Best Time To Visit Ladakh

by Shaurya Chalmela Travel consultant

A trip to Leh Ladakh is something that every travel lover dreams of once in their lifetime. It is undoubtedly the best place to travel in India. Perfect getaway from the city life, everyone craves for a vacation to this scenic and untouched beauty of our country. Tourists flock to this magical land of Tibets to explore the vast hills and valleys. Ladakh is also one of the major hotspots for adventure lovers. Travelers are waiting to come and experience the unique culture, magical mountains, and breathtaking landscapes along with the exceptional thrill.

While most of the tourists prefer to visit this precious possession of India during the summers as the weather is most friendly and pleasant during that time. The snow starts melting, and the beauty of the land is in its full bloom. You will find a lot of tourists who come to attend the Hemis Festival and enjoy the colorful and vibrant atmosphere. However, some thrill-seekers look to visit this place during winters for taking part in various adventure activities like the famous Chaddar Trek. Walking on the frozen Zanskar river brings them a different feel altogether.

Since leh and ladakh is always stunning and beautiful during all seasons, it entirely depends on the tourist as to what they want to experience. You need to know what time of the year suits your journey and decide accordingly. Helping you further, let's look at the detailed information on what every season has to offer :

Mid-November to March :

The temperature is the coldest of all during this period. The place experiences sub-zero levels of temperature almost at all locations
Survival and acclimatization are difficult due to the very intense cold.
The best highlight of this season is the changing colors Pangong Tso Lake and Tso Moriri Lake from icy white to sparkling blues
All highways and passes will be closed and covered with snow
The Zanskar river is entirely frozen, and many adventure lovers arrive there to walk on the frozen river which is also known as Chadar Trek
It is also the best time to catch the snow leopards at Hemis National Park
There may be cut down on water supply and electricity during this period
Some of the festivals held during this period are the Spituk Gustor, Dosmoche, Yargon Tungshak, Stok Guru Tsechu, Matho Nagrang, Matho Nagrang, Stok Guru Tsechu, and Yargon Tungshak
You can reach here only by flights from Delhi or Srinagar.

April to Mid May :

This is the best time to flock to Ladakh for sightseeing and adventure lovers as this season marks the beginning for vacationing.
The snowfall stops and the hotels and guest houses open up for accommodations
The atmosphere still feels cold, and the weather is still not sunny and warm, and the winter is not entirely faded away.
The Rohtang Pass is still not opened during this period
The lakes at Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri begin to melt, inviting various campsites to set up. You can enjoy sightseeing and take part in adventure sports, however, make sure to protect your skin from the harsh weather conditions.
The best mode of reaching Ladakh is by flight, as most roads and high mountain passes are opened up yet.

Mid May to July

Most of the highways and all the roads to Leh open up during this period. This is a perfect time to plan a road trip to Leh to catch the snow-covered mountains and scenic beauty of Ladakh
The snow starts melting by mid-June, making this place a tourist hub for incredible views and beautiful highways to treat you.
Some of the festivals celebrated during this season is the Saka Dawa, Yuru Kabgyat. Sindhu Darshan and Hemis festivals
The Srinagar – Leh highway and the Manali Leh highway are the best routes if you are planning a ladakh road trip. You can schedule an early morning trip to avoid traffic during peak hours at Sonmarg and Rohtang Pass.
There may be landslides and roadblocks initially, so it's advisable to plan your trip accordingly.

August to Mid September :

Monsoons are in full swing during this period. The rivers flow with gushing life, and the landscape is inviting with its spectacular views
Landslides are most frequent during this season. However, the area from Baralacha Pass and further beyond Zoji La Pass does not receive much rainfall. The path is steep from Manali and Srinagar, but nothing drastic has happened yet.
Driving on the roads during monsoon is not ideal for visitors looking for road trips and can prove to be dangerous as some portions of the highways are bad and not suitable for travel.
The climate in the rain shadow area keeps changing, and visiting Leh Ladakh during August – September is not the best bet. Hence it is advisable not to visit the place during this period.
A few festivals celebrated during this season are the Dakthok, Stongday, Phyang, Karsha, Phyang, Karzok, and Sani Nasjal festivals.

Mid-September to Mid-October :

This is another best time to visit ladakh if you want to witness the real beauty of this place. The climate is at its best, and the roads are in perfect condition to travel to the picturesque and astounding locations of Leh Ladakh.
The weather starts getting cold as there is occasional snowfall and cold winds make the weather chilly and dry.
The water in most of the lakes starts turning into beautiful colors of blue, and the place begins exuding some great astonishing vibes. There is natural beauty all around during early Sept. However; winter begins to settle in by the end of the month.
Most of the hotels offer discounts on the stay during this period, and many campsites are closed or on the verge of closing by mid-September. The best for camping is near the Pangong Tso Lake.
The Manali Leh highway starts getting covered in snow but is still open for travelers. However, occasional snowfall may sometimes be a hindrance.
Diskit Festival is celebrated during this season of the year in Leh Ladakh.

Mid October – Mid November

By this time, most of the visitors leave the place as winters have completely taken over.

The weather becomes freezing due to regular snowfall, and only a few tourists can brave the chill in temperature.

Although the Manali – Leh and Srinagar – Leh highways are open for visitors, driving through them is not safe and advisable as melted ice gushes in the roads.

Roads usually start vanishing towards the end of October due to the presence of black ice on the streets, leaving flights as the only option to reach Ladakh during this season.

Lakes freeze due to cold winters and camping is not possible near Pangong Tso Lake.

Water supply and electricity are scarcely available from November.
Most of the hotels, restaurants, and guesthouses are closed, and even the locals abandon the place during winters.

It is highly recommended to take precautionary steps and plan your trip in advance if you want to explore Leh Ladakh during this time of the year as not everyone can comfortably bear the cold that drops down to below 0 degrees Celsius

So as mentioned above, you now have a detailed review for different periods along with their weather conditions, temperatures, etc. We have given you all details in terms of what Ladakh has to offer in different periods to help you plan your trip accordingly