On this page, we shall keep updating the Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) impacts on the Leh Ladakh Tourism and updates for tourists:
04 January 2024: The tourists and residents are advised to wear face masks in crowded and public places of Leh Ladakh as cases of Covid-19 are again on the rise in some parts of the country.
23 December 2023: With increasing cases of Covid-19 in the country, some restrictions are expected in crowdy places in coming days. However, there is no restriction in Ladakh so far. So, all tourists are being welcomed in Leh (Ladakh) without any restriction.
01 June 2023: As all the population of India is fully vaccinated and Covid-19 is no more a threat, no RTPCR or any other certificate or formality is required to visit Ladakh. So, all tourists are free to visit Ladakh without any restriction.
08 April 2023: There is no need to bring RTPCR or any kind of report if you are fully vaccinated (received at least two vaccines against Covid-19). However, tourists are advised to wear face masks in crowded places and adhere to the Covid protection protocols.
22 January 2023: All the tourist places and airport in Leh Ladakh are open to all tourists. However, the administration has advised tourists to visit Ladakh only after receiving at least two vaccinations against Covid-19. People are advised to wear face masks in public and crowdy areas.
May 04, 2022: There are no restrictions on tourists entering Ladakh or visiting the sightseeing places in Leh (Ladakh). The incoming tourists should be fully vaccinated. Those not vaccinated are advised to bring RT-PCR test report not older than 72 hours. All the places and roads in Ladakh, including Leh-Manali and Leh-Srinagar roads are open for tourists.
March 1, 2022: Tourists visiting Ladakh by air or road need to bring a negative RT-PCR test report not older than 72 hours if they are not fully vaccinated against Covid-19. The symptomatic people/those with recent contact history will have to undergo a coronavirus test (RAT or RT-PCR) and will be isolated. Even if fully vaccinated or carrying an RT-PCR test report, the tourists may be subject to on-the-spot test randomly during arrival in Ladakh. If anybody is found positive for Covid-19, the tourist will be quarantined/isolated and kept at a designated hotel at his/her own expense until he/she is tested negative.
January 20, 2022: All the tourists entering Ladakh by flight will have to bring a negative RT-PCR test report not older than 72 hours. The RT-PCR report is required even if fully vaccinated. The report will be checked at the airport. The Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh roads are closed.
January 03, 2022: Leh administration has imposed a complete ban on the famous Chadar Trek, Snow Leopard tours and other winter tourist activities in Ladakh this season till further order. The ban is imposed to control the spread of Covid-19 in Ladakh after a case of Omicron was detected here.
24 September 2021: The Pangong – Chushul – Tsomoriri lake road via Man – Merak – Tsaga la – Rezang la – Nyoma has been opened for Indian tourists. This road was closed for tourists for over one year due to security reasons (following India-China clash). The Indian Army recommended that there is no tention at border and that the area can be opened to domestic tourists. The Ladakh government finally threw open the road. No need of Inner Line Permit (ILP) to use this route. Now tourists can go to Tso Moriri (Korzok) or Hanle directly from Pangong Lake without need to return back to Leh.
01 September 2021: Now requirement of negative RT-PCR test report to enter Ladakh has been exempted if the visitor has been inoculated both the doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. The second vaccination should be administered at least 15 days before arrival in Leh. This means an RT-PCR test report is required only for those who have taken only one dose or have not taken any dose so far.
25 August 2021: All places in Ladakh are open for tourists as usual. However, the Pangong-Chushul-Rezang la-Hanle/Tso Moriri route is still closed for tourists.
6 August 2021: The Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh today issued a notification to completely remove the requirement of an inner line permit (ILP) for the Indian nationals, including domestic tourists and local residents, to the notified protected areas of Ladakh. It was earlier mandatory for the tourists to apply for an ILP from the district administration to travel to protected areas of Ladakh. Now the domestic tourists no longer require an ILP to visit the popular tourist circuits, including Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Tsomoriri Lake, and the Aryan villages. However, foreign tourists still need to apply for an inner line permit to visit these protected areas. The validity of the ILP for foreign tourists to visit these protected areas, which was earlier seven days, has now been extended up to 15 days.
5 August 2021: Tourism is in full swing in Leh-Ladakh with most hotels remaining fully occupied. Tourists are having problem in finding room in hotels of their choice. The main problem is with getting a single room/tent at Pangong lake where limited accommodation and high demand have led to chaos. Tourists, who are not coming with advanced bookings, are having trouble with both hotel and taxi booking. Limited taxi service has also created problems as tourists are struggling to get taxi for sightseeing and airport pick up and drop. Even motorbikes are not available easily on rent. Tourists who booked hotels from online portals are having difficulty in getting taxi service. Hoteliers and travel agents are advising tourists to book the complete tour packages in advance to avoid booking-related problems. A similar condition is expected till mid-September.
1 August: All the tourist places in Ladakh are open for tourists. the Pangong-Man-Merak-Chuchul-Rezang la route is closed for tourists due to security reasons. A negative RT-PCR test report is still mandatory for all the travellers to be able to enter Ladakh.
11 July 2021: As not all camps have resumed operations at Pangong Lake area this season, most of the luxury and deluxe camps are not available easily. Tourists are having trouble booking the camps in the Pangong Tso area. Some top-rated hotels in Leh are also booked in advance for the next few days.
5 July 2021: There will be no change in the previous Covid guidelines. The same guidelines shall remain in force till 12th July 2021.
25 June 2021: In process of unlocking, more relaxations have been allowed in Leh-Ladakh. Now shops will remain open almost all day. All tourist places are open for tourists. Inner line permits (ILP) can be obtained online from https://www.lahdclehpermit.in . Negative RT-PCR test report is mandatory to enter Ladakh. A large number of tourists re reaching Ladakh everyone and many good hotels are fully occupied.
21 June 2021: As Covid-19 cases are decreasing in Ladakh, administration has allowed more relaxations from 21 June to 28 June. Most of the shops will now remain open all day. Night curfew will be observed from 10pm to 5am. Tourists can visit all the places, provided that they strictly follow Covid-19 safety protocols. Tourists need to bring negative RT-PCR test report to enter Ladakh.
17 June 2021: There will not be any weekend curfew in Ladakh. Tourists having valid travel documents/ILP can go sightseeing provided that they stricly follow the government guidelines.
12 June 2021: Leh (Ladakh) administration today issued new guidelines regarding more relaxations in the ongoing Corona curfew. The restaurants will open from 8 AM to 8 PM (only for takeaway) and grocery and other essential shops will open daily from 7 am to 1 pm. Night curfew in the district for non-essential services would remain in force on all days between 9 PM to 5 AM. Tourists will have to bring negative RT-PCR test reports not older than 96 hours to enter Ladakh. The new guidelines did not mention the extension of weekend curfew when tourist movement is also restricted. This means, there is a possiblity that there will be no weekend curfew from now onwards.
6 June 2021: The corona curfew in Leh (Ladakh) has been extended till 14 June. Tourists can visit all the places (Pangong lake, Khardungla pass, Nubra Valley, Turtuk, Changla pass, Magnetic Hill, Sangam, Tso Moriri lake etc) after obtaining inner line permits from Monday to Friday but it will be a complete weekend curfew on Saturday and Sunday when sightseeing will not be allowed. However, airport pick up and drop and entry/exit in/from Leh by road will be allowed. If coming for short stay, tourists should try to reach Leh on Sunday or Monday. Negative RT-PCR test report is mandatory to enter Ladakh. Tourists may have to subject to rapid antigen test (RAT) after arrival despite having RT PCR.
5 June 2021: With control in the coronavirus cases across India, people, who are locked at home for long time, are going crazy for long holiday trips. A large number of enquiries are pouring in from people from all the states who are looking for a travel agent to organise their trip to Ladakh. The number of tourists visiting Ladakh is increasing gradually
22 May 2021: As Covid-19 cases are still rising, the Corona curfew in Leh (Ladakh) has further been extended up to 7 June 2021 morning. However, hotels will remain open and there is no ban on tourist arrival.
15 May 2021: Corona curfew in Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh have been extended till 24th May.
14 May 2021: Ladakh administration has postponed the Sindhu Darshan Festival 2021 due to prevailing Covid-19 situation. Sindhu Darshan-2021 was scheduled from June 19 to 27. The officials said the Sindhu Mahakumbh will remain suspended until the situation becomes normal.
05 May 2021: Now many hotels/camps/guesthouses have opened in Leh, Nubra and Pangong lake. So tourists have multiple options to book from. Many tourists are reaching Leh by flight every day. However, the number of tourists is very less than usual due to coronavirus scare. The number of tourists entering Ladakh is expected to increase after opening of Manali-Leh highway which is expected to open in a week.
03 May: Emergency COVID equipment airlifted from Delhi to Leh. Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Shrikant Suse, today acknowledged Air Vistara for airlifting medical devices that were urgently required at the SNM Hospital in light of the Covid-19 situation but were lying in Delhi due to the closure of the national highways. DC had taken up the matter with Air Vistara and had asked them to airlift the medical devices at the earliest. Air Vistara, under the Vistara National Relief Programme, took prompt action and facilitated the airlifting of the consignment through the Vistara flight from Delhi to Leh today. The medical consignment included the computed radiography system, echocardiography machine and high-end monitors and desktops.
29 April: Leh administration ordered to observed district-wide weekend curfew on 1st and 2nd May. Everything, except for essential services, will remain closed. Tourist movement to/from hotel or airport will be allowed. However, sightseeing will not be allowed. Strict action was taken to control the surging Covid-19 cases in Leh district.
21 April: Night Curfew will be imposed in Leh between 10 PM and 5 AM with immediate effect. All the vehicles inlcuding public transport and commercial vehicles will run with 50% capacity. Indoor gyms, libraries, games etc. shall be banned. No restriction on tourism. Tourists can continue visiting Ladakh only with a negative RT-PCR test report not older than 96 hours.
17 April 2021: As Ladakh continues to welcome tourists, schools, colleges, hostels and all educational institutions here have been ordered to be shut till April 30 following spike in Covid-19 cases.
10 April 2021: More hotels open in Leh and Nubra. Tourists can see snow at Baralacha pass and Changla pass.
1 April 2021: In a fresh notice issued by Ladakh government, tourists will have to bring RT-PCR negative test report to visit Ladakh (Leh and Kargil) by air or by road. Those not bringing test report (not older than 96 hours) will be quarantined for seven days.
Covid-19 guidelines for tourists visiting Ladakh.#ladakhtourism #covid19 pic.twitter.com/LUo2gmnqBO
— Discover Leh Ladakh (@ladakh_leh) April 1, 2021
28 March 2021: Leh is reconnected with Mumbai with a direct Spicejet flight – SG749 as Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh, receives the first flight today.
25 March 2021: Hotel Lake view and most of the hotels/camps at Tsomoriri (Korzok) will open for tourists from May 15.
20 March 2021: Tourists can visit Tsomoriri lake and Hanle but are not allowed to stay overnight. Only day visit has been allowed.
20 March 2021: Hotel Ladakh Imperial and Hotel Reenam are also open for tourists in Leh.
15 March 2021: Nubra Ecolodge at Sumur (Nubra) has also resumed operations.
1 March 2021: Tourists are required to bring Covid-19 test report to visit Leh Ladakh. The report should not be older than 96 hours.
10 January 2021: Pangong lake has also been opened to tourists.
1 January 2021: Hotel Grand Dragon, Hotel Abduz, Hotel Zen Ladakh, Hotel Indus Valley are open in winter season.
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