For many travelers who always live their life in search of the next wanderlust, Leh Ladakh has been a dream destination on their maps. After all, can anyone resist the magical charm of the snowy valleys and high-altitude passes? Gorgeous locales that feel like heaven has descended upon Earth. Well, if this made you pack your bags, it’s time to first know the best time to visit Leh Ladakh.
Keep reading and then you’re free to plan your ‘Pahaadon wala adventure’ (A mountainous adventure)!
Best Time To Visit Leh Ladakh With Family And Friends
Where Is Ladakh?
Let’s begin with the basics, especially for those unfamiliar with Ladakh. It is a Union Territory located in the northernmost part of India, close to Jammu & Kashmir.
Characterized by high-altitude deserts, rugged terrain, and gorgeous valleys, Ladakh is one of the most sparsely populated regions in India.
However, the region has a rich cultural heritage closely associated with Tibetan culture and Buddhism. Ladakh is home to many monasteries and is also famous for its wide range of adventure activities like trekking, mountain biking, stargazing, bungee jumping, and river rafting.
Best Time To Visit Ladakh And Leh: Season-Wise Overview
Summer Time In Leh Ladakh (May To September)
If you’re looking for the best time to visit Leh Ladakh with family or friends, there is no better time to visit than summer. The season here lasts from May to September, with clear blue skies and pleasant weather. Daytime temperatures swing between 15°C and 25°C, making it quite comfortable for travelers.
The Leh-Manali Highway and the Leh-Srinagar Highway are fully open during this time, allowing more and more tourists to flock to Ladakh’s gorgeous valleys.
If you visit this place during summer, you’ll be amazed to find a lot of attractions open to visitors. These include the likes of Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, and Tso Moriri.
June is considered to be the best month for a comfortable and accessible trip to Ladakh as most routes open up and snow vanishes, making getting in and around Ladakh easier. The Manali Rohtang Pass also opens up by early June, connecting Manali with Ladakh.
Naturally, this also makes it the peak tourist season to visit Ladakh. Prices of homestays and attractions hike up a little due to increased demand.
Plus, you’ll see a larger crowd during this season. We recommend visiting Ladakh in late April, early May or late September. During these times, the crowd is less and you’ll be able to enjoy a more peaceful environment.
Winter Time In Ladakh (October To April)
Winter time in Ladakh is often an off-season for tourists. The region experiences heavy snowfall, and temperatures can plummet down to as low as -10°C.
While the prices for many activities and hotels lower down, many such services are temporarily closed during this season. Moreover, road access to Ladakh may be limited owing to landslides, snowfall, and other such weather conditions.
However, these weather conditions don’t discourage enthusiastic travelers from visiting this region. Many seasoned trekkers and adventurers embark on the famous Pangong Lake Trek, Markha Valley Trek, and the Chadar Trek.
Ladakh also experiences a brief monsoon season between July and August, and this monsoon replenishes streams, lakes, and rivers in this region. However, this season can also cause a few inconveniences like roadblocks and landslides.
Permit For Visiting Ladakh
To visit certain restricted areas in India, an Inner Line Permit (ILP) is required. Popular destinations like Nubra Valley, Khardung La Pass, Pangong Lake, Hanle, and Tso Moriri require an ILP.
This ILP is valid for 15 days (foreign visitors) and a maximum of three weeks (Indian citizens). When allotted to a foreign visitor, the ILP is known as a Protected Area Permit (PAP).
To apply for an ILP, you must simply visit the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council website. Click on the ‘Domestic’ Icon on the main page if you’re an Indian citizen and fill in the required information.
If you’re not an Indian citizen, do the same by clicking on the ‘Overseas Registration’. The process to obtain this permit is quite easy, and now you can even pay the fees online through the above mentioned portal.
It costs INR 400 (environment fee) plus INR 50 (Red Cross donation), and a small processing fee of INR 150, unless you go to the Deputy Commissioner’s Office yourself to get the permit stamped.
In total, this permit can then cost you between INR 450 and INR 600.
If you’re a visitor from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, you’ll have to apply for an ILP from the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi.
Similarly, if you’re a foreigner holding a Diplomatic Passport or a part of the United Nations, you must apply for an ILP from the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.
Travel Tips For Visiting Ladakh
- Make sure that you undergo at least 48 hours of acclimatization before you initiate a journey to a high-altitude area.
- The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council website also advises travelers to take a tablet Diamox-250mg (acetazolamide) twice a day, after breakfast and after dinner, at least two days before starting the journey to Leh. It advises that the tablet should be continued for two days more, after arriving at Leh.
- Make sure that you engage in no physically exhausting activities at least on the first two days of your arrival in Ladakh.
- Consume at least 2 to 3 liters of water daily to stay hydrated.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol when in Ladakh as a precautionary health measure.
- In case you experience headache, nausea, lack of concentration, breathlessness, loss of appetite, disturbed sleep, and coughing, consult a doctor immediately. These could be symptoms of High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)
- Carry ample waterproof and winterproof gear like jackets, overcoats, mufflers, socks, boots, shawls, etc.
Summing Up
The best time to visit Leh Ladakh is ideally between May and September if you wish to explore many parts of the region.
However, if you’re visiting the region in the winter, make sure you follow all safety precautions and stay alert of the latest weather conditions. Cheers to a wonderful trip in the magical terrains of Leh Ladakh!
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FAQs
Which Month Is Best For Leh Ladakh?
The months between May and September are the best time to visit Leh Ladakh. June and July are typically the most popular among tourists.
How Many Days Are Enough For Ladakh?
We recommend spending at least 4 to 7 days exploring Ladakh, as the region offers something unique in each of its corners.
Which Is The Nearest Airport To Ladakh?
The Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (IXL) in Leh is the nearest airport to Ladakh, with flights leaving from Delhi, Jammu, and Srinagar.
