Best Time to Visit Leh Ladakh
Overview
Since Ladakh is a year-round destination, tourists are seen here every season. And needless to say, every season has its own charm. However, the best time to visit Leh Ladakh is summer from May to September.
During these months, Ladakh experiences clear climatic conditions with mild temperatures hovering around 25°C. Whether you are looking for a trekking expedition in Ladakh or want to have a solo adventure, Summer is the most suitable and best time to visit Leh Ladakh.
People do plan winter trips to Ladakh as well to experience the live snowfall and play in the white snow. With proper planning and good physical health, visiting Ladakh in winter is possible. For the best services and a hustle-free experience, plan a holistic Leh Ladakh trip with Cliffhangers India at https://cliffhangersindia.com/ .
Leh Ladakh in Summer
Summer is considered the best time to visit Leh Ladakh. The reason behind this is the moderate temperature ranging between 20°C to 25°C during daytime and an insignificant drop at night. The sunny skies and pleasant weather makes the experience a quite comfortable one. From outdoor activities like trekking to planning sightseeing tours, it is the most convenient time to be in Ladakh.
Different treks like Markha Valley Trek, Chadar Trek are accessible in the balmy climate of summer. The popular local attractions like Pangong Lake, Nubra Valley and different Buddhist Monasteries are open to the public to explore. Don’t forget to add river rafting at Zanskar River when visiting Ladakh in summer.
Lastly, if you are going on an adventurous bike trip to Ladakh, the Manali-Leh Highway and Srinagar-Leh Highway are open and in good condition in summer, making it the best time to visit Leh Ladakh by road. Also all high altitude passes are open and all places of leh Ladakh are open in summer. A brief description of weather conditions of each month of summer is given below. Take a look!
Ladakh in May
As the extreme climatic conditions of winter terminate followed by spring, the summer finally begins from the month of May. The average temperature during this time remains 15°C to 20°C.
The days are warm, although nights can be comparatively colder due to a bit of drip in the mercury level. The short treks have started in the “Land of High Passes”. Since the frozen rivers and lakes have melted, they offer different water based sports like River rafting, boating and fishing.
The Sham Valley trek is one of the best treks for beginners to do in May. Since the summer influx of tourists is still awaited in June and July, you can enjoy a peaceful trip to Leh Ladakh in May.
Ladakh in June
The summer season is completely set in Leh Ladakh by November. The continuously rising temperature levels range between 18°C to 25°C at daytime while fluctuating around 15°C at nights.
The valley based as well as alpine attractions are accessible now. Set a day aside for the iconic Pangong Lake as you can spend some time by the shores of the lake, soaking in the beauty and finally camping at night.
Immerse in the cultural beauty of Hemis Festival celebrated at Hemis Festival in June/ July. The major treks of Ladakh like Markha Valley treks have started by now with trekkers undertaking it with enthusiasm.
When visiting Leh Ladakh in June, pack some cotton clothes like shirts and trousers along with light sweaters and cardigans.
Ladakh in July
Among all the months of summer, July is one of the best times to visit Leh Ladakh. The temperature fluctuates between 25°C to 30°C. The summer season is at its peak and so is the tourism in Ladakh.
The most visitors are seen in July. While the monsoon season does begin in July itself, it doesn’t rain heavily here, unlike the rest of Northern India. Occasional rainfall can be experienced that is certainly not enough to cause any kind of hamper.
The trekking trails of Markha Valley Trek, Sham Valley Trek are filled with adventure enthusiasts. Different alpine passes are accessible and motorable given the comfortable weather and good road conditions. Add a cultural experience to your itinerary by visiting the Hemis Monastery and witness the Hemis Festival which sometimes falls in July.
The Cham dance is performed by Lamas of the monastery. In July, with other clothes according to the weather, don’t forget an umbrella and a raincoat to remain dry and comfortable.
Ladakh in August
August receives the most rainfall in Leh Ladakh. It often rains in the evenings but only light drizzling is experienced. Due to the showers, a freshness is felt in the air.
The temperature in August also hovers around 22°C to 28°C. The days are clear with sun out and the fresh breeze blows.
You get enough daylight hours for sightseeing at different lakes, temples and monasteries. Some of the best places to visit in Leh Ladakh in June are Nubra valley, Thiksey Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Shanti Stupa, Magnetic Hills, etc.
Like the other summer months, August is suitable for recreational activities like water rafting at Zanskar and Sindh River, rock climbing, mountain biking, trekking and hiking. Wear proper clothes according to the weather and carry an umbrella.
Ladakh in September
September is the last month of summer in Leh Ladakh. By mid-September the autumn season starts. While the temperature ranges between 15° to 25°C, you can feel a crispness in the air.
The grounds are covered with brown and golden leaves, forming a carpet. The trekking trails of Markha Valley trek and Sham Valley trek are still accessible. The treks are closed after September as the winter starts to set in alpine regions.
The post monsoon season of autumn is also ideal for the thrilling activity of river rafting. Carry a mix of clothes when visiting Leh Ladakh in September such as cotton clothes to wear when it’s sunny and warm clothes for the night.
The peak summer season has subsided by now, September offers a peaceful getaway to Ladakh.
Leh Ladakh in Winter
While people do visit Leh Ladakh in winter, it is not the absolute best time to plan a Ladakh trip. The winter season in Ladakh spans from December to March. average temperature remains below freezing level, resulting in extreme cold conditions. Due to heavy snowfall experienced here, the different local sightseeing spots are inaccessible, hindering your itinerary. Not only that, outdoor activities are unavailable as well. The different treks of Ladakh are closed due to the presence of thick layers of snow on the trails. Rivers are frozen as well, hence river rafting is another thing not available to experience. Ladakh is known for the alpine passes.
All high altitude passes like khardung la pass are closed in December, January and February until mid March. Irrespective of the season, acclimatisation is crucial. In winters, visiting alpine areas of Ladakh causes Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).
In winter, the hotels and guesthouses are inaccessible. Those which are open have limited services. Transport options like taxis and cabs operate infrequently, only when the route is clear and motorable.
Ladakh in November
After autumn, the winter commences in November. The temperature in Ladakh in November is around 2°C to 5°C and goes subzero at nights.
At the start of the month, you’ll feel cold at night but by the end, it is cold throughout. While the heavy snowfall is yet to begin, snowflakes start to fall at night. The water in the lakes and rivers start to get very cold and chilly.
The summer activities like trekking, river rafting and boating are no longer accessible, however, you can still visit the local attractions as some of them are still open to visitors, especially monasteries.
Carry enough woollen clothes to wear such as thermals, sweaters and cardigans.
Ladakh in December
The winter season officially starts in Leh Ladakh from December onwards. The temperature goes below 0°C and ranges between -5°C to -10°C and even drops down to -15°C at nights especially by the end of month.
Heavy snowfall is experienced, covering everything in thick layers of snow. While there aren’t many things to do in Ladakh in December, the winter treks finally begin. One of the most popular is Snow Leopard Trek, where you get to see the rare species of snow Leopards as they descend in the Rumbak Valley for food and prey.
Chadar Trek is another adventurous trek as you get a lifetime opportunity to walk on the frozen Zanskar River. Pack thick layers of woollen clothes like thermals, cardigans, sweaters, trench coats, jackets along with beanie and muffler.
Ladakh in January
January is the coldest month of the year. With temperature dropping to around -20°C at nights, it remains at -5 to -10°C during daytime. It snows heavily throughout the month, converting the vistas, mountains, valleys into a big slab of ice.
The lakes are frozen forming into a hard surface and walking on a frozen Pangong lake is a thrilling experience. You can even play ice hockey in Ladakh in January. The winter treks like Chadar Trek and Snow Leopard Trek on its peak, with maximum trekkers.
When planning a visit to Ladakh in January, book the hotels and transport in advance to avoid the last-minute hustle. Carry enough woollen clothes. Avoid normal walking shoes and wear gum boots to walk easily on the snow without slipping.
Ladakh in February
The weather in February remains the same as January, especially in the initial days of the month. By the end of the month, it rises a bit but snowfall is still received.
The temperature ranges between -1°C to -4°C at daytime while at night, it goes down to -10°C. The days as well as nights are shivering. February offers a great chance to catch live snowfall.
Different things to do in Ladakh in February are ice hockey, Chadar trek, etc. One of the highlights of visiting Ladakh in February is that you can attend the Losar Festival. Also known as the Tibetan New Year, it is dedicated to the Tibetan deity Rinpoche. People clean the houses and prepare delicacies such as Momos, Guthuk, Shapta, etc.
The Lamas at different monasteries perform the Mask Dance/ Cham Dance. Carry woollen clothes to wear in Ladakh in February.
Ladakh in March
March Marks the end of winter in Ladakh and the onset of spring season. While the cold season ends as we approach the last days of March, it still feels chilly, especially at night.
The temperature remains around 2°C to 5°C during the day and goes down to -2°C at night. Weather is quite unpredictable in March with clear skies and daylight to cold nights. The snowfall has stopped by now and as the temperature rises, snow begins to melt. The frozen lakes and rivers start to melt off as well.
The valleys and vistas are dotted with an array of vibrant wildflowers, creating a perfect natural scenery. In March, it is not very crowded as well. And hence it is the perfect time to plan a budget-friendly trip to Ladakh.
Best Time to Visit Leh Ladakh With Family
If you are planning a big vacation, summer is the best time to visit Leh Ladakh with family. The destination is quite family-friendly offering different activities that can be done together.
You can go on group treks with a local trek agency or plan a wildlife tour to Hemis National Park. City tours and sightseeing at monasteries, lakes and valleys are best done with your near and dear ones. At Nubra Valley, Book a camel ride as you transverse through the wide-sprawled vistas.
In summer, the Hemis monastery celebrated the Hemis Festival that you can attend together. The four to five star hotels available in Leh city have big spacious rooms to accommodate everyone at a single space.
When you book a Ladakh trip with family at Cliffhangers India, we organize a personalised itinerary catering to interests of children as well as senior citizen. The taxis and cabs are big enough to accommodate everybody.
Best Time to Visit Leh Ladakh by Bike
Summer is the most convenient time for Leh Ladakh bike trips. Due to prevailing temperature ranging between 20°C to 30°C, the weather remains comfortable and enjoyable, making summer the best time to visit Leh Ladakh by bike.
Bike trips are the well-suited option for solo travelers as well as couples. are two routes to visit Ladakh by bike. The first one is Srinagar-Leh Highway and Manali-Leh Highway is another one.
Both of these are open and in good condition throughout summer. The most picked one is the Srinagar-Leh Highway. However, Manali-Leh provides mesmerising scenery. When riding on high altitude, make sure to acclimatise first.
Going directly in alpine passes can lead to Acute Mountain Sickness with symptoms of nausea, dizziness, vomiting and stomach ache. Take a well-serviced and maintained car for the bike trip to Ladakh. Carry a puncture-repair kit and some spare fuel for the journey.
Best Time to Visit Leh Ladakh by Road
The best time to visit Leh Ladakh by road is from June to September in the summer season. The roads leading to Ladakh are well-maintained by higher authorities like BRO. And the ideal climatic conditions of summer season keeps the road conditions quite decent.
The two routes that connect Ladakh with the rest of India are Srinagar-Leh Highway and Manali-Leh Highway and both of them are open and accessible in summer. For the scenic road trip to Ladakh that generally starts from Delhi, you can either pick a car or a bike.
If you are travelling by road via a car, pick a SUV that has some height as it is a better choice for off-roading. In case of bikes, go for royal Enfield and bullets. Before the road trip, make sure to check weather forecasts and road conditions.
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