What is the best time/season to visit Leh Ladakh?
Ladakh

What is the best time to visit Leh Ladakh? This is the question that every traveller wants to ask before planning his visit to Ladakh. Ladakh can be visited in all four seasons, 12 months a year, but depending upon the choice and fitness of traveller, one can plan tour based on the seasons.

Seasons in Ladakh

  • June to September: Summer season (Peak tourist season/Best time to visit Ladakh with family, children and elderly)
    (Day temperature: 20 to 25 degrees C, Night temperature: 5 to 10 degrees C)
  • October to November: Light cold (Lean tourist season)
    (Day temperature: 5 to 20 degrees C, Night Temperature: 5 degrees C to -5 degrees C)
  • December to March: Extreme cold (Leanest season/tourists visit only to experience cold/photography/adventure)
    (Day temperature: -5 degrees C to 5 degrees C, Night Temperature: -10 degrees C to -30 degrees C (Temperature at some places dip even below minus 30 degrees Celsius. Drass region of Ladakh is the coldest inhabited place in India and second coldest in world after Siberia)
  • April to May: Light cold and sometime warm days but cold nights (Tourists start visiting Ladakh. Temperature starts rising to pleasant after mid-April)
    (Day temperature: 5 to 15 degrees C, Night temperature: -5 to 10 degrees C)

The best time to visit Ladakh depends on your preferences and the activities you plan to engage in. Ladakh is known for its rugged landscapes, high-altitude passes, and unique cultural experiences. However, due to its high altitude and extreme weather conditions, the accessibility and climate vary throughout the year. Here’s an overview of the different seasons in Ladakh:

  1. Summer (June to September): This is the peak tourist season in Ladakh when the weather is most favorable. The temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F) during the day, and the region experiences clear skies and sunshine. Most roads, including the famous Manali-Leh Highway and Srinagar-Leh Highway, are open during this time, allowing easy access to Ladakh. This season is ideal for outdoor activities, such as trekking, camping, and visiting high-altitude lakes like Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri.
  2. Autumn (September to October): Autumn in Ladakh is characterized by pleasant daytime temperatures and colder nights. The landscapes are adorned with golden hues as the vegetation starts to change. The tourist crowd decreases compared to summer, making it a good time to visit if you prefer fewer tourists.
  3. Winter (November to February): Ladakh experiences extremely cold weather during winter, with temperatures dropping below freezing point. Many high-altitude passes and roads, including the Manali-Leh Highway and Srinagar-Leh Highway, are closed due to heavy snowfall, making it inaccessible by road. However, if you are an adventure enthusiast and well-prepared for the harsh conditions, you can witness the mesmerizing frozen landscapes and enjoy activities like ice skating, winter trekking, and the famous Chadar Trek on the frozen Zanskar River.
  4. Spring (March to May): Spring is another good time to visit Ladakh, as the region starts to come alive after the winter. The temperatures gradually rise, and the snow starts melting, resulting in lush green valleys and blooming flowers. The roads to Ladakh gradually open up, but some remote areas may still be inaccessible. Spring is suitable for photography enthusiasts and those interested in witnessing the cultural festivals that take place during this time, such as the Hemis Festival.

It’s important to note that Ladakh’s high altitude requires acclimatization, regardless of the season you visit. Adequate rest, hydration, and gradual ascent are essential to prevent altitude-related health issues. Consulting a medical professional before your trip is advisable.

Ultimately, the best time to visit Ladakh depends on your preferences, interests, and the experiences you seek.

Also read: Top places to visit in Ladakh

Hotels, Guest Houses and Camps

Most of the hotels and guest houses (99%) remain shut during winter season in Ladakh as very few tourists visit this valley during this time period. Also, maintenance of hotels is very difficult in winters. Keeping things functioning, especially water (drinking/toilet) becomes impossible as everything gets freeze in extreme cold. Keeping the rooms warm is another challenge.

Hotels remain closed between October and April. While hotels start opening in mid-April when temperature starts rising, the camps (tents) in Nubra valley too start accommodating guests at the same time but Pangong and Tso Moriri (Korzok) being colder than Leh and Nubra invite guests to its tents in May or afterwards. However, depending on the weather conditions (temperature), sometime tents at Pangong Tso are pitched after April 20.

Leh town in winters
Leh town during winters. Pic credit: Nitin Gera

For general/family sightseeing:

April 25 to September 30: Late April is the time of onset of summer season in Ladakh valley. This is the perfect time to visit Ladakh for general sightseeing and enjoy both weather and landscapes. This is the time when about 90% of the total tourists visits the valley. If you cannot bear the extreme cold of Ladakh, then this is the best time to plan your holiday tour. However, if you want to enjoy the light cold, year can come in early April also. Most hotels of Ladakh will remain shut in first half of the April month.

 

For winter photography/snowfall/winter life

If you want to see snowfall and capture some beautiful snow-clad valley views in your camera and also want to experience the winter life, then December to March is the best time to visit Ladakh. During this period under the extreme cold conditions you can see entirely frozen Pangong Lake, Tsomoriri Lake, Zanskar River and all water sources. This is the best time for expeditions, Chadar Trek (walking on Frozen Zanskar River), photography, snowfall sighting, snow leopard tours, some skiing and trekking.

Also Read: Things to do in Ladakh in winters

Visiting Ladakh by Flight/Air/Airplane

One can land in Ladakh by airplane throughout the year. Air service remains open even during extreme winter season i.e. December to March. When both road links (Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh) are blocked following winter snowfall, flight service is the only mode of transport for both local occupants and tourists to reach Leh, the main city of Ladakh.

Visiting Ladakh by road

Travelling via road to Ladakh has its own charm and adventure. A large number of travellers prefer road journey over flight due to beautiful landscapes enroute. If you are opting for Delhi-Manali-Leh route, you can visit Manali, Rohtang pass, Keylong, Jispa, Darcha, Baralacha, Sarchu, Morre Plains, Taglang la and many more attractions including five high mountain passes. The highway opens anytime in May month (sometime even in early June). If you are booking Manali-Leh Ladakh jeep safari (road trip by SUV) in advance, then booking it after 31 May is safe. Similarly one can visit Sonamarg, Zojila pass, Drass, Kargil, Lamayuru and more attractions if Srinagar-Leh route is chosen. Srinagar-Leh road generally opens in April month. If making a round trip (Delhi-Manali-Leh-Srinagar or in reverse direction) then June to mid October is the best time. As airfare to Ladakh is very expensive during peak season, some adventure enthusiasts (or families) prefer jeep safari over the flight.

Snow clearance on manali-leh highway
Snow clearance on Manali-Leh highway
Ladakh women
Ladakh in winters

Current Weather, Temperature and Snowfall Status in Ladakh

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