of the tourist season in Leh Ladakh. The pleasant Ladakh temperature and blooming valleys provide an idyllic backdrop for travelers. The Srinagar-Leh highway usually opens up by mid-April, closely followed by the Manali-Leh highway in early June.

Visiting Ladakh in these months ensures travelers witness the pristine beauty of the Zanskar Valley, Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley, and Tso Moriri Lake without the challenges posed by heavy snowfall. Moreover, the Hemis Festival, a significant celebration of Tibetan Buddhism, usually falls in June. If you aim to soak in local culture and witness vibrant Ladakhi traditions, visiting Ladakh during the Hemis Festival is recommended.

July to August is the peak tourist season. The Manali route is fully operational, and the Leh-Manali roads, as well as the Srinagar-Leh highway, are buzzing with activity. While the region sees very few tourists during the colder months, the count surges during this time. Ladakh tourism thrives, especially because of adventure lovers seeking thrilling escapades amidst the high mountain passes like Chang La, Khardung La, Baralacha Pass, and Rohtang Pass.

However, it’s worth noting that monsoon season also coincides with this period. While Leh Ladakh remains largely unaffected by the rains, the Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh routes can experience occasional blockages.

September and early October offer a golden opportunity for those who prefer fewer tourists and wish to experience the autumnal charm of the Ladakh valley. The region is painted in hues of gold and brown, and the climate remains pleasant. Although it’s the peak season, all major routes, including the Leh Manali highway route and Srinagar-Leh highway, are functional.

Adventure activities remain on the cards, with treks like the Markha Valley trek becoming popular during this time. Moreover, the Dosmoche Festival, a two-day festival in Leh, is celebrated with gusto, presenting another cultural extravaganza.

The coldest months in Leh Ladakh are from mid-January to mid-February. During this period, the temperature can plummet drastically, requiring very warm clothing. Most areas, including Nubra Valley and Pangong Tso, are blanketed in snow.

The famed Chadar Trek, an exhilarating walk on the frozen Zanskar River, is an attraction for adventure enthusiasts during this time. While the Manali-Leh roads and Srinagar-Leh highway remain closed due to heavy snowfall, the Zojila Pass might be navigable till mid-November before the onset of heavy snow.

For those seeking solitude and an unadulterated experience of snow-clad landscapes, this is the best time to visit Leh Ladakh. Ice skating, snowboarding, and other winter sports are also on offer for thrill-seekers.

2 Year-round Attractions

While the best time to visit Leh Ladakh hinges on personal preferences, some attractions are appealing year-round. The Leh Palace, monasteries echoing Tibetan Buddhism, Ladakh Festival, and local markets provide glimpses into the rich heritage and culture of the region irrespective of the season.

3 Tips for a Successful Trip

• Plan Well: Always check the status of the Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh highways before planning your trip.
• Stay Acclimatized: Leh is at a high altitude. It’s essential to give your body time to adjust to prevent altitude sickness.
• Dress Appropriately: Layers are your best friend in this region. Ensure you carry warm clothing, especially if visiting during the winter season.

4 Wrapping Up

In conclusion, the best season to visit Leh is subjective and largely depends on what you seek. Whether it’s the bustling peak tourist season or the tranquillity of the winter months, Leh Ladakh promises a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Whatever time you choose to visit, the enchanting landscapes, rich cultural tapestry, and the allure of adventure await in this mesmerizing Himalayan haven. Safe travels!

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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.

The content and images used on this site are copyright protected and copyrights vests with the respective owners.

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Ladakh travel tips — 11+ Ladakh tips & things to know before going to Ladakh

Ladakh, a region in the northern part of India, is a popular tourist attraction because it offers visitors stunning natural beauty, unique cultural experience, adventure tourism, and more. A visit to Ladakh is always an adventure, so be well-prepared yourself to have a wonderful time there. So, what you need to know before going to Ladakh or what to know when traveling to Ladakh? Let’s check out our Ladakh travel tips (Ladakh tips) with 11+ tips for visiting Ladakh, things you should know before going to Ladakh, things to know before going to Ladakh as follows!

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Here are several things you need to know before traveling to Ladakh. They are certainly helpful for adventurers, nature lovers and Himalayan tour participants like you. Just take a quick look at these and plan your trip, you will surely enjoy yourself in Ladakh.

Ladakh’s Climate (# ladakh travel tips)

One of the important Leh Ladakh travel tips that you need to keep in mind is that the weather is severe in this part of India. So, you must bring sweaters and warm coats whenever you visit Ladakh.

Those who can’t stand the cold even with warm clothes should avoid a Ladakh journey in winter, from November to March, when it is extremely cold, with temperatures dropping well below freezing point. The average temperatures range from -20°C to 10°C (-4°F to 50°F). Most of Ladakh, including popular tourist destinations like Pangong Tso and Nubra Valley, remains inaccessible due to heavy snowfall, and many guesthouses and hotels are closed.

The best time to visit this region is in summer, from April to June, when the weather is pleasant and the temperatures are relatively moderate. The average daytime temperature is from 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F). It is an ideal time for outdoor activities like trekking through mountains and valleys, rafting, and enjoying the stunning landscapes.

Acute Mountain Sickness (# ladakh travel tips)

It’s important to note that Ladakh is located at a high altitude and a Ladakh trip will surely take you to mountains of 3,000m to 7,000m (10,000 ft to 23,000 ft) above sea level. Therefore, you must be aware of Acute Mountain Sickness (ASM), usually occurring at altitudes above 2,500m (8,000 ft).

AMS is a common condition caused by the reduced oxygen levels and lower air pressure that can occur when you ascend to high altitudes too quickly without giving your body enough time to acclimatize. AMS can cause shortness of breath, severe headaches, vomiting, and loss of appetite among others.

Being aware of AMS is one of the important and must-know things for Ladakh travel. You should consult your doctor and carry AMS drugs with you. Without AMS drugs, suffering AMS may lead to bubbles forming in the lungs. This is a medical emergency that, if left untreated, can result in coma or death. You should also bring a personal thermometer, sphygmomanometer and first aid kit. You should check your temperature whenever you feel dizzy in high altitude areas in Ladakh.

Car rental in Ladakh (# ladakh tips)

How to explore Ladakh when you’re not ready to go mountain biking or hiking? Consider a Ladakh road safari! A Ladakh road safari or road trip offers a unique and adventurous way to experience the beauty and cultural richness of the region. This option is also a much more cost-effective way to explore the world’s highest road in Ladakh.

However, it is important to note that Ladakh’s high-altitude environment and challenging road conditions require careful planning and preparation for a road trip. You should make sure you are physically fit, acclimatize properly to the altitude, carry essential supplies, and have a reliable and well-maintained car.

Many tour operators and travel agencies in Leh offer organized Ladakh road safari packages, including vehicle rentals and experienced drivers. They allow up to 6 people per drive. These agencies can be found in the main bazaar area of Leh town. Some well-known car rental agencies here include Avis, Himalayan Wheels, and Discover Ladakh Adventure Tours & Travel.

You can also drive yourself or hire a driver if you are not capable of driving on high mountain roads. You should plan ahead, book your car rental in advance, and check the availability of vehicles during your travel dates, especially during the peak tourist season (April to September), as availability may be limited. You can use online car rental platforms. Websites or apps such as Zoomcar, Revv, and Savaari provide options for renting self-drive cars in various locations in Ladakh.

Accommodation for tourists in Ladakh  (# ladakh tips)

Ladakh offers tourists several accommodation options such as hotels, guesthouses, homestays, campsites and tents, but the number of these facilities is limited.  You should know that it’s hard to find a luxury place to stay somewhere not in Leh, so just expect standard ones with HVAC, TV and hot shower.

The availability of accommodation options may vary depending on the season and the specific region of Ladakh you plan to visit. During the peak tourist season (April to September), you should book your accommodation in advance, especially if you have specific preferences or requirements. If you wish to see the snowy beauty of the Himalayas in winter, be aware that nighttime temperatures drop below zero. Without a place to stay, you’ll have a hard time staying in your car or by a campfire with warm clothes.

While planning your stay in Ladakh, consider factors such as location, accessibility, services offered, and the proximity to major attractions or activities you wish to explore. Researching and reading reviews from reliable sources can help you make informed decisions and find the accommodation that suits your needs and enhances your Ladakh experience.

What to wear for a Ladakh trip?

If you reach this tip, you know that temperature in Ladakh ranges from -20°C to 25°C and it changes significantly between daytime and nighttime. Therefore, Ladakh travel clothing tips tell you that there is no other choice but warm clothes.

The following clothing and footwear are recommended for your adventure in Ladakh:

• A combination of lightweight and warm layers to adjust to the changing temperatures such as t-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, sweaters or fleeces, and a warm jacket or down coat for colder evenings.
• Thermal base layers to provide extra warmth, especially during early mornings and higher altitudes.
• A waterproof and windproof jacket or shell to protect against rain, wind, and sudden weather changes.
• Comfortable pants, jeans and shorts for daily wear.
• A hat or cap to shield you from the sun and cold winds, and gloves for colder temperatures.
• A scarf or neck gaiter to provide additional warmth and protection for your neck and face.
• Comfortable, waterproof, and sturdy footwear suitable for walking on uneven terrain and long hikes.
• A sufficient number of socks, including woolen or thermal socks for colder days.

If your warm clothes do not provide enough protection from the cold, it is better to buy more of them in Leh. Those products are handmade with natural fur. It feels well-deserved as soon as you put them on and they are also affordable.

What to put in your luggage for a trip to Ladakh

Apart from the above clothing and footwear, the following items are recommended to be in your luggage:

• A good pair of sunglasses with UV protection to protect your eyes from the strong sunlight at high altitudes;
• A high SPF sunscreen to protect your skin from the intense sun at higher altitudes and a lip balm with SPF to prevent chapped lips;
• A daypack or backpack to store your essentials during excursions or hikes;
• A reusable water bottle with insulation to stay hydrated to keep your water cool.
• Any necessary medications, including those for AMS, a personal hygiene kit along with a basic first aid kit for minor injuries or illnesses;
• A power bank to charge your electronic devices due to limited access to electricity in some areas, and adapters for charging your devices if needed;
• A good camera to capture the beauty of the Himalayas;
• GPS devices if possible;
• Emergency lights, torches and portable gas stoves for your nighttime travel to get light and drink hot water.

What is the currency in Ladakh?

The currency used in Ladakh is the Indian Rupee (INR), as Ladakh is a part of the Indian Territory. 1 INR = 0.012 USD.

The rule of thumb is to carry INR in cash when traveling to Ladakh. While a few establishments in major towns like Leh may accept credit cards or digital payments, cash is widely used, especially in remote areas with no internet connection and for small transactions. You should exchange currency before arriving in Ladakh or in major cities like Delhi or Srinagar, as currency exchange facilities are limited in Ladakh.

Leh, the main town of Ladakh, has only a few ATMs where you can withdraw cash using your debit or credit card. However, it’s important to note that ATMs can sometimes run out of cash or experience technical issues. So, you should carry sufficient cash with you and withdraw money when you have the opportunity to do so.

SIM cards and telecommunication networks in Ladakh

On your Ladakh adventure, you will certainly need a 4G travel SIM card to help you check in anytime anywhere possible, stay in touch with your loved ones or find your way. Where to buy a 4G travel SIM card? The most common option is to buy it at the airport. All airports have service counters operated by local network providers to provide SIM cards to travelers.

There are 4 main network providers in Ladakh: Airtel, Jio, Vodafone Idea (VI), and BSNL. Each provider may have different network coverage and signal strength in different areas. You should inquire about the network coverage of various providers and choose one that offers better connectivity based on your travel plans.

You should keep in mind that the network coverage in Ladakh can be limited, especially in remote areas and high-altitude regions. While major towns like Leh and Kargil have better network connectivity, you may experience weak or no signal in certain areas, particularly in mountainous and rural locations.

Notes on food in Ladakh (# things to know before going to ladakh)

Most of the food available in Ladakh is non-vegetarian. If you have dietary restrictions or preferences, such as vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free diets, it’s important to be prepared. At restaurants, you should communicate your needs to the restaurant staff. Ladakh may have limited options, but some restaurants are accommodating and can provide suitable alternatives.

You should eat or buy and pack food from wherever you pass with a store open because you won’t be able to find food vendors on your way to Ladakh. When you’re looking for a place to stay, you should see if they also serve food. Otherwise, you will have to go a long way to find food only.

You should also bring some canned food for use. When traveling to remote areas or during long journeys, it can be helpful to carry snacks like energy bars, nuts, or dried fruits to keep you fueled between meals.

What about local cuisine? It is advisable to explore the local Ladakhi cuisine to experience the unique flavors of the region. Try traditional dishes like thukpa, momos, skyu, and chutagi. These dishes are widely available in local restaurants and eateries. Don’t miss out on trying butter tea (gur-gur chai), a traditional Ladakhi beverage. It has a distinct taste and is an integral part of Ladakh’s culinary culture.

How to get to Ladakh? (# what you need to know before going to ladakh)

You can get to Ladakh by road or by air from major cities in India, but most tourists prefer travelling by air. The Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh is the only airport serving Ladakh. It has regular flights connecting Leh to major cities in India, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Srinagar. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or use pre-arranged transportation to reach your destination in Ladakh.

Ladakh is accessible by road from Srinagar City or Manali City of India. From Srinagar, the Srinagar-Leh Highway (National Highway 1D) is a popular route to reach Ladakh. It is open from around May to November, depending on weather conditions. The journey takes approximately 2 days with an overnight stop in Kargil.

From Manali, the Manali-Leh Highway (National Highway 3) is another scenic route to reach Ladakh. It is open from around June to September. The journey takes around 2 days, including an overnight stop in Keylong or Sarchu.

Transportation in Ladakh (what you need to know before traveling to ladakh)

Within Ladakh, there are several transportation options for you. Taxis, shared taxis or shared jeeps are common modes of transport here for short trips or longer journeys to other destinations in Ladakh. You should negotiate fares or use pre-paid taxi services available at the Leh Taxi Stand.

Another option is buses. However, bus service is limited in Ladakh, mainly operating between Leh and nearby towns. These buses are a budget-friendly option but may have limited schedules and can be crowded.

If you prefer to explore Ladakh at your own pace, renting a private car or a motorbike is an option for you. However, it’s important to note that driving in Ladakh can be challenging due to the mountainous terrain, narrow roads, and high altitudes. It is better to have prior experience in driving in such conditions.

If you prefer a hassle-free experience, you can opt for private tour operators who provide transportation services along with organized tours and itineraries. These operators can arrange vehicles, drivers, and guides based on your preferences and requirements.

If you want a unique and memorable way to explore the region’s desert landscapes, particularly in the Nubra Valley, take a camel safari – a ride on the back of a Bactrian camel led by experienced handlers or guides who are familiar with the region.

Camel safaris in Ladakh often include visits to small villages and monasteries along the way, providing opportunities to interact with the local people and learn about their way of life. You can experience Ladakhi hospitality, taste local cuisine, and gain insights into the region’s rich culture and traditions.

Some famous monasteries in Ladakh

Monasteries, also known as gompas, hold great significance in Ladakh’s cultural and spiritual landscape. They are an integral part of the region’s Buddhist heritage and offer a unique experience for visitors.

Monasteries are places of worship, meditation, and learning, where monks and nuns reside and practice their faith. Visiting the monasteries in Ladakh provides a window into the region’s rich cultural heritage. You can witness Buddhist rituals, observe monks engaged in prayer and chanting, and gain insights into the philosophy and teachings of Tibetan Buddhism.

Ladakh’s monasteries are also renowned for their stunning architecture and picturesque locations. Perched high on hilltops, nestled in the valleys, or built along mountain slopes, these monasteries exhibit a blend of Tibetan, Indian, and Central Asian architectural styles. Intricate murals, colorful frescoes, and ornate sculptures adorn the monastery walls, showcasing the artistic richness of the region.

Here are some of the most popular monasteries in the region.

Thiksey Monastery, located on top of a hill close to Leh, is one of the most prominent and largest monasteries in Ladakh. It is known for its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, and its grand Maitreya (Future Buddha) statue, which stands at a height of around 49 feet.

Hemis Monastery, situated in the Hemis village, is one of the wealthiest and most famous monasteries in Ladakh. It is renowned for its annual Hemis Festival, during which the monastery comes alive with vibrant mask dances and cultural performances.

Alchi Monastery, located in the Alchi village, stands out for its unique artistic style. It houses some of the oldest and finest examples of Kashmiri-influenced Buddhist art in the form of murals, sculptures, and wood carvings.

Lamayuru Monastery, also known as the “Moonland of Ladakh,” is one of the oldest monasteries in the region. It is perched on a hill and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding lunar-like landscape. Lamayuru is also associated with the annual Yuru Kabgyat Festival, featuring colorful mask dances.

Other monasteries popular among tourists are Phuktal, Karsha, Diskit, Likir, Namgyal Tsemo, Basgo, etc.

A journey to Ladakh is like the road to paradise in the Himalayas and we hope those Ladakh travel tips are useful for you as you plan your own Ladakh tour, then go for it to gain an unforgettable experience in your life.

Quick questions about Ladakh

Is ladakh safe for tourists.

Ladakh’s mountainous terrain and desert-like characteristics make it a captivating destination for travelers seeking unique landscapes and a sense of adventure. It is generally considered safe for tourists.

How high is Ladakh?

Ladakh is situated in the Trans-Himalayan region and is characterized by its high altitude, rugged mountains, and sparse vegetation. Its elevation ranges from 3,000m to 6,000m (9,800 ft to 20,000 ft) above sea level.

Does Ladakh have the highest roads in the world?

Well, Ladakh has claimed that it is home to some of the highest mountain passes (motorable) in the world such as Khardung La, Chang La and Tanglang La. The highest altitude is 19,300 ft above mean sea level.

When can I go to Ladakh to see the snow?

To see snow in Ladakh, it is best to plan your visit during the winter months, from November to March, when snowfall is more frequent and the region is covered in snow.

However, it’s important to note that the winter season in Ladakh is extremely cold, with temperatures dropping well below freezing, especially in higher-altitude areas.  Many tourist facilities and accommodations in Ladakh may be closed or operate on a limited basis during the winter season.

Does the Indus River flow through Ladakh?

Yes, the Indus River flows through Ladakh. The Indus is one of the major rivers in the Indian subcontinent, and it originates in the Tibetan Plateau in China. It enters the Indian Territory in the region of Ladakh and flows through the Leh district, which is a part of the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Leh-Ladakh-Zanskar you can refer to

• 10D9N Discover Ladakh, India from Singapore [All-Inclusive]
• 7D6N Ladakh Private Tour
• 6D5N Ladakh Private Tour
• 9D8N Chadar Frozen River Trekking Experience
• 11D10N Stok Kangri Summit Trek from Leh

Read more Ladakh blog — How to plan Leh Ladakh trip & suggested Ladakh itinerary 15 days.

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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.

Most Popular Ladakh Tour Packages

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. 

SOTC has plenty of great offers and deals on Kashmir tour packages which you should definitely check before you book your Ladakh trip .

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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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