Best Time To Visit Leh Ladakh > Weather, Temperature & Season

What is the best time to visit Ladakh?

The best time to visit Leh Ladakh is from late April to mid-July, when both the Srinagar Leh highway and Leh-Manali highway are open, allowing for easy access to the region. This period also offers the opportunity to witness the breathtaking snow-capped landscapes, especially along the Leh-Manali highway. Another favorable time to visit is from mid-September to October when Ladakh is at its most beautiful, and visitors can enjoy discounts due to fewer tourists. However, it's advisable to avoid traveling to Leh Ladakh during the monsoon season from late July to August due to the risk of landslides. During this time, the roads, particularly the Srinagar Leh highway and Leh Manali highway, are often covered in sludge, making travel hazardous.

Peak Season: The peak tourist season in Leh Ladakh is from April to mid-July, attracting a significant number of visitors eager to explore the region's stunning landscapes and cultural heritage. During this time, the weather is favorable, and the roads leading to Ladakh are open, making it an ideal time for adventure enthusiasts and sightseers alike.

Shoulder Season: September to October marks the shoulder season in Leh Ladakh when the region is still accessible, and the weather remains pleasant. This period offers a quieter and more serene experience compared to the peak season, with fewer tourists and discounted rates available for accommodations and activities.

Off Season: The off-season in Leh Ladakh falls from November to March, as well as July and August. During these months, the region experiences harsh weather conditions, with extreme cold temperatures and the risk of road closures due to snowfall. Additionally, July and August are prone to monsoon rains, leading to landslides and making travel challenging and risky. As a result, visitor numbers decrease significantly during the off-season, and many establishments may close temporarily.

Weather in Ladakh

Upcoming Ladakh Weather

Monthly Weather in Ladakh

Month	High/Low (°C)	Rain
January	-15°/ -23°	1 days
February	-14°/ -24°	0 days
March	-9°/ -19°	3 days
April	-4°/ -14°	3 days
May	-1°/ -10°	3 days
June	2°/ -6°	6 days
July	7°/ 1°	4 days
August	7°/ 1°	8 days
September	4°/ -2°	3 days
October	-4°/ -10°	2 days
November	-8°/ -15°	1 days
December	-15°/ -23°	0 days

Ladakh Travel Packages

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7 Days / 6 Nights

Amazing Ladakh Tour Package – 6 Nights 7 Days

Leh(3N) → Nubra Valley(2N) → Pangong Lake(1N)

Battuta Travel Pvt Ltd

4.9 (45 reviews)

$ 284

17% off

$234/person

6 Days / 5 Nights

Hypnotic Leh Ladakh Tour Package

Leh(3N) → Nubra Valley(1N) → Pangong Lake(1N)

$288/person

13 Days / 12 Nights

Shimla to Jammu Ultimate Tour Package for 12 ni...

Manali(1N) → Jispa(1N) → Leh(3N) → Nubra Valley(2N) → Pangong Lake(1N) → Kargil(1N) → Srinagar(2N) → Pahalgam(1N)

$ 481

4% off

$457/person

7 Days / 6 Nights

Ladakh The Land Of Lamas 6 Night 7 Days Package

Leh(4N) → Pangong Lake(1N) → Nubra Valley(1N)

$ 282

19% off

$228/person

6 Days / 5 Nights

5 Nights 6 Days Ladakh Package with Pangong Stay

Leh(2N) → Pangong(1N) → Leh(2N)

$ 354

14% off

$303/person

8 Days / 7 Nights

Srinagar Ladakh Adventure Tour Package

Srinagar(1N) → Kargil(1N) → Leh(3N) → Nubra Valley(1N) → Pangong Lake(1N)

$287/person

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More about Best Time to Travel to Ladakh

Leh Ladakh in Summer (April-June)

Ladakh is by far the most beautiful to look at during the summer season and also the busiest. From around April, tourists already start to migrate to Ladakh to enjoy the last few days of spring in the crisp weather, as the cold fades and snow melts gradually. The temperature during this time is still quite cold, around 5°C-7°C. By the second week of May, the significant Srinagar-Leh highway is made available again, thus opening the floodgate for the flurry of tourists to go to Ladakh. The spring-early summertime is perfect for the budget travellers because the peak season is yet to start, and the hotels offer lucrative discounts to lure visitors, which can be taken advantage of. And at the same time, you can see a good share of ice and snow, mainly in the Khardung La and Chang La passes. Late April sees the melting of the lakes, and a spread of brilliant colours all around. By the beginning of June, the Manali route along with Rohtang Pass opens up as well. Temperature goes further up and hovers around 15°C-30°C. Although the roads can sometimes be slippery because of the rapidly melting snow, if trodden carefully, they can offer some of the most beautiful sights you have ever seen.

Leh Ladakh in Monsoon (July-August)

From the end of July to the middle of September, Ladakh experiences irregular to heavy rainfall in most places. This is neither the ideal nor the safest time to visit Ladakh. The rain makes the roads very risky to drive or walk on. Landslides and snowslides are frequent during this time as well. There can be frequent road blockages obstructing the flow of the trip or trek. There are some parts which fall under the rain shadow area like the areas beyond Zoji La Pass and Baralacha Pass, going towards Leh from Srinagar and Manali respectively. But to reach there, one must crossroads which are dangerous, thanks to the rain.

Leh Ladakh in Early Winter (September-October)

Autumn in Ladakh is once again one of the best times to visit. The precipitation stops but leaves behind just the right amount of humidity in the air to make the trip pleasant. Being washed by the rain over the monsoon season, the rugged surroundings turn to its freshest of colours. Moreover, the crowd from summer season thins out to quite an extent, which means you can enjoy Ladakh bit more freely.

Leh Ladakh in Winter (November-February)

By the time November comes around, Ladakh is freezing with cold. All places over 14000 ft experience sub-zero temperature. Driving through the roads, even the Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways get dangerous because of black ice. However, tourists who are confident about beating the cold can visit Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri Lakes to see their changing colours - it is a top-rated attraction. Soon after this, the lakes get all frozen. From mid-January to March, the famous Chadar Trek is on for adventure lovers. One part of the trek involves walking over the frozen Zanskar River.

Events in Ladakh

Activity: Mountain Biking

June - September

Mountain Biking is one of the most challenging adventure sports and is definitely not meant for the faint hearted. The terrain and landscape of Ladakh is perfect for the adventure sport junkies. Go fo (Read More)r long or short trips in this beautiful place and have the time of your life.

Activity: Trekking

June - September

Situated at an altitude of about 2750 - 7672 meters above sea level, Ladakh has an excellent topography for trekking. There are several trekking tours offered to travellers, which is one of the reason (Read More)s why so many adventure fanatics visit this place. Anytime between June and September is the perfect time to visit this place as it remains unaffected by the monsoon.

Mask Dance Festivals, Lamayuru Monastery

12th - 13th June

Lamayuru Monastery is one of the oldest and largest monasteries of Ladakh. Dating back to the 11th century, it has an inexplicable charm and beauty to it. Two mask dance festivals are held here, in th (Read More)e second and fifth months of the Tibetan Lunar calendar, in which monks surround the gompa and conduct prayers.

Karsha Gustor Festival, Zanskar

11th - 12th July

Celebrated at the Karsha Monastery, this festival marks the victory of good over evil. During this festival, a Black Hat Dance is performed. Also, a masked dance along the lines of 'Chaam' is performe (Read More)d by the monks. It is also known as the Spitok Gutor Zanskar Festival.

Ladakh Marathon

9th September

Registrations for the 4th edition of the Ladakh Marathon have opened! The highest marathon event in the world, it offers a unique opportunity for runners to run in the midst of the beautiful and sceni (Read More)c, high mountains, rivers and valleys. The Ladakh Marathon aims to encourage the young people of Ladakh to live a healthy lifestyle and become aware of the need to protect a stunningly beautiful, yet environmentally fragile region.

Frozen River Trek

January - February

In the months of January and February, the Zanskar river which flows through the Ladakh valley freezes up and that serves to be the only path connecting the main valley. This frozen river attracts tre (Read More)kkers from all over the world. It is popularly known as the Chadar Trek due to the formation of the thick blanket of the snow and is considered to be one of the most dangerous and challenging treks in the world.

Dosmoche Festival

2nd February to 3rd February 2019

The festival of Dosmoche is one of the most popular festivals celebrated in Leh-Ladakh region. Falling right at the beginning of the Tibetan New Year, the festival is held in the majestic Leh Palace. (Read More)Monks from different monasteries gather at the courtyards of the palace to perform Chams"". It marks the victory of the forces of good over evil. "

Matho Nagrang Festival in Ladakh

23rd February 2024 to 24th February 2024

The Oracle Matho Nagrang Festival is held at the Matho Monastery or Matho Gompa in Ladakh in the first month of the Tibetan new year. It is believed that two oracles, or Ronstang, inhabit the bodies o (Read More)f two specially chosen monks to predict the future of the village and individual villagers. Such traditions might seem unbelievable to the outsiders, but for the people living here, it's a way of life. It is one of the most important festivals of the Tibetan Buddhism Sakya School which like other Tibetan festivals, is celebrated with great pomp and show.

Sindhu Darshan Festival, Shey Manla

June 12, 2019 - June 14, 2019

Celebrated along the banks of the river Sindhu every year, the Sindhu Darshan Festival symbolises communal harmony and unity in diversity in India. People from different parts of the country and with (Read More)divergent ethnoreligious backgrounds participate in this festival, giving it a multi-dimensional tinge. Initially, a festival to celebrate the water body that birthed life to the Indus Valley civilisation, it has morphed into more than just the celebration of the Indus river and embraces the entirety of Indian diversity and heritage.

Hemis Festival of Ladakh

11th July, 2019

The Hemis Festival, a two-day festival hosted by the Hemis Gompa monastery celebrates the birth of Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. The main highlight of the festival is the gathering o (Read More)f the lamas around the central flagpole, where they perform the mystic mask dances (Chams) and sacred plays.

Ladakh Festival

25th - 28th September 2019

The Ladakh Festival is an annual fiesta organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department. Events such as folk dances, musical performances, mask dances, art and craft exhibitions, etc. form an in (Read More)tegral part of this festival. It provides an excellent opportunity for the tourists to experience the culture and lifestyle of the people in Ladakh. A blend of Tibetan, Central Asian and Northern India; the Ladakh Festival is a week-long extravaganza that shouldn't be missed if you're visiting Leh-Ladakh.

Losar Festival

27th December, 2019

The Losar festival of Ladakh is one of the major Tibetan Buddhist festivals that is celebrated with performances of traditional songs and folk dances of the region. The Ladakh area of Jammu & Kashmir (Read More)witnesses an outburst of mirth in the form of festivities and high surged devotion on the occasion of Losar. The festival is celebrated for fifteen days at a stretch, from the start of the Tibetan lunar calendar. Essentially, Losar festival is a New Year’s celebration of the traditional schedule of Tibetan Buddhism. Although the Losar festival predates Tibetan Buddhism in the region, the earlier festivity of Bon religion was incorporated as an essential part of Buddhist tradition by the ninth Tibetan king, Pude Gungyal.