visit ladakh in july

How to Plan a Trip to Ladakh in July

If you’ve been planning a trip to Ladakh , July is one of the peak tourist months you should consider. From internal roads to accommodation, everything is open and accessible, which makes your travel experience better. The weather is pleasant and all the adventure activities are running. From river rafting to camping, you can indulge in various adventure sports and have the most memorable times of your Ladakh trip.

So, whether you are a couple, solo traveler, or a group of friends, here is a comprehensive guide for ‘How to plan a Ladakh trip in July’ and some important things you must be kind in mind.

Is July A Good Time to Visit Ladakh?

Yes. July is one of the best times to visit Ladakh . During this month, there is a huge influx of tourists from all over the world. Nature lovers, adventurers, honeymoon and romantic couples, and vacationers can be seen enjoying the pleasant weather and activities in Ladakh.

The routes to Ladakh, i.e. via Srinagar and Manali are open as well as the internal roads to Pangong Lake , Tso Moriri, and Nubra Valley are also easily accessible.

Read Also: Lakes in Ladakh

Weather Conditions in Ladakh in July

As you know July is the month of the monsoon but Ladakh receives little to no rainfall. During this time, the temperature remains between 21°C and at night, it drops to almost 7°C . It is advised to wear warm clothes to protect yourself from the cold.

You can encounter rainfall around Manali, Kashmir, and Lahaul region though. This can result in landslides. So make sure to keep buffer days. Manali to Leh and Srinagar to Leh route might have chances of rain but on top of the high-altitude passes, you can’t expect rain.

To avoid getting stuck due to rain, it is best to plan your trip to Ladakh in the first half of July .

Routes to Reach Ladakh in July

There are two routes for Ladakh – Srinagar Leh Highway and Manali Leh Highway. The Leh-Srinagar road opens in April but the Leh-Manali road opens in June.

Srinagar to Leh by Road in July

In July, the Srinagar to Leh route is open. However, the risk is only of the rain. So, you must have fast-drying clothes and other rain gear to protect yourself and your stuff. The worst road will be around Zojila . There will be a lot of water crossings. Also, traveling from Kashmir Valley, which is a rain-prone area all the way until Drass, you have to keep a check on the weather conditions. Make sure to check the weather forecast and if there are any incidences of landslides, postpone the trip a little.

Manali Leh Highway in July

As July is the monsoon month, Manali to Leh Highway is the worst-hit route . With numerous water streams and five passes, it will be a difficult road to cross. The route is open but how bad the condition is, there is no guarantee. So, if you choose this route, there is a high chance of facing rain and getting stranded for hours if there is a cloudburst. This will increase in the second half of the month, so be prepared or plan early.

Read Also: Ladakh by Road

Is It a Good Option to Arrive Leh Ladakh in July By Bike Over A Car?

Adrenaline, the views, and the experience are the reasons why many people choose to travel to Ladakh by bike. If you are one of them, then go ahead and plan a road trip to Ladakh in July by bike but that comes with its own pros and cons. If you rent a bike in Manali or outside Ladakh, the vehicle will not be allowed in the region. You can only arrive at Leh City and from there, you have to get another bike for local sightseeing and visiting places like Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, and Tso Moriri.

Other than this, here are some tips for travelers visiting Ladakh by bike in July – Carry waterproof bags to carry your luggage, if it rains. Wrap them in plastic bags and rope them on your motorcycle.

• Extra plastic bags are a must if the others get ruined.
• As it rains anywhere on the Manali or Srinagar route, it is best to keep your wallets, electronics, and other documents in plastic bags at all times.
• You cannot change your clothes every time they get wet. It is not practical. This is why wear fast-drying clothes that are light in weight and waterproof clothes.
• Get your bike checked to ensure there are no problems with the bike or anything that might cause a short circuit in rain.
• If the tires of your bike are worn out, replace them.
• Wear rubber shoes while water crossing in Ladakh.

Is It a Good Option to Arrive in Ladakh By Car in July?

Yes, you can travel to Ladakh in July by car especially if you have kids and elderly people with you.

• Here are some things you need to keep in mind while planning a family trip to Ladakh in July –
• Do not put luggage on the car’s roof. It can get wet from the rain.
• Carry a small plastic bag and put your essentials and important documents in it.
• Make sure to have extra fuel with you. It will help you in emergency situations.
• If you have extra luggage and you want to keep it on the roof, cover them in plastic bags or tarpaulin.
• Take out all the papers, wallets, and electronic items if you choose to keep the luggage on the roof.

Is It a Good Option to Arrive in Ladakh By Air in July?

Yes, you can travel to Ladakh in July by air but the weather can cause hindrance. The flight can get canceled if it rains too much. This will be a high issue during the second half of the month. So, make sure to check the weather forecast or plan your trip in the first half of July.

Public Transportation in Ladakh in July

Taking public transport services like buses or taxis will not be an issue. You can take buses from Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, and nearby cities to Leh bus stand. From there, shared taxis run to Ladakh on a daily basis.

Read Also: Ladakh by Bus

Local Transport in Ladakh in July

As you know in July, Ladakh sees many travelers, therefore the availability of local transport is great. You can choose taxi drivers beforehand or get a private taxi in Ladakh also. Motorcycles can also be rented on the spot and buses are available to various places in Ladakh.

Road conditions in Ladakh in July

It is a mix of good and bad. You have already read about the road conditions in the routes section. So, you need to be careful while driving a car or a bike . Even for buses, it can be a bit tricky as the roads are covered in mud. There are numerous water crossings too if you are traveling to Ladakh by bike. Slush and water streams will be limited at the top passes and internal roads though.

Places to Visit in Ladakh in July

Here are the top places to visit in Ladakh in July –

• Pangong Lake
• Nubra Valley
• Hansel and Sham Valley (with permits)
• Turtuk Village
• Monasteries
• Markha Valley
• Magnetic Hill
• Confluence of Indus and Zanskar Rivers

Things to do in Ladakh in July

The top things to enjoy in Ladakh in July month are –

• Pray with the monks at the monasteries
• Click photos for Instagram
• Indus River Rafting
• Enjoy camel safari at Hunder
• Go on Yak Safari
• Shopping at Leh Market
• Pray at Shanti Stupa

Read Also: Things to do in Ladakh

Festivals Celebrated in Ladakh in July

During July, the barren land comes to life when people enjoy the colorful festivals in Ladakh . To get an insight into the culture of Ladakh, here are the festivals you can attend in July –

• Yuru Kabgyat
• Hemis Tsechu
• Sachukul Gustor
• Ladakh Polo Festival
• Phyang Tsesdup
• Karzok Gustor
• Dakthok Tse Chu
• Sani Nasjal

Where to Stay in Ladakh in July

Every hotel, guesthouse, and camp is open and running in July in Ladakh. Also, this is the time when Ladakh receives a huge number of Indian and foreign tourists which makes getting hotels and guesthouses difficult on the spot.

Tourism of India recommends booking accommodation in Ladakh in July in advance to avoid any last-minute hassle.

Clothes for Ladakh Trip in July

The month of July is warm but it can get a little cold at night or if you sit in the shade for too long. During the night, the temperature drops to 5°C , so you must take proper clothing with you.

Here is the list of clothes to pack for the Ladakh trip in July –

• Windproof and waterproof jacket
• Cotton t-shirts and shirts
• Light woolens for night
• Good pair of sports shoes
• Sunglasses and sunscreen lotion
• Cold cream and lip balm

As it rains along the way and sometimes in Ladakh, here are some things you must carry for the July Ladakh trip –

• Waterproof jacket
• Regular cotton clothes
• Light woolens
• Heavy windproof jacket
• Water-resistant gloves
• Thermal innerwear

Tips for Traveling to Leh Ladakh in July

Keep these few things in mind while planning a trip to Ladakh in July –

• Due to Ladakh’s closeness to the China border, you need to get a permit from the District Magistrate’s Office.
• At such a high altitude, the oxygen levels drop, and being in the new climatic condition can cause altitude sickness. Therefore, it is advised to get acclimatized first . Also, it is very common to get acute motion sickness in Ladakh. Make sure to carry the required medicines with you.
• July is the monsoon month and you will encounter slush and mud on the Manali to Leh Highway. Ensure to drive slowly and if you are crossing a nullah, inspect first and then move forward.
• There can be landslides and road blockage due to the rain. So, keep buffer days in case you get stranded on the way for hours.
• It is not advised to rent a motorcycle in Ladakh. Reach Leh first and from there, rent a bike, test drive it, and then visit further.
• With the massive tourist flow every year, Ladakh’s transport system is improving day by day.
• You can easily hire cabs, buses, and taxis from Ladakh or Leh to explore the region.
• Only the BSNL network works in Ladakh.
• If you have a family with you, make sure to take necessary precautions and if any one of the family members is feeling sick, get to the lower altitude immediately.
• There are no hospitals in Ladakh. The nearest ones are in Leh. So, in case of emergencies, you can seek help from the Indian Army.

Hope this Ladakh travel guide will plan a trip to Ladakh in July . Take all the necessary measures, check weather conditions, and you will have an unforgettable and safe journey in Ladakh. If you have any doubts, contact Tourism of India and our travel experts will clear any doubts you have.

For a hassle-free trip to Ladakh in July, book Ladakh tour packages 2024 and explore Ladakh with the comforts of delicious meals, comfy stays, swift transfers, and wonderful sightseeing tours. So, what are you waiting for?

Frequently Asked Questions for Traveling to Ladakh in July

Ques. is there snow in ladakh in july.

Ans. By July, most of the snow is melted and gone. If you want to see snow, visit the passes like Rohtang, Khardung La, and Baralacha La but it will mostly be limited there too.

Ques. Does it rain in Leh in July?

Ans. No. It hardly ever rains in Ladakh in July. If you are lucky enough, you may witness rainfall. Most of the rain occurs at the Manali Leh Highway and Srinagar Leh Highway.

Read Also: Places to visit in Ladakh Read Also: Places to visit in Ladakh for Couples

Manmeet Kaur

A writer by profession and a storyteller by heart, Manmeet has a passion for traveling and treating her taste buds to different cuisines. Besides, she loves to binge-watch movies and series every now and then. She is also an avid reader, which keeps her engaged.

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Leh Ladakh in July – A Detailed Guide to Plan a Ladakh Trip in July

Ladakh is a land so uniquely beautiful that it fascinates travellers from far off nations. Its serene landscapes and innumerable lakes have been a part of many movies and what not! The area of Ladakh has a gift of nature. The Ladakhi people are some of the most generous and cheerful you will meet. Ladakh has a unique culture that people ardently follow throughout the land. The climate in the Ladakh region is cold and usually dry. In the winters, snow covers the ground, and the white sheet sparkles in the sun.

Want to explore the magical land of Ladakh? Check out Ladakh Tour Packages .

Ladakh remains partially open in winters, but the tourist season is from May to October. July is the best month to visit Ladakh and to immerse yourself entirely in its enchanting beauty. In July, the land receives little rainfall, but it is mostly sunny. It is a reasonable time to visit Ladakh as the roads are excellent and there are no problems with accommodation. The services during this month are available entirely, and there is a broad scope for exploration in the region.

If you have plans to visit Ladakh, July is the best month for your trip. This detailed guide provides you information about Ladakh. We have given points that you should take care of and the pros and cons of traveling to Ladakh in July. It will be helpful for your trip, and you will be able to enjoy the journey wholly.

Ladakh offers something for every kind of visitor. If you love the mountains, you need to visit Ladakh once. If you have a love for wildlife, you have the option of visiting the Hemis National Park. If you have a passion for culture and food, Ladakh has a unique taste in that. You will love the place, and it will be an experience that will stay in your heart forever.

Points to Keep in Mind While Traveling to Ladakh in July

Leh ladakh weather in july.

Besides the occurrence of monsoon winds and rain showers, July remains sunlit nearly for the whole month. It makes it the month where tourist traffic is at its peak. The conducive temperatures of up to 25 degrees Celsius in the day and 10 degrees at night make this place like any other temperate area where you can tour without the need to keep heavy warmers. The atmosphere stays in its best form.

The favourable temperatures and the scenery are fantastic; which means the interiors of Ladakh and even the very peak and mountainous areas can still be toured comfortably without much hassles or difficulties. At this time, snow melts down almost all through the region. However, visitors can still spot some snow at the peaks of the mountainous areas and in small scattered amounts. Anyone seeing Leh Ladakh in this month cannot imagine it as the same place that it could be in the winter months.

Accommodation in Leh Ladakh in July

It is a period when locating an accommodation facility upon arrival is easy in Ladakh. It is because most tourist enterprises are open and running. Tourists flock in large numbers during this month. In the last few years, tourists are coming in high numbers, and that does not match the capacity of these accommodation facilities. It is, therefore, a piece of advice that you book accommodation way before arriving to avoid any inconveniences.

Roads in Leh Ladakh in July

As earlier mentioned, all routes in July remain open in Leh Ladakh. It is because there are no ice barricades. Some sections highways remain a challenge and more so in late July like Zoji in the Srinagar route and a part of Rohtang in the Manali route. Other roads linking Ladakh to Leh and even Nubra valley and Pangong remain open and accessible by any means, whether motorbikes or four-wheelers.

Biking in Ladakh in July

In the case when rain showers are substantial, the conditions of these roads become a little ugly because of the effect the water has on the poorly recovered roads from the melted ice. Nonetheless, motorbikes become ideal for transport in this region in July. It is because of the convenience that comes with the small size and capacity of their engines to maneuver over rough roads.

Ensuring Safety on a bike

If you plan to travel to Leh Ladakh using a motorbike, ensure that you have serviced your bike so that it is fir for the job. Remember to carry rain protective clothes and cover up completely your belonging from the rain because at any time of the way you may find some rain.

Driving in a Four-Wheeler in Ladakh

When using a vehicle, remember to check your tires to ensure that they have some proper ground clearance so that they can easily cover the road to Leh Ladakh. You can also consider hiring a driver from Manali if you are not confident about the Manali- Leh road during monsoon rains. It is because some rivulets are very intense. The drive also needs an experienced driver to winder through to the end.

Festivals in Leh Ladakh in July

One of the beautiful things in July are the festivals that you can find in this month in Leh Ladakh. The locals have a lot of festivals. Getting a chance to participate in these festivals allows you to interact with the locals on one and enjoying their culture and way of life.

Pros of visiting Leh Ladakh in July

Ample weather for the tour.

As earlier mentioned, the weather in July and most preferably the first half of the month has a good range of temperatures making the stay in this beautiful region more comfortable. You will not need to pack weighty clothes to maintain comfort in July.

With the day time fully lit with sunlight, you can participate in a variety of adventurous activities, be it bike-riding, trekking, or even rafting. Camping is an excellent choice under a starlit night sky. Many other field activities that you can plan as a person or in a group of friends or relatives are available during July.

Suitable Accommodation

In normality, accommodation in July is readily available as every accommodating facility is open and running during this time. It is a strong factor which motivates tourists knowing that they will get accommodation spaces in the houses f their choices.

Peak Season for Bike-riding

July is charming for bike riders and riding competitions. It is because of the convenience in riding that the open roads provide and the prevailing weather conditions that support adventures in biking. Every year a lot of people from many different places make a road-trip on their motorbikes.

Cons of Visiting Leh Ladakh in July

July is a favourable time to visit Leh Ladakh, but it has a few drawbacks as well. Here are the problems you might face while on a trip to Ladakh in July:

Crowded Tourist Destinations

Ladakh receives a massive influx of tourists during the peak season. Every tourist destination you try to visit, you will find scores of people trying to get their photos clicked. It makes it very congested. The traffic also increases in the highways to Ladakh. You cannot attain peace in nature with so many people around.

Suggested Read: Things to do in Ladakh in July & Places to Visit in Ladakh in July

Things May Go Out of Budget

In Ladakh, during the tourist season, there is a lot of demand for accommodation facilities, and the rates of hotels go up. Sometimes, these prices are way over the budget you planned for your Ladakh trip. If rains are heavy, landslides are frequent in the highways of Ladakh. Subsequently, roads face blockage, and prices of utilities increase. It will not be a problem if you plan your budget with these unwanted conditions in mind.

Challenging Living Conditions

Though the temperature in July is much warmer, other natural factors make it a challenging terrain. The oxygen is low, and harsh winds blow regularly. It makes the place very uncomfortable for tourists.

Itinerary to Visit Ladakh in July:

A lot of factors influence your itinerary in July, such as your mode of transport to Leh Ladakh. It is because those who reach Leh Ladakh via air avoid the days used to travel from Manali to Leh or even Srinagar to Leh.

Nonetheless, the following is a sample itinerary for transport by road from Manali to Leh. It is for an 11-day tour of Ladakh.

Day 01: Reach Manali on the first day and rent a motorbike for yourself. Make sure to have your valid id card with you and provide it to the rental company.

Day 02: On this day, take the bike from Manali to Jispa.

Day 03: On the third day, travel from Jispa through Sarchu and finally arrive at Leh. Find accommodation and rest for an entire day.

Day 04: Stay around Leh and visit monasteries and museums. It will help you get acclimatized to the conditions.

Day 05: Hop on your bike and ride to Pangong Lake. Return to Leh by evening and take a complete rest in your Hotel.

Day 06: Ride to Khardungla. The road is the highest in the world, and you will enjoy the way. Be very careful as it has some dangers as well. By the end of the day, get back to Leh.

Day 07: Visit Tso Moriri on your seventh day and by night get back to Leh. You will get to see a lot of incredible places along the way to Tso Moriri.

Day 08: On day this day, you can travel to Kargil. It is another beautiful place with a lot of beautiful sites.

Day 09: Utilise this day to drive back to Leh; this would be the last day of your itinerary. You can enjoy the evening by going for local shopping.

Day 10-11: Departure from Leh; travel back to Manali via Jispa and Sarchu.

Conclusion:

July presents a cocktail of experiences from sunlit day that can turn into rainy showers at any time because of the prevailing monsoon winds. Nonetheless, the month unfolds the full potential of the place for tourists to have unlimited fun and adventure. You should have buffer days in your itinerary because of the unpredictable weather and the rain-related delays here and there. The culture and people of Ladakh are open to all.

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10 awesome reasons to visit Leh-Ladakh in July 

Leh-Ladakh in the month of July is the most ideal to travel since that’s the time when Ladakh is at its very best. It’s the peak of summer which has the days nice and warm and the nights moderately cold. The best part about travelling to Ladakh in July is that everything is easily accessible.

Table of Contents

Ladakh flights get cheaper 

Peak season when the flights are beyond imagination is till the end of June since that’s when the summer holidays for schools end and the families return back to their regular life.  So if you’re planning on starting your trip from Srinagar or directly flying into Leh, then July is the month when you will start to see a drastic drop in flight cost.  

It’s summer in Ladakh 

Unlike the rest of India which is in the monsoon spell, July in Leh-Ladakh is a dry spell and actually summer time in this part of the Himalayas. So if your in search for a holiday destination which is dry then a road trip around Ladakh is the best in July. 

Less family crowd 

School start by the first week of July in North India so its the perfect time to head out since you won’t really see any of the families with children in Ladakh. The traffic on the roads is also far lesser as compared to the months of May and June.  

Traffic jams are less 

Traffic jams in Ladakh can cause a lot of headache when it comes to road blocks and vehicles driving out of line. July is when everything moves relatively smooth and it’s during this month that the traffic blocks will be limited to just the town of Leh. The rest of the road trip is pretty much a smooth drive.  

Monasteries are not over crowded 

The Buddhist monasteries in Leh-Ladakh attract a lot of crowd and it’s at these monasteries that most people end up having the best experience in Ladakh. Starting with the monastery in Leh town which is located in the heart of the market. You can actually sit and chill for hours at the monastery while you seek God’s grade without any disturbance. 

Restaurants have less waiting 

Since there is a major drop in crowd after the families have returned back to regular life. It’s here that the major change happens. The cafes and restaurants have barely any waiting period and the service is quick and fast.  

Perfect time to go rafting 

Rafting in the river Zanskar is a must do activity and July is the perfect month to go rafting. The river water is still freezing cold but it’s definitely a lot more bearable as compared to what it is in the month of May and June.  

Night sky is very clear. 

If stargazing is something that you like to look at while on holiday then it’s the villages of Hunder in Nubra valley which will bring out the best when it comes to gazing at the night sky.  You’ll see at least ten plus shooting stars without having to use a telescope. 

Best deals in the markets 

Souvenir shopping in Leh town is all about getting the best deal while bargaining and July is the time when you will get that best deal. It’s the family crowd which is ready to spend any amount which actually causes a spike in the pricing all over. But that’s not the case in the month of July.  So bargain your heart out when you travel to Ladakh in the month of July.  

Apricots all over 

July is the apricot harvest season in Leh-Ladakh and everywhere you go you will be fed a lot of apricots. But keep in mind that apricots are extremely heat and eating too many of them can lead to a stomach pain. 

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10 Most Happening Places to Visit in Ladakh in July 2024

Do you get bored with your mundane routine? Then, listen carefully to hear the mountain calls. Plan a trip to Ladakh where you can get deep blue sky, the vast range of the Himalayas, clouds floating like cotton, and the azure blue lakes. From honeymoon couples to adventurous spirits, Ladakh is a dream destination for all.

If you want to know the best time to visit Ladakh, you can plan a trip in July. June to August is the best time to travel to Ladakh, while July is the peak season. All the hotels and the homestays are open now and adventurous sports are available for everyone. You can go river rafting, kayaking, hiking, biking, and so on during this time. To make a memorable trip to Ladakh , you can plan it in July and start packing your bags. Which are the most happening places to visit in Ladakh in July? Read on to know more-

Table of Contents

Which Are the Best Places to Visit Ladakh in July?

1. pangong lake.

While talking about the best places to visit in Ladakh , you can always plan a trip to Pangong Lake on the first day. This is one of the most happening saline water lakes in India, located at such a high altitude. The view of Pangong Lake will mesmerize you with its changing colors throughout the day. Nature has decorated the area with all its beauty.

If you are planning for a camp night, you can do that on the banks of the lake. The deep blue sky of the starry night will amaze you completely. The reflection of the Himalayan range in the water of Pangong Lake has its charm. In July, you will get the best weather to visit Pangong Lake. Read More: Pangong Tso Lake, Ladakh: How to Reach, Best Time Visit & Weather

2. Thiksey Monastery

Located at an altitude of 3,600m, Thiksey Monastery or Thiksey Gompa is a 12-storey building worth visiting. It is one of the centers of Buddhist religion and culture where you will find paintings, sculptures, ancient scriptures, weapons like swords, statues, and many more things. This monastery was built in the 15 th Century and the central hall is the main attraction here with the outstanding murals showing the Wheels of Life.

When you are in this Monastery, you can also visit the temple of Goddess Tara. There are 21 images of the goddess you can see there. If you want to know Buddhism closely and spend some time in absolute serenity, Thiksey Monastery is the right place to visit in July.

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3. Magnetic Hill

To visit nature’s magic, you can visit Magnetic Hill or Gravity Hill. It is a Cyclops Hill where vehicles move upward, defying the law of gravity. The reason behind this phenomenal incident is all because of magnetic properties and it feels good to watch something magical over here.

Even the aircraft also fly at a certain height to avoid this magnetism. Located on the Leh-Baltic-Kargil Highway, this place is nature’s wonder and can amaze you with its exotic beauty.

4. Khardung La

It is one of the most elevated motorable terrains around the world, located at an elevation of 5602m. This is the best destination for bikers who want to enjoy the adventure of crossing the road and getting mesmerized by the untouched beauty around.

Khardung La is also the gateway to enter Nubra and Shyok Valley. Visitors require an inner line permit to visit here. The road is closed from October to May. If you want to enjoy the pristine natural beauty, away from the crowd of tourists, Khardung La Pass is the place to visit.

5. Markha Valley

If you are a trekking freak, Markha Valley is the place where you can release your adventure streak. It is a remote land, surrounded by gigantic Himalayan ranges. The rugged terrain, fascinating scenery, and the flock of blues sheep and ibex will give you the feeling to be in any foreign land.

The trekking trail will pass through the Hemis National Park and you will find many rivers and streams on your road of journey. You will come across mustard and barley plantations to make your journey wonderful. Climb through the gorges and pass the rustic village of Ladakh, the hypnotic beauty of the valley will give you lifetime memories of your journey.

6. Tso Moriri Lake

Ladakh is full of mesmerizing lakes and water bodies and Tso Moriri Lake is one of those. It is a sparkling blue lake, surrounded by rugged mountains and the lake is located 15000 ft. above sea level. Once you are here, you can experience how paradise can be.

If you are not afraid of such high altitudes, you can visit this place while you are in Ladakh. The undisturbed ambiance, the crowd-free surrounding, and the untouched beauty of Tso Moriri Lake are waiting to startle you. More read: Tso Moriri Lake: Things to Do, How to Reach, Best Time Visit & Weather .

• Trip to Ladakh from Delhi
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7. Hemis National Park

For wildlife lovers, Hemis National Park can be a wonderful destination in Ladakh in July. If you want to see snow leopards and endangered species in nature, you can visit this park as it is the only national park in Northern India to have snow leopards.

Enjoy the jeep safaris throughout the park to have a close visit of the animals over there.

Also, read:

• Famous Wildlife Sanctuary Ladakh – Changthang and Hemis National Park
• How to Reach Hemis National Park from Leh

8. Nubra Valley

Take a bike ride, cross the Khardung La Pass, and reach the outstanding Nubra Valley with white sand deserts and double-humped camels. In July, Nubra Valley looks amazing with a deep blue sky, floating clouds, and breezy weather.

The scenic beauty of the Karakoram Range is breathtaking while the confluence of Siachen and Shyak Rivers has made Nubra valley look stunning. The arid mountain has set an outstanding backdrop that you can enjoy while having an exquisite ride on the Bactrian camels.

There are also lots of monasteries in the valley and Diskit Monastery is one of the most famous of all due to the 32 meters long Maitreya Buddha Statue. If you love adventure sports, you can go for zip-lining and ATV rides in Nubra Valley.

9. Spituk Gompa

Ladakh is the land of monasteries and gompas. Located atop a hill, Spituk Gompa looks stunning and the peaceful nature here is really enjoyable. If you are in Ladakh to enjoy spiritual bliss, arrange a trip to Spituk Gompa.

It looks wonderful when the sun sets as the golden hue spreads around and makes you feel heavenly. At night, you can expect the chilly wind to shiver you to the bone. So, be prepared with your warmest clothes. July is the best time to visit this place.

If you want to enjoy an offbeat trip to Ladakh and explore something unexplored, visit Alchi, a beautiful hamlet on the banks of the Indus Valley. The road to Alchi is wonderful as it is rowed with apricot trees.

To spend some quiet time here and visit the monasteries, you can spend a day at Alchi on your trip to Ladakh .

Hopefully, now you are guided enough to plan a trip to Ladakh in July. Expect a crowd at this time as July is the peak season. You should book hotels and cars quite early on your trip to have it enjoyable.

Furthermore details on Leh Ladakh:

• Places to Visit Ladakh in May
• Adventure Activities in Leh Ladakh
• 10 Interesting Fun Facts about Ladakh
• Ladakh Famous 5-Star Hotels
• Ladakh Honeymoon Places to See
• Top Places to Visit Ladakh in June
• Apricot Blossom Festival Ladakh
• Places to See in Ladakh in August .
• Ladakh Travel to September for Best Places
• 14 Famous Things to Do in Ladakh
• Fuel Availability in Leh Ladakh
• Top 10 Reasons to Visit Ladakh
• Ladakh’s Most Famous Monasteries
• Ladakh Lifestyle, People, Culture, Oracles, Arts & Crafts

About The Author

Tusk Travel Team

Related posts.

10 Best Monasteries in Ladakh That You must Visit

Ladakh reopen Pangong Lake for tourist after Covid 19

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Ladakh in July

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It may not be the best time, but, in my opinion, most tourism in Ladakh happens in the month of July. Without a doubt, this is the month when tourist activities are at their best; and the whole land is vibrant, with colorful visitors from all over the world. People also continue to visit in August and September; or in the previous months of May or June; but the kind of enthusiasm you see in July is hard to find in any other month. I have been to Ladakh several times in 7 different months of the year, but July is by far my favorite month to be there. If you were also thinking of visiting Ladakh in July; below, in this article, you’ll find some tips on how to plan your journey for the best.

Your final trip will depend, of course, on factors like your trip; and how many days you have on hand; but the information below can help you write your itinerary. I will include some tips on what you can expect while traveling to Ladakh in July; followed by a suggested itinerary at the end. If, after reading the article, you have other questions, ask in the comments at the bottom of this page.

Is it safe to travel to Leh Ladakh in July?

Yes, it is safe to plan a trip to Ladakh in June, but there are some suggestions that you should keep in mind, which I will discuss in the article below.

How to plan a trip to Ladakh in July

Until some time ago, a trip to Ladakh was made mainly by motorcycle enthusiasts. That was how the term “biker paradise” was coined. Much has now changed, however. Now, other modes of transport are also used in the same way. While most people still travel by car, many others arrive in Ladakh by air; or by public transport; or in a rented vehicle. If you were also planning to board a flight to the city of Leh, acute mountain sickness, also known as AMS, will become your first concern. You will definitely suffer from this on the first day of arrival and possibly even on the 2nd.

Acute mountain disease in Ladakh

The slow gain in altitude and a lot of rest is the best prevention against altitude sickness, which doesn’t really happen in the case of a flight. You are at your home and then at the airport on the plains; and after about an hour, you lift your body to an astonishing 3,500 meters in the city of Leh. This altitude gain is sudden and faster than your body can handle.

So, when you arrive in the city of Leh and until your body gets used to the new time when you brought it; you will be suffering from altitude sickness. In many ways, it would look the same as when you had a high fever. There is very little you can do about it and you will have to rest and make time. Day 1 would have to be spent completely at the hotel; and you can’t afford to run and get tired. For more details on what AMS is, its symptoms; and prevention, read How to deal with acute mountain sickness in Ladakh.

Bike ride in Ladakh in July

If you were coming to Ladakh by motorcycle or rental car; your biggest concern will be that vehicles rented outside Ladakh are not allowed for sightseeing here. And yes, this also applies to the city of Leh. The locals put barriers on these routes and, if they catch you, you will be sent back to the city of Leh. There have also been incidents of vehicles rented off-site being attacked, vandalized and taken by force.

Mobile network in Ladakh

When it comes to mobile and data connectivity in Ladakh, it is practically limited only to the city of Leh. BSNL here has the broadest coverage; but it is only in Leh that you get a stable connection with good voice clarity. All other networks will be dead by the time you leave Leh; but you will also have an intermittent BSNL connection in Nubra and Pangong. The clarity of the voice will be extremely poor, but you can at least send text messages, if necessary. Airtel and Jio are the best thing after BSNL in Ladakh. For more information on this topic, read Mobile services in Leh and other areas of Ladakh.

Is Ladakh open in July?

The answer to this question is a definite yes. Ladakh is completely open in July, including the Manali – Leh and Srinagar – Leh highways. All inland roads leading to areas such as Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri are also accessible. As is the peak tourist season, all hotels, inns and activities related to tourism are also operational. You can arrive in Ladakh in July and you will have no trouble finding a place to stay; or a place to eat; or other service, such as renting motorbikes, taxis or public transportation.

Ladakh in monsoon July

Yes, July is the time when the monsoon reaches the Himalayas. The valleys around Manali, Lahaul and Kashmir are beginning to suffer rains at this time, which can vary from moderate to so intense that they can even cause landslides. However, most chances of rain are on their way to Ladakh, Manali to Leh and Srinagar to Leh. Ladakh is in a rain shadow area, so it shouldn’t rain here or rain much less. There may be occasional rain at the top of the passages, which can even block the road for a few hours or even a day, but the Army restores connectivity as soon as possible. If possible, I recommend that you plan your trip in the first half of July, because as the month progresses, the intensity of the monsoon season will also increase.

Ladakh water crossing

Let me put it this way. It’s been a while since summer came. All roads have opened and the sun is shining. The snow has started to melt and is feeding its water with countless streams of water, also called “nallahs”. Now since July, Monsoon has also joined the party and is contributing in the form of all the rain. Got the idea? Yes, you will have to be prepared for many of these water passages that you have heard of. Some of them will be easy, but others will be deep enough to swallow an entire bus.

Jokes aside, but a trip to Ladakh in July means that you will have to cross several of these streams on the way; and must be properly prepared. These small streams will be present not only on the Srinagar – Leh and Manali – Leh highways; but also on the internal roads of Ladakh. If you were on a motorcycle trip, remember this while packing and decide which shoes to take. Rubber sandals that can cover your entire foot can be a good substitute to make sure you don’t get your shoes wet with every water pass. When crossing, take off your shoes, put on your rubber sandals, cross them and put them back on. That way, you don’t get your shoes wet and keep your feet covered when crossing a stream.

If you were traveling by car, be sure to take the one with good ground clearance. Crossing these streams of water and muddy areas would be difficult if your car didn’t have a good GC.

Motorcycle trip to Ladakh in July

If you are traveling on a motorcycle, it would be prudent to take clothes and all your belongings in waterproof bags and still wrap these bags in plastic sheets or canvas before tying them on the motorcycle. Always carry plastic bags and extra tarps in case you tear. Keep your electronics, wallet and important documents wrapped in plastic wrap at all times. Take a good quality rain suit, because you definitely don’t want to keep walking in such a cold temperature while it’s wet.

Changing clothes every time you get wet is also practically not possible. Your shoes must also be waterproof. Pack light clothing that dries fast enough. If you can, take an umbrella too. Before starting your trip, service the motorcycle and check all the wiring to ensure that there is no wear that could cause a short circuit in the rain.

Traveling to Ladakh in July by car

If you are traveling by car, avoid putting any luggage on the roof as far as possible, but if necessary, put things that are not at risk of being ruined by rain. For example, your camping gear, if you’re carrying cans of Jerry, if you haven’t filled them yet. If you are tying a bag up there, make sure everything is wrapped tightly in plastic and that there is a thick canvas covering the roof. Remove all electronic items, papers, wallets, etc. before mounting the bags on the roof.

Protect your camera

An electronic device that gets more used to trips like this and is in danger of being ruined is your camera. Buy a raincoat for your camera, if you can. Otherwise, keep it protected not only from rain, but also from moisture. Do not carry your regular DSLR bag; Instead, buy a waterproof bag for your camera and accessories.

Driving tips for going to Ladakh in July

One thing you need to be prepared for is driving through mud and water crossings in July. There are several areas on the highways where rain wreaks havoc, creating a lot of mud, like Rohtang on the Manali Leh road and Zoji La on the Srinagar Leh road. Heavy rains can wash parts of narrow roads, leaving vehicles struggling on slippery curves. Passing the car through these stretches can be challenging and you need to be extra careful when doing so.

When crossing a nallah in a car, stop for a minute, get out, inspect the passage and then drive your car very carefully. If you’re still not sure, wait a little longer for another car to arrive and follow your lead. Stay in first gear, do not clutch half and cross at once, maintaining the moment. If mud is out there, ask your fellow travelers to get out of the car so they can help push the vehicle if you get stuck.

Accelerate slowly to ensure your car doesn’t skid. You really need to accelerate the accelerator to prevent the wheel from turning. Avoid sudden movements on the steering wheel, accelerator or brake, as this can make your car spin. If you doubt your driving skills very much and are not very comfortable with the idea of ​​driving on such roads, I suggest you hire a driver who is a resident of Manali.

Keep buffer days on your itinerary

The next concern is landslides caused by rain and, to combat this, you must keep a few days in buffer. There is a great possibility that a certain part of the road may close for a few hours or even a few days because of the landslide; in that case, you will have no choice but to go to the nearest city and wait. You also need to be careful when driving through the areas you see being affected by rain or a lot of dirt or mud around, because it is not always a big landslide, but also the smallest ones. Some rocks can slide off the top, damaging the vehicle and injuring you. Much of it, however, is that the BRO has posted notices in areas where this can happen. If you see a board that says “throwing rocks”, be alert.

Accommodation in Ladakh in july

Until now, I have always advised people not to book their accommodation anywhere in advance. That would just mean paying more money than it actually does now. The situation now is that tourism in Ladakh is always high. The number of people visiting here increases with each passing year, which limits accommodation options in the tourist season.

In June 2018, it got so crowded and crowded that tourists had to return from Lake Pangong; because there was simply no place available to stay. People went there in the morning; took a day trip and returned to the city of Leh the same day. Even in other parts of Ladakh, including Leh, a similar type of situation has occurred; where people found it difficult to find a hotel by preference. What I am trying to say is that now, if you are going to Ladakh in July, August or September; it would be advisable to book your stay in advance.

Private taxi in Ladakh

It is very similar to the accommodation. So many people are flying to Ladakh with families that taxi drivers are all fully booked for the season. Is correct. It is now difficult to get a private taxi in Ladakh. There was a time when these taxi drivers were fighting among themselves for customers; but the situation is the opposite now. So yes, if you are visiting Ladakh in July this year; and have plans to rent a private taxi, it would be better to book one in advance.

You can contact Nasir at Leh @ 9906229203. He drives his own taxi and is a reliable contact. Give my reference and, if it is available, reserve it. Otherwise, it can at least direct you to another trusted driver.

Bike rental in Ladakh

However, when it comes to renting a motorcycle; I still wouldn’t recommend booking one in advance; unless you have a trusted contact there. I would still suggest that you reach Leh first; take a motorcycle test ride; decide between some; and then make a final decision on which to rent.

Srinagar to Leh in july

The Srinagar Leh highway is usually declared open sometime between April and July, the road is completely stable. You will still find the BRO working on several stretches of the road, but in July, it is almost always smooth. The worst stretch of the road will be around Zojilla. In addition, there will be some other bad patches, but nothing too problematic. There will also be some water passages along the way; and your chance of finding rain will be greater between Srinagar and Drass.

In summary, the Srinagar Leh highway in July will remain open and accessible. The only risk, however, will be rain. When you travel through the Kashmir valley, you are in a rain-prone area as far as Drass. So traveling from Srinagar to Leh by road in July means that you will have to keep an eye on the weather and, if there is news of landslides or any kind of weather related problem, postpone your trip until things calm down.

Manali to Leh in july

In terms of difficulty, the Manali Leh highway in July is a clear winner with all its bad roads; 5 passages and numerous water courses. If you are traveling from Manali to Leh by road in July; then you will find the whole section open; but there is no guarantee of what the road conditions will be like. This road is declared open in June and is generally at its best only in September. There was a cloud storm on the Manali Leh Highway in July 2017; due to which thousands of tourists remained stuck on the road for more than 24 hours. So yes, there is a chance that you will have to face the rain; which increases even more if you are traveling in the middle of the month. So, be prepared for any such situation.

In 2019, people were trapped in Baralacha La in a freezing cold on the road for over 18 hours, with nowhere to go and nothing to eat. So it would be better to bring something to chew on, like chips, Buiscuits or chocolates. If you were traveling by car, it shouldn’t be a problem. But even if you were on a motorcycle, find some space to pack some snacks to handle a situation like this.

Clothes to wear in Leh Ladakh in July

As you can probably already guess from what you read above, you will definitely need to carry a raincoat; or at least a waterproof jacket that you can wear if it starts to rain. Also, just bring your regular cotton, some light wool and a heavy windproof jacket and you’ll be fine. Don’t forget to take your gloves and, if possible, buy a waterproof pair. When packing your jacket, make sure you have one that can also protect your face and neck.

Road conditions in Ladakh in July

I explained the road conditions of Manali and Srinagar above. In addition, the internal roads of Ladakh in July will mainly be a mixture of good, bad and ugly things. The roads to Nubra and Pangong are good, except for some bad stretches at the top of Khardung La and Chang La. The path to Tso Moriri will be good and bad, depending on the route you take. The Changthang valley (Hanle, Chushul) is a mixture of super smooth, smooth, bad and ugly stretches. Mud and water flows will be limited mainly to the top of passages on internal roads.

Places to visit in Leh Ladakh in July

All major and minor tourist attractions in Ladakh can be visited in the month of July. The main sights such as the city of Leh, the Nubra valley, Lake Pangong and Tso Moriri are definitely open; and it should be on everyone’s list to visit. In addition, other places like Hanle and Sham Valley etc. they are also open to tourism, as long as you have the proper permissions to visit here. Let me give you a breakdown for different tourist locations in Ladakh.

Nubra valley in july

The Nubra valley remains accessible throughout the month of July. You can easily reach Nubra from Leh directly via Khardung La; or from Pangong via the Shyok road. All internal areas of the Nubra valley, including Diskit, Hunder, Turtuk and Panamik, will also open in July. As this is the peak tourist season, all business related to tourism, including hotels, inns and guides, will be open for business. Depending on your budget, you will also have no trouble finding a place to stay. The decision to make an advance reservation or not is entirely up to you, but even if you arrived without previous reservations, you can still find a hotel for the night.

Diskit has the largest number of hotels and inns and Turtuk as of now has the lowest. So if you were unable to find accommodation in Turtuk in July, you will need to return to Diskit or Hunder and look for a place there.

In recent times, there have been some cases where rains have caused landslides near Khardung La, blocking the road between the Leh and Nubra valley. However, this is only a temporary closure and the authorities clean and open the road as soon as possible, which usually occurs on the same day.

Pangong Lake in July

Pangong Tso remains open and accessible in the month of July. A trip to the lake is ideally a 2 day journey. You travel from Leh to Pangong on day 1, stay there at night and return to the city on day 2.

There are numerous campsites on the banks of Pangong, where you can find accommodations. If you want to stay inside cemented walls, you can stay as a paying guest at Spangmik or at any of the inns in Man or Merak. You can also visit from Leh to Pangong Lake in one day, but that just means that you spent most of your time on the road. However, it can still be done. You just need to ensure that you start early from Leh, possibly at 6am, so that you have some time to spend in Pangong before returning.

Tso Moriri in july

After the Nubra valley and Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri is definitely the third most visited place in Ladakh. This freshwater lake may be smaller in size than Pangong, but it is not smaller in beauty. Like Nubra and Pangong, Tso Moriri also remains open in July. You can visit here via the Chumathang route from Leh; or take the Chushul route to reach Moriri directly from Pangong Tso without having to return to Leh. Both roads will remain open in July and which one will depend entirely on you.

Zanskar valley in July

The Zanskar valley will be accessible in July. The most common way to include it in your travel plan would be to reach Ladakh from Manali and then return to Srinagar while traveling Zanskar on the way. The entire route from Kargil to Padum is open in July and you can also find public transport. If you want to deviate from Kargil to Zanskar, make sure you have at least 2 days off on your itinerary. One day to reach Padum and then the next day to return. If you have time, stay a day in Zanskar and explore other places while making Padum your home base.

Other tourist Places

• Shyok Road in July – Open
• Hanle in July – Open
• Chushul Route – Open
• Sham Valley – Open
• Tso Kar – Open
• Batalik Route – Open

Snow on Leh Ladakh in July

The snow in Ladakh practically disappeared in July. You will definitely find some at the top of the passes, like Rohtang, Baralacha La, Khardung La, but most will be limited to just there. You will definitely not witness a live snowfall unless you are in good luck and have caught one at the top of the passages on the way. Someone asked me if they could see a blizzard in Leh in July and the answer to that is no definite. There will be no snowfall in Leh in July and nowhere else in Ladakh.

Ladakh in late July

The end of July isn’t really the best time to visit Ladakh and Monsoon again is the reason. All global warming has changed things a lot and, although Ladakh is an area of ​​rain shadow, even here, the 2010 cloud killed so many people. If you can, plan for early July or make your trip in September. If you can’t, at least be prepared for monsoons.

Public transport in Ladakh in July

There was a time not too long ago, when public transport in Ladakh was scarce. The bus service was not so frequent and finding shared taxis was a challenge. This, however, is no longer the case. The authorities have taken steps to ensure better connectivity; and now even a local bus service in the city of Leh is operational. Public transport will be available in Ladakh in July; and even if you can’t find a bus, you can always take a shared taxi at the Leh bus stop every morning. These taxis run in all directions; so no matter what your destination is, you can easily get there and back.

Camp in Ladakh in July

If you also want to experience some fun camping during your trip, you can do so. Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri are the best places to camp, but camping sites are available elsewhere, such as the Nubra valley and the Manali Leh highway. If you had your own equipment, you can set up your tent, but don’t do it in the middle of anywhere. Also, beware of dogs in Ladakh. They are dangerous and there have been cases of dogs here killing and eating people.

Festival in Ladakh in June

Yuru Kabgyat, Hemis Tsechu, Sachukul Gustor, Ladakh Polo Festival, Stongday Gustor, Karsha Gustor, Phyang Tsesdup, Karzok Gustor, Dakthok Tseschu and Sani Nasjal are some of the festivals celebrated in July in Ladakh. Of all this, the Ladakh Polo Festival is probably the one in which you can easily participate, as it is held only in the city of Leh. For more information, read Ladakh Festivals: a colorful celebration of life

Ladakh Weather in july

The climate in Ladakh in july is pleasant. The days will be moderately warm, but the nights will still get cold. The temperature of the day will be above 25 degrees Celsius and will drop to 10 to 15 degrees Celsius overnight. This can fall even further in places like Lake Pangong. The monsoon arrives in late July and, if it rains a lot, it can cause flash floods.

Travel to Leh Ladakh in July

Yes, a road trip is still the best way to travel to Ladakh. The minimum or recommended time for a trip will be at least 12 days, if you really want to enjoy the trip. You can reach the city of Leh via Srinagar, spend a day in Leh to get passes and local tours; go to the Nubra valley; reach Pangong via the Shyok road; go back to Leh and then leave for Manali. You can also cover Tso Moriri via Chushul or Chumathang. I suggested an itinerary for the trip below.

Honeymoon in Leh Ladakh in July

Yes, if you plan your honeymoon in Ladakh in July, you can do it. All hotels will be open at the moment and you can book according to your budget and preference. There are some luxury and luxury hotels as well that cater for a honeymoon couple. Whether you want to buy a package or plan it, it will be entirely your choice. My advice is that you rent a taxi for the trip, but manage everything yourself. Your taxi driver can also be your guide and will be happy to help you.

Minimum travel time to Ladakh

There are many factors that will decide the final answer to this question, such as your budget, mode of travel and preference, etc. But, to give a direct answer, at least 7 days if you are flying directly to Leh; 10 to 11 days for a trip and 14 days for a public transport trip.

Keeping in mind the schedules above, I will suggest some examples of itineraries that you can consult for your trip to Ladakh. I’m keeping the plan as comprehensive as possible, but if you’re short of time, you can remove either place and skip days. If you want help on how to do this, you can ask in the comments section at the bottom of this page.

Suggested Itinerary

So, if you had a total of 14 days, see below how you can travel. For the sake of this article, I will assume that you are traveling from Delhi. If your starting point was different, only the first and last day’s journey will be changed; the rest of the details will still be applied.

• Delhi to Jammu – Day 1
• Jammu to Srinagar – Day 2
• Srinagar to Kargil – Day 3
• Kargil to Leh – Day 4
• Leh – Day 5
• Leh to Diskit – Day 6
• Diskit to Turtuk to Panamik – Day 7
• Panamik to Pangong via Shyok – Day 8
• Pangong to Hanle – Day 9
• Hanle to Karzok – Day 10
• Karzok to Pang – Day 11
• Pang to Jispa – Day 12
• Jispa to Manali – Day 13
• Manali to Delhi – Day 14

For more itineraries for a different number of days, please take a look at the Itinerary Section for Leh Ladakh.

Let me also share a few alternate versions of this journey. I will suggest three different itineraries. First if you started from Srinagar (which I did above), second if you started from Manali and third if you flew into Leh directly.

Itinerary for Ladakh Air Trip

If you caught a flight directly to Ladakh, your journey can be as mentioned below.

• Arrive in Ladakh. Take rest and arrange permits – Day 1
• Ladakh to Lamayuru to Ladakh (Sham Valley Tour) – Day 2
• Leh to Diskit – Day 3
• Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 4
• Pangong to Leh – Day 5
• Leh to Tso Moriri via Changthang – Day 6
• Tso Moriri to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 7
• Buffer Day – Day 8
• Fly Out – Day 9

Manali to Leh by Road in July

If you started from Delhi and reach Ladakh via Manali, your plan can be like the one below.

• Delhi to Manali – Day 1
• Manali to Jispa / Sarchu – Day 2
• Jispa / Sarchu to Leh – Day 3
• Leh – Day 4
• Leh to Diskit – Day 5
• Diskit to Pangong via Shyok – Day 6
• Pangong to Hanle – Day 7
• Hanle to Tso Moriri – Day 8
• Tso Moriri to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 9
• Leh to Kargil – Day 10
• Kargil to Srinagar – Day 11
• Srinagar to Jammu – Day 12
• Jammu to Delhi – Day 13

Important FAQs about visiting Leh Ladakh in July

Last but not least, let me answer some of the most common questions asked by people planning a trip to Ladakh in July.

1. Is there snow in Ladakh in July?

Yes, you will find snow at the top of the passages, like Khardung La and Chang La. As you approach Ladakh by road, you will also see a lot of snow on passages like Baralacha La and Zoji La. However, if your question is whether it snows in Ladakh in July, the answer would be no. Even if you are very lucky, the snowfall would be very small and limited only to the top of the passages.

2. What to see in Ladakh in July?

All tourist areas remain open in Ladakh in July. Leh City, Pangong Tso, Nubra Valley and Tso Moriri will be the best places to visit.

3. What to do in Ladakh in July?

Sights, photography, trekking, camping, star gazing, shopping, staying in monasteries and motorcycling will be some of the main things to do in Ladakh in July.

4. Is the Manali Leh highway open in July?

Yes, the road from Manali to Leh will be open in July, unless it has been blocked by landslides caused by rain.

5. Is there a bus from Manali to Leh in July?

Yes, you can board a bus from Manali or Delhi to Ladakh. These buses are operated by HRTC and HPTDC.

6. Is there a bus from Srinagar to Leh in July?

Yes, the JKSRTC bus remains operational from Srinagar to Leh in July.

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The best time to visit Ladakh

By Arundhati Ail

The mesmerising landscapes of Ladakh have something to offer in every season, and when you plan your trip can make all the difference to your experience. Whether you’re looking to explore Leh, spot the snow leopard, trek through lush valleys or catch spring blossoms, a trip to Ladakh will require a fair bit of planning. Here are all the details you need on the best time to visit Ladakh.

Jump to: Best time to visit Ladakh Temperature in Ladakh When does it snow in Ladakh? Best time to spot snow leopards in Ladakh Cheapest time to visit Ladakh Busiest time to visit Ladakh How many days are enough for a Ladakh trip?

When is the best time to visit Ladakh?

The best time to visit Ladakh is in the summer. From April to mid-September temperatures are warmer and this is the peak season in Ladakh. The snow typically clears up by early April, and the Srinagar-Leh highway opens up for visitors. However, if you’re visiting between April and June, it’s best to fly in, as not all roads are fully functional during this time.

Summer is the best time to visit Leh, the Nubra Valley and high-altitude lakes like Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri, as temperatures are pleasant and roads are open. This is also the best time to visit Ladakh for treks like the Sham Valley trek and Markha trek. April is the apricot blossom season in Ladakh, and this is also a good time for birding and spotting wildflowers.

June to September is the best time to visit Ladakh for a road trip. The Manali road along Rohtang Pass opens up in June, and all the roads and passes in the region clear up by this time, making it the best time for bike trips in the region. Come winter , the lakes in Ladakh freeze over and are covered with a sheet of ice. The region receives heavy snowfall and the only way to reach is by air.

Temperatures through the year in Ladakh:

• Summer (April to July): 3°C-25°C
• Monsoon (July to September): 3°C-17°C
• Winter (October to March): -11°C-15°C

Ladakh lies in a rain shadow region and does not experience a heavy monsoon. While rainfall peaks in August, anticipate irregular showers even in the summer and winter.

When does it snow in Ladakh?

Snowfall in Ladakh typically begins in October, as temperatures drop and winter sets in, and can continue until late March. High-altitude passes like Khardung La can receive intermittent snow throughout the year. If you’re looking to visit for snow, it’s best to keep a watch on the weather forecast in the region for accurate updates.

When is the best time to spot snow leopards in Ladakh?

While winter in Ladakh is harsh, with minimum temperatures touching -11°C, it is also the best time to spot the elusive snow leopard. While November to April are best for snow leopard tours, Naturalist and guide Payal Mehta, who often leads snow leopard tours in Hemis National Park, advises against visiting during the bitter cold months from mid-December to late January. Winter tours are focussed on snow leopards, but Mehta also recommends looking out for smaller animals like the Himalayan wolf, red fox, bharal and urial, woolly hare, pika and more. Find a full guide to Hemis National Park here .

What is the cheapest time to visit Ladakh?

The harsh winter months make up the off season in Ladakh , which means hotel and flight prices are lowest during this time. It is not advisable to travel to Ladakh in peak winter (December to February). Heavy snowfall and extreme temperatures mean that several roads and passes are blocked or closed. While Leh Airport is operational throughout the year, flight diversions and cancellations are likely during this time.

When is the busiest time to visit Ladakh?

April to September is the peak tourist season in Ladakh, though road traffic tends to be at its highest between June and September when tourists opt to drive or bike to the region. If you’re looking to avoid the crowds, visit between October and November or March to May.

How many days are enough for a Ladakh trip?

About 7-10 days are ideal for a trip to Ladakh, given the travel time and acclimatisation. Irrespective of when you visit, account for 2-3 days to acclimatise to the high altitude at your accommodation. Ladakh is at an altitude of 3,000m and skipping this step can lead to altitude sickness. If you plan a 7-10 day trip, you can have five or more days to explore the region once you have acclimated. Most treks in the region last 5-10 days, except the beginner-friendly Sham Valley Trek that lasts three days. Beyond wildlife and treks, there’s a lot the region has to offer, including beautiful homestays and luxury tents , a dark sky reserve for stargazing and delicious local food .

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The ultimate travel guide to Ladakh

By Joan Torres 10 Comments Last updated on August 25, 2023

Ladakh is a remote place belonging to a northern Indian state, which for some reason doesn’t receive as many tourists as the rest of the country.

I was wondering: Why is that i wonder? This region is a bit remote and of difficult access. Normally, people don’t know about it or haven’t even heard of it. Why? Maybe it’s because Hindu culture can’t be enjoyed here, which is one of the mains reasons for going to India.

So what can you do and find in there? Ladakh is basically a Himalayan region where authentic Tibetan people live in. It’s often called the little Tibet, and for the Indians themselves, this is the best spot where to spend their vacations in India. Why? In India chaos rules, it’s overpopulated and there’s traffic everywhere.

Ladakh is a different place which differs from all these stereotypes. Here you find peace and silence, which combined with the stunning Himalayan landscape and the  Tibetan culture visible in every corner, sometimes you may even forget that you are actually in India.

That being said,  the following Travel guide to Ladakh aims to provide you with detailed travel tips such as prices, accommodation, and transportation, as well as an overview of the main things to do and see, so you know what to expect upon your arrival in Ladakh.

If you are seeking more in-depth and detailed information, I recommend you to find inspiration on any of the following posts:

Markha Valley Trek, the ultimate budget guide Tibetan culture in Ladakh: Buddhism and gompas A guide to Tibetan food in Ladakh Khardung La: Driving over the highest road the world on a scooter

Ladakh is a region that belongs to the Indian state Jammu and Kashmir, which extends from the Kunlun mountain range to the Great Himlayas .

The whole area of Ladakh is located at a very high altitude. Its capital, Leh, is at 3,500 meters above sea level, and has a large number of peaks reaching over 6,000 meters

Here you find:

Top things to do in Ladakh The people Travel Insurance for Ladakh Language Religion Food Alcohol How much does it cost Trekking Transportation Altitude sickness Safety Visa When to go Get in Money Internet

Top things to do in Ladakh

Ladakh might be a small region within India, but it’s actually double the size of Switzerland. Nevertheless, the unpopulated mountains occupy most part of it. In my opinion, the  top things to do and see in Ladakh are:

If you arrive by plane, the capital is going to be your first destination. Leh is a fantastic place to explore. Leh palace, the most iconic building of the city, is definitely worth a visit. You can also watch the sunset from Shanti stupa, visit Tibetan refugee markets or simply wander around its narrow alleys and streets.

In Leh, you will get a first glimpse of what Tibetan culture   is like.

Nubra Valley

A vast sea of sand dunes in the Himalaya itself. Can you believe it? Nubra Valley is a desert similar to those of Arabia but located at 4,000 meters above sea level and surrounded by the Himalayan range. Here you also find two-humped hairy camels.

Tibetans claim that the origin of this desert comes from Tethys , a sea from the depths from which the Himalayas are supposed to have risen.

Khardung La

This is nothing less than the highest motorable road in the world . It connects Leh with Nubra Valley and its highest point passes over 5,600 meters.

Pangong Tso Lake

A lake located at 4,350m above sea level which extends across India and China. People go to this lake to see the stunning landscape and for hiking.

Chemrey gompa

In my opinion, the most beautiful gompa out there in Ladakh, having been built and perfectly shaped on the top of a steep hill. Looking at it is merely impressive.

Tso Moriri Lake

The highest lake in Ladakh (4,522m) and one of the most beautiful ones owing to its surroundings, green pastures and white peaks

Thiksey gompa

Though the most touristic gompa , this fortification is almost like a small town. It has shops, restaurants, a hotel and a huge monk community living there.

Learning Tibetan culture

Ladakh is the place in the world where Tibetan culture is more accessible. Whereas foreigners have always had restrictions when going to Tibet, in Ladakh you can talk freely, walk around and go wherever you want. If you want to know more about it, I suggest you read this post about Tibetan culture in Ladakh .

Hemis gompa

If you travel to Ladakh during July, Hemis monastery is a must to visit since it’s where the Hemis Festival takes place, a popular festival famous for its masked parade. It’s one of the most sacred rituals in Ladakh.

Hiking around the unique Himalayan range of Ladakh is one of the biggest highlights of the trip. There are an endless number of treks adapted for any kind of traveler. For more information, check on the Trekking section of this guide .

Keep reading: Kashmir Travel Guide

Getting off the beaten track

Ladakh region is already off the path, but during high season (July & August), some spots may get busy. Places like Leh, popular gompas , Khardung La pass and Nubra Valley are probably among the most crowded ones.

If you want to avoid the crowds, Pangong Tso Lake and  Tso Moriri Lake are the perfect options. Trekking is also a good way to get off the beaten track, even in popular treks like Markha Valley .

Last, if you are renting a vehicle,  driving the empty roads of Ladakh is an awesome experience and there are endless unexplored villages where you can randomly stop and look around. I suggest you drive to Chemrey and explore the surrounding area.

By the way, if you decide to visit popular gompas like Thiksey or Hemis, it’s better to go in the afternoon or early evening to avoid the crowds.

The people: the Ladakhis

Ladakhis are both ethnically and linguistically close to Tibetans. During the 8th century, a royal Tibetan annexed the region to himself and as a consequence, a huge number of Tibetans came and established roots there.

In addition, in the past decades, after the invasion of China, thousands of Tibetans have been seeking refuge in Ladakh. Ladakhis are kind people always willing to help or establish a conversation.

Ladakhis neither look like Indians nor feel like Indians. I turned out that i was in Ladakh during Indian Independence Day. In India, this day is quite a big deal, but in Ladakh, it was just a normal day like any other one. Yes, there were a few flags hanged from a few balconies, but that’s it. They told me they don’t feel Indian. Nevertheless, don’t get confused and think that they don’t get along with the rest of the country. In fact, they are really happy with the Indian government because it gives them a significant level of autonomy and freedom.

Travel Insurance for Ladakh

Like any trekking destination, traveling with proper travel insurance is a must.

In the mountains, you can get injured very easily and, if you got seriously injured, you may have to be rescued.

Therefore, I always recommend World Nomads , as it is the only company that provides with unlimited medical coverage plus it covers a big bunch of adventure activities. For example, the basic plan already covers for trekking up to 6,000 meters.

Get your free quote here

Ladakhi is the most common language used across the region and it’s merely a Tibetan dialect . Additionally, Hindi and Urdu are widely used among educated people.

Some useful Tibetan words are:

Hello:  Jullay How are you?:  Khamzang ina-le? Thank you: Jullay – Same as ”Hello”. Literal translation would be ”Greetings” You’re welcome:  O’-Jullay I am sorry:   Gongspa salazad Excuse me:  Gongspa salazad – Getting attention

English in Ladakh

I think Ladakh is one of the places in Asia where English is more widely spoken. In cities and larger towns, almost everybody speaks a fairly comprehensible English. But the surprising thing came on the day when, while driving with my scooter, I randomly stopped to take a picture of an old peasant lady who was collecting wheat. I approached her and kindly asked her if I could take a picture. Then she told me in  English: ”Can I see it?”. I was shocked. We started to talk and she even gave me her address so I could send her the picture.

OK, her English was not great, but if you guys have ever traveled around Asia you will understand what am I talking about. It was the first time ever I could establish a conversation with a random peasant in Asia.

Since most of the population is Tibetan, Tibetan Buddhism is the predominant religion in Ladakh and it plays a key role Ladakhi everyday life. According to a monk I met, families turn at least one of their sons in to Buddhism. Strong Buddhist faith can be felt across all Ladakh, in every village and in every monastery, and that is definitely one of the highlights when traveling to Ladakh.

Nevertheless, a large  Muslim population also lives in this region, especially in the area bordering Kashmir Valley.

Tibetan Food

Food in Ladakh is sort of unique and that’s why I thought it should deserve an extensive separate post. Click here to read about what Tibetan cuisine is like in Ladakh .

Alcohol in Ladakh

Sadly, alcohol in Ladakh is sort of a sensitive topic and it’s not widely available. Apparently, there’s been some issues with alcohol and nowadays it’s quite regulated. You can find it, but only in a few places.

Bars and restaurants have to pay huge fees and mostly can’t afford them. Nevertheless, please don’t start crying yet. There are loads of restaurants who serve it illegally (or unofficially, like they like to call it). They bring it inside paper bags and instead of a glass you get a coffee cup.

Typically they just serve beer and two brands are available: King Fisher , a 5.5% beer brewed in Bangalore which I personally don’t like it because it doesn’t have much gas and God Father , which is the Kashmir state local beer. The label claims to have 8% alcohol but it’s not true. It’s a very light beer but then I realized that the label actually says: maximum 8%. Strange, right?

Note: Remember that Ladakh is a high altitude region and therefore you get drunk way quicker. It can be fun, I know. But if you are having a headache or you are not sure about your acclimatization, you had better stay away from it.

How much will cost you traveling to Ladakh?

While Ladakh is a cheap destination, according to Indians it’s the most expensive place within India. Let me tell you what’s the cost of the most typical things:

Accommodation

I have never in my life seen as many guesthouses as in Leh. There’s a guest house on absolutely every street and corner. That’s the way locals make a living. Please note that these prices refer to high season (summer).

Budget option: You can find very basic rooms for as cheap as 500-800 rupees per night. Normally, these guest houses won’t have internet, and other than a thin mattress and a toilet you won’t get anything else. Nevertheless, most of them have a beautiful garden where you can read, relax or have breakfast. A lot of budget guest houses may be found in Karza road, just 5 minutes away from the city center. I don’t think so you need to book in advance. I found one very quickly during the busiest season in August.

More comfortable option: If you are looking for a slightly better option with a comfortable mattress and wifi, you can find rooms for 1,600 rupees. I stayed one night in Shaolin guest house . Mattresses were superb and they had quite a nice common area with pillows. The staff is a lovely and kind Tibetan family. They speak perfect English. They have a garden as well. It’s a bit far from the busy city center, which means that there’s complete silence.

In restaurants where locals eat, meals typically cost between 60 and 100 rupees. In more touristy (and hygienic) restaurants, meals start at 180 rupees, depending on what you order. Water costs 30 rupees per liter and coffee 50 rupees.

For a half liter beer, you will pay an average price of 170 rupees.

Transportation

Private taxis within Leh: Short taxi rides cost around 200 rupees.

Private taxis to other places in Ladakh: Prices vary depending on where you go. Round trip to Nubra Valley costs 6,800 rupees. Khardung La costs 2,600 rupees and Pnagon Lake, 9,500 rupees. Prices are standard and set by the Ladakh government. They shouldn’t charge you more. Please note that all agencies have shared taxi service and they help you out finding other people to share the car with.

Shared local taxis: Using the local transportation is the cheapest way to move around. For example, going from Leh to Thiksey (20km) costs as cheap as 100 rupees.  For more information, check on the How to move around  section of this guide .

Scooter rental:  Price per day for renting a scooter is 800 rupees. By the way, gas costs 70 rupees per liter.

Motorbike rental: Big bikes cost 1,300 rupees per day. If you are planning to rent it for a long term, I met a guy who managed to pay only 800 a day for a full month rental.

Entrance fees

Entrance fees to gompas cost either 0 or 50 rupees. The only expensive fee I ever paid was when I went to Leh Palace (300 rupees).

Do you need to tip?

You are not forced to tip, but people involved in tourism might expect a tip from you. According to locals, both guide and porters may expect a $1-$2 tip per day. But again, tipping is not mandatory.

Minimum average price per day

Accommodation: Budget single room: 700 rupees

Food: Local breakfast + Lunch in a local restaurant + Dinner in a touristy restaurant: 60 + 80 + 220 = 360 rupees

Beer: 2 beers: 340 rupees

Transportation: Scooter rental + 2 liters of gas: 800 + 140 = 940 rupees

Miscellaneous:  Water + snacks + personal care products =  300 rupees

Total price = 700 + 360 + 340 + 940 + 300 = 2,640 rupees = 40$ a day

Trekking in Ladakh

Hiking the deserted and remote mountains of Ladakh is one of the best trekking experiences you will ever have, and this is not only my opinion but experienced trekkers who said that the Himalayan range of Ladakh is the wildest, most stunning and dramatic you can ever encounter.

Which trek should I choose?

This is a very good question. First, you need to ask yourself: How many days do I want to be trekking? Do I want to sleep in homestays or in a tent? Do I want to go independently or with a guide? Do I want to see people and experience Tibetan culture or just landscape?

There are a lot of different treks which can be adapted to any kind of need. Once you are in Leh, you should go to each and every agency and ask for all options and details. Nevertheless, here’s a quick overview of some of the most popular hikes in Ladakh:

Markha Valley (4 to 9 days): This is the most flexible and adaptable one. It has both culture and amazing landscape. Some sections are pretty challenging. The highest point is 5,200 meters. You can complete the trek in just 4-5 days depending on from where you start. Markha Valley may be one of the most popular treks in Ladakh but still, it is way more authentic than most of the treks offered in Nepal.

Nubra Valley trek (2 to 6 days):  One of the least frequented treks. There are no home-stays and you need to bring your own camping equipment.

Rumtse to Tsomoriri Trek (8 Days Trek) : Local guides claim that this is their favorite trek. It’s characterized by arid plain mountains, nomads and amazing high altitude lakes, the most famous being  Tsokar & Tso Moriri.

Spituk to Matho (3-4 days) : One of the shortest treks and just perfect for those seeking something moderate. This trek goes through Hemis National Park, a place where snow leopards have been spotted.

Lamayuru to Darcha Trek (18 days) : This is one of the longest treks, yet one of the richest in terms of culture. It passes by a big number of Tibetan villages and monasteries, the most famous being Phuktal, a gompa located literally in a waterfall.

Do you need a guide or agency?

First of all, I just want to tell you that there’s no need for booking a trekking tour in advance from your home country . Booking a tour in Leh is significantly cheaper and there are literally dozens of trekking agencies looking desperately for trekking groups. Don’t worry, you won’t miss your trek.

Second of all, you might be wondering… Do I actually need a guide? Or can I do it on my own? That mainly depends on your level of expertise. Me for example, I am not a beginner but I am also not an expert. If I had to go on a 10 days trek on my own, having to bring my own camping equipment and cooking my own food, I would probably starve to death. I don’t know about coordinates or how to use a compass. On the other hand, if a trek has plenty of homestays and a clear route to follow (like Markha Valley for example), then I would feel comfortable to do it on my own.

My suggestion? Trekking agencies are very helpful and they don’t hesitate in providing you with all the information you need. You can ask them whether it’s feasible or not to do it on your own. They will give you the itinerary and all details and then you just make your own judgment.

How to choose the right agency in 4 easy steps

Step 1: Go to 10 trekking agencies and ask for all trekking options and details

Step 2: Once you have decided which trekking are you going to do, ask for prices and choose the 3 cheapest agencies

Step 3: Ask these 3 agencies if the guide who will you trek with is actually a local from Ladakh. When summer comes, some Indians from other regions come to Ladakh to work as guides. Dismiss agencies without a Ladakhi guide. An actual local guide will be a richer experience.

Step 4: Say that you would like to meet the guide in person. Choose the agency with the guide you get best along with.

If you want to know more in depth about prices, accommodation, itinerary, etc., I have written a very detailed guide containing all you need to know to complete the Markha Valley trek .

How to move around: Transportation

Public transportation as such doesn’t exist in Ladakh. Main ways to move around are:

Private taxi

Within Leh , taxi is the only way to move around. Please note that Leh is built on a hill and distances are not short. If you got into Leh by plane, first you need to acclimatize to the high altitude before starting to ascend Leh streets. If your guest house is close to the city center then that’s fine. But if not, on the first day, I strongly recommend you take a cab every time you go back to your guest house. Trust me, I know it by experience. On my first day, I started walking up and down and got a strong headache by the end of the day. For more information, check out High altitude sickness section

For traveling  outside of Leh , any guest house or trekking agency can arrange a taxi for you. Prices are standard, therefore there’s no place for negotiation. Moreover, all trekking agencies offer shared taxi service with other tourists. They just find them for you. The downside of it is that finding someone else might take a while. I suggest you ask as many agencies as possible until you find a full taxi.

Local shared taxi

Local transportation in Ladakh consists of small vans where people go all squeezed up inside. It’s the cheapest way to move around and can be found pretty much everywhere. In Leh, there’s one station right at the city entrance. They are quite effective if you are planning to go to other villages or gompas . The bad side of it, is that they usually don’t go to remote touristic places like Nubra Valley or Khardung La.

Renting a vehicle

All sorts of vehicles are available for rental at many agencies in Leh. I traveled around the region by scooter, but if you really want to enjoy the roads of Ladakh and want to drive further, you should definitely get one of the big bikes that can be found everywhere.

High altitude sickness

Getting sick due to high altitude is such a common issue among most travelers that come to Ladakh, especially those who come by plane. Leh is already located at 3,500m above sea level. If you come by plane, the altitude change is too drastic and your body doesn’t have time to acclimatize. Almost everybody I met, suffered a headache at least during the first couple of days. The first day you arrive in Leh, just rest and don’t make any efforts or you’ll get sick.

While trekking, high altitude sickness may be an important issue. Here’s a detailed article on medical advice .

Is it safe to travel to Ladakh?

Yes, Ladakh is a safe place to travel to. Kashmir state has been a turbulent region since India acquired its independence in 1947. Why? Because it has been heavily disputed with Pakistan and there have been multiple insurgencies and protests that involved numerous deaths.

However, Ladakh has always stayed away from all this. There has never been any signs of terrorism or violent protests. Tension has fundamentally taken place in the Kashmir Valley, located in the western part of the state, bordering Pakistan.

How do you get a visa?

A regular Indian visa is required to travel to Ladakh. You can get a 30 days tourist visa by filling the application form in this link .

For most nationalities, visa fee is $45. After payment, it takes less than a day to receive the visa.

When to go: the weather

Summer (June to mid-September):  Summer is high season in Ladakh. During the day the sun is very harsh and it gets pretty hot. At night, temperatures drop and the weather is pleasant. Snow has completely melted except on the highest peaks. This is the best season for trekking.

Spring (April to May) and autumn (mid-September to November):  Snow starts melting and days become pleasant. Nights are still cold, though. Restaurants start opening (or start closing in autumn) and some mountains are already feasible to hike. The best of it is that you won’t see many tourists around.

Winter (November to March:  Ladakh is completely covered by snow and temperatures are always below 0. Roads to Ladakh are closed, which means the only way to get in is by plane. Restaurants and guest houses are practically all closed. There are a few trekkings which go over a frozen lake, but other than that, hiking during this season is not advisable, as weather is highly unpredictable.

How to get in

The are daily flights from both Delhi or Mumbai to Leh. Landing in Leh is one of the most memorable landings I’ve ever experienced, as you basically fly over the Himalayan range, and then you approach through the Indo Valley.

Getting into Ladakh by land is only possible between June and mid-October . During the rest of the year, roads remain closed. There are two main places  to come from:

Srinagar: Located 434km from Leh, this journey is a trip in itself because it goes through three high mountains passes: Zozi La (3528m), Namki La (3815m) and Fotu La (4108m). Everybody says that this is an unforgettable experience, as you get to see some of the most dreamy views ever. However, the trip may take up to 24 hours, but normally the bus stops halfway between both destinations so to spend the night.

Manali: This is the second route, and instead of coming from the west, you come in from the south. Manali is located 479km from Leh. This road goes through Tang La pass, which is above 5,300 meters.

Ladakh belongs to India and therefore Indian rupees  are the official currency used.

1 US Dollar = 66 Indian Rupees

Cash, credit cards and ATM

In case you are wondering, in Leh at least I counted 5 different ATMs but I wouldn’t rely on them too much. Bring extra cash just in case. You can pay with credit card only in expensive hotels. By the way, outside of Leh doesn’t even dream to find a connection.

Currency exchanging

In Leh, there are plenty of exchange offices and are open until 10pm at least. Exchange rates are good, around 62-63. Outside of Leh it is unlikely to be able to exchange.

Internet signal is really bad in Ladakh. Even in expensive cafes or hotels in Leh, signal is unstable. You won’t be able to connect every day.

10 comments

Hey Joan, Really useful information.The details about People, Language, Religion, Food, Trekking, and Transportation of Ladakh.Thanks for sharing valuable information with us.

Thanks, enjoy Ladakh!

Very Nice information. We got just 7 days. Best option would be flying into Leh than moving around by scooter?

Hi Tiago, yes, that is what I did!

Many thanks Joan, great article. I have a question for you: I’m torn between the Ripchar Valley trek and the Markha Valley trek – I love the idea of remoteness, so a bit worried about how popular Markha is and how busy. On the other hand, I’m not sure how beautiful Ripchar Valley is vs Markha. Any insights? Cheers

Hi Edu, I have never been to Ripchar Valley, so I can’t tell

I’m so amazed by the detail of your page here. It really is an ultimate guide to Ladakh! I just did my first research and more to come! Thank you!

Hey Joan, Thanks for sharing all of that information! Although, I do need to mention that your description of the wifi in Leh is very inaccurate. The telecom provider Airtel now offers fiber optic wifi in Leh. I just ran a speed test while using the network at my guest house and got a download speed of 159 mbps, an upload speed of 95 mbps, a latency value of 13 and a jitter value of 3. Those are great network performance metrics even by first world standards.

Hi Joan, I’m sure it always changes, however as a current update, I came from Srinigar to Leh by local bus mid July. We left Srinagar at 7am and arrived Leh at 9pm. No overnight stop in Kargil, just two 30mins meal breaks along the way. Same driver the whole way who seemed to remain perky. Thanks for your detailed guides as always. It’s nice to have honest info for the lesser traveled paths. So many of us get lost in clickbait travel sites these days. Cheers.

Hi Joan, We are planning to go there July 2024. Do you see any political tensions or protests going on there for its statehood? Just want to check the safety before planning anything. THanks a lot

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The Best Time to Visit Ladakh

Climate, Festivals and Other Things to Do

David Bathgate/Getty Images

High-altitude Ladakh, in the far northern Indian Himalayas , has an extreme climate with a long and brutal winter. Hence, the best time to visit Ladakh is during the region's summer when the snow on the high passes melts—that is, unless you're heading there for adventure travel!

Read more about the top things to do in Ladakh .

The Weather in Ladakh

The climate in Ladakh is divided into only two seasons: four months of summer (from June until September) and eight months of winter (from October until May). Summer temperatures are pleasant and range from 59 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 25 degrees Celsius), whereas winters are extremely cold. Temperatures in the region can drop as low as -40 degrees!

Peak Season in Ladakh

If you want to beat the tourist rush and get discounted accommodations, visit Ladakh in late April or May when the weather is starting to warm up and businesses are beginning to re-open. If you want to see plenty of snow but experience warmer weather, and don't mind the crowds, visit Ladakh during June or July. August is peak monsoon time and it does rain (either a lot or a little), so you may want to avoid traveling there then or go towards the end of the month. The bursts of colorful leaves on trees make mid-September until mid-October picturesque. Temperatures start dropping and the tourist season is over, so it's much quieter.

Getting to Ladakh

Flights to Leh, the erstwhile royal capital of Ladakh, operate year-round. Roads within Ladakh are also open throughout the year. However, the passes leading into Ladakh are buried under snow during the colder months. Therefore, if you wish to drive (the scenery is spectacular and it helps with acclimatization, although the two-day journey is long and grueling), the time of year will be an important consideration.

There are two roads to Ladakh:

• Manali-Leh Highway is the most popular route. It cuts through five high mountain passes including Rohtang Pass in the Pir Panjal range, and three passes in the Zanskar range (Baralacha Pass, Lachulung Pass, and Taglang Pass at 17,480 feet above sea level). This route does have a steep ascent, which may cause altitude sickness. It's open from around mid-June until early October. However, travel becomes risky from mid-September onward due to the chance of snow, and reduced options for accommodations and transport (many buses and taxis stop running).
• The Srinagar-Leh Highway (NH 1D) is the most reliable and least challenging route. It runs alongside the Indus River and via Zoji Pass, Drass ( the second coldest inhabited place on Earth ), Kargil, and Fotu Pass (the highest pass on the route at an altitude of 13,478 feet above sea level). It's usually open from mid-May or early June until the end of October or mid-November. However, July and August are best avoided, as you'll have to contend with both monsoon rain and the bulk of pilgrims going on the Amarnath Yatra. In addition, some people may wish to avoid Srinagar and Kashmir due to the ongoing civil unrest plaguing the area.

When to Visit Ladakh for Trekking Season

The main trekking season extends from June to September in Ladakh. However, the Chadar Trek is a renowned winter trek in the region. From mid-January until the end of February, the Zanskar River forms a slab of ice so thick that it's possible for humans to walk across it. It's the only way in and out of the snow-bound Zanskar region. The Chadar Trek, ranging from seven to 21 days in duration, moves from cave to cave along this icy "road." Read more about the best treks to take in Ladakh for all fitness levels .

Hemis National Park is open year-round but the best time to visit to spot the elusive snow leopard is between December and February when it comes down to the valleys.

Spring is one of the most beautiful and scenic times to visit Ladakh. Trees are blooming, yet the mountains are still snow-capped, creating amazing landscapes.

Events to check out:

• The annual Nagrang Festival typically takes place in March at Matho Monastery. It marks the appearance of trance oracles that perform stunning acts and give predictions.

Summer is popular with trekkers and visitors of all kind. Temperatures are warm, but rarely exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), and days are long and sunny. Both of the roads to Ladakh are easy to drive at this time of year as well, an important consideration for some travelers.

• The  Sindhu Darshan Festival (June)  is a performing arts and culture festival on the banks of the Sindhu River.
• The  Hemis Festival (June or July) is celebrated with two days of traditional music, colorful masked dances, and a fair full of striking handicrafts at Hemis Monastery.

Fall is not quite as busy as summer but still offers fantastic weather. While some campsites will have shut down for the season, hotel room rates are less than summer's peak.

• The  Ladakh Marathon (September)  hosts various running races in and around Leh, for Indian and international competitors.
• The tourist season winds up in Leh with Ladakh Festival (September), the biggest festival of the region. It features a captivating street procession, polo matches, archery shows, cultural performances, and handicraft exhibitions.
• September's Nubra Festival brings folk dances and music to different villages.
• The annual two-day  gustor  ritual is part of November's Thiksey Festival at Thiksey Monastery.

Winter in Ladakh is quite harsh, and thus, many travelers choose not to visit during this season. Those who do make the trek will be rewarded with solitude and a seemingly never-ending stretch of mountain ranges, valleys, and monasteries. Temperatures can be brutally cold. 

• Losar is a 15-day festival that marks the beginning of the New Year in Ladakh. The main celebrations happen on the first three days.
• Spituk Festival, held in January or February, marks the annual two-day  gustor  ritual at Spituk Monastery.
• Dosmoche, held in February, is part of a grand two-day celebration of good over evil, originally started by Ladakh royalty, at Leh Palace, and Diskit and Likir monasteries.

Known for its brutal winters, the best time to visit is during the summer when the snow on the high pass has melted.

Ladakh's busiest months are June and July, so if you want to avoid the crowds consider visiting in late April and May.

Monsoon season in Ladakh begins in July and ends in September, however August tends to be the peak month for heavy rain.

Britannica. "Ladakh." Retrieved March 8, 2021.

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What is the best time to visit Leh 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.

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Best time to visit ladakh (A complete weather guide of Ladakh)

No matter what time of the year you visit Ladakh you will find something that will touch your spirit. Want to know which is the best time to visit Ladakh ?

Well, The Thumping Nomad lists down the complete weather guide of what you can expect when you visit Ladakh in different times of the year.

Millennials – the internet savvy, tech crazy, and the restless souls have a craving for everything they get to see on their digital sphere. They want the point of differentiation from others as well in every aspect. And at the very same time, they don’t want to be left behind. When its come to travel, there is one place that’s in the checklist of every one of them- Ladakh.

While most of them plan for Ladakh in the summer months to beat the tropical heat and get snapped among the snow-capped peaks and deserted open stretch of plains. Most of the camps, hotels and homestay start operations to cater to their basic need including a Wi-Fi connection. The deserted region of Leh goes running in full steam hosting the tourists and travellers alike.

Now comes the one who want to go a step ahead, who want to test their mettle, they test the waters in the sub-zero temperatures in the Himalayas. With very basic facilities at their disposal, they set out for a journey very few opt for.

April to May (Max Temp: 16.8ºC  Min Temp: -1.3ºC )

If you are one of those who likes to travel when the places are less crowded then this is just the ideal time for you as April marks the beginning of the tourist season in Ladakh. Hotels, guest houses and restaurants start to open. Also, camps at Nubra Valley , Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri open during this time.

Only by mid-May Srinagar-Leh highway opens so before that you can only fly to Ladakh by taking flight from Delhi, Srinagar, Chandigarh or Jammu to Leh.

As this is just the start of the season you can get good discounts from hotels, camps and guesthouses.

June to July (Max Temp: 24.5ºC Min Temp: 6.6ºC ) (Best time to visit Leh Ladakh by road)

This is the peak tourist season of Ladakh as both the highways ( Srinagar-Leh highway and Manali-Leh Highway ) are open by 1 st week of June. So if you are looking to complete the road trip circuit this is the best time to do so. This season can be considered as the Best time to visit Leh Ladakh by road (Bike or SUV).

[If interested check out a detail road guide for Manali-Leh-Highway ]

With the opening of roads, there is a huge engulf of adventure seekers to Ladakh by road. So if you are one of those who likes a healthy crowd and hustle bustle of a place then this is the ideal time to visit Ladakh.

Weather-wise this will be the best time to visit Ladakh as the weather is mostly pleasant during these months. Also, there will be a lot of festivals in local monasteries.

The most famous annual festival of Hemis Monastery is celebrated in July.

[Check out Various Monasteries of Ladakh ]

August to Mid September (Max Temp: 24ºC Min Temp: 5.4ºC  )

This is the time when the monsoon is in full swing in the Himalayas. Although Ladakh is cold desert and a rain shadow zone but travelling by road till Zoji La on Srinagar-Leh highway and till Baralacha la on Manali-Leh highway will be a difficult task. There can be a lot of landslides, rivers are full of water and there will be a lot of loose gravel and slush on the roads and this makes travelling tough via road during these months.

So if you are planning your journey during these months it is advisable to get yourself updated with weather forecasts.

Mid-September to October (Max Temp: 20.5ºC   Min Temp: -0.5ºC)

As the monsoon recedes from Himalayas and autumn starts to set in this will be an amazing time to see the wonderful colours of nature in Ladakh. Colour of river water again turns crystal blue or turquoise or green that’s for you to decide. Chill in the air sets in and most of the tourists have gone back. Most of the restaurants, hotels, guest houses and camps close by mid-October.

So if you are looking for a tranquil experience with beautiful shades of nature then this is the ideal time for you to visit Ladakh.

November (Max Temp: 7.4ºC  Min Temp: -6.7ºC )

By this time the temperature has dipped to sub-zero levels and winter has set in. Both the highways will be officially closed for vehicular traffic due to heavy snow. Almost all the tourists have left the scene.

Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri will be starting to freeze.

December to March (Max Temp: 6ºC   Min Temp: -14.2ºC  )

This is the time coldest time in Ladakh when the temperature can dip to -15 degrees at many places. And during this time Ladakh is totally cut off from rest of the world by road. The only way to reach Ladakh is to fly to Leh. But flight frequency is also very low during this time of year. Due to extreme cold and lack of basic facilities during this time of year acclimatization can be very difficult.

In recent years the Chadar Trek on river Zanskar River has become very famous in a month of January to Mid March.

So if you are looking for some Ice Age kind of adventure with bone-chilling temperatures then it’s high time because “ I Like to move it! Move it!”

Best time to visit Leh Ladakh on Bike

Surrounded by the Karakoram and Himalayan mountains  Ladakh  is the second largest district of India.  Ladakh literally  refers to the land of high passes and is a cold desert. This is a land of high passes, serene lakes, rugged terrain and vast open lands.  Ladakh  with its rugged terrain is beloved of adventure travellers especially the bikers. Since both the highways ( Srinagar-Leh highway and Manali-Leh Highway ) are open by 1 st week of June, so June to September will be the best time to visit Leh Ladakh on bike.

Temperature Data of Leh Ladakh

[For Historic data visit Climate Data Org ]

Festivals in Leh Ladakh

Ladakh is not only the place of scenic beauty but it’s having a beautiful Ladakhi culture as well. One should explore this Ladakhi culture while their visit. Festivals in Ladakh are in certainty the most ideal approach to get a look at the Ladakhi culture. Various festivals celebrations are going on throughout the year. See the updated(till the year 2020) list, explore and enjoy!

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Best Time to Travel Ladakh & Zanskar Valley

A lot of people ask me this many times on the blog to suggest the best time to travel to Leh Ladakh , and I thought it is better to pen it down in an article so that it helps others too and does not repeat on the blog all over again and again.

Well, there are two roads that lead you to Leh Ladakh popular by the names of Srinagar Leh Highway and Manali Leh Highway . Both of them generally remain closed for more than six months from November to April or Mid-May every year because of heavy snowfall on various mountain passes that comes on these adventurous roads.

So, the only time to travel by road to Leh Ladakh is from Mid-May to Mid – October. And the second half of October is a risky affair to travel and May is the only likely option for Srinagar – Leh Highway as Manali – Leh Highway generally opens by June first week or late May.

But, still, the question is :

Let's quickly dive into the details:

“What is the best time to travel Leh Ladakh in these 5-6 months?”

Leh ladakh in april to mid-may.

April is the month when tourists or travelers from all parts of the world start to come to Ladakh. Restaurants start to either open or set up for the coming season. Similarly, the guest houses, camps at Pangong Tso, and Tso Moriri lakes also start to be set up.

By the second week of May, generally, the Srinagar Leh Highway opens, and the influx of tourists starts to get into Ladakh. Supplies flow in along with fresh vegetables and fruits. Hence life comes to normalcy in Ladakh.

In late April, all lakes including Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri start to melt, and by mid-May, they completely melt and start radiating the ever-beautiful blue hues under sunlight. Tourists / Travellers visiting these places get good discounts as it is the onset of the season and with fewer tourists around, it is indeed a better place to be.

The high mountain passes in Ladakh including both Khardung La and Chang La, are under heaps of snow, and passing through them is quite an experience in itself. Carrying shades/glares/goggles are highly recommended at this time of the year.

Leh Ladakh in May – June – July

As I said, in May, most likely, you will only find Srinagar – Leh to be open, so if you are interested in the complete circuit, then it is not the right time. In June beginning or May end, Manali road opens with the opening of Rohtang Pass.

In the initial 7-10 days, the roads are pretty much unstable with common snow slides, and intermittent blockages also happen, but gradually it settles down. And from Mid of June to July just before the onset of monsoon season, it is a very nice time to travel, and indeed a lot of people undertake the road journey to Ladakh at this specific window only.

Dheeraj Sharma

It is the perfect time for those who want to enjoy snow around the road and drive through the snow walls of Rohtang Pass / Rani Nalla and Baralacha La too. However, keep in mind that snow starts to melt which means, ferocious water crossings and rivers are pretty common in this period.

Later you will reach a water crossing in the day, slim are the chances to cross it. So, plan to leave early in the day and reach the early in the day on the destination to have buffer time as well.

from Mid of June to July just before the onset of monsoon season, it is a very nice time to travel and indeed a lot of people undertake the road journey to Ladakh at this specific window only. Best time to travel for seeing snow in Ladakh

Leh Ladakh in August

In August, monsoons are in a full flurry, and rivers and water crossings go ferocious at times when rain is pouring down. Landslides are common too in this period. However, there is a catch, the region beyond Zozi La Pass towards Leh from the Srinagar side and beyond Baralacha La pass towards Leh from the Manali side, being a rain shadow region does not get much affected by rains.

But, surely you will be facing the monsoon hassles up to Baralacha La pass from Manali side and Zozila Pass from Srinagar side. Of course, as happening for the last few years Rohtang Pass & Zojila are most likely to be a nightmare in this period.

Even the definition of Ladakh being the rain shadow region is changing now. We have started getting rain in Ladakh too or at least overcast conditions with light rains now and then. Few cloudbursts and flash floods also have occurred in a couple of years, including 2018. So, be ready for surprises even in the rain shadow region of Ladakh too in the coming years.

Leh Ladakh in September – October

Personally, this is my favorite season to travel to Ladakh with vibrant & burning colors all over in full glory. Post-monsoon, the region becomes devoid of rains and the chill starts to set in with some intermittent light snowfall.

However, the colors of fall/autumn are almost burning with beauty all over the Srinagar Leh Road, Manali Leh Road, and, of course, the entire Ladakh, including Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri & Nubra Valley. The road conditions also improve a lot in comparison to the rest of the season. You will witness the best roads of the season since the maintenance works also settle by that time. It is the best time to self-drive to Ladakh if you are taking a small car like a hatchback or sedan to Ladakh.

Even the water crossings are timid in flow with less water in them and are easy to pass by. The rivers turn into aqua blue color again, giving an entirely different aura to the region. Your body is at the maximum exposure to UV rays, and due to lack of moisture, it becomes a bit difficult to acclimatize as well. But, the beauty on offer is worth anything in the world 😀

Also, it is time when some camps have closed and packed up, and some still run. There is occasional snowfall as well, which might close the road for a day or two temporarily. The Raid-De-Himalayas rally also happens in this window which also disturbs you as a traveler to some extent.

Personally, this is my favorite season to travel to Ladakh with vibrant & burning colors all over in full glory. for those who love vibrant fall colors

Leh Ladakh in November

The period of late October and November is when the cold settles into Trans Himalayas completely with sub-zero temperatures at almost all places above 14000 feet especially over the Manali Leh highway and the high-altitude lakes. The colors though are still beautiful in the region, tourists have almost gone away and only a few brave ones remain 🙂 :).

Most of the guest houses, hotels, and restaurants are closed by this time along with camps at Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri lakes, which are packed up by the last week of September. Dhabhas and camps on Manali Leh Highway are also deserted, and locals go away to their homes to get ready for hibernation in cold winters.

Though both Manali Leh Road and Srinagar Leh Road remain open unofficially, it is highly not recommended to travel over them, especially the Manali Leh Highway with such cold conditions. There will not be many shelters available and black ice on roads that make driving a dangerous affair. Black ice is quite common in this period it starts to appear in October starting as well at some places though it does not last long in the early stages or the winter season.

Interesting Read: 5 Reasons to Avoid Manali – Leh Highway in October – November

Leh Ladakh in December – January – February – March

This period is the coldest in Ladakh where January is the coldest month of all seasons, and Ladakh is cut off from the rest of the world by road. Only a few brave and bold tourists are around even though the roads to Nubra Valley and Pangong Tso Lake over Khardung La Pass, and Chang La Pass respectively are kept open all around the year barring a few days of heavy snowfall .

Late January to February is also the time when many adventure tourists come to Leh Ladakh to walk over the frozen Zanskar River from Padum in Zanskar Valley to Leh , popularly known as Chadar Trek.

In this period, you are at the mercy of extreme cold. Snowfall as well is pretty common and mingled with high-altitude terrain; it makes life difficult to survive and acclimatize as well. The key is to take rest, ample rest in the initial days. Then, gradually start overreaching other high-altitude places. The food options are minimal, and most of the restaurant lives are deserted as their cook is out at their homes.

From November to December / Mid-January types, if the sun is shining the colors in the Lakes such as Pangong Tso or Tso Moriri is breathtaking but the options to stay near them are none or limited. Just some Home Stays in nearing villages where basic facilities will be available to brave the extreme cold.

After Mid-January, both Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri along with other high-altitude lakes start to freeze and become solid as earth as you can drive your car over it, leave alone walk over it. Be responsible and don’t do that of course 😉

These lakes remain frozen almost up to April. So, those looking forward to seeing the magical changing colors of these lakes with sunlight in the day shall refrain from making a trip to Ladakh from January to late April, which is almost for four months.

Still confused??

Are you still confused?? Don’t worry. I will suggest if you want to see heaps of snow and have a good adventure, then you must plan your road trip to Ladakh starting June first/ the second week up to mid of July types.

However, if you are more interested in nature’s lovely colors pallet and maybe you are very much into photography, then the late season is the time. You do not want to miss out on, i.e., late September up to the second week of October when colors are oozing out vividly all over Ladakh!!

Have a travel question?? You can subscribe to my YouTube channel and leave a comment to ask your travel questions on traveling to the Himalayas.

Do you have any questions or suggestions or need any help in planning your trip to Leh Ladakh? If yes, please feel free to post them either in the comments section of this article below. You can also take guidance from many travel experts in our DwD Community Forums and discuss your upcoming travel plans for Ladakh.

If you like the article, please feel free to share it with any of your family or friends who are planning a trip to Ladakh.

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I am Dheeraj Sharma - a traveler, techie, and Himalayan lover. Since 2009, I have been helping thousands of travelers every year plan memorable & budget-friendly trips to the Himalayas - Smartly, Safely, and responsibly.

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Hello I am planning to visit leh by flight on 29th August 2019 with my wife & 12 year old daughter. Is it save to travel that time considering rainy season.

Bro! We are a group of friends planning our trip from April 28th and fly directly to leh, will we be able to enjoy our trip without any obstructions(like snow ) or the pangong lake being Frozen or unavailability of accommodation ?

You should look at Leh – Ladakh in Winters – Most Common Itinerary

It will answer all your questions 🙂

What about mid May? I really want to see the unfrozen beauty of pangong!!

In that case plan for mid May to late May, it should melt by that time of the year

we have planned and booked flight ticket from Bangalore to Srinagar on 24th April and return from Leh on 6th May 2018. Plan is to spend 4-5 days in Srinagar and then travel by road to Leh and spend 6-7 days there visiting Nubra , pangong and other sorrounding.

Please suggest as we heard that Srinagar – Leh highway is closed till April end.

Sunil, Srinagar – Leh Highway may or may not be open by last week of April. Considering BRO has already opened Zanskar Valley road, I have hopes by mid of April, they will open Srinagar – Leh Highway too.

Hi Dheeraj,

We two friends are planning a leh ladakh trip in September. We want to experience everything including the snow; hence, what would be your suggestion? Is it good in September? Yes, then which part of the month? Waiting for your reply.

Hari, there will be no snow in September. If you want to enjoy snow, then you have to plan the trip in April – May but then roads are not open and only option is to fly to Ladakh. Else June is when you will find plenty of snow at passes in Ladakh and Manali – Leh Highway

Hi! Planning to go Leh by air on 24th Sep n bck by 2 October by road via Manali .i want to know if October first week will be safe by road from Leh to Manali n and also why return airfares are soo high from Leh.i Jst don’t want to get stuck there because of snow on d way bck

Chaand, just keep an eye on weather once you reach Leh and then take a call. Nowadays, usually first week of October os still OK to travel but sometimes it does snow. Also, plan to directly reach Jispa from Leh without halt at Sarchu.

Hello Dheeraj

I was planning for a trip from Manali tto Leh ladakh and back from Aug 26 to Sep 5. Is it a good timeI for travel? Read every where u mentioned that Aug is not a good time to visit Leh,,

Regards ANimesh

So here is what my Ladakh trip looks like… starting on 16th September and ending on 30th September.

Day 1: Noida – Patnitop (Overnight stay at Patnitop) Day 2: Patnitop – Sonmarg (Overnight stay at Sonmarg) Day 3: +++ Rest Day at Sonmarg + Sight Seeing in Sonmarg & Gulmarg +++ (Overnight stay at Sonmarg) Day 4: Sonmarg – Kargil (Overnight stay at Kargil) Day 5: Kargil – Leh (Overnight stay at Leh) Day 6: +++ Rest Day at Leh + Sight Seeing in & around Leh +++ (Overnight stay at Leh) Day 7: Leh – Nubra Valley (Overnight stay at Diskit) Day 8: Nubra Valley – Pangong Tso Lake (Overnight at Pangong Tso Lake) Day 9: Pangong Tso – Leh (Overnight stay at Leh) Day 10: Leh – Tso Moriri Lake (Overnight stay at Korzok) Day 11: Tso Moriri – Jispa (Overnight stay at Jispa) Day 12: Jispa – Manali (Overnight stay at Manali) Day 13: +++ Rest Day at Manali + Sight Seeing in & around Manali +++ (Overnight stay at Manali) Day 14: Manali – Noida Day 15: Buffer Days Day 16: Buffer Days

Do you think that this plan looks good? I am assuming that I have taken enough breaks in between for the body to acclimatize to the conditions up there! Let me know if there are any changes that you want to suggest!

I would also welcome any feedback from fellow members here!

Thanks and Regards, Abhishek

Looking for a suggestion.

Can I visit just Leh -> Zanskar -> Leh in August ? Is this is good time or will there be rains?

Plan: Sat, Aug 5: Leave Mumbai by flight to Leh, Start on bike / rent car to Kargil Sun, Aug 6: Kargil to Zanskar Mon, Aug 7: Back to Kargil Tue, Aug 8: Back to Leh Wed, Aug 9: Back to Mumbai

Please let me know if the climate is good this time and if this is doable in such short time.

Well since you are flying directly to Leh, it is rain shadow region and hence, even in monsoon, it is fine. However, Zanskar needs at least 4-5 days from Kargil and for Kargil – Leh you need minimum two days. Hence, in 5 days it is not possible.

ok.. thank you for the quick reply.. will plan it well for next year 🙂

Me and my husband are planning to visit Leh-Ladakh (via Manali) from Delhi in the third week of September’ 2017 in our “Ford Eco-sport”. We are a little confused whether it will be OK to take Eco – sport to Leh Ladakh. How much wear and tear can happen to it, and will our Ford Eco-sport will be able to sustain it, as the Ford guys told us not to take it to Leh-ladakh, as it is city car and not made for off road. Can you please guide us? Also, want to know how to connect with other people who are planning their visit to Leh-Ladakh at the same time as it will be good to stay connected with them while travelling.

Neha, Ford EcoSport is very capable of doing the Leh – Ladakh trip. So, don’t worry much about it, just be cautious in driving. You can read: 40 Must Have Things to Carry on Ladakh Self Drive Trip and 7 Useful Tips for a Self Drive to Leh – Ladakh

We are a group of people (2 couples) who would also be travelling to Leh Ladakh (starting on 16th September from Noida and ending on 30th September 2017). But we would be travelling to Leh Ladakh from Srinagar side and would be completing the circuit from Manali side. During the 4th week of September we would be on the Manali side.

It is surely a good idea to connect while travelling.

Cheers! Abhishek

Mr.Sharma, This was a wonderful article. Thank you for providing information. I would like to ask if first week of Aug would be a good time to visit Leh. I am planning to go by air to Leh. Please give your opinion. Thanks.

Since you are planning to go by Air, Ladakh is a rain shadow region and least touched by rains. So, it shall be fine to make a trip by air to Ladakh

Hello dheeraj sir, Is this itinerary good for the 25th october. is this the right time travel ladakh. can we go all the places ?? Day 1 : Rest n local sights Day 2 : magnetic hill n pather sahib n acclimatization. Day 3 : leh to nubra Day 4 : nubra to pangong via Agham Day 5 : pangong to leh Day 6 : Return

Plz reply soon. Thanks

Given the days at hand, it looks fine. Please keep in mind it will be very cold in October at PAngong Tso, best will be to stay at Tangtse or do day trip from Leh.

Thanks for your valuable information. Actually we are planning to visit leh ladakh in 2nd wk of september for 10 days. please tell whether camping is advisable or not during that season if yes mentioned the best place for camping. also tell either visiting all famous lake i.e. pang, tso moriri etc is possible or not.

Thanks again.

Dann, September is a very good time to travel to Leh – Ladakh. You can read: Top 10 Tips for Camping in Ladakh & Spiti Valley

thanks for your reply. tell me about permit also , can’t we get them online so that we can save our time over there? where are these permits required during the traveling ??

Well, the Permits for Leh – Ladakh are available online: Ladakh Inner Line Permits Available Online

However, only permits are applied and you have to take the print out and pay your permit fee in person in Leh at Tourist Info Center or DC office in Leh.

Hi Dheeraj! I want to ask you very important question regarding bikers? The tussle going on between bikers of Manali and Leh is only for Rental bikes? and what about bikers who are on there own bikes, do they also have to face anytype of problems???

There is no issue at all for the own bikes in Ladakh.

I’m planning for a trip to Leh via Manali. Is it okay to plan the trip in August, or it is more advisable to travel by end of June. This will be my first experience, and we’re planning for an SUV.

Best is to travel in September for better road conditions and less challenges, else up to mid July is OK. Avoid monsoon travel in August.

Dear Dheeraj, I am planning a 10 daya trip to Leh with my wife, 7yo son, two brothers starting on 15th June. I will planning to take my Baleno Diesel. It’s the very first time for me to visit Leh. Request your kind suggestions as I am really confused about whether I should make this trip or not. Also request you to advise on travel itinerary and stay options. Look forward for an early response. Thanks.

For hatchback/sedan taking on Manali – Leh Highway Or Spiti Valley via Manali Or Ladakh, please refer the link: FAQ | Can I do Leh – Ladakh / Spiti / Manali – Leh trip in Hatchback or Sedan? for more details.

It will take 4 days to reach Leh from Srinagar side starting from Delhi with stop overs at Jammu, Srinagar, Kargil and 3 days to come back from Leh from Manali side to Delhi with stopovers at Sarchu, Manali. This makes it 7 days. 1 Day is required in Leh for acclimatization. You have about 10 days. 1 Day can be used as Day trip to Pangong Tso and other day can be used as day trip to Nubra Valley or just Khardung La pass.

Opt to go via Manali – Leh Highway and I will suggest that you refer the thread for more details on the route and night halts though it is of 9 days: Manali – Leh – Ladakh – Manali | Itinerary for 9 Days . You can fit in plan I suggested in above para in this plan You can check the nice, preferred list of accommodation options in entire Leh – Ladakh (Leh, Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri) including moderate (cheap budget hotels as well) in the series of articles starting on the link here

Thanks again for your valuable suggestions. I have made up my mind for 9 days itinerary suggested by you via Manali -Leh route. Just bit concerned about road conditions vs Baleno. Will be happy if you suggest any precautions.

Actually I am looking for this type of information from very long time but bi cant found it clearly but you describe all this very clearly! Thanks for this article.

That is wonderful to hear, glad the article helped you.

Can we will go to Leh (Manali to Leh via jispa) own car Chevrolet Sail Uva Hatchback 2014 Model. Can I go Chevrolet Sail Uva Hatchback 2014 Model say Yes or Not If we go by my own car – Do you advised me witch route is best for me Manali – Leh – Srinagar/ Srinagar – Leh – Manali . witch cars can cross the Manali – Leh – Srinagar Plz guide me. Please Car Name

As you advised, i have an iternary for my trip. at first can i go to leh rout as shown below by Chevrolet Sail Uva Hatchback 2014 Model I am also running this car to west bangal, char cham, dharmshala, deu all gujrat. so please advice me this car is suatable for me. and with equipment is required for this route.

June – 3: Manali – Jispa (overnight stay) June – 4: Jispa – Sarchu (overnight stay) June – 5: sarchu – Leh (overnight stay) June – 6: Leh – ride to sham valley and sight seeing June – 7: leh – Nubra (overnight stay) June – 8: Nubra – Pangong tso (camping) June – 9: Pangong Tso – Tso moriri – Leh (overnight stay) June – 10: Leh – kargil June – 11: kargil – srinagar

I am still waiting for your suggestion.

Hello Mahesh,

Please avoid night stay at Sarchu and to Manali – Jispa, Jispa – Leh. Then use that day to make two day trip to Nubra Valley and two day trip to Pangong Tso by regular routes as the direct routes, hatches might not survive or you may get stuck in the middle of no help around. Skip Tso Moriri.

Also, if you do the trip in reverse direction, it will be much better. For hatchback/sedan taking on Manali – Leh Highway Or Spiti Valley via Manali Or Ladakh, please refer the link: FAQ | Can I do Leh – Ladakh / Spiti / Manali – Leh trip in Hatchback or Sedan? for more details.

Hello Dheeraj you are amazing ! I am much keen for bike trip on Manali Leh Highway in September as that is the time when road conditions will become good. But some of our female friends wants to live “Jab We Met” moment (or snow ki toh baat hi kuch or hai) so we are travelling in June.. My only concern is for road conditions in mid June specially “Rohtang Pass” I have heard that in june we have to deal with lots of slush on “Rohtang Pass” but as we are going before monsoon so we are hoping we will get some good roads as compare to july or August .. Your knowledge is highly appreciable. So what is your take on “Rohtang Pass” in mid of June ???

Shubham, for snow you have to make a trip around mid of June and also have to go through some bad sections of the roads. The roads will definitely be more challenging as snow melts during that time creating slush and water crossings at many places.

Thank you Friend, Under the guidance of “Devil on wheels” it seems like we are all ready for the trip & the conditions.. Yeah we are expecting water crossings & slush thats the main adventure of this trip but we hope not as much as you have shown in above pics during mid june “Nightmarish roads of Rohtang Pass” ???

Most likely, you will not face that much of slush during that time unless there is debris of fresh landslide.

Thank you so much Dheeraj 🙂

Hi Sir, Your page is awsome. We have a plan in August Please tell whether it is feasible or not.

14thAugust :- DELHI – Leh 15th August:- Leh 16th August:- Leh – Turtuk 17th August:- Turtuk – Nubra Valley 18th August:- Nubra – Pangong Via Aghyam Shiyok( We are in a doubt about it) 19th August:- Pangong – Leh 20th August:- Leh – Alchi – Magnetic hill – Kargil 21th August:- Kargil – Padum 22nd August:- Padum 23rd August:- Padum Or Rnagdum or Sankoo 24th August:- Back to Kargil 25th August:- Kargil – Srinagar 26th August:- Srinagar – Kolkata

Your plan looks good to me. On 23rd, you can stay at Rangdum. There is a new guest house there called LA Himalaya with attached bathrooms.

We have contacted Rigzin Da. He is managing except Kargil and Leh. Will it be wise to use Agyam Shiyok road to reach Pangong During August???

Well, as long as you can find some company to travel with you at Agham village, local driver should be able to get you through with that route. You will get to know about the present status once you reach up there.

Thank you so much dheeraj for your precious info 🙂 We are planning to visit Manali-Leh on the mid of June17 and will take halt in Keylong/Jispa & Sarchu but as it is the peak time of tourists attraction.. is it advisable to pre book our accommodations near Keylong/Jispa & Sarchu or we will easily get accomodations after reaching there ???

Arjun, I will not recommend you to have a night halt at Sarchu while going to Leh. You can stay while coming back. Keylong has plenty of options and if you are not particular, you can find. For Jispa, I will suggest to pre-book as limited options are there.

Thank you Dheeraj, There is no plan to have a halt at Sarchu as altitude is so high there but if we have to Just for the knowledge is it advisable to pre book our accomodations at Sarchu or we will get easily after reaching there??? & we will come back through via Srinagar 🙂

Good, yeah, in such a case it should be OK. Also keep Tso Kar in mind in case of emergency for a stay. It is not that far from the main highway.

There will be plenty of options at Sarchu, since, it is not final to stay there, better book it on the spot.

Hii Dheeraj thank you so much for your precious info 🙂 We are planning our trip to mid June17.. as it is the time when most tourists prefer to travel & we are planning to halt on Keylong/Jispa & Sarchu.. So do we have to pre book our accommodations as there are many tourists or we get accommodations easily after reaching there???

Replied on the other thread.

Hi Dheeraj, I am planning to visit Leh Ladakh in second half of October 2017. Is it advisable ? Will we get a chance to visit all the attractions ? Please give me your valuable suggestions.

Also to add, I am planning a trip of 10 days. I would request you to suggest me a better schedule.

Will you be flying to Leh or making road trip?

I will be flying. I have two options. Either in October 2017 Or around 15th May 2017. So, which option is preferable ? Please suggest me a better trip of 10 days.

Both the months are not so good for road trip but since you are flying I will suggest May over October with two points

1. In May you will find snow and pleasant weather at least in Leh, Nubra and around not as cold. 2. October, will be windy, cold and dry.

You should refer: Leh – Ladakh | Most Common Itinerary by Air

Are you making a road trip?

Hi Dheeraj, Thanks for the wonderful blog!!

Iam planning for a bike trip to leh via manali-leh route and come back through leh – srinagar highway to Delhi. I am planning to take this trip by either july or september. Also iam planning to complete the circuit in 9 – 10 days. Is it possible to complete it within planned time?? I wish to enjoy in light snowfalls. SO please advise me on the good time to take the rip.

Iam bit confused avout the permits. Do bikers from other state need to get permit in all places throughout manli leh highway??

In leh do we neef to drive j&k registered bikers?? Is own bikes or rented bikes not allowed in leh for expedition???

FInal question.. which is better to take the trip either through some travel agency package or going individual???

please clarify my doubts. Thanks in advance….

Give me your contact mail id……

Thank you Siraj.

It will take 3 days to reach Leh from Delhi via Manali side with stopovers at Jispa, Manali and 4 days to come back to Delhi from Leh via Srinagar side with stop overs at Jammu, Srinagar, Kargil . This makes it 7 days. 1 Day is required in Leh for acclimatization. You have about 10 days. 1 Day can be used as Day trip to Pangong Tso and other day can be used as day trip to Nubra Valley or just Khardung La pass.

Thanks a lot Dheeraj for clarifying my queries.

Could you please advice me on the best season to start my trip. I wish to enjoy the trip with snowfall. How long snow will be there once the passes are opened up?

On going through blog, i got the clarification about the bike permits in ladakh region. Thanks a lot for the briefly analysed blogs. It’s a really helpful and much needed one for all the new comers.

Do [email protected] provide any packages for the leh-ladak trip?? I have found this one while reading the blog. you have also suggested some to get in touch with them for bike rentals and packages.

Siraj, in that case plan the trip in second week of June when you can see snow on Zojila and Manali – Leh Highway. Snowfall is pure luck based. Yes, those guys provide customized packages of Leh – Ladakh

If you travel form Manali to Rohtang Pass, permit is required for bikes too.

Thanks Dheeraj!!

As you advised, i have an iternary for my trip.

June – 17: Manali – Jispa (overnight stay) June – 18: Jispa – Sarchu (overnight stay) June – 19: sarchu – Leh (overnight stay) June – 20: Leh – ride to sham valley and sight seeing June – 21: leh – Nubra (overnight stay) June – 22: Nubra – Pangong tso (camping) June – 23: Pangong Tso – Tso moriri – Leh (overnight stay) June – 24: Leh – kargil June – 25: kargil – srinagar (fly to home)

does this iternary looks good? Need your thoughts on this.

By june 10, the manali-leh highway will be clearing up? So, i need your advice on starting the trip by this date. Becoz, you have specified like wait for 2 weeks once the roads are opened to stabilize.

Siraj, please skip Sarchu as you will not be acclimatized to sleep up there altitude. Better make Jispa to Leh in a day. No need to do Sham Valley but do rest as Sham Valley can be covered while going to Kargil. You cannot do Pangong Tso to Tso Moriri to Leh in a day. Skip Tso Moriri for now. It is probable that Manali – Leh Highway will open by second week of June.

Thank you very much for giving lots of useful information which is really needed for all the travelers.

Me and my friends are planning to ley ladhak trip. please suggest me, which way to choose Srinagar – ley or manalli -ley. and I’m worried about AMS. kindly suggest the good time to visit. your suggestion will really help me to make my trip memorable.

Thanks In Advance Srinivas

Firstly, I will suggest you that please plan it in other direction as going via Srinagar – Leh Highway will be much much easier on your body and help you acclimatize to the high altitude of Manali – Leh Highway. Also, it allows you to enjoy the beauty of Manali – Leh by splitting the journey almost evenly in two days which is very difficult in the other direction. Thirdly, it will allow you to fit Tso Moriri lake into the itinerary in better way. You can read more reasons on the link here

You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Leh – Ladakh followed by many travellers including me at the link here for 13-14 days: Most Common Itinerary for Leh – Ladakh .

You can check the nice, preferred list of accommodation options in entire Leh – Ladakh (Leh, Nubra Valley, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri) including moderate (cheap budget hotels as well) in the series of articles starting on the link here

Dear Dheeraj, Which would be a better date for arriving in leh this year 17 july or 24 july. We are 4 friends entering leh via srinagar and exiting via manali as per your suggestions. We would be taking zoomcar from chandigarh. We have to complete the chandigarh-leh-chandigarh circuit in 9 days . Kindly suggest keeping in mind the road and monsoon condition.

Faraz, I will prefer 17th July to travel to Ladakh. It will take 3 days to reach Leh from Delhi via Manali side with stopovers at Jispa, Manali and 4 days to come back to Delhi from Leh via Srinagar side with stop overs at Jammu, Srinagar, Kargil . This makes it 7 days. 1 Day is required in Leh for acclimatization. You have about 10 days. 1 Day can be used as Day trip to Pangong Tso and other day can be used as day trip to Nubra Valley or just Khardung La pass.

Also, I hope you are aware about: Rented Self Drive Cars in Leh – Ladakh Banned “FORCIBLY”

This is Akshay from Mumbai; Me and three of my friends have planned the trip to Leh-Ladakh from 26th May to 4th June.

Actually at the start we were five however one of our friend dropped out due to some reasons;so we are looking for a someone to join us.

If you see blogs and travel tips for Leh-Ladakh trip u will find out that 5 is the best count to have if you are planning for Leh-Ladakh and of course to cut down cost of private vehicle because private vehicle is one of the important factor to have cost effective leh ladakh trip.

So those who want join please contact at my email : [email protected] and contact no :9664823811.

Will explain you all our itinerary on call or mail but for your information we are coming to Srinagar by flight which has halt at Delhi so anyone can join us from Mumbai, Delhi or Srinagar.

P.S : Those who planning leh ladakh for long tym and those who got ditched by their friends this is the tym guyz..we will together make one hell of trip!!!!!!

Regards, Akshay Mayekar

It is best to post a travel calendar entry as well from the main menu

Hi Dheeraj, firstly thanks a lot for writing this blog. Its very informative. I have always wanted to take a bike trip to Leh. I have not been riding much for past few years & I am someone who is very much susceptible to cold. Going by you blog, road conditions are poor in June-July season and in mid-September temperature will be a challenge. This has got me confused. Can you suggest which time i should go ? Also I want to opt for a packaged tour. Can you suggest any particular group or website ?

Vivek, well, you should be able to do the trip in September. You can do it in second week of September and you should be good with road conditions and temparatures. If you are looking for a package tour, get in touch with [email protected]

Last year i had trip from 10 June16 to 21June2016 through Delhi-Srinagar-Leh-Pangong-Sarchu-Manali-Delhi. In 2017 i want to start the trip in April last week or early may. What you suggest Please Guide.

Ashish, you will be able to only make the trip to Ladakh in April by air only. Are you going by Air? Or in case in May if Srinagar – Leh road opens, you will be able to take that road. How many days you are thinking?

Thanks for your reply Dheeraj. I am planning around 10-11 Days by Own car. Please suggest the earliest suitable time and Itinerary.

Earliest will be June month to go from Manali – Leh Highway.

Opt to go via Manali – Leh Highway and I will suggest that you refer the thread for more details on the route and night halts though it is of 9 days: Manali – Leh – Ladakh – Manali | Itinerary for 9 Days . You can fit in plan I suggested in above para in this plan

hey dheeraj,

kiddo to the blogg. honestly i have been researching about my trip for the last one month nothing helped expect your blogg..we are number of 4 on bikes, planning to travel on 1st week of july 17.around 10 days trip .can please help us with details.i have covered almost all the parts of south india on bike,what are the best places to visit during this time and which route preferably. we are planning to rent a bike from LAH or delhi.one of this place preferably what-so over is better.thank you so much in advance .regards shemeem (Kerala)

Regarding bike rentals in Leh, check: Leh – Ladakh Bike Rental Rates 2017-18

thank you so much dheeraj .do you advice taking flight instead to leh and rent a bike would save some time ?? please advice as me and my friend are looking for a good bike trip :’) is it possible during the 1st week of july

Best option of travel is to reach Srinagar by air and then travel to Ladakh by road. Once in Leh, hire local bike on rent in leh and then do Ladakh sightseeing. Then either take Manali Leh highway with HPTDC bus or shared taxi or fly out of Leh.

Dear Dheeraj,

I am having Safari Storme SUV -Ex (2 wheel drive) and planned to visit Ladakh by road via Manali-Leh route in 3rd week of June-17. I would like to know, other travelers are using 2 wheel drive or 4×4 is compulsory?

Devendra, 4×2 will just do fine. No worries on that front. 10000s of 4×2 cars including hatches and sedans do Ladakh trip every year.

Dheeraj, I am very confused now. I am planning this trip in late August’17. Most probably between 25th August and 10 September. Is it sane to go as I do not have much biking experience. I have done few trips on my bike and I cannot postpone it to 2018 as my friend has already decided to go this year no matter what. Only 2 of us will go on separate bikes. What would you suggest considering we will be on bikes not cars.I am not considering June or July as there will be a lot of rush that time. And its all about peace 😛

August is not far behind in terms of rush Vaibhav. I will recommend that you plan the trip in September second half to beat the rush and help you being a novice biker. The roads and conditions are less troublesome.

lol same here

We are four cousins (men) planning to take Manali Leh in mid June’ to July 2017as mentioned in this article (Mid of June to July just before the onset of monsoon season)- Could you share the road time table and also the good time to travel

Pavan, are you making the Spiti Valley trip or Ladakh trip or combination of both?

This is a very nice blog and it was very memorable trip It was such a fantastic post I really really like It Thanks for sharing Nice Information

Thank you Dorjay

Thank you so much for your blog. You made my jaw dropped because of many amazing information you have provided.

I plan to solo travel to Ladakh this September with budget trip. My itinerary is as below:

Day 1 (Wed): Arrive Leh from New Delhi, rest in Leh Day 2 (Thu): Rest in Leh Day 3 (Fri): Day 4 (Sat): Tso Moriri, overnight in Changpa Day 5 (Sun): Tso Moriri, overnight near the lake. Day 6 (Mon): Back to Leh by bus, overnight in Leh Day 7 (Tue): Head to Nubra Valley, rest in Diskit/ Hunder Day 8 (Wed): Diskit/ Hunder/ Nubra Valley, overnight in Spangmik Day 9 (Fri): Back to Leh by bus Day 10: Head to Pangong Lake, overnight near the lake Day 11: Head to Leh, rest in Leh Day 12: Head to Padum, Zanskar Valley, overnight in Padum Day 13: Head to Leh Day 14 + Day 15: From Leh to Delhi.

Do you have any recommendation? Is it ok if I should take a cab to go to Tso Moriri, Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake and back by bus? Is it safe for female traveler to bike in Ladakh?

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

You have good amount of days in hand and hence I will suggest you to follow the route as per acclimatization rules. First visit Nubra Valley, then visit Pangong Tso and then visit Tso Moriri. Padum, Zanskar requires 4-5 days at ease from Kargil, so I do not see you having time for it.

Thanks so much Dheeraj! I really love to go to Padum and Zanskar. It’s not easy for me if I skip those places 🙁

But you do not have 4-5 days in hand from Kargil. Can you spare time for it or skip other places?

Do you have any recommendation to change my itinerary so that I can have 4-5 days for Padum and Zanskar? I can skip other places. Thanks Dheeraj.

I am going to suggest following plan:

Day 1 (Wed): Arrive Leh from New Delhi, rest in Leh Day 2 (Thu): Move to Kargil Day 3 (Fri): Kargil to Padum (Zanskar) Day 4 (Sat): Rest day at Padum (Visit Karsha, roam around in Padum) Day 5 (Sun): Rest day at Padum (Visit Zangla, Stongde monasteries) Day 6 (Mon): Move to Kargil Day 7 (Tue): Move to Leh Day 8 (Wed): Move to Nubra Valley Day 9 (Fri): Nubra Valley to Leh Day 10: Head to Pangong Lake, overnight near the lake Day 11: Head to Leh, rest in Leh Day 12: Head to Tso Moriri Day 13: Tso Moriri to Leh Day 14 + Day 15: From Leh to Delhi.

Sending you thousand of kisses! Thank you Dheeraj.

Thank you 🙂

This is an amazing website.

I am planning to start my bike expedition from 21st of September. My route is Jammu – Srinagar-Kargil-Zanskar-Leh-Nubra-pangong-Tso moriri-Keylong-Dalhousie-Dharamshala

It will need atleast 25 days to cover all these places and i am least concerned about time as i had quit my job. Now i have questions like,

1) If i start from Jammu on 21st and reach Kargil on 23rd, Is it advisable to reach Zanskar(Padum) on 24-25th? Are roads accessible at that time? 2) If i start from jammu and follow the Sarchu – Manali highway in 2nd week of October, Is it advisable? 3) Contrary, if i start from Manali Leh highway, can i cover zanskar in the second week of October? I had to cover zanskar anyhow, thats why my plans are becoming very confusing.

Please reply as its becoming very confusing for me.

I also manage my personal blog, http://www.theCrazyRider.com

Great to connect Sachendra.

1. Yes, you can reach there to Padum but it will be a bit cold. 2. It will be risky and I do not recommend in general. Read: 5 Reasons to Avoid Manali – Leh Highway in October

Well, same problem will be with Zanskar Valley, I will not recommend that too that late in the season.

We have an offer for Pajero white board from a rental company. Do we face any issues in Leh from taxi union check posts?

Best Regards Gopinath

If they check papers, they need to be in your name or someone you can prove relation with.

Hello Dheeraj,

your website is a bible. I have almost figured out everything reading it. I am planning to visit Leh in the first week of october. Flight from Delhi to Ladakh. Could you recommend some hotels good for this season? ANy special care I should think of since I am travelling with 10 year old. Thanks.

You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Leh – Ladakh by Air followed by many travelers including me at the link here for 9 days: Leh – Ladakh | Most Common Itinerary by Air .

For the leh – ladakh taxi union rate list 2015 – 16 including the contacts of some reliable taxi drivers within Leh – Ladakh, check the link here . You can get about 10-12% of discount by directly getting in touch with drivers and of course, talking in person rather on phone always help in bargaining more.

For the list of good restaurants in Leh – Ladakh or eateries or food joints where food is enjoyed by many travellers including me, you can check the link here: List of Good Restaurants in Leh – Ladakh | Restaurant Reviews

Check the list of things to carry for Leh – Ladakh or other trip including basic medical kit, clothing, must haves etc. at the link here: List of Things to Carry for Leh – Ladakh trip .

We are a couple from Kolkata planned to travel Kashmir and leh with all sightseeing via kargil road by hiring motorcycle.From 11th October to 21 October… Will it be troublesome?? But we don’t want to cancel it….please suggest me in details…

I will not suggest going beyond Penzi La that late in the season. It will be a bit risky and of course dry and cold.

Thanks for your suggestion .But we are not going to pensi la.we want to travel lamayur,nubra,pangong. in motorcycle.Please suggest in details how safe are these.Is it safe for a single couple to travel Kashmir and leh by bike in that time??

You said Zanskar Valley, so thought you want to go to there. That should be OK but avoid coming back from MAnali side. Srinagar – Leh route is still OK in October. It will be cold, there will be less tourists around and most hotels/restaurants will be closed for the season.

Thanks. But I want to know how safe is pangong and nubra road for bike tour for a single couple in 3rd week of October…?? Please suggest..what may be the difficulties for single couple??

Safety wise, Ladakh is one of the safest places in terms of crime and they treat tourists like guests. But, it will be damn cold and yes of course deserted roads will be there as less tourists will be present. The response time in case of need or any help will be more and more as less people travel on these routes..

Please suggest me where can we get bike for hire in Srinagar and leg in October… Do we need to book it early or available that we can go and burgain there.

Supriyo, most things are shut in Srinagar now a days. You cannot use a srinagar bike in ladakh for sightseeing, so be aware about that. One side drop of bike will cost around 10K more.

Thank you.I have installed and registered in DOW apps but but I can’t post anything.. Anyway, we are a single couple planned a bike tour from 11october to 21 october.We have planned to hire bike in Srinagar for 4 days and travel to leh via kargil by public transport and again hire bike in leh for 5 days.Please suggest for.. 1.Where can we hire bike in Srinagar?? Cost??terms?? Anything else that I don’t know?? 2.Where can we hire bike in Leg??Cost??terms?? Anything else?? 3.Is panggong,nubra,lamayuru routes will be OK in those seasons for bike riding?? 4.what are the necessary things we should carry?? 5.how to know if anybody want to join us?? 6.Budget stays in pangong,nubra etc. Please suggest anything more to keep in mind that I don’t know…

Your first 5 posts are not visible unless approved. Your posts are already there and answered: https://discoverwithdheeraj.com/india/plan-ladakh-zanskar-trip/topic4507.html#p34716

Hi Dheeraj, Congratulation for your blog.. it is really interesting and useful. My girlfriend and I would like to go to ladakh the newxt november.. but it seems so cold overthere… so What do you think? are there any other interesting mountains sites in the India Himalaya region that are more accessible in that period? Or… if I decided to go to Ladakh in that period… where do you think could go around? and how many degrees below zero could I experience? Thanks so much Simone

Hello Simone,

In Ladakh, you can very well make a trip to almost all the places within Ladakh but you will have to fly by air to Leh and fly out of Leh. Of course, you will have to bear with cold conditions and limited stay + food options. You can refer the plan at: Leh – Ladakh in Winters – Most Common Itinerary

Planning to go in mid august with friends and bike trip in and from leh itself..? Is it recommendable to go during that time of rains..?

Abhi please read: 10 Tips for a Trip to Ladakh in Monsoons

Your article is quite informative. Thanks. It would be nice if you can help me plan up my trip to Lay-Ladakh . Myself and my wife ( mid 40) and twin daughters aged 16 planning to travel to Lay from Bangalore on 9th of October, because, that’s when children get holidays and would like to stay at lay-Ladhak till 16th of October. ( basically 5 day, stay in Lay) Can you please suggest the places that we can cover and suggest an itinerary for me. We plan to take up a flight from Bangalore to Delhi. and after that, I have absolutely no idea about the mode of transport or route i should take. Is it better to go on our own or take up a camp. if taking up a camp, which one is better? Hope, that’s not very expensive. Please suggest. Looking forward to your reply.

Warm Regards,

I will be in leh on 12th July till 20th July 2016.

I have some questions in mind so could you please suggest me the best answer

In which place shall I stay in Leh?

Also, where shall I get good accommodation like tent or home stay?

In which place shall visit during the period i.e. between 12th July to 20th July 2016?

Also, it would be better if you suggest me the place where shall I get Bike on rent?

On 22nd July, I have trained from Jammu so is there any public transport or anything else through which I can go from Leh to Jammu via Kargil?

Apart from that you can suggest me better plan.

Awaiting for your prompt reply.

Hello Ashish,

I can answer you better if you tell me how are you reaching Leh on 12th July, I see you will travel by road to Jammu from Leh on 20th

Thank You Dheeraj for the replying . I will be reaching Leh by plane

Hi Dheeraj, I am planning to do circuit from Chandigarh – Srinagar – Leh – Manali – Chandigarh. Dates are 2 nd august to 13 august.

1. What is your opinion above dates of travel? 2. Will it be good for bike riding? 3. As heard of uttarakhand cloud burst.. So any chances of consequences? (I can understand it cannot be assured right now… but still if you have any predictions.)

Hi Swapnil,

You should read: 10 Tips for a Trip to Ladakh in Monsoons which will answer many of your doubts.

I am planing to travel Leh-Ladakh…we are 6 people…we will be traveling to and fro Leh airport from mumbai… But we are very much confused about the dates.. Please suggest Aug 26th to 4th Sep Sep 2nd to 11th Any 1..thou there isn’t much difference in the date…we are preferring Sep…but jz rains may spoil the trip so need your guidance

September will be a better time to do so.

I am from Bangalore and planning to do a solo trip on a budget in the month of August 2016. I have planned out a small itinerary, would love to have your opinion regarding the same. Day 1 : Bangalore to Delhi by flight Day 2 : Delhi to Manali by Volvo bus Day 3 & 4 : Manali to Leh by bus with overnight stay at Sarchu Day 5 : Local sightseeing/Rest Day 6 : Hire a bike in Leh for the rest of the trip. Sham Valley Day 7 : Leh to Nubra valley. Overnight stay at Hunder. Day 8 : Nubra valley to Leh Day 9 : Leh to Pangong Tso. Overnight stay at Spangmik. Day 10 : Pangong Tso to Leh. Day 11 : Leh to Delhi by flight. Delhi to Bangalore by flight.

Let me know what you think of this.

Hi Dheeraj, I am planning to travel to Leh-Ladakh in first week of October 2016 with hubby and 8 year old daughter. Please help me with below questions,

1. Is this time of the year OK for travel ? (considering kid in mind)Will it be too cold ? 2. Planning for self drive from Manali to Leh and then back from Leh by flight. 3. Is it good for traveling around Leh ? Weather conditions ? 4. Is it OK to travel by road with the kid ?

Thanks Ashwini

Hi Ashwini,

1. No, time is not OK most of the camps are winded up and it gets cold in high places in Ladakh 2. Manali – Leh is not recommended at all in October and especially with kids, will not suggest taking risks, even though now a days it is slightest. 3. Cold mostly.

We are following for advice to driver via Srinagar to Leh. But question are we allowed to driver a hire tempo traveller from punjab via Srinagar to Leh. And for local ladakh sight seeing via taxi.

No, ladakh sightseeing you need local ladakh tempo travller

Yes Dheeraj. I’m aware about the local sightseeing must be done via their local transport. But reaching Leh on our own hire vehicle(Tempo traveller) from punjab – are we allowed that via srinagar.

Or we need to take the tempo from srinagar itself.

We are planning our journey as below from 14th Jul to 25th Jul.

Day 1 – Delhi to Srinagar (flight) Day 2 – Srinagar to Pahalgam to Srinagar Day 3 – Srinagar to Gulmarg to Srinagar Day 4 – Srinagar to Kargil (Via Sonamarg and Dras) Day 5 – Srinagar to Leh Day 6 – Leh (Tour of Local Monasteries) Day 7 – Leh to Nubra Lake Day 8 – Nubra Lake to Leh Day 9 – Leh to Panggong Lake and Back to Leh Day 10 – Leh to Kelyong Day 11 – Kelyong to Manali Day 12 – Manali to Chandigarh

1. Need your advice on the plan – is it ok ? 2. Taking tempo traveler from punjab (For day 2 to 5 and 10,11, 12) 3. For local sighting seeing will take the local transport in leh (For day 6,7,8,9)

Regards, Karen Sandhu

1. Your plan looks OK to me. 2. Sounds good, local sightseeing you need local tempo traveller

Yes, Karen. you are fine to reach Leh in outside taxi or rented vehicle.

Hi, please give me update infomation for bus service timing from Leh to srinagar nowdays (Days and timing) and also tell me bus service or taxi in Low budget for visit Pangong Lake,Tso morriri , Nubra valley, khardungla top etc.

Please refer: Rates & Time table of Bus Services in Leh – Ladakh

I am planning a trip to Ladhak from 6th Aug to 17th Aug. A brief itinerary is as follows

Day 1st Pune – Srinagar airport – Local Trip Day 2nd Srinagar – Gulmarg– Srinagar Day 3rd Srinagar – Sonamarg – Kargil – Lamayuru ( We would prefer staying at Lamayuru instead of Kargil. Is this feasible? Day 4th – Lamayuru – Leh Day 5th Tour of Local Monasteries Day 6th Leh – Pangong Lake Day 7th Pangong – Leh – Khardungla – Nubra Valley Day 8th Back to leh Day 9th leh – Sarchu Here can we cover morey plains? Day 10th Sarchu – manali Day 11th Manali local sightseeing Day 12th Manali – Chandigarh Airport Drop

1. Any comments/suggestions on the itinerary? 2. Can we hire open jeep/mahindra thar in leh? If yes, can you share some relevant contacts?Chauffeur driven would also do. 3. You have already mentioned details about the weather conditions in the first week of August, but as we wont be riding on bikes, how much difficulties we might face? 4. How much it would cost approximately for the above itinerary considering we are 4 adults travelling.

1. Changes suggested below 2. No self drive option available in Leh, you can hire taxi there 3. Well, below Ladakh range, there will be rains which will have swollen water crossings, slush on roads, landlsides will be common too 4.

Day 1st Pune – Srinagar airport – Local Trip Day 2nd Srinagar – Gulmarg– Srinagar Day 3rd Srinagar – Sonamarg – Kargil Day 4th – Kargil – Leh Day 5th Tour of Local Monasteries Day 6th Leh – Nubra Valley Day 7th Back to Leh Day 8th Day trip to Pangong Tso or go to Sarchu/Pang from Panogng Tso next day Day 9th Sarchu/Pang Day 10th Sarchu/Pang – manali Day 11th Manali local sightseeing Day 12th Manali – Chandigarh Airport Drop

Thanks for the reply Dheeraj. Need clarification on below two points:

1. Regarding water crossings and slush on roads, how much does it affect while travelling in a four wheeler(we are not riding on bikes)?

2. Regarding open jeep/mahindra thar – We dont need a self drive vehicle. A car with driver will do. But the main requirement is we need an Open Jeep. So would be great if you can share some relevant contacts.

Hi, I am planning to visit leh on 2 Oct 2016 with my wife for around 10 to 11 days. I will fly from pune to leh. Then will book hotel there and take bike of rent i will visit different place there. So i have some question below: 1. How easily we can get hotel there with affordable rate during given time frame? 2.I will be traveling different place on bike with my wife , my wife don’t ride bike so is it possible to visit place like Chang La Pass,Taglang La Pass,Khardung La Pass,Tso Kar Lake,Pangong Tso Lake etc. in 7-8 days time frame. 3. Is it safe to travel in leh alone with wife ?

Thanks in advance. Rahul

Rahul in October it is off seaosn in Ladakh and cold too. Most of the camps besides the Pangong Tso lake gets packed up and most hotels/restaurant in Leh gets closed.

Hello, sir I want to know about Local bus service around leh Ladakh Local sightseenig is available on nowdays july 2016.plz Reply

No there is no local bus service in Leh for sightseeing purposes. Local tour operators might be running some taxis for the same.

I am planning to travel Srinagar-Leh-Manali with my mom. The trip would be for around 10-12 days and wil include Sonmarg, Dras, Kargil, Lamayuru, Leh, Nubra, Pangong, Sarchu, Rohtang and finally Manali. Which would be the best time to travel July end (around 27 July.) or mid September (around 20 Sep.)? How are the road conditions during the given period? Any suggestions or must visit places are welcomed!

Mid septembers is a good time to travel Ladakh, always. You can check a very balanced and most common itinerary for Leh – Ladakh followed by many travellers including me at the link here for 13-14 days: Most Common Itinerary for Leh – Ladakh .

Thanks for the deails.I have planned somewhat similar itinerary. The only difference is we will finishing the tour at Chandigarh. How is the weather during the September end (20-30 September)? Are there any chances of rain or snow fall? Does temperature dip ver much at night or high passes? Can you please mention some advantages of visiting Leh in September over July or any points which are best to visit in September? How much time does it take to reach Chandigarh from Manali as the last flight from Chandigarh is at 7 pm. ? Thank You!

Very little rain or snowfall may happen during that period. Regarding points, please read the article above. Chandigarh – Manali is around 9 Hrs

We have planned to ride Leh in September starting from 16 -Sep to 1st-Oct. We are 6 riders on our own starting from Jammu- srinagar-leh-manali-Chandigarh My main concern is the weather, road conditions & stay in last 2 weeks of September. My question are : 1: Is riding during this time safe( like landslide & rains) ? 2: is this the good time for the road trip ? 3: What about the camp stay in pangong? will that be open ? 4: Can we setup our own tent ? (with proper Sleeping bag n all) 5: Will there be snow ? 6: What about the land slide & rain in last two week of September ? Will we face that ?

Thanks in Advance

Regards. Bharat V

Hello Bharat,

1. YEs, time is good to travel, in fact best time to travel to Ladakh 3. Yes, there will be options available 4. Yes you can setup your own camps where other camps are pitched. DO NOT pitch at banks of the lake as it is not authorized and leagal to camp besides the lake. 5. In case it snows the day you visit. 6. Usually things are stable in September

I’m Bhoomik From Chennai

What are the places would u suggest to visit if i would like to cover Nook and corner of leh ladakh and near by and how many days will it take. Please suggest Me everything.

All depends upon how many days you have in hand and your mode of transport

Can Padum and Zanskar valley be travelled in third week of October??

I will not suggest it because the winter sets in by end of September and Penzi La can close for few days in case of heavy snowfall.

I am planning to travel ladakh in mid of june, and I want to visit Zanskar, I’ll follow your suggested common itinerary for this trip. So is it possible to cover Zansakar in this itinerary and if yes, can u please share me the travel guide to cover the same or any other possibilities.

Thanking you.

Zanskar Valley needs at least 4 days on confortable level ex. Kargil. Do you have 4 more days in hand?

Hello sir, I have planned for visit to Ladakh during 18june to 24 june .Is it the best time to visit .plz Reply

It is good time to visit Ladakh Raj

You are doing an excellent job. I would like to thank you sincerely for it. I have a query that I want to travel with my husband to Leh from 2 sep to 8sep 2016. But I am bit afraid as I have read that weather in leh keeps changing drastically and at that time it would be monsoon so lot of thunderstorm. I was going to follow your iteneary for this short trip of 6 nights stay. Could you please guide me and clear my mind, Is September a good month to travel? I am planning to viist Nubra & Panong Tso and stay 1 night at each place. If we get stuck at somepoint, Is help available? I know probably I am worrying too much but I woul dbe very thankful to you if you can throw some lights on my query. Thanking you

If you are flying in and flying out of Leh, there is no issues at all during that time. Ladakh is a rain shadow region and September is a good time to travel

Thank you Dheeraj for your prompt reply. Any extra precaution to be taken care of during the visit?

Hmm, well, do read 9 Mistakes People Commit on a Ladakh Trip AND Acute Mountain Sickness and Importance of Acclimatization

HI Dheeraj, Me and my wife wish to travel in the second week of August. Do you recommend that time for travel? its her birthday so don’t want to mess it up 🙂

It is monsoon time in general up there in North and at some parts of Manali – Leh Highway (like before Baralacha La) and Srinagar – Leh Highway (like before Kargil) you might need to face monsoon hassles but once you get closer to Ladakh, then Ladakh being rain shadow region is least affected by monsoon rains, though rains does reach Ladakh now but to minimum and mostly it might remains overcast conditions. There is no thumb rule of certainty about weather conditions but above is generally common pictures seen over last few years except ugly 2010 …

Please refer the link in our community: FAQ | Is Monsoon season good time to travel to Ladakh? for more details.

Hi Dheeraj. We are 4 persons all adults of a family two gents and two ladies plan to visit zhanskar valley from Jalandhar. Pl suggest best itenry We have a total of 7-8 days from 11 June We will be going in Pajero sports 4by4

Harish, I always suggest: Zanskar Valley – Most Common Itinerary

I am planning to visit ladakh in September so can we find snow at that time of period

Snow will not be present in the month of September in Ladakh unless it snowfall on that very day when you are there

hi Dheeraj.

Your posts are so so awesome.

I need your advice on our road trip plan. We are a group of 8 friends, 25-35 yrs old males & females, planning for Delhi-Leh-Delhi by our own two cars. I am keen to have your advice on the following:- 1. Are Maruti Swift diesels recommended for this trip? 2. Except me, all other 7 friends are first timers for Ladakh trip but all of them have done lot of self driven road trips in north india, so is it advisable for us to go to ladakh during Jun-July or Aug-Sep?

your valuable insights will be highly helpful for all of us. Thanks.

hello Dheeraj,

I will be travelling to Leh Ladakh during 1st october to 12th october on my Santro. Is it doable on a Santro? i will self drive and travel with my wife and son. Please advice.I will be going via Srinagar.

Thanks for setting up all the information in one place. I have planned trip to LEH during September. Travel plan is for ~22 days, in that I would like to cover kargil/leh/manali/delhi[in and around places ]/Agra and then I would ride back to Bangalore. Here’s what I have planned, please help me to head in right direction and plan better.

TRIP START DATE: SEP 02 2016 [ Friday night ] END DATE: SEP 25 2016 [ Saturday ]

Sep 2nd [ night ]:- I will be getting my bike [ Apache 180 ] from Bangalore via train and reach Delhi on Sunday 04 Sep 04 : Will head to Pathankot . [ THAT’s ALL ] After going through all the places suggested by you for other travelers, I had made a rough plan on where to visit. But then I would like to hear it out from the right person rather than going with one of mine.

Looking forward for advice to plan things even better.

This is from Delhi to Delhi, now depending upon days left in 22 days with you, you can try to spend more time at places example go to Turtuk in Nubra Valley, take three day journey over Manali – leh Highway

U r just amazing!!!

I have planned a family trip to Leh – Ladakh during 10 Oct to 16 Oct 2016. It will be a 12 member group with age ranging from 7 years to 65 years. Will be reaching Leh by flight from Delhi and return on 16 morning by flight. The flight tickets are already booked. I have the the following questions: 1. Will it be appropriate to travel with such age group? (Keeping in view the temperature and terrain) 2. Suggest me the places to visit as I have not yet planned the itinerary. 3. Suggest me suitable hotels/ camps/ homestay for your suggested itinerary. 4. What is the minimum temperature expected during our visit?

Needless to say, it will be quite cold up there in Ladakh especially at places like Pangong Tso. You do not have much time on hand so can follow the first 6-7 days of itinerary in: Leh – Ladakh | Most Common Itinerary by Air

Hi dheeraj I read all your post for leh ladak i was very impress I would like to take three days journey on Srinagar – leh highway I would like to use alternate route which goes Kargil ,Batalik ,Dah,Skurbuchan My back journey is leh to manali iwould like to go to spiti valley too Can you set my iternary and which is the best season to visit and how many days should I keep no time limite I

Hello Sonali,

You can follow th below plan:

Day 1 | Delhi – Jammu / Patnitop — Overnight at Jammu or Patnitop

Day 2 | Jammu / Patnitop – Srinagar — Enjoy walk around Dal lake and may be Shikara ride as well — If you have time then check out, floating market, Shalimar Garden. — Overnight at Srinagar

Day 3 | Srinagar – Zozi La – Drass – Kargil — Enjoy the vistas enroute — Have late drunch meal at Drass is you are a vegetarian as sometimes it gets difficult to find veg. food at Kargil — Overnight at Kargil

Day 4 | Kargil – Lamayuru – Leh — Cover Mulbekh Maitrey, Lamayuru Moanstery, Lunar Landscapes — On the way you can also see Gurudwara Pather Sahib, Magnetic Hills, Confluence at Nimmu — Overnight at Leh

Day 5 | Leh Local Sightseeing + Inner Line Permits — To know the about the places to visit check the link: Travel Guide for Local Sightseeing of Leh Town in Ladakh — For more details on inner line permits process and to download application form read the link  here — Overnight at Leh

Day 6 | Leh – Khardung La – Diskit – Hunder — Head for Nubra Valley and stay overnight at Hunder — On the way enjoy a cup of soup at Highest Motorable Pass (as claimed) Khardung La

Day 7 | Hunder – Sumur/Kyagar – Panamik – Sumur – Khardung La – Leh — Sumur has a famous monastery to check out and Panamik has hot water springs — Overnight at Leh

Day 8 | Rest day at Leh to enjoy local culture and some shopping OR Monastery tour — Monastery tour may include Hemis, Thicksey, Stakna and Shey monasteries. They come on the route of Pangong Tso but as you will be doing day trip, it will be a bit hectic to include them on that day only. — Overnight at Leh

Day 9 | Leh – Hemis Monastery – Pangong Tso Lake — Cover either of Hemis, Thicksey and Shey on the go towards Pangong Tso — Overnight at Pangong Tso (Spangmik)

Day 10 | Pangong Tso Lake – Shey – Thicksey – Leh — Overnight at Leh

Day 11 | Rest day at Leh to enjoy local culture and some shopping OR Monastery tour OR you can do tour to Sham Valley — Monastery tour may include Hemis, Thicksey, Stakna and Shey monasteries. They come on the route of Pangong Tso but as you will be doing day trip, it will be a bit hectic to include them on that day only. — Sham Valley include Alchi, Likir, Basgo Palace, Magnetic Hills, Confluence at Nimmu, , Gurudwara Pather Sahib — Overnight at Leh

Day 12 | Leh – Tso Moriri via Chumathang — Cover Karzok Monastery — Overnight at Karzok or Tso Moriri

Day 13 | Tso Moriri – Tso Kar – Debring (Manali – Leh Highway starts) – Moore Plains – Pang / Sarchu — Try to start early in the day so that you reach Sarchu where the accommodation options are better than Pang — Overnight at Sarchu or Pang

Day 14 | Pang / Sarchu – Baralacha La – Jispa — On the way cover Suraj Tal, Deepak Tal which are on the road sides only — Overnight at Jispa

Day 15 | Jispa – Chandratal Day 16 | Chandratal – Kaza on the way (Ki, Kibber, Gette) Day 17 | Kaza/Langza Homestay (Hikkim, Koumik, Langza) Day 18 | Kaza – Pin Valley – Dhankar – Tabo Day 19 | Tabo – Kalpa Day 20 | Kalpa – Narkanda Day 21 | Narkanda – Chail / Shimla – Delhi

Add a day from Kargil to travel to Dah – Hanu villages and next day traveling to Leh from Dah – Hanu or Alchi wherever you take the night halt.

Hi dheeraj,

Your blog is amazing and definately a bible for ppl who want to travel to ladakh..i’m planning for 11 day trip to leh ladakh starting from either 3rd sept to 13sept or 9th sept to 19th sept. Can you please suggest me a gud detailed itinerary and also which dates would be best. Im from chennai and would prefer taking flight from chennai to leh and back..also can u suggest me whr all can i rent bikes.i would wanna drive a bike around for the experience and thrill of it..would like to do some camping as well.. Thanks in advance Regards, Neelam

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Best Time to Visit Ladakh – A Complete Travel Guide

If you asked when is the best time to visit Ladakh, my answer would be that it depends on you. Let me explain. The best time to visit any place is different for every person. I am basing this on assumption on the fact that not everyone is looking for the same thing. Other factors like budget, mode of travel, etc also come into the picture.

With that being said, there is a certain time of the year when every tourist destination receives the majority of its visitors. In the case of Ladakh, it is the months from June to September that are considered as the best time to visit. But will that suit you as well? If yes, then which month is the best? Read on to find out.

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When is the Best Time to Visit Ladakh

Ladakh presents a different color in every season. Every month brings its own set of surprises and its own set of delights. It has a little bit for everyone; from adventure seekers to photographers, to people looking for a bit of solitude to even families looking for a fun vacation.

It is that forbidden mysterious land that opens its doors for visitors only for a few months and then shies away under a thick white sheet of snow. Deciding on the best time to visit Ladakh can be a little confusing so let me break it down month by month.

Please note that in this article, I will only talk about the best time to visit Ladakh. For other details like how to reach, what to see, where to stay, and public transport services, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Leh Ladakh – Complete Travel Guide .

The temperature that I am mentioning below is the historical average in Leh City. Depending on the time of day, it will be different. High altitude areas like Pangong Lake and passes en route will be way colder than this. Please remember that during the night, the temperature here can go down to as low as 40 °c.

Ladakh in January to March

Until the month of March, winter in Ladakh remains at its peak. The temperature at night can drop to as far as minus 20 degrees Celsius.

January and February is the best time if you want to plan a trip to visit Ladakh in winter. All the lakes including Pangong and Moriri are completely frozen at this time. The famous Chadar trek also happens around this time only.

You cannot camp at Pangong Lake in winter though. There will be no campsites available and you will have to look for a guest house in either Durbuk, Tangtse, Spangmik, Man, or Merak. If you did not find accommodation, you will have to return to Leh after making a day trip to the lake.

Since all hotels are not operational at this time, you will have to call ahead and inquire. A few hotels remain open in winters as well but you will have to make your bookings in advance.

Running water may not be available everywhere as the water in taps freezes. Hot water will be presented to you but in buckets. Please check with your hotel about this before booking your stay.

Electricity too is limited to only a few hours of the day. It is not an ideal time to go unless you are capable of handling the extremely cold weather.

• Average Temperature in Leh City: -10 °c Minimum and 15 °c Maximum
• Clothes Needed: Heavy woolens, caps, windproof jacket, warm socks, thermals

Ladakh in April

Come April and everyone who is planning a trip to Ladakh that year starts to get anxious, waiting for the highways to open. Snowfall stops and summer starts to step in.

BRO continues to work clearing the snow and both the roads remain closed for most of the month of April. It is towards the end of April that Srinagar Leh highway is declared open but that depends on the weather and is not always the case. Sometimes the date can even get pushed up to early May.

Hotels and guest houses start to open up preparing for the tourist season. The only way to reach Ladakh in April is either by flight or by Srinagar Leh road towards the end of the month.

April is not really an ideal time to go, though. You do not get to see any snow and the weather will be freezing cold. You may have trouble finding accommodation and will miss traveling on Manali Leh or Srinagar Leh highway.

By Late April, all the lakes including Pangong and Moriri would have completely melted to their natural blue. The roads towards Nubra and Pangong are open this month. However, the route may get closed temporarily if it snows at Khardung La or Chang La.

• Average Temperature in Leh City: 5 °c Minimum and 25 °c Maximum
• Clothes Needed: Woolens, caps, windproof jacket, thermals

Ladakh in May

The month of May marks the beginning of the Tourist season in Ladakh. Srinagar Leh highway is declared open either by late April or early May. The opening of the Manali Leh route depends on how fast BRO is able to clear the snow but it is usually towards the end of the month.

Hotels and guesthouses would have become operational completely. There would still be a lot of snow around, especially towards the top of the peaks.

The roads at this time are usually in a bad situation as BRO starts the restoration work. Visiting Ladakh this time would mean that you either go there by Air or take the Srinagar Leh Highway in traveling early in the month.

If you want to include the Manali route as well, plan towards the end. Before doing so, make sure the road is open for tourists. You can check this post, Manali Leh Highway & Road Conditions where I post updates regularly.

• Average Temperature in Leh City: 13 °c Minimum and 28 °c Maximum
• Clothes Needed: Regular summer clothes, light woolens, caps, windproof jacket

Ladakh in June

The tourist season by this time is at its full peak. All the hotels and guest houses would be completely functional. This is the time to go if you also want to catch some snow at the passes on Manali Leh highway.

The roads however are still not completely restored and you may encounter a lot of rough patches on your way. You also will encounter a lot of water streams on the way as the snow starts to melt. By end of June, the region around Srinagar and Manali also starts getting pre-monsoon showers.

• Average Temperature in Leh City: 17 °c Minimum and 30 °c Maximum

Ladakh in July

This is one of the perfect months for the Ladakh trip if you can make it in the first half before Monsoon hits the Himalayan region. Roads are in near perfect condition and all of Ladakh is open for visitors including some of the internal roads like the Wari La Pass route.

Ladakh at this time is filled with tourists and the valleys will present you with grand vistas all around. If visiting in the latter part of the month, be ready to handle rains on the way.

• Average Temperature in Leh City: 16 °c Minimum and 35 °c Maximum

Ladakh in August

If greenery is on your mind, then this is the time to go. You may encounter rain but it is mostly limited to areas around Kullu, Manali, Srinagar, and Sonamarg.

Ladakh is in a rain shadow area and experiences very little rain. With all the global warming though, things have started to change and it can rain even in Ladakh sometimes. The unfortunate cloud burst incident of 2010 is an example of that.

Once you cross Baralacha La on the Manali Leh route and Zoji La on the Srinagar Leh highway, you ideally enter a rain shadow area where there is either very little or no rain at all.

If you are prepared and do not mind the rain, traveling at this time will present you with lush green valleys. You should also be for a lot of slush, landslides, and puddles. If the weather turned worst, the roads can also be blocked temporarily until they are cleared.

For a road trip by bike at this time, make sure you waterproof everything.

• Average Temperature in Leh City: 18 °c Minimum and 35 °c Maximum

Ladakh in September

The month of September is a perfect time for a Ladakh visit.  Monsoon would be gone but would have left plenty of greenery behind in Kashmir and Himachal. Ladakh will be blossoming with colors everywhere.

Hotels and guesthouses will be all functional and roads in near perfect condition. The entire Ladakh brims with astonishing beauty at this time. If you were lucky and traveling after 15th September, you may also catch a snowfall at the top of any of the passes en route.

Ladakh in October

October marks the beginning of the winter season. Cold starts to settle everywhere. High altitude regions already start experiencing zero degree temperatures at night and there is a high chance that it may snow anytime.

Hotels and guest houses mostly would have closed already by late October. The top of almost high altitude passes would have received snowfall.

Srinagar Leh route remains open for most of October. Manali Leh Highway however closes around the 10th of the month. If planning a road trip this month, make sure you plan your itinerary in a way that you cross the Manali route maximum before the 10th.

• Average Temperature in Leh City: 0 °c Minimum and 20 °c Maximum

Ladakh in November & December

Come November, the Srinagar Leh road closes and Ladakh gets totally cut off by road. A trip at this time can only be planned by flight. Srinagar Leh route may remain open in November sometimes but it is not advised at all to travel on.

The month of December is mostly the same as November. Both these months are probably the worst time to go. The weather will be very cold, vistas will be dull and you will not get to enjoy the trip.

Winter trip means snow all around which is not the case in November and December. Leh City in fact will be deprived of snow at this time.

• Average Temperature in Leh City: -7 °c Minimum and 10 °c Maximum

So depending on what I described above, below is a summary of the best time to visit Ladakh.

Best Time to Visit Ladakh by Road

The best time to visit Ladakh by road is the months of June, early July, and September.

Srinagar Leh highway opens sometime in April and closes by mid-November. Manali to Ladakh opens by late May and will close by Mid October.

The first few weeks of this time will present you with highly damaged roads that may even get temporarily closed. Later few weeks towards closing will always pose a risk of snowfall at top of the passes which may close the roads again. July and August will pose the problem of monsoon.

So by road, you should choose a time when the roads are stable and you can cover both the highways. Start from either Manali or Srinagar and end the trip at the other place, completing the Ladakh circuit.

Also read: Srinagar Leh Highway Route Guide and Road Map

Best Time to Visit Ladakh for Photography

The best time to visit Ladakh by photography is the months of July, August, and September. But it actually depends on what you are interested in shooting. If greenery is on your mind then your best bet would be August and September. During the monsoon, the valleys of Manali, Kashmir, and Lahaul are at full blossom and a delight to shoot.

If you do not want to risk the rain, the best time to visit Ladakh for Photography would be September. Monsoon would have just left the valley but you will still find plenty of green around Manali and Kashmir.

Go to Suru Valley and Zanskar and you will have grass and leaves changing colors from green to orange and even red as the fall season progresses. The same is the case with Nubra valley as you proceed towards Turtuk Village .

If you want to shoot a white Ladakh, then you should plan in late January or early February. On an overall basis, September is the best time to visit Ladakh for photography. Ladakh in September means multiple colors all around under a deep blue sky and you will just love what you shoot at this time.

Best Time to Visit Ladakh by Bike

Late June, early July, and September is the best time to visit Ladakh by Bike. Any earlier than this will see you struggle on bad broken roads.

August will have you getting drenched in rain as the Monsoon at this time is at its full swing which also means more furious water crossings. Any later than September will be too cold to be riding on motorcycles to Ladakh with a risk of snow and black ice.

Also read: Manali Leh Highway Route Guide and Road Map

Best Time to Visit Ladakh by Car

The best time to visit Ladakh by Car is from June to September. But it depends on what do you exactly mean by Car and what would you rather prefer.

If your car is a Sedan or Hatchback, you should only plan in early June and September. By this time, there are no chances of any rain or landslides, water crossings are not that furious or deep, and road conditions are a little better.

If you are in a 4X4 or SUV, then you can go anytime between June and September. If you want to go offloading and want to drive on broken roads, do it in May after Srinagar Leh highway opens or early June as soon as the Manali Leh highway is declared open.

Best Time to Visit Ladakh with Family

The best time to visit Ladakh with family is from July to early September. If you are traveling by Air and hiring a taxi in Ladakh with family, then any month between July and September is an ideal time to go.

If you are however planning to drive on your own, then do it in early June or September. You of course do not really want their hearts pounding as you take the car across a running water stream, or through slush on a narrow road, or getting stuck somewhere after the road is closed due to a recent landslide.

The weather after September 15th gets a little cold to be enjoying with your kids and elders. For more details, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Ladakh with Family .

Best Time to Visit Ladakh by Flight

The best time to visit Ladakh by flight is from May to September. But this is open for discussion as well. Going by air will pretty much come down to what you are looking for and when can you go.

Ladakh is accessible by Air throughout the year. You always have the option of hiring a cab there for local sightseeing. If snow is what you want, visit in January or February. Otherwise, any time from May to September will be ideal to be in Ladakh.

Best Time to Visit Leh Ladakh for Honeymoon

The best time to visit Ladakh for a honeymoon is in April, September, or early October. The weather at this time will be just perfect for a honeymooning couple.

Other than this, you can actually go anytime between April to Mid-October if you are catching a flight. The only problem is that the sun in June, July, and August is a little too harsh for a honeymoon.

For a road trip, September is a good time if you want a trip with very less adventure, or anytime from July to September if your spouse is as adventurous as you are.

Best Time to visit Ladakh for Snow

The best time to visit Ladakh to see snow is in late January, February, or early March for a winter trip and May, early June, late September, and early October for a summer trip.

January to early March is when the region is buried under a thick sheet of snow. The lakes of Pangong and Tso Moriri will be completely frozen at this time.

If you only want to see a little bit of snow and do not want to plan a winter trip, you should plan in May or early June. This is when you will definitely find some snow at the top of the passes. You can also plan in late September or early October and may even catch a snowfall at this time.

Best Time to Visit Ladakh by Public Transport

If you are planning to travel by Public transport, you should visit Ladakh in July, August, or early September. The buses from Manali and Srinagar to Leh and other internal areas of Ladakh remain available during this period only.

This is also the time when the entire valley is filled with tourists. If not a bus, you have the highest chance of boarding a shared taxi within your budget in these months.

There will be very little waiting time anywhere. Even if you cannot find a bus or taxi, you will still have the option of hitchhiking.

Also read: Complete List of All Tourist Attractions in Ladakh

Best Time to Visit Leh Ladakh via Manali

Manali Leh highway opens in early June. So anytime between 15 th June till 15 th July and September would be best to travel on this road.

The first two weeks of June will put you on bad roads with a possibility of a temporary shutdown due to restoration work. August will see you getting drenched in rain and may even come across a landslide. October onwards will have you encounter extreme cold with a high chance of snowfall at Baralacha La.

Best Time to Visit Leh Ladakh via Srinagar

The best time to visit Leh Ladakh via Srinagar is in May, June, early July, and September. It is pretty much the same deal as the Manali Leh highway. The only difference is that this road opens a month earlier and closes a month later.

An ideal time from Srinagar would be between Mid May to early July and September.; for the same reasons that I mentioned for Manali Leh road. Rains can play havoc around Zoji La so late July and August are best avoided.

Also read: Is Srinagar Leh Highway Safe for Tourists?

 Best Time to Visit Ladakh on a Budget

If planning a budget trip to Ladakh, the best time to go would be anywhere between July and September. All hotels are open during this time and you have a higher possibility of finding accommodation within your price range.

Public transport services too will be all operational and you can easily find a Bus or shared taxi towards any desired destination. Go any earlier or later than this and you may struggle to find budget accommodation and transport.

Best Season to Visit Ladakh

The season of summer and fall are the best to visit Ladakh. The weather in summer is suitable for all kinds of tourists and will make the journey pleasurable.

Go there in September during the fall season and you will witness the natural beauty at its best. You will see beautiful colors within the shades of grey of a cold desert under a deep blue sky. It is not just the trees, leaves, and flowers that you will find colors in, but also in the mountains.

Also read: How to Plan a Trip to Ladakh by Public Transport

Best Month to Visit Ladakh

June and September are the best months for a trip to Ladakh.

Best Time to Visit Ladakh in Winter

Late January, February, and early March are the best time to visit Ladakh in winter.

I think I have covered the topic of the best time to visit Ladakh from every aspect here, and I hope this information was of help. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask in the comments section below, or at our Community Forum , and I will be happy to answer.

Vargis.Khan

Not much to write about me really except for that I love to travel around whenever I can and to wherever I can. This blog is just a small attempt to share my travel experiences with the world. Hope you like it !!!

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How to plan a trip to leh ladakh, srinagar leh highway status 2024 – 2025, zojila pass road status and condition 2024 –..., 126 comments.

Thank you for sharing this info. I am planning a trip to Ladakh next month. Hope my trip will be successful.

Have a safe trip bhai !!!

I have decided to visit Ladakh via Srtinagar and back via Manali in between last week of July and first week of August with my family. What is your opinion please?

Bhai if possible push it by a few weeks. You know how monsoon has been so far in the year. Heavy rains everywhere

Hi Vargis Bhai, I have planned for Ladakh tour via Srinagar and willing to back via Manali from last week of July to first week of August with my family. Will it be suitable?

hi khan bhai, i am solo starting from Jammu to ladakh and then via Manali to chdigarth. apoox 13 days travel. should i start from Jammu on 1st September or last week of September. i am asking as my train is weekly once from Mumbai.

Hi Sanju Bhai – September 1st week will be a better choice

hi khan bhai, i am solo starting from jammu to ladakh and then via manali to chdigarth. apoox 13 days travel. should i start from jammu on 1st september or last week of setember. i am asking as my train is weely once from mumbai.

Hi Sanju Bhai – September 1st week will be a better choice

Hi Vargis, I’m planning a car trip to Ladakh in Aug 1st week with family. It’s a duster 2 wheel drive. I plan to go from the Manali side, and come back from the same route as I don’t intend to go to Zojila and Srinagar. Will it be raining too heavily? Or is it just mild rains which is manageable to drive. While I’ve a lot of driving experience, but I’ve driven only a bit in mountains. Regards, Amit

Hi Amit – Hard to say right now to be honest, will depend on the weather. There could be heavy rains on Manali Leh stretch, especially between Manali and Sarchu.

Thank you so much for writing such exceptional vlogs. Please help me in one thing: may I visit Ladakh from Manali side in early October with sedan car with my wife and 11 years old child?

Thank you, Sujit. Visiting in early October is doable. Which car do you have?

Dear Vagiskhan ji, your way of explaining the touring is amazing. You covered all the points of all sections of people. Your article is like a data set about Ladakh tourism . Thank you so much ji. We four people planning to be there in September last week by public transport or by rental car from Delhi. We are little bit confused in between the two. Our motto of journey is to enjoy the Himalayas inch by inch…. In that way rental taxi seems to be the best I believe… Kindly give your opinion Ji …

Me and My friend are planning trip to Leh ladhak between May last week and June First Week, we have heard that its very cloudy in this period of time, So whats your suggestion ?

No, it’s not. I am myself planning a trip at this time

Excellent blog Vargis bhai .. just happened to stumble upon it and am enjoying reading the details you have provided. I am planning to visit Ladakh this year and finding it difficult to choose between late May (kids vacations so can easily leave them with parents) and late September (best time scenery wise). Just hoping I won’t miss much if I travel in May

Thanks, Nilesh Bhai. May end will be a better option with kids.

Excellent detailed travelogue

Thank you !!!

Hi Vargis, I am planning a bike trip to Leh Ladakh via Srinagar at 1st week of August with my wife. Is this a good time to visit Ladakh or should I wait till September.

Hi Robin – It will be best to wait until September

Hi – we are planning a trip around this Diwali. While I understand the cold part, not sure why you say November is the worst part to visit. Can you pls elobrtare?

Is it safe to travel Leh in a hatchback with a family of three?we are planning the first time.is the road from nubra to pangong good?is the month of September good for budget travelling

[…] You can travel in early October as well but can be a little risky. Nakee La starts receiving snow towards the end of September and so do the other 4 passes. Traveling in October means that there will be a high chance of the road getting blocked by snow, leaving you will be stranded. For more details, please take a look at When is the Best time to visit Ladakh. […]

I have gone through your writings. Excellent! We are planning to to Ladakh next year. We are senior citizens from Kerala trying to drive down

Hi, I have been following your blog on Leh Manali highway. As the clearing work by BRO has started. Will it be accessible by 20th of May. I am planning to take Srinagar Leh for Leh and return from Leh to Manali

Yes it will be

Hi, You have wealth of information, feeling lucky. As you have said in earlier blogs that Manali leh route is inaccessible in May and opens in first week of June. Will it be different this year as it will be accessible by 20th May.

Thanks for your reply.

Hi Vineet – Chances are that yes it will be all open by 20th this year

Thanks a lot

Hi Vargis, We are planning for a bike trip 2 guys and one girl from manali to leh by bike on 13th june to 23rd june. Are the roads open or blocked ??Is it good time to go by bike. please let us know . And we are not going in any package groups so are there frequent garage shops on the way if anything happens to the bike ??

We are 9 pax. 4 couples and a single ladie. Ages between 45 and 70 years old. We want to travel to Ladack during Ladack Festival, in September. Please suggest us an itinerary from Delhi to Ladack, including Daramsala also. We want go by car and train and back Delhi by flight. Thanks Anabela Marinho

Hello Sir, Actually, we are (Couple) planning to visit Leh in Last week of March. Could you please guide for same.

Please read this Deepak.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/leh-ladakh-in-march/

Hi, Your travel blogs are very detailed and informative, useful for me as a solo traveler. Pls inform how long does it take to get necessary permits for specific tourist spots in Leh Ladakh

Thanks Thyagrajan. Only a couple of hours at most. Or you can just tell the hotel to arrange it for you.

Hi vargis, I will be thankful if you help me out here, four of us planning to visit Leh after 15th oct , will reach Srinagar by flight and then will head out to Leh and the other places like Pangong Nubra etc, then returning to Delhi from Leh by flight …. is it possible at that Time…..?????

Hi Vargis, I am awed reading your blog containing such a detailed info on Leh. A group of 4 of us are planning to visit Leh in the Last week of October. You said the best time to go for biking is till September. So is not OK if we try to bike in October last week? Cant we get a budget home stay and bike rent facilities at that time?

Hi Mukund – A trip in October will be great as well but since you are on bike, you would have to be prepared for cold weather. If you were planning after October 15th, you may also have to keep Manali Leh route out of your plans.

jammu tawi to srinagar road is full time open or not..i am planning to go by bus………i will come from delhi to jammu tawi by train,…then i want ti take public transport bus…srinagar to leh bus available??

Yes it is available

Hi Varis Bhai, Nubra to Pangong route via shyok in last week of July.. is it commutable? I heard Shyok river water is too high…

Hi Arindam Bhai – Sorry for replying late. Yes it is possible in July, shouldn’t be a problem.

Dear khan, you hv suggested in stead of booking travel co, hired car are available after landing. Can you suggest for staying arrangement in diff places

Hi Varghis bhai,

I am planning a Leh trip from 13 July to 25 July on motorbike. IS t his best time to visit Leh…considering there will be no rain?

There can be some rain around Kashmir Valley and Manali Deepu Bhai so please pack and prepare accordingly.

Hi Bhai, I am From Pune. me n my 3 friends planning for Leh trip in August (20-29) or October (10-18) by flight from delhi to Leh.. Which is most preferable dates?

And more are roads are open if we go from Manali or Srinagar?

Srinagar Leh road will be but Manali to Leh may get closed.

Hi Pranita – October 10-18 will be preferable. It will be a bit cold but number of tourists would definitely be less

Thanks for reply. But we are not getting tours on October. They are saying it’s not preferable and we don’t arrange in October. What to do ?

Why do you want to go with a tour company? Just fly into Leh and rent a taxi there. That will cost you much less.

Hi Vargis Bhai.. I am from Kerala Planning for a Solo bike ride from Chandigarh to Ladakh in the Month of September (Say from 8 to 17). I have R15 V3. Please advice if it is Ok with R 15? Can you please help me finalizing an itinerary for me for this schedule? Thanking you in advance. Manoj Daya

Remove the lower faring from the bike Manoj Bhai, rest should be fine. Please take a look at the following post about itinerary.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/ladakh-travel-guide/

Hello Vargis bhai,

I’m very grateful for your blogs and info as it helped me a lot last year when i did Manali-Leh-Srinagar. Thanks a ton.

I’m planning for another ride this year and i have mentioned itinerary below. Kindly review once and let me know if you find any challenges or have any alternate suggestions. Your approval will be my ‘Final-Go’ 😛

Sept 22nd : Chandigarh – Narkanda 23rd : Narkanda – Chitkul 24th : Chitkul – Nako 25th : Nako – Kaza (via Geu mummy temple) 26th : Villages around Kaza 27th : Kaza – Chandartaal 28th : Chandartaal – Jispa 29th : Jispa – Leh 30th : Leh (get the ILP and all) 1st Oct : Leh – Tso Moriri 2nd : Tso Moriri – Hanle 3rd : Hanle – Umling La – Hanle 4th : Hanle to Leh 5th : Leh – Sonmarg 6th : Sonmarg to Gulmarg 7th : Gulmarg (Local) 8th : Gulmarg – Sheshnag (via Srinagar and Pahalgam) 9th : Sheshnag – Jammu/Udhampur 10th : Jammu/Udhampur – Chandigarh.

Please let me on the closure of any routes mentioned above if you think the dates doesnt go with the climate. Also if you find that Oct 1st or 2nd week is too late to ride on those roads due to snowfall or closing the road for usual traffic (Keeping in mind that roads can be closed anytime due to climate but still)

P.S : I have Royal enfield Himalayan with me to ride, just so that it can help you to analyse the status.

Please reply back with your opinion.

Thank you for all the assistance, Sagar

Hi Sagar Bhai,

1. Umling La in all probability won’t be allowed. 2. Leh to Sonamarg will be too long, you may have to break at Drass. 3. Add a day in Pahalgam. Gulmarg to Pahalgam and then trek to the lake will be tough. And it would be a shame to come to Pahalgam and not stay there a day.

Wow, Thank you so much for opening up my mind Vargis bhai 😛 So you mean to say – Umling la is not possible at all ? 🙁 Its not open for civilians yet thats what you meant ? – As i will be travelling to leh via Kaza and not Rohtang, then ILP is not necessary right ? But what if they ask me for ILP in Koksar and Sarchu check post ? Will they leave me without ILP ? – So you would suggest a day ride from Gulmarg straight to Sheshnag and next day stay at Pahalgam then leave towards chandigarh ?

1. As of last year and as of now Umling La is out of bound for tourists. We should know more once tourist season starts. 2. ILP is something u get for Ladakh in Leh. If you are asking Rohtang Permit, then you do not need it as you will come from Kaza. 3. No. Reach Pahalgam, check in to a hotel and plan the trek the next day. Keep a day in Pahalgam for sightseeing purpose.

Im from Malaysia and Leh has been in my bucket-list. I find your articles helpful and based on that I have outlined the below itinerary: Day 1- Fly fr Delhi to Leh. Walk around Leh in the evening. Day2- Leh & surrounding- Shanti Stuppa, Leh Palace & Thiksey Monastery Day 3- Leh- Nubra Valley- Khardungla Pass, Maitreya Buddha Statue, Hundur Sand dunes Day4: Nubra-Panggong Tso Day 5: Panggong Tso to Leh via Changla Pass Day 6: Leh- Basgo- Hall of Fame, Basgo Monastery, Magnetic Hill Day 7: Back to Delhi.

Intially planned end of May but flight cost was very high. Thinking of 20th April/ Aug 9th/ 9 Sept.

My question: Hows the itinerary and what would be the best time to go among the dates. Its for 2adults and 1 child (9yo).

Sorry long post. TQ

Hi Shamini – Yes the itinerary is perfect but only if you are going to rent a private taxi for entire trip. There is no public transport available on Nubra to Pangong direct route.

Hello. I am planning to visit Ladakh & Nubra valley in first week of March 2019. 1. Could you let me know what temperature will I get at that time? 2. Will I get running water in tap, electricity, and basic other necessities at that time? 3. Will I be able to stay at Nubra Valley at that time?

See this post please.

Hello bro… We r planning to visit ladhak on 30 dec to 2 jan is it a right time to visit there with family even i have one kid and he is 8 year old.. We r planning to come there by air from delhi…

Kindly give me a right feedback

Waiting for your kind reply??

Kunal Bhai it is not the best time but you can go if it is snow what you are after. Weather is very cold so please pack accordingly and take care of your little one. Keep him well covered and protected. Don’t let him run around and exhaust himself.

Hi friend, myself Aravind from Bangalore. We are planning to visit leh on first week of November. Is this the good time to visit considering climate and hotel availability?

November is not the best of the times to visit Ladakh but you can definitely plan a trip still. Just make sure that you pack well because it is really very cold over there right now.

We are 4 adults planning to go to Leh ladakh via Manali 1st week of October. I know this is not the right time to ask but it will be helpful if you could just suggest about the roads & things to carry.

Roads are all open and will be by first week of October. For things to carry, please see the following post.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/ladakh-checklist-things-to-carry-for-ladakh-trip/

Hi Vargis, we are 6 people planing to visit leh ladakh by next march end april first week. is it good time to visit there in march april.

Hi Sapan – You will have to take a flight as both the roads will still be blocked. It is a good time though since there won’t be many tourists around

Vargis bhai, which mobile network will work straight from jammu – leh – manali? i’ve reached jammu jammu today. pls suggest!!

Shubham Bhai only BSNL / MTNL will work at majority of the places. Rest all will be limited to only a few places.

Hello Vargis,

We are 5 adults planning to go for a trip to Leh ladakh from 11th aug- 18th august or 28th july – 4th august.

1.Could you just suggest if it the right time to visit all the sites in Leh enjoy the sight seeing. 2. Will it be raining heavily during this period? And will this spoil our sight seeing? 3. We are traveling by flight on both the dates.

Kindly give your suggestions.

Thank you, Shrddha

Hi Shrddha – If you are reaching Leh by flight and coming back the same way then you do not have to worry about rain. Ladakh is in rain shadow and it either rains very less there or not at all. Risk of rain is on the Manali – Leh and Srinagar – Leh route but you won’t be on those roads anyways.

Thank you for your reply. Yes we will be travelling by Flight. So as per your suggestion its a good time to go in mid August without worrying much about the rains and impact on the sight seeing , Right ?

Regards, Shrddha

And also since our tour is restricted to 6 days we are not visiting the Sham Valley and Shey village. Do you suggest we do these places or is it fine to drop them.

No, if you only have 6 days then drop these places.

Hi Shrddha – No one can really predict mother nature for sure. It is not supposed to be raining in Ladakh at all but then a cloudburst did happen in 2010. Historically though and with the exception of that one year, it doesn’t rain in Ladakh so much that it would disrupt your plan. If it does then there could be a temporary roadblock at top of the passes but that is usually for a few hours, at worst a day.

I m planning a trip to ley ladakh with my family via car. I wanted to see snow on both sides of the road, wanted to enjoy snow and wanted the journey to be safe. Roads should be clear and not broken as well. Plz recommend the month for the trip for both the routes( via manali and srinagar)?

If you want to see that much of snow that either go in April end or May first week as soon as Srinagar Leh highway opens. Or go in May end or June first week as soon as the Manali Leh highway opens. You will however only find this kind of snow either at Zojila top, or Rohtang Top or Baralacha La top, nowhere else.

You are welcome

Hello vargis bhai….thanks for this valuable information…I am planning my trip around 14th june via manali to leh road by hrtc bus….plz tell me whether hrtc bus service will be available at that time and will it be safe to travel manali leh highway around mid june ??

Hi Harry, It depends on how soon the road opens but in all probability, yes the HRTC bus will be available.

Thanks bhai

You are welcome Bhai

I would like to thank you for your blogs as they help a lot. After reviewing your blogs we planned for Saach Pass last year and now planning for Leh.

We are a family of 4, 2 kids age 8+ and 3+and planning to travel by safari in end of May via Srinagar Leh Highway.

Last year in Saach kids didn’t experienced any severe problem so we are daring this trip although we have bought oxi meter and cylinders for this trip

We would like to plan the trip for 10 days and would appreciate your advise

Regards Vani

Hi Sachin, Pleast take a look at the post below for some tips while traveling to Ladakh with kids. Please let me know if you need any other help.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/traveling-to-ladakh-with-children/

Hi Mr Vargis,

We are planning to visit Kashmir this coming September from 10 -19 and there will be 5 of us. FYI, we will arrive New Delhi on Sept 9 at 10.00 pm and will overnite in airport before we can catch early flight on the next morning.

Since this will be our first time travelling India/Kashmir, would like to seek your advise/opinion where should we drop first : i) Ladakh – then take bus from Ladakh to Srinagar and flight from Srinagar back to New Delhi or ii) Srinagar – then take bus to Leh (Ladakh) and fly back to New Delhi

– Is it enough time (10 days) to cover both Srinagar (Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam & Yusmarg) and Ladakh (Pangong Tso Lake, Tso Mariri, Khardungla Pass, Nubra Valley, Turtuk & visit old town city)? – Which route/way will be easier and cheaper? – Is there any place (above listed) is not suggested to visit in September? – is it possible for you to draft out rough itinerary for us for this trip?

Our flight from New Delhi to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) will be on 19 Sep at 11.10pm.

Hello Reita,

1. Landing in Sriangar, taking a bus to Ladakh and then flying out of Leh will be better. 2. 10 days is not at all sufficient to cover all the places. You must add more days to your travel plan. 3. Sriangar to Ladakh will be easier. 4. All can be visited in September. All areas are open. 5. 19 days as I suggested will not be enough. You will have to add more places. You will also have to hire a local taxi in Sriangar to cover Gulmarg, Yusmarg, Pahalgam etc. It will be hard to cover these by local buses.

Hi Vargis ji,

I am Sushruth from Mysore . My friends and I are planning to visit leh and Ladakh from 18th of June to 30th , we are more inclined towards hiring a self driven car ( may be zoom car) from Delhi and travel towards Leh. Is it advisable to self drive or do we need to accompany driver along with us , we are finding it difficult to decide on this factor since quite a few people have expressed that it is very difficult to drive on this highway . What do you advise ?

Hello Sushruth Ji – As long as you have decent enough driving experience including plains and hills both then it is Ok to drive on your own to Ladakh. Do keep in mind though that self drive rentals are only allowed till Leh. You will not be able to use it for sightseeing in Ladakh and will have to rent a loca taxi for that purpose.

Thank you. Aren’t the self driven cars allowed in nubra valley , khardung la and pangang so ?

You are welcome and no they are not.

hi, i am from haridwar, we (three families) are planing our trip in August (9th to 15th). is this a good time to travel leh ladakh and if you can please guide me about the iternary, places to visit n stay

August is the time of Monsoon but yes you can go. How are you traveling and for how many days?

Hello Vargis Bhai,

Thanks for the detail info. I am planning my trip based on your blog.

I am from Bangladesh and planning for a Bike trip from Manali to Leh with couple of my friends. We have two choices for the trip. 14th June to 24th June and 20th August to 30th August.

Which time will be perfect for us?? We are semi professional riders 😛 😛

Hello Islam Bhai, June will be better as August is the time for monsoon and that may create some problem.

Hi Vargis Bhai, happened to read about ‘black ice’. Is thia a real threat for riders? Have you personally experienced it? Am going on 1st week of september. Will you be around there that time?

Hello Dennis Bhai – I have experienced it but not while going to Ladakh. It was during a different trip in Himachal. Don’t worry, you won’t find any of it in September. Threat of black ice is usually early in the morning, after the sun comes up it melts away.

Sir, myself from Kerala. I am planning to visit Leh , by the the first of October. Bolero is my vehicle. I am planning around a15 days trip. I covered all your articles. Great help you are offering through this. Is that a good option, that start by 1st October or start by last week September like 25th .. ???

Thanks in advance

Hello Sarath – Timing is OK. I would recommend that you start by last week of September, take the Manali Leh highway to reach Ladakh and come back via Srinagar.

Thanks a lot, friend. I guess tyre sealants are not a practical option…

Hi Vargis, how are the possibilities of getting a puncture along ladakh route? 9Since enfield isnt tubeless) Is SLIME sealant a good option? getting conflicting opinions..curious to know what you say about slime/ any other sealant for tubed tyres. Thanks

Possibiity is high DJ Bhai. During my last trip to Ladakh, I had 9 flat tyres total in 12 days, almost one every day. Best way out is to carry 2-3 spare tubes, a foot pump and tools to replace the tubes. Go to any mechanic or puncture repair shop and learn how to replace the tube. Once you know how to do that, you are good to go. If you get a flat tire, replace the tube, pump the air in and be on your way. Get the puncture tube fixed at the next repair shop you come across.

Hi Vargis, Do you have any updates on latest weather status in leh, Nubra and Pangong. I am planning to do these 3 places from 10th to 18th July on bike. Should I expect lot of rains?

Hi Bhushan – No rain around Leh, Nubra and Pangong. All routes are open.

Hi, thanks for so vivid details.we have planned a trip of 11 days from 29th August to 8 September 2017 covering the full moon on 6 September.includes srinagar 1 day,kargil 1 day,leh 4 days,nubra 2 days,pangong 1 day,tsomoriri 1day. Is this period or planning good for visit leh.

Hi Sougata, Timing is good. Let me know how how you have prepared your itinerary, how and where you are traveling from and I can suggest if the planning is good as well.

Our journey starts by night stay at srinagar (29th August) then to kargil(30th August) and leh (31st August& 1st sep ),nubra ( 2 nd & 3rd sep), back to leh (4th sep),pangong (5th sep), pangong to tsomoriri (6th sep),back to leh (7th sep), morning flight to Delhi(8th sep).we don’t want to cover leh manali route so it ends at leh.

Adjust one day from somewhere in the itinerary between Pangong and Tso Moriri. It is actually a 2 days journey. Which route do you intend on taking?

drive to Tomoriri via Tsagala.Leave in the morning and drive to Chumathang stop at Upshi for passport checking. On the way visit Sumdah village and then to Tso-moriri.

I am a bit confused here. Do you want to go to Moriri from Pangong via Changthang or from Leh via Chumathang?

Hi ! We, a family of 5 adults and 2 children, will not start from Manali for Leh before 30th September this year. Can we get any Govt transport that time? Please advise.

You may be able to board the HRTC bus, provided that it has not already snowed anywhere on the highway. HPTDC bus service gets withdrawn by Sep 15th.

Hi, is there local bus transport available from Leh to khardungla?

yes you can take any bus going towards Nubra valley. Read the article below for more details.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/leh-bus-service-buses-ladakh/

Hi, is there JKRTC bus service available from Leh to Khardungla?

Thanks for this truly well written article!

Thank you for taking the time to drop a note Dennis.

Hi, I am from Kerala, planing for a solo Enfield Ladakh ride in Sept. Any riders like to join? [email protected]

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• 25 Places to Visit in Leh Ladakh in June, July and August

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Places to Visit in Ladakh in June, July and August

Here are some of the best places to visit in ladakh in june, july and august:, quick navigation.

Visit to Pangong Lake

Some parts of this lake are in Tibet and China. Covering a total surface area of 600 square kilometres, this lake remains frozen during the winters. Being a saline water landlocked water body, the brackish water of the lake ensures that there is not much aquatic life. You can find a handful of crustacean species and a lot of exotic birds around the lake. One can also go for camping around Pangong Lake  as there are few amazing camps around the lake.

There are a plenitude of gulls and ducks that visit the peripheries of the Pangong Lake. If you are visiting during the summer you can see rare species such as Brahmin ducks and bar-headed goose. Out of all the things to do in Ladakh tour, exploring the habitats around the lake takes you to the areas where endangered wildlife such as Kiang and Marmot thrive and this is one of the best places to visit in Leh Ladakh in June. Must Checkout:   Leh Ladakh Family Tour Packages

Top Experiences To Do in Pangong Lake

Visit Magnetic Hill

Also called the gravity hill, this region has magnetic properties. The magnetism is potent enough to pull vehicles uphill. Even the passing aircraft increase their elevation from the ground to escape this magnetism. Many people believe that there is indeed an invisible force pervading the Magnetic Hill and this is one of the best places to visit in Leh Ladakh in July.

Located on the national highway connecting Leh, Kargil and Srinagar this place is about 11,000 feet above sea level. It is a popular spot for tourists given the legend behind it. When on a trip to Ladakh you could be the next one attracted to the Magnetic Hill not because of its magnetic properties but astonishing scenery as well! Check out our Srinagar to Leh guide that will help you make your journey more enjoyable.

Top Experiences To Do in Magnetic Hill

Visit Thiksey Monastery

Also called Thikse Gompa, this is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located about 18km east of Leh and is situated at an altitude of 3,600m. A 12-storey building, there are many items pertaining to Buddhism: paintings, ancient scriptures, swords and statues. It is one of the most famous and popular monasteries in Ladakh .

Built in the 15th century, the assembly hall of this structure is the primary attraction. Inside this wall, their various murals depicting the Wheel of Life. Within the complex, you can also visit the Tara Temple and see the 21 images dedicated to goddess Tara within the building and this is one of the best places to visit in Leh Ladakh in June. Checkout & Book:  Ladakh Tour Packages From Delhi

Biking Trip around Ladakh

Biking is a creative way to explore amazing backdrops of Ladakh. It is an adrenaline rushing activity and the trails here are considered to be the Holy Grail of all biking trails during your Ladakh Trip. You will be thrilled to bits as you pass through high mountain passes of Ladakh on your bike. The views from these high-rise regions are simply breathtaking. Be in awe and admiration at the unique ecosystem that pervades such regions.

Reclaim your energies as you pass through the Lahaul Valley and cocooned by a wealth of nature-architected splendours. Cool your nerves and settle down in excitement with hot momos and thupka soup at a roadside eatery. Enjoy the biking expedition in Ladakh and feel the free-spirit inside you come out in undulating form and this is one of the best places to visit in Leh Ladakh in July. Also Checkout:  Ladakh Group Tour

Cycling on Khardung La

The Khardung La pass is considered to one of the highest roads in the world. Located at 5,633 meters, this route is the gateway to the beautiful Nubra Valley and cycling in this routes is a must on a trip to Ladakh.

Your cycling begins from Leh and you will cover a distance of around 40km. The final 15km to the pass really needs some cycling skills and can take you a considerable amount of time to cover! But once you get to the road of the Khardung La, the effort is worth it. You are treated to amazing views and most of which are fascinating as well as equally captivating and this is one of the best places to visit in Leh Ladakh in June. Here is the guide of Manali to Leh that you should not miss to check out to make your trip amazing. You may Also Book:  Ladakh Packages From Mumbai

Go for Trekking in Markha Valley

The Markha Valley is a remote stretch of land cocooned by gigantic mountains. This trekking terrain in Ladakh  offers enthusiasts the time of their lives. The spectacular scenery, rugged terrain and sightings of blue sheep and ibex along the way make it for a memorable trek.

The trekking trail passes through the Hemis National Park and along the way you will come across several streams and rivers. You can climb through gorges and walk beside barley and mustard plantations. Along the way you can also visit a mystical Ladakhi village, nestled quietly amidst divine setting and this is one of the best places to visit in Leh Ladakh in August.. Must Checkout & Book:   Ladakh Tour From Pune

Camel Safari at Nubra Valley

Might sound hard to believe, but camels or the ship of the desert are also a major source of transportation to navigate some parts of Ladakh. Since ancient times, camels have been deployed in action along with Yaks for people to traverse high ascents. Camel Safari in Ladakh is a fun activity with beautiful sightseeing around.

Also referred to as the valley of flowers, Nubra Valley is amongst the enchanting valleys in the world. As part of things to do in Ladakh, on a camel safari through this region, you will explore the spectacular landscapes on a camel back. There are numerous double humped camels, also called as Bactarian camels that transport visitors through this valley and this is one of the best places to visit in Leh Ladakh in June. Click Her to Book:   Ladakh Tour From Ahmedabad

Top Experiences To Do in Nubra Valley

Volunteering in Ladakh

You can take part in volunteering programs conducted by non-profit government organizations in Ladakh. These organizations look for volunteers either on a temporary or permanent basis to carry out daily tasks. You can be part of their activities during your Ladakh trip.

In your own small way you can make a large difference to the lives of the local people. Some of the NGOs are taking efforts to preserve the unique cultural identity of the people that is getting changed due to Western influence. You can participate in such cultural restoration programs and also understand how the people here carry out their daily lives. We get you the list of best hotels in Leh where you can have a comfortable and sweet stay. Book Now:   Leh Ladakh Vacation Packages From Chennai

Snow Leopard Sighting at Hemis National Park

Rafting & Kayaking in Indus River

The best time for this activity is between June and August. There are numerous rafting and kayaking tours conducted on the Indus River during this time. Originating from Pakistan, this river flows through some parts of Northern India and also offers quite a few exhilarating rapids for rafting and kayaking.

While on a rafting expedition in Ladakh , you can also witness and enjoy the stunning views along the riverbanks. Well, if you are in the mood of extreme fun and adventure, you can opt to cruise through rapids called Alchi and Khalsi. Click Here to Book:   Leh Ladakh Tours From Surat

Visit Druk White Lotus School

Located in Shey, this school is an award-winning educational institution. The school imparts education and is also focused on retaining and enduring the strong cultural identity of Ladakh and its people. Besides academic education, students are also spiritual education in the form of religious discourses.

Lessons of Tibetan Buddhism holds the most primal place in the course of learning. In addition to Ladakhi, English is also aptly spoken within this institute. Check out our guide of Delhi to Leh and make your trip to Ladakh the best experience of your life. Book Now:   Leh Ladakh Tour Packages From Hyderabad

Visit Tso Moriri

Located in Changthang and amongst the high altitude lakes in Ladakh , Tso Moriri is oligotrophic water body. The best time to visit the lake is during the summer. Home to many endangered and rare species of birds, one can easily spot black necked cranes, bar headed geese and such rare birds here during your trip to Ladakh. There are various camps found around Tso Moriri Lake that attract various tourist.

The forests around the lake are home to the Tibetan gazelle, Himalayan blue sheep, marmot and several such species that are native to this region. If you go deep into the jungle adjoining this lake, you might spot snow leopards and Tibetan wolves and this is one of the best places to visit in Leh Ladakh in June. Checkout & Book:  Leh Ladakh Tour Packages from Chandigarh

Top Experiences To Do in Tso Moriri Lake

Alchi Monastery

Tucked amidst the breath-taking landscapes of Ladakh is the Alchi Monastery, which is amongst the most sacred places for Buddhists. Dating back to at least 1000 years, the monastery is also the oldest Buddhist Learning Centre in the region. Detailed carvings on the walls, along with the age-old wall paintings are some of the major attractions of Alchi Monastery.

A nine storey high building that displays the influence of Potala Palace in Lhasa is the famed Royal Leh Palace. It stands with its head high on a cliff top overlooking the ravishing Leh town. Leh Palace has now been converted into a museum which features ancient paintings and relics of Buddha along with cutlery used by the Royal family.

Top Experiences To Do in Leh Palace

Spituk Monastery

Perched atop a hillock by the Indus River, Spituk Monastery prides itself as one of Ladakh’s most significant monastery complexes to visit with our Leh Ladakh packages . The Gompa is home to Tsongkhapa Order of Tibetan Buddhist monks, housing around 125 resident monks. The monastery complex houses a massive statue of the Hindu deity Kali along with several small shrines, some dating back to 900 years.

Top Experiences To Do in Spituk Monastery

Hall Of Fame

The Hall of Fame in Leh is a museum that was constructed by the Indian Army in memory of the brave Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives trying to protect their motherland in the Indo-Pakistan wars. Located on the Leh-Kargil Road, the museum is a great place to see photos of the soldiers, their training camps, the different war relics, and a lot more on your Leh Ladakh tour .

Best of Leh

Lachulung La

Apart from Khardung La or Baralacha La, Ladakh has numerous other passes at great heights which stand as Ladakh’s pride for centuries now. The glitters of other passes may be diminished by Khardung La mainly but all the other passes are equally important. Lachulung La is a single example. The elevation of this pass is 5059 meters above sea level which is considered to be a dangerously exciting height for any pass after Khardung La. Lachulung La is on the border of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Also, it separates the valleys of Tsarap Chu and Tozay. If you take Leh-Manali highway, you will be able to cross this pass that has other names such as Lachalung La, Lungalacha La etc.  A fact that to be remembered before you head to visit this pass is, it is open only for four and a half months during summer. Any traveler should be prepared not to fall sick during the conquering of Lachulung La because its geographic status, the height, the rugged pathways and the remote villages it goes through may cause dramatic influence on your body. Being one of the most adventurous passes in Ladakh, Lachulung is a favorite stop avid adventure lovers. Also, the surroundings are quite fictional as the towering Himalayan passes and the nature lying in correspondence to them are creating soothing visuals. Trekkers should be very careful while climbing the altitude up as altitude sickness is assured at the top and keep hydrated to maintain your body conditions with respect to the climate. But the descent is smooth and easy so that you will feel overjoyed till the end. Height: 5059 meters Best time to visit: May to October How to reach: Take Leh-Manali highway, from Sarchu 54 KM and from Pang, 24 Km

Tso Kar Lake

Nestled in the Rapshu region of southern Ladakh, the Tso Kar Lake stands out in its beauty. Forming a part of a complex wetland network, Tso Kar is recognized as one of India’s most prominent Ramsar sites to explore on your Ladakh Trip . The lake attracts a lot of birds and small wildlife as well such as the Tibetan Gazelle, the Kiang and the deep-necked crane.

Phuktal Monastery

Stowed away within the folds of the Himalayan mountains, the Phugtal Gompa is among the most secluded monasteries around the world & it must be part of your Le Ladakh tour packages . The monastery is quite literally sprawling among mountain caves with its units spread through them. A complete monastery complex, including prayer halls and shrines, can be found here where a number of festivals are celebrated throughout the year. 

Chang La Pass

Chang La Pass, located at 17,590 feet, is the gateway to Ladakh's mesmerising landscapes. It is the world's third-highest motorable road, linking Leh to Pangong Lake. As you drive on this pass, you can enjoy spectacular views of the snow-capped peaks and fluttering prayer flags. Perfect for thrill-seekers and nature lovers, it is a must-visit for an unforgettable experience, it is one of the famous places to visit on your Leh Ladakh trip .

Diskit Monastery

Belonging to Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, Deskit or Diskit Monastery is the largest and oldest in Nubra Valley. Hence a visit to the monastery is an inevitable part of any kind of Ladakh tour . The significant fact related to the monastery is that it runs a school with the help of a Non-Governmental Organization to teach science subjects in English to the Tibetan children of the region. The fourteenth century monastery is a favourite tourist destination as well.

The history of the gompa dates back to the fourteenth century. It came into existence with the help of Changzem Tserab Zangpo, a disciple of Tsong Khopa. He was the founder of Gelukpa sect in the region.

Structure of the monastery

The hilltop where the monastery is perched on will offer the visitors mind blowing pictures of the surrounding valleys, the villages and the mountain terrains. The rocky steps leading to the monastery would let you see first the prayer hall beautified by the statue of Maitreya Buddha. The huge drums and several images of the guardian deities are some other factors that enhance the outlook of the monastery. It features an elevated cupola with a fresco that displays the Tashilhunpo Monastery famous in Tibet. In the storehouse of the monastery, the texts of Mongolian and Tibetan texts are kept.

Location:  At a height of 3144 meters above the flood plains of Shyok River, in Diskit Village in Nubra Valley is the monastery. You can reach the village from Leh via Khardung La Pass.

Timings:  The gompa is open on all days from 07:00 am to 01:00 pm and from 02:00 pm to 07:00 pm

Entry fee:  INR 30 per person

Highlights:  The major highlight is the festival named Desmochhey or Dosmoche which is popular as the festival of the scapegoat. It is a prayer festival.

Gurudwara Pathar Sahib

Gurudwara Pathar Sahib is a spiritual sanctuary located on the Leh-Kargil Highway. It stands as a testament to Guru Nanak Dev's divine confrontation with a demon. The Gurudwara is maintained by the Indian Army and captivates visitors with a boulder imprinted by Guru Nanak's form. It is a place where faith and history intertwine. The Gurudwara attracts travellers and devotees alike to experience its serene ambience and rich legacy., make sure to include this place on your Ladakh tour .

Top Experiences To Do in Gurudwara Pathar Sahib

Namgyal Tsemo Monastery

Perched atop a mountain, the 15th-century Namgyal Tsemo Monastery in Leh is a sight to behold. Built by King Tashi Namgyal, it houses a stunning three-storey-high golden Maitreya Buddha statue. The monastery offers breathtaking views of the Indus River and snow-draped Zanskar mountains. Inside, you can find ancient manuscripts, frescoes and exquisite statues of Avalokitesvara and Manjushri. Discover the rich cultural heritage of Ladakh by exploring Ladakh tour packages , which often include visits to this historic monastery.

Zingzing Bar

Zing Zing Bar, nestled amidst the stunning Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh, is a remote yet captivating spot that attracts adventurers with its rugged beauty. Located at a staggering altitude of over 4,000 meters above sea level, it's a crucial stop along the famous Manali-Leh Highway, offering travelers a chance to catch their breath amid the breathtaking mountain scenery.

Despite its stark appearance and harsh weather, Zing Zing Bar holds a unique appeal that captures the hearts of visitors. The towering mountains, adorned with splashes of colorful flowers in summer, create a striking contrast against the clear blue skies.

Zing Zing Bar isn't just a pit stop—it's a playground for adventure seekers. With thrilling activities like off-roading, motorbiking, and trekking, it's the perfect place to dive into the raw beauty of the Himalayas and test your mettle in high-altitude terrain.

Despite its remote location, Zing Zing Bar offers basic amenities like tented accommodation and local eateries, ensuring travelers can rest and refuel before continuing their journey. Whether you're on an epic road trip or craving adventure in the mountains, Zing Zing Bar promises an unforgettable experience amidst the stunning landscapes of Himachal Pradesh.

Leh Market is one of the busiest, most colourful places in Leh, where you can get everything imaginable- from groceries to clothes, jewellery to local street food. The Leh Market is a perfect representation of the culture of Leh- vibrant and colourful. The market comprises many stalls, stores and shops that are set up in quaint disarray, where you can navigate your way between the merchants and sellers to discover items worthy of purchase. The market is divided by small lanes and bylanes, with sections dedicated to things such as handicrafts, spices, clothes, artefacts, food and souvenirs. One of the things that Leh Market is very famous for is its woollen clothing. The cold climate of Leh has led to a culture of creating beautiful, hand-woven woollens, which has become a popular local product of Leh.  Market’s central location also facilitates easy trips to several nearby attractions such as the Leh Palace, Jama Masjid, Shanti Stupa and much more. Whether you are looking for unique dry fruits, exquisitely hand-crafted Tibetan shawls, or simply looking forward to a good time, Leh Market is bound to fulfil all your expectations.

People Also Ask About Ladakh

Which are the best places to visit in ladakh in june, july and august.

Zanskar Valley: Reflecting the beauty of blue coloured waters in its middle and surrounded by mesmerising panoramas of the Himalayas, Zanskar Valley is a beautiful hamlet famous for its scenic location. One of the best places to Visit in Ladakh in June, July and August, the roads to the valley are open around this time and the weather also remains pleasant. Pangong Tso Lake: One of the most famous and beautiful tourist destinations in the world, the Pangong Tso Lake is famous for its clean waters, panoramic backdrop and serene blue waters. Covering an area of 600 square kilometers, the lake is a renowned picnic and camping spot, thus attracting flocks of adventure seekers towards it. Magnetic Hill: Staying true to its name, the magnetic hill has its surroundings loaded with magnetic properties which result in vehicles moving themselves even if the engine is off. Since the place remains open for a small duration of months, thus it falls in the list of some of the best places to Visit in Ladakh in June, July and August. Hemis National Park: Providing you a chance to marvel at various species of animals and birds resting in their natural habitat, the Hemis National Park lets its visitors enjoy a joyous experience. Snow Leopard, Asiatic Ibex, Tibetian Wolf and Red Fox are some rare species of animals which can be marvelled at here. The Moonland: Often referred to as an imaginary destination, as the name suggests, The Moonland is a wide piece of land which has a resemblance to the surface of the moon. The place in itself is a unique spot and the rocky terrains, uneven paths and almost no vegetation makes it even more exciting and thrilling tourist destination. Phuktal Monastery: Dating back to around 2500 years, the Phuktal Monastery lies on the banks of Indus River and stands gracefully within a hill. Being carved within a hill and having a honeycomb like structure makes it one of the most beautiful places to Visit in Ladakh in June, July and August. Check out the  Leh Ladakh tour package from Bangalore for a adventure trip.

What are some of the best selling Ladakh bike trip packages?

What is there to do in leh in june, is june a good time to visit ladakh.

Yes, the month of June is the best time to enjoy a trip to Ladakh and experience its cozy climate. Around this time, most of the snow melts away resulting in clean roads. The temperature of the city area remains around 15 to 20 degree celsius, making it easy for the tourists to indulge in multiple sightseeing tours. In addition to this, the month of June brings various joyous festive celebrations with it and any tourist can take part in them without any worry. Click Here to book:   Ladakh Tour Packages From Kolkata

Can we see snow in Leh in June?

Yes, one can find snow in the remote areas of Leh in the month of June. As soon as the summer arrives, the snow begins to melt and towards the month of June, almost all the snow melts away. In this case, Khardungla Pass, Changla Pass, Barchala Pass and Zozilla Pass come to rescue and provide you with a scenery of hills covered with sheets of snow. These passes are some of the best places to Visit in Ladakh in June, July and August. Planning a honeymoon trip, Checkout:   Leh Ladakh Package For Couple

What is the temperature in Ladakh in June?

How is the weather in ladakh in july, how many days are enough for leh ladakh.

A 5 to 6 day trip to Leh Ladakh is enough to cover all the famous tourist attractions and indulge in almost all adventures provided here. Two days of the trip can be dedicated to visiting attractions like Pangong Lake, Phuktal Monastery and the famous magnetic hill. Another two days can be dedicated to trying hands on various adventurous and adrenaline pumping activities like trekking in Zanskar Valley and enjoying a wildlife safari in Hemis National Park. Apart from all this, the remaining days can be dedicated to roaming in local markets while shopping for souvenirs to take back home and tasting local delicacies. Checkout & Book:   Ladakh Honeymoon Packages from Delhi

What to pack for Ladakh in August?

- A heavy warm jacket is a must as the weather here is unpredictable. - To stay away from fast winds, windproof clothing is advised. - Pack some sweatshirts too as you might run out of light clothes. - Trekking shoes, extra pairs of slippers, woolen socks, etc are a must bring thing - A bottle of water or a thermos is must as the climate around this month is kind of dry and you do not want to attract dehydration. - A pair of thermals and warm caps will be a need once the sun sets. - Extra batteries, a flashlight and a powerbank should also be packed. Checkout & Book:   Manali Leh Manali Jeep Safari

Is there snow in Leh in August?

Ladakh Top Attractions

Heaven, Peace, Silence, and Tranquility at one place? Come and spend a few hours at Pangong Lake in Ladakh! A pristine place in Ladakh marked by subtle to high peaks around, crystal blue waters and the vast expansion catches the eye so much, so long as if a magic is happening right in front of the eyes. Let our Ladakh holiday packages transport you to this mesmerizing destination, where nature's grandeur unfolds in every corner.Pangong Lake, also known as Pangong Tso, lies calmly at a breathtaking elevation of 14,270 feet. Interestingly, the lake is 12 km long and marks itself between the laps of India and China. Rather, 60% of the portion is stretching in the neighboring nation and this excites every traveler to be here.The surreal clean blue waters are actually brackish or salty in nature and this feature doesn’t let any aquatic life survive in the same. Moreover, the temperature range between -30 to -10 degrees make even this salty lake freeze with thick ice sheets, which is quite opposite in case of salt ridden water bodies.This picturesque landscape location enhances its beauty with the arrival of migrating birds every year and attracts many travelers in search of adventure, photographs, bird-watching and chilling experience. Pangong has another unique and catchy feature; when it acts like a chameleon and changes its color from blue to green to even grey at times. The brackish water of Pangong attracts the migratory birds every year during winters in Ladakh.

One of the most beautiful parts of the moonscapes of Ladakh, Nubra Valley is a deep-cut gorge created by the combined effects of Shyok and Nubra (Siachen) rivers. A high altitude cold desert, Nubra Valley is actually an extension of the Tibetan Plateau (Qing-Zang Plateau) that starts in China and extends up to Ladakh. This valley in the plateau separates the Ladakh Range from the Karakoram Range. But more than anything, Nubra Valley is the most beautiful region in all of Ladakh. Home to wonders like the Diskit Monastery,Hunder Sand Dunes, Samstanling Gompa, Yarab Tso Lake, and the villages of Turtuk and Panamik.Located about 160 km from Leh, the capital of Ladakh, Nubra Valley is a great attraction to all those who come here. The gateway to the upper reaches of the country, especially Siachen, Nubra Valley has an oasis of a town in the heart, Diskit, making a great place to stop you and reflect at the beauty around. And while you are at it, take a short detour to the famous white sand dunes of Hunder. The shapes and forms that these dunes take during different times of the year mesmerize every visitor who comes here. To make it further interesting, there are the double-humped Bactrian Camels, offering rides through the dunes.And when it turns dusky, head to the Diskit Monastery and visit the towering statue of Maitreya Buddha which looks over the entire valley and blesses it for another day to come.Planning a Trip to Ladakh, Experience of Chadar Trek - The Frozen River Trek

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The 7 day Leh – Ladakh Itinerary

The Best of Leh – Ladakh in 7 Days

Leh, the main town in the district of Ladakh, in Jammu and Kashmir, India is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in India . Being at a high altitude, the access remains restricted throughout the year, with roads blocked for as long as 6 months. The roads usually open up in the month of May till Sept / October , and June – August have become the peak season specially after the popularisation of the region in the movie 3 idiots, Jab Tak Hai Jaan . The best time for the 7 day Trip to Leh – Ladakh is June – July . However, visiting Leh Ladakh in Winters is a different charm all together, if you are that adventurous and can withstand the cold .

With the Leh – Ladakh tourist season round the corner, I have made a sample 7 – day Leh – Ladakh Itinerary which covers almost all the major tourism attractions and can be used as a reference for anyone planning a Trip to Leh – Ladakh. 

This 7 Day Trip To Leh Ladakh, also makes for an excellent addition to your One Month India Itinerary !

Day 1 – Arrival in Leh and rest for the day.

Day 2 – leh local sightseeing, day 3 – khardung la pass | nubra valley | hunder sand dunes, day 4 – nubra valley – leh ladakh , day 5 – magnetic hill | indus – zanskar confluence, day 6 – chang la pass | pangong tso, day 7 – back to leh via hemis monastery, recommendations to make the most out of your trip to leh – ladakh, where to stay in  ladakh, pin this 7 day ladakh travel itinerary, share this:.

Start your trip to Leh – Ladakh by landing at Leh Airport during the morning hours. Without wasting too much time, head out to your hotel, make yourself comfortable and stayput for the day in your room. This acclimatization is really important for your body and for you to enjoy the rest of your trip. You may be tempted to step out and explore the city but all you have to do is rope in your excitement for the day and relax in the room and have lots of liquids, to avoid mountain sickness due to less oxygen in the air.

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After a light breakfast head out to Shanti Stupa to enjoy a panoramic view of Leh. Your next destination should be Tsemo Fort, which is practically visible from all over Leh.

Situated at a height of 4,267 metres (13,999 ft), the stupa is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Leh – the former capital of Ladakh – on a steep hill facing the Leh Palace. The stupa can be reached by a drivable road or on foot using a series of 500 steep steps to the hilltop

The stupa is open for tourists between 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Sunrise and sunset are considered to provide the best views from Shanti Stupa.

Built in the 16 th  century is  Tsemo (Victory) Fort, is just 15-minute climb-up opposite Chenrezi Lakhang with its ruins. This structure is actually visible from everywhere in Leh. This fort seems like a crown on the head of the Palace ridge.  This small but ruined palace contains of a number of worship flags. Directly underneath it is Tsemo gompa that is Tsemo monastery that consists of two temple buildings built in the 15 th  century, an eight meter tall gold-faced statue of Maitreya Buddha.

Enjoy a good serving of typical Ladakhi food at one of the popular restaurants in the market, before heading out to Leh Palace , which is a replica of Lhasa’s Potala Palace . A nine storey structure in dun colour, the Leh Palace rises up against the backdrop of the lofty Himalayas, looking more like a painter’s muse. Built mostly of mud, rocks and wood, it is grand in its simplicity. The palace also houses a rich collection of traditional dresses and crowns, thangka paintings and some impressive traditional ornaments. The best part about Leh Palace is its terrace for you can pore over Leh, Stok Kangri and the Zanskar range from it.

Spend the later part of the day at the Hall of Fame , located near the Leh Airfield. Hall of Fame is a museum constructed and maintained by the Indian Army in the memories of the soldiers who lost their lives during the Indo – Pak wars. One of the most interesting sections is the one dedicated to a soldier’s life in Siachen Glacier.

Hall of Fame – Leh City

Do some city shopping if time permits and your body doesn’t give in to the tiredness/fatigue.

One of the major highlights of any  Trip to Leh – Ladakh is crossing the Khardung La Pass, the highest motorable pass built by the brave men of 201 Engineer Regiment, Indian Army. The road was opened to vehicular traffic on 27 August 1973. At an altitude of 18,380 feet, Khardung La Pass is the gateway to Shyok and Nubra Valleys .

Khardung La is 39 km by road from Leh. The first 24 km, as far as the South Pullu check point, are paved. From there to the North Pullu checkpoint about 15 km beyond the pass the roadway is primarily loose rock, dirt, and occasional rivulets of snow melt. From North Pullu into the Nubra Valley, the road is very well maintained (except in a few places where washouts or falling rock occur).

While at Khardung La, don’t forget to have a cup of hot tea and a plate of hot Maggi at the Highest Cafeteria in the World. It is recommended that the maximum stopping time at the top should not be more than 30 minutes, so once you are done with clicking pictures and having some food, head out to the souvenir shop. The shop also maintained by the Indian Army sells all kinds of souvenirs like, coffee mugs, beer mugs, decorative plates, tee shirts, and caps etc. I personally have all of them with me.

Cross Khardung La Pass and make your way towards Nubra Valley, Diskit Monastery and Panamik . The road from Khardung La pass crosses Nubra Valley goes all the way up to Siachen Base Camp. But  Panamik is the last place up to which civilians are allowed on this road towards Siachen. Panamik is also famous for its hot water sulphur springs. Everyone has seen a camel at some point of time, but you should be privileged if you get to see a double humped camel. Head out to the sand dunes in Hunder and catch a sight of the Double Humped Camels , which are an endangered species and the only place in India to see them is here at Hunder . This will remain a highlight of your trip to Leh – Ladakh.

Stay for the night at Hunder/Nubra valley.

Start your return Trip to Leh – Ladakh  , cross Khardung La top, enter Leh and head out to Thiksey Monastery, after having a good Tibetan lunch. The USP of this monastery is the 15 m high statue of Maitreya or Tara Devi . Covering almost 2 storeys, this is the largest such statue in Ladakh.

Just a couple minutes away from Thiksey Monastery is a quaint little spot named as Indus View point or Sindhu Darshan . Go there to enjoy the cool atmosphere and feel the fresh breeze caress your face. A quaint place like that demands some time where you only feel the breeze and only hear the sound of water gushing through.

Get some rest after the tiring yet fruitful day, only to wake up to a fresh new adventure the next day.

Head out to Pathar Sahib Gurudwara which falls in the east of Ladakh on the Kargil Road and attend the langar prepared by the Sikh soldiers of the Indian Army. Do try to help them in whatever way you can and then head to the point where you can witness the confluence of Indus and Zanskar . One can easily identify the flow the two rivers, as one is muddy and the other one is a bit on the bluish green tinge. While you are in the area, don’t forget to get amused by the weird happenings at Magnetic Hill where, your car goes uphill on its own, when put into neutral gear.

After having an early breakfast, head out of Leh – Ladakh, towards Chang La Pass. When you are at the top of the world’s third highest pass, make sure to click some pictures and have a hot cup of tea and some Maggi. Trust me, the tea and maggi might not have tasted that heavenly ever before !

Cross Chang La Pass and head out towards Pangong Tso Lake which is 140 Km from Leh. Situated at a height of 4350 m and almost 130 Km long, Pangong Tso is one third in India and the remaining in Tibet. The first glimpse of the tranquil, azure blue waters and shaky lake shore remains etched in the memory of tourists.  On a bright sunny day, one can see as many as 5 different shades of blue along the length of the lake as you drive at the side of it.

The beauty of Pangong Tso

Stay for the night either at one of the camps or at one of the homestay options in the nearby villages of Spangmik and TangTse.

Start early and take your return trip to Leh – Ladakh , and on your way back, stop by at the Hemis Monastery, which is roughly 7 Km from Karu. Hemis Monastry or Hemis Gonpa is one of the richest monasteries in Ladakh,  as it was protected by foreign invasions because of its remote location . It is one of the 9 Buddhist Monasteries in Ladakh , that should be there on your Ladakh Bucket List.

On your way back from Hemis, get your adrenaline rush at an all-time high by trying out White Water Rafting on the mighty Indus or Zanskar.

With loads of memories amidst mesmerising landscapes, it’s time to say good bye to Leh and fly back to your respective places, bringing your trip to Leh – Ladakh , to a memorable end.

• Leh is full of tourists from all over the globe, so make sure to try out different cuisines like Ladakhi, Israeli, Tibetan, and Russian etc.
• Tibetan Inspired Crockery
• Souvenirs from Khardung La and Pangong Tso Lake.
• Chinese herbs .
• Home Decorative items ( Tankha, paintings, giant fans)
• Miniature prayer wheel
• Tibetan prayer flags.
• Leh – Ladakh souvenir T Shirts.
• Sea Buckthorn Juice ( A kind of berry grown in Leh – Ladakh )

For those of you who want to extend their Trip to Leh – Ladakh ,  to enjoy the beauty of Leh – Ladakh for a few more days can try out various trekking options in the Zanskar Valley. There are plenty of tour operators offering competitive prices for these short and long treks.One of the popular treks to do is the Markha Valley trek.

For the biking enthusiasts, the option of renting a bike and riding all the way to Khardung La and beyond is always open. Due to the huge demand, you will be able to find a lot of garages offering Royal Enfield’s on a rental basis.

On your way back, you can drive to Srinagar, via Drass, Kargil and the mighty Zoji La Pass stopping at the Drass War Memorial on your way. And further fly out of Srinagar instead of Leh.

If you like this, you might also like checking out the 7 Day Road Trip Itinerary to Bhutan from India

We recommend staying in home-stays to fully experience the local life of Ladakh and to support the local economy. Apart from that, here are our recommendations :

Guest Houses – Gonbo Guest House | Youthok Guest House  

Hostel – HITCHHIKERS HOSTEL LADAKH | goSTOPS Leh

Mid Range Hotels – Shaolin Ladakh | Tushita Ladakh | Beyond Stay – The Leh Berry Boutique – Leh

Luxury – The Grand Dragon Ladakh | Ladakh Eco Resort | The Indus Valley | Gomang Boutique Hotel | TIH The Zen Ladakh

Day 1 – Arrive in Leh and rest for the day.

Day 2 – In and around Leh city, cover Shanti Stupa, Tsemo Fort, Leh Palace and Hall of Fame.

Day 3 – Cross Khardung La Pass and head out to Nubra Valley, visit Diskit Monastery and witness Double Humped Camels at Hunder. Hot springs at Panamik .

Day 4 – Return to Leh, and head out to Thicksey Monastery and Sindhu Darshan.

Day 5 – Cover Magnetic Hill , Pathar Sahib Gurudwara and Indus – Zanskar Confluence .

Day 6 – Cross Chang La Pass and be spellbound when you get a glance of Pangong Tso Lake .

Day 7 – Return to Leh via Hemis Monastery . Optional River Rafting near Karu

Day 8 – With loads of happy memories, bid adieu to Leh and board your flight back.

Trip to  Ladakh Ends.

I hope you found this 7 Day Ladakh  Travel Itinerary , to be of help to you, as a reliable Travel Resource for planning your Trip to Leh – ladakh.

Don’t forget to Pin these images , and save this Epic One Week Leh Ladakh Travel Itinerary, for future travel planning.

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If you enjoyed reading this 7 Day Leh – Ladakh Itinerary and Travel Guide , you might want to check out some other  7 Day Travel Guides and Itineraries .

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Best time to visit Ladakh

Temperature, climate & weather, temperature and precipitation in leh-ladakh, what is the coldest month in leh-ladakh.

The coldest month is January, with an average temperature of -3°C (27°F) during the day and an average temperature of -15°C (5°F) during the night. As the weather is always dry and sunny, it does not feel as cold as one would expect and travelling in Ladakh at this time of the year is a wonderful experience.

How many days per year does it rain in Leh-Ladakh?

Ladakh is a high-altitude desert, there are only 13 rainfall days per year and 106 mm (4.2 in) of accumulated precipitation. This is the reason why water is a very precious resource and saving water when travelling in Ladakh is important.

What is the driest month in Leh-Ladakh?

The driest months are June and October, with less than half day of rainfall per month and 4 mm (0.2 in) of precipitation.

What is the warmest month in Leh-Ladakh?

The warmest month is July, with an average temperature of 25°C (77°F) during the day and an average temperature of 10°C (50°F) during the night. Average temperatures in August are just 1°C (2°F) lower.

What is the wettest month in Leh-Ladakh?

7-day weather forecast for leh-ladakh, best season to visit leh-ladakh, winter in ladakh (january, february, march).

Spring in Ladakh (April, May, June)

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20 Best Enchanting Tourist Places to Visit in Ladakh for an Incredible Holiday

Home / Blog / 20 Best Enchanting Tourist Places to Visit in Ladakh for an Incredible Holiday

Embark on a journey to witness the mesmerizing scenery of Ladakh – a Himalayan destination that every traveler must visit at least once. The high-altitude desert remains cool throughout the hottest months, offering the perfect escape from the summer heatwave. Our comprehensive Leh Ladakh Travel Guide offers insights into the best tourist attractions for your dream trip.

Ladakh landscapes are alluring, dreamy and fascinating. It is on the bucket list of all travelers. At once in a lifetime, we all desire to travel to Ladakh. Rugged landscapes, high altitude lakes and monasteries, mighty Himalayan mountains, highest motorable passes, snowfall, captivating motor biking expeditions and mesmerizing trekking trails, rafting, camping in the meadows, serene stopovers, enchanting festivals and unique cuisines, rituals and culture makes Ladakh is one of the most scenic destinations to travel for every kind of wanderer. Ladakh is one of a kind tourist destination which you must visit at least once in a lifetime.

Quick Travel Information on Ladakh Tourism

Let’s know about ladakh’s top 20 incredible tourist attractions.  if you are planning leh- ladakh tour this blog will definitely help you..

• Nubra Valley
• Hemis National Park
• Pangong Lake
• Tsomoriri Lake
• Markha Valley
• Diskit Monastery
• Thiksey Monastery
• Khardung-la Pass
• Shanti Stupa
• Magnetic Hill
• Zanskar Valley
• Namgyal Tsemo Gompa
• Alchi Monastery
• Hall of Fame
• Gurudwara Pathar Sahib
• Kargil Valley
• Spituk Monastery
• Hemis Monastery

Avail Up to 30% Early Bird Discount on Our Leh Ladakh Tour Packages . Contact Us Now via Call or WhatsApp at +91-8802149265 for More Details and Booking.

1. Nubra Valley- Wholesome for Memories

Poetry of the mighty mountains, the green landscapes of the enchanting Nubra Valley will blow your heart away. It comes first in the list of 20 top tourist places to visit in Ladakh. Wherever you go, the varied landscapes, the color changing sky will captivate your soul forever, keep your camera ready.

Arid sand dunes, ancient ruins and euphoric Buddhist monasteries have kept the valley’s aura peaceful, mysterious, and spiritual for over a decade. This beautiful valley is located at the confluence of the Shyok and Siachen. You will also see the unique double humped Bactrian camels. However, people love to do rafting, ATV rides and camel safari but the essence of Nubra Valley is not in adventure activities, it’s in listening to the silence of the myriad landscapes of Nubra Valley. Take a moment to explore and you will feel that nature is meditating.

Enjoy the therapeutic hot springs of Panamik Village, the holy Yarab Tso Lake’s stillness will teach you to return to what is sacred as you breathe more deeply in its serenity. The monasteries and sand dunes of the magical Hunder village are a must not miss. The farming villages, the Baltistani dishes make holidays wholesome forever. Nubra Valley is a must visit place in Leh-Ladakh.

2. Hemis National Park- A Place to Become One with the Wild

Hemis National Park is one of the top tourist attractions to explore in Ladakh sightseeing Tour. It is a wild realm of Himalayan wildlife species who will enchant you with their sights, sounds and stories. Located in Eastern Ladakh, the park is spread over 4400 sq. km. You will be amazed to know that it has the highest population of Snow leopards globally. It is home to many interesting wildlife species such as Red fox, Agrali, Asiatic Ibex, Eurasian Brown Bear, etc. in total there are around 16 mammal species and 73 bird species to see and enjoy the wildlife tourism of Hemis National Park. not to forget the floral species of the park.

The alpine vegetation, rare medicinal plants makes the place an interesting sight to explore to learn about plant life. There are more than 200 snow leopards in the park. Located inside the national park are the monasteries – Gotsang Gompa and Hemis Monastery whose sacred space has the power to rejuvenate your soul from the fangs of chaos. There are many villages inside the park which will captivate your eyes. Rumbak Valley in the park is a fantastic bird watching attraction which you must not miss. Trekking to Stok Kangri and Markha Valley will elevate your adventure experience to a different level.

3. Pangong Lake- Serene, Sublime and Secluded Beauty

Situated at the height of 4350 m, this is the highest saltwater lake in the world. It’s one of the most beautiful surprises of nature to mankind. Extending to almost 160 km, its one third part is the euphoria of tourists and the other two thirds are in China. Pangong Lake got its name from a Tibetan word – Pangong Tso which means ‘High grassland Lake’. Tourists from all across the globe come to see this richest pearl of the Leh Ladakh tourism. The most interesting highlight of the beautiful lake is that it changes its colors to blue, grey, and green at different times. The climate is very harsh to bear in winters as it is one of the high-altitude lakes in Leh Ladakh. Summer months are perfect to enjoy the beauty of panoramic Pangong Lake.

4. Tsomoriri Lake- Picture of Infinite Beauty

If you are looking for a place to dive deep into the calmness, then why not head to Tsomoriri Lake of Ladakh. It is one of the popular points of tourist interest in Ladakh for peace and nature lovers. Beauty of this lake would awaken in you a feeling that you never knew you had.

Decked in the beautiful Changthang Valley, Tsomoriri lake’s lovely loneliness will heal your tired soul from the chaos of the world. It’s a lake of quietude and peace. Vibrant in color, surrounded by tall peaks, this is a home to many amazing featured creatures such as the bare-headed goose, great-crested grebe, Brahmin duck and brown-headed gulls. It’s also a wonderful place to spot Bharal or blue sheep, marmots, Tibetan sheep, red fox and kiang or Tibetan ass. For a bird watcher and wildlife lover, Tsomoriri lake is an opportunity to meet Himalayan wildlife species and avifauna.

Note- You can enjoy a thrilling mountain biking adventure to make your day memorable in Tsomoriri lake. It is also the highest Ramsar site in the world. So, you cannot put a camp or set up any type of accommodation around this lake.

5. Changthang- Gentle and Wild Paradise for tourists

Beauty of both India and Tibet, the beauty of Changthang will make your heart dance with joy. Isn’t it exciting to see the life of Changpa Tribes, Ladakhi and Tibetan nomads living in higher altitudes? This beautiful place will be the music to your soul. Deep gorges, canyons and vertical passes will meet your eyes wherever you go. You will find Changthang to be one of the top 10 most amazing tourist attractions of Ladakh. Gigantic Peaks and highest summits make the sight even more beautiful. Life here is very difficult, the cold climate of this area and the resilience of people inspires us a lot to face difficulties in life.

The arrival of winter brings challenges in the life of the Changpa Tribe. The temperature went down to as low as -30 degrees. People here live in harmony with nature and the wild. Nomads protect their domestic animals such as goats from wild animals and in return they get butter, milk, wool and meat for sustenance. However, you will be mesmerized by the simplicity of lifestyle and the natural beauty of Changthang.

Note- The major highlight of Changthang is Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary which you must visit to completely explore the beauty of Changthang. Spread over an area of 1600 sq. km, this is one of the top tourist attractions to visit in Leh Ladakh. There are a variety of Himalayan floral and faunal species which you have never seen before. You will discover snow leopard, Wild ass, brown bear, mormot, wild yak, Bharal and wolf etc. Don’t miss the most beautiful lake – Tso Moriri and the world’s highest village Korzok Village. This is also very famous for spotting species of water birds, migratory birds, and a variety of avifauna. Visiting Changthang in Ladakh would definitely be memorable.

6. Markha Valley – Soul of Adventurous and Nature lovers

The beauty of Ladakh Himalayas cannot be fully explored if you have not been to Markha Valley. It is one of the most popular treks of Leh -Ladakh. Adventures from all over the world consider Markha Valley in the list of top 5 places to explore in Ladakh. You will be in a dreamland when you see the variety of landscapes this valley is blessed with. It will also take you to the most popular National Park – Hemis National Park which will give you an amazing opportunity to see Himalayan wild animals. You will be in the wild realm of several species like Ladakhi Urial, Lynx, Mountain hare, marmot, red fox, great Tibetan sheep, – Arghali and Dhole etc.

Also, don’t miss the opportunity to explore the hidden wonders of Leh- Ladakh such as Rumbak and Yurutse village. You will be spellbound to see the unique lifestyle and soul uplifting rich indigenous culture of Indo- Tibetans. The beautiful sceneries of the valley along the way also attract the lens of many photographers.

Note – The Tibetan markets and Buddhist monasteries will nourish your soul with excitement and spiritual wisdom.  June and September are the best months to explore and enjoy Markha Valley Trek. Markha Valley will be the best place for solace seekers, nature lovers and adventure loving souls.

7. Diskit Monastery – Get the Divine Grace

One more sacred place to find yourself.  Located in Nubra Valley, Diskit Monastery is one of the famous attractions to visit in Ladakh. The main highlight of Diskit Gompa is the 106 ft huge Statue of Maitreya Buddha inaugurated by HH Dalai Lama. if you see its surroundings, you will never want to go back. The gorgeous views of Nubra Valley’s colorful landscapes blend with the serene silence of the Gompa. It was built by Changzen Tserab Zangpo in the 14th century. December is the best time to visit here as the Dosmoche Festival is celebrated here. The intricate frescos and wall paintings, images of Buddhist deities. Above the monastery is the LachungTemple where the large idol of Tsong Khapa, the founder of the Gelugpa sect of Buddhism is worshiped.  The gorgeous views of Diskit village are irresistible.

8. Thiksey Monastery- Elevated Seat of the Divine

19 km away from Leh, Thiksey Monastery will find the radiance of lost souls. Overlooking the Indus River and Stok range, it offers panoramic views with sacred ambiance to the peace seekers.  It is a must visit attraction in your Ladakh sightseeing tour.

It is a beautiful 12 storey building which displays the wonders of Buddhist art and culture. You will behold Buddhist art in its most elevated form. See the beautiful Thangkas, swords, wall paintings, statues etc. one of the most remarkable attractions is the Maitreya Temple which showcases a 49 ft tall statue of Maitreya Buddha. It is so huge that it covers the two floors of the building.  You must visit Tara Temple dedicated to goddess Tara, there are 21 images of goddess Tara kept in glass covered wooden shelves. Also see Stangyur and Kangyu, the two popular Buddhist.  scriptures in Lamokhang Temple. It’s a wonderful place to blend into the rhythm of serenity.

9. Khardung La Pass- Snowy Wonder of Ladakh

Enchanting gateway to Nubra and Shyok valleys of Ladakh, Khardungla Pass is one of the highest motorable passes in the world. The views here will captivate your heart and soul. You won’t be able to stop clicking pictures of this mesmerizing pass.

It is very popular among the adventurers who came here for biking adventures from all over the world. It is at an elevation of 5,395 meters. It’s also a very important tourist attraction which is maintained by the Border Roads Organization. The journey to Khardungla is very exciting. You will come across many hairpin bends and high gradients on the road. You need an Inner Line Permit to enter Khardung La Pass. frost covers, hairpin bends makes driving on the roads exciting and dangerous. So always be careful and enjoy the beauty of the enchanting Khardungla Pass. Indeed, it is one of the most picturesque tourist attractions to explore when you are enjoying Leh Ladakh sightseeing tour.

Note- April to June and the month of September to October is the best time to visit Khardung La Pass. if you are a passionate bike rider then it will be one of the best places to visit in Ladakh, cold breeze of the Himalayan mountains, snowy roads and challenging bends will definitely make your adventure soothing.

10. Shanti Stupa- Namobuddha

The soul uplifting white domed Buddhist monument known as Shanti Stupa is one of the best places to explore in Ladakh. Decked in a steep hilltop at a height of 11,841 ft, it is a sacred Buddhist pilgrimage place consecrated by the e14th Dalai Lama. Giver of serenity and peace, the view of Shanti Stupa is one of a kind.

The most healing view to your soul will be the gilded statue of the Buddha and the Dharmachakra (wheel of life).  The stupa is a relic of Lord Buddha which was built in 1991 by a Japanese Buddhist named Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura.  It was built to promote world peace and to commemorate 2500 years of Buddhism. The mind-boggling views of Leh and Changspa village, mesmerizing sunsets, the beauty of the twilight due to sunset and the spiritual vibe makes this place one of the best tourist attractions to explore in Ladakh for a spiritually inclined and peace-loving soul. Devotees move the wheels and pray to God for their wellbeing.

Note- Timings – 5:00am to 9:00pm & Best time to visit – July to September 

11. Zanskar Valley- Mesmerizing Valley of Himalayas

If you are fond of exploring remote and enchanting locations, then visiting Zanskar Valley would be a great decision. It is one of the best places to visit in the remote corner of Ladakh.  This valley is the crowning jewel of the northern flank of the great Himalayas. Zanskar Valley’s mesmerizing landscapes, sparkling water bodies and weather will definitely blow your heart away. Consider this place for honeymoon holidays in Ladakh as the valley’s irresistible charm will be in tune with your romantic heart. Zanskar valley would be one of the most wonderful holiday options for families, couples, and adventurers.

You will enjoy amazing opportunities to try water rafting, paragliding and trekking. In fact, there are many mind-boggling trekking options such as Padum Trek, Lamayuru to Darcha Trek. Zongla, Zongkhul etc. are the centuries- old monasteries to restore your sacred reserve of energy. Connecting the valley of Suru and Zanskar, the beautiful Penzil a Pass is an amazing attraction and spot to enjoy camping.

Note – Winters are harsh. Temperature drops down to -30-degree Celsius and the roads are heavily covered in snow. The best time to enjoy the beauty of Zanskar Valley is between the months of June to September.

12. Magnetic Hill- A Place That Defies Gravity

A place which defies Gravity and amaze your curious mind is known as Magnetic Hill of Ladakh. Located at the Leh- Kargil highway, it is one of the top places to visit in Leh- Ladakh.  It is marked by a yellow sign board which states that “The phenomenon that defies Gravity” there is a box which is marked with a white point on the road, also known as the magnetic road, is used to park vehicles. If you park your vehicle at the indicated spot, you will be amazed to see that your vehicle will be moving forward at a speed of 20km/h. The meandering Sindhu River at the east of Magnetic hill is a great place to capture delightful sceneries.

An interesting myth is associated with Magnetic Hill. Villagers here believe that once upon a time this road used to lead people straight to heaven. Those who deserved and pure by heart were pulled directly to heaven. Those who didn’t deserve couldn’t make it to paradise. According to a popular theory people believe that it’s just an optical illusion. The road which actually goes uphill seems like it’s going downhill. Driving here will not be a hindrance if you visit it in the months of July and October.

13. Namgyal Tsemo Gompa- Purify Your Heart in the Seat of Divine

Renowned for the three-storey high solid gold idol of Maitreya Buddha, just behind the magnificent Leh Palace, Namgyal Tsemo Gompa is a beautiful monastery of Ladakh.  It is one of the must-see tourist attractions in Leh- Ladakh.

The scenic villages, Zanskar Valley, meandering Indus River makes the surroundings visually appealing to the tourists. It was built by King Tashi Namgyal in 1430 AD. Its ambiance is enough to awaken spirituality from the sacred depths of the soul. If you are fond of spiritual places, then you must visit Namgyal Tsemo Gompa. one-storey high statues of Avalokitesvara and Manjushri also captivate the soul and mind. When you come down from the hill you will also behold Shankar Gompa which is connected to Namgyal Tsemo Gompa. These two monasteries are ritualistically connected. Monks from Shankar Gompa worship Lord Buddha and lit butter lamps at Namgyal Tsemo Gompa. The heavenly vibe of this Gompa makes the heart cheerful.

14. Alchi Monastery- Radiance of the Divinity

Built by Ringchen Zangpo, the eminent translator of Sanskrit Buddhist text into Tibetan, Alchi Monastery is one of the popular religious places to visit in Ladakh. It is a blessed seat of various gods such as principal Buddha Vairocana Lhakhang, Lhotsava Lhakhang, Jamyang Lhakhang (Manjusri temple) and sumtsag Lhakhang. The Indian style Thangka paintings is one of the main highlights of Alchi monastery. It lies on the serene banks of the Indus River. There are many splendid paintings and thousands of miniature paintings of Lord Buddha which captivates the mind. There are souvenir shops, restaurants, and tea stalls for the recreation of tourists.  You will feel the infinite wisdom of spirituality in the ambiance. The surrounding will nourish your soul to make you feel connected to the divine.

15. Leh Palace- Royal Charm of Ladakh

In the 1500s King Sengge Namgyal built the magnificent Leh Palace but it was completed in the 17th century. Today Leh Palace is now one of the top tourist attractions to explore in Ladakh.  Its facade looks like the Potala palace in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. It’s a masterpiece of medieval Tibetan architecture which also boasts 9 storeys. If you look at the view from Leh Palace roof you will be spellbound by the beauty of Ladakh’s magical landscape and the mighty Stok Kangri. The wooden carved figurines in the Palace entrance, wooden balconies and Stupas and mural fragments are amazing sights to please your eyes and soul. Chandazik Gompa and the Chamba Lhakhang Temple within which dwells the infinite wisdom of ages and sacred vibe. The museum in Leh Palace carries some artifacts which are more than 450 years old. The palace is under the maintenance of the Archaeological Survey of India.

16. Hall of Fame- Heroes of the Nation

Keeping alive the memory of brave Indian Soldiers who sacrificed their lives in Indo- Pak wars, the Hall of Fame Museum is a treasure and watch worthy tourist attraction of Ladakh.

Located in the Leh- Kargil Road it was built in the memory of Brave Indian soldiers who protected the country with the sacrifice of their life. This museum contains the weapons used in war. In the upper floor, in OP Vijay Gallery you will discover the weapons used in Kargil War. It also contains various apparel and amenities by the Indian Army. There are various pictures of army posts showing the difficult life of soldiers. You will also see the pictures of Kargil Wars.

The wall named “Lest we Forget” shows the pictures of soldiers who sacrificed their life for the nation. In the ground floor there is a projection room where you can watch the documentary on Operation Vijay. You will be deeply moved by the last letter of Captain Vijayant Thapar which is framed on a wall to his parents before he attained martyrdom. There are some sections which also showcase the history and culture of Ladakh region.

Timings – 9:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 7:00pm

Note- On the front of the Hall of Fame there is a statue of Lord Buddha with a beautiful message which says, “It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.” What a beautiful message to mankind!

17. Gurudwara Pathar Sahib- Sacred Bliss

Revered seat of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism- Gurudwara Pathar Sahib is one of the most beautiful religious places to visit in Ladakh. There is a very interesting story about this sacred place. It is said that Guru Nanak Dev Ji was meditating at this place, but a demon was constantly creating hindrance in his meditation. He was throwing big rocks to disturb him, but Guru Nanak Dev Ji turned the rock into soft wax which was completely harmless. Seeing this the demon realized that Guru Nanak Dev Ji is not a normal person and he asked for penance for his deed. Guru Nanak Dev Ji forgave him. In Gurudwara Pathar Sahib you can see the imprint of the body of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in a boulder and the footprint of the demon. This place is maintained by the Indian Army. Tibetans revered Guru Nanak Dev Ji as a Buddhist saint. Hence, they call him Guru Gompka Maharaj.

18. Kargil Valley- Land of Warriors

Kargil Valley, the second largest town of Ladakh is one of the incredible places to visit in Ladakh. It has been a major trade center in the past having trade relations with China, Central Asia, and different parts of India. It is one of the most visited tourist destinations for mountaineers and trekkers.

It is the place where the famous Indo- Pak war happened in May- July 1999. Tiger Hill, Tololing, Mushku valley and Batalik are some of the best attractions which became the heart of Kargil tourism.

One of the best highlights of Kargil is the enchanting Suru Valley which is a hidden bliss. The meandering Suru River runs through the valley, decked with mesmerizing villages, you won’t be able to set your eyes off from its beauty.

Adventurers love Kargil as it offers great opportunities for mountain adventure such as trekking and mountaineering. You can also try snow skiing and river rafting. There are many Buddha statues, fort Palaces, ancient Rock carvings, war memorials, monasteries and mosques which dazzles the eyes and mind.

19. Spituk Monastery- Seat of Sacredness

Decked on a conical hill with three chapels in the periphery of Leh, Spituk Monastery is one of the best tourist attractions to include in your Ladakh itinerary. It was built in the 11th century by Od- de, elder brother of Lha Lama Changchub Od.  The meaning of the name of the monster y is Exemplary which is quite apt as it is one of the most magnificent and desirable seats of Lord Buddha.

Festival of Gustor is celebrated with great pomp and show with beautiful, masked dance performances in the11th month of the Tibetan calendar. It is a celebration of peace and prosperity. It is celebrated in such a grand way that you will hear prayers and rituals 7 days before the day of the festival. It belongs to the Gelugpa lineage of Buddhism. There is a beautiful image of Mahakaal which is kept covered and unveiled in the annual festival of Spituk held in the month of January. Indeed, it is one of the blessed seats where the sacredness of faith is visible in an exalted form.

20. Hemis Monastery – Awake the Inner Peace

the western banks of the Indus River are blessed with the sacredness of Hemis Monastery. It is one of the top visiting spiritual tourist attractions in Ladakh. It is said that the monastery was built before the 11th century. Re-established in 1672 by Sengge Namgyal, the king of Ladakh. It is one of the most magnificent monasteries of Leh-Ladakh.  It is decorated with beautiful colored flags on all four sides. The wall stones are decorated with religious figures.

You will also find an amazing collection of Thangkas and stupas. Don’t miss the grand annual festival of the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. During the festival you will see the annual bazaar where Ladakhis from remote areas come to buy and sell wares. You will also see the mask dance performance which represents the reincarnation of Buddha. This monastery belongs to the Drukpa lineage of Buddhism. Every 12 years during the Hemis Festival, one of the largest Thangkas is displayed in front of a large crowd.

Its large library contains ancient religious texts, some of them are in unknown languages which will arouse your curiosity. Tourists who are spiritually inclined or who are looking for peace would definitely find Hemis Monastery one of the best places to fine-tune the soul.

Enjoy and explore the wonderful destinations of Leh- Ladakh. Trust us, Ladakh is the most beautiful mountain desert region of India. Holidaying here will be one of the most memorable trips of your life. You will leave its shores but the beauty of Ladakh will keep calling you.

Best Travel Tips to Enjoy Ladakh Trip and Make Amazing Memories

Without planning and knowing your destination, traveling to any place might be physically and mentally overwhelming. As you don’t know what kind of challenges you will face. It is very essential to know the basic information about the destination you are traveling to. Knowing the weather conditions, accommodation facilities, culture and destination information makes you a smart traveler. In a place like Ladakh which is blessed with myriad landscapes, harsh weather conditions and unique culture, it is very important to think wisely and collect important information to plan your holiday. The comfort comes with proper planning.  Here are some important travel tips for Leh- Ladakh Holidays –

• Ladakh is a land of variations. It is very important to know the weather conditions in advance. In some regions of Ladakh you will experience subzero temperatures, at some places the temperature will fall down to – 30-degree Celsius in winter season. In summer the temperature is quite comfortable. However, you still need to keep some warm clothes as the weather is unpredictable. The road side of the passes is still covered with snow even in the month of June. So, we really can’t say. Keep woolen clothes ready.
• Some of the places in Ladakh require an Inner Line permit. Plan in advance where you want to explore and get the Inner Line Permit online or from the DC office in Leh.
• The level of oxygen is low when you are in the high-altitude area of Ladakh region. Some of you will suffer from mountain sickness. Keep your pace of travel slow and don’t rush to places when you are having acute mountain sickness. Let your body rest for a day or two after a high climb of 2000ft for acclimatization. You can also carry Oxygen cylinders. Keep the necessary medicines in your bag. Stay healthy.
• Get the post- paid BSNL mobile connect from any phone shop. It’s the only mobile connection that functions in Ladakh.
• Keep plenty of cash in Hand. There are less ATM machines in Ladakh. Most of the places do not accept credit cards. In Leh Market you will find ATMs of different banks.
• Always keep multiple copies of valid ID Proof, PAN card or passport. It will be needed in military checkpoints.
• It is not bad to know about the major tourist attractions, culture and heritage of Ladakh before going. It will enrich your travel experience.
• You can always rent cars and bikes to enjoy your Himalayan holidays in the best possible manner.
• Always book your hotel in advance in Leh. March to June is the peak tourism season. You will find it difficult to get accommodation.
• You must hire a private tourist guide to travel locally in Ladakh. Also get the advantage of local transport facility as it is not advisable to travel to most of the areas by foot due to mountain sickness.

Popular Leh Ladakh Tour Packages 2023

Frequently asked questions, why must you visit ladakh.

Leh Ladakh is one of the top destinations to visit in India. It is a dream destination of many. High mountain passes, Chadar frozen lake, monasteries, tough terrains, beautiful snowfall and many adventure activities makes it the most wholesome destination for any kind of tourist. A tourist will never get bored here. In fact, every mile will invoke curiosity as Ladakh landscape keeps on changing textures. It is indeed a must visit destination for wanderers.

What are the top destinations to visit in Leh- Ladakh?

Some of the top-rated tourist attractions in Ladakh are –

• Pangong Tso Lake
• Khardung La Pass
• Chadar Trek

What is the best time to visit Leh- Ladakh?

The best time to visit Ladakh depends on the choice of season. In summer April to May the tourist season starts in Ladakh. From the end of April, the ice of Tso Moriri and Pangong Tso Lake starts melting. The Srinagar-Leh highway opens from the first week of May which makes it more crowded and the best time to visit Ladakh. But Khardung-La and Chang-La passes remain closed due to snowfall.

In Mid-September to October months the temperature starts to cool down a bit. The minimum 1 degree Celsius.

October to March, winter starts. At this time the maximum temperature is 7 degrees and the minimum are -6 degrees Celsius. The lakes freeze completely and it’s time to enjoy the famous Chadar Trek of Ladakh. The Zanskar river freezes completely in winters.

How is the weather in Ladakh?

Ladakh is definitely included in the travel list of most Indian tourists. Since Ladakh is a cold and extremely cold region, you should plan your trip to Ladakh according to your cold tolerance. In high altitude places there would be harsh weather conditions. Temperature will drop down to subzero levels. Summer months are a good time to plan your trip but for those who love snowfall, winter is the best time but the cold weather will give you chills.

What is the best way to travel to Ladakh?

The simplest way to travel to Ladakh is by air. Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport located in Leh, is the major airport of Ladakh. You can get regular flights from Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chandigarh etc. If you prefer to go by rail it’s actually not a favorable option. You cannot reach Ladakh directly by train. There is no train station in Ladakh. The only nearest railway station is Jammu Tawi Station which will help you to reach Ladakh from Jammu. If you want adventures and the scenic beauty in your view then a road trip is highly recommended. You can access the roads of Ladakh from the month of May to October. After that heavy snowfall, bad road conditions will make it inaccessible. Buses, cars, jeeps and motorbikes are easily available for Ladakh Trip.

What are the popular adventure activities for tourists in Leh Ladakh?

Ladakh’s cold deserts, rugged terrains call for amazing adventures. It is one of the top destinations for adventurers. Some of the most popular adventure activities to enjoy in Ladakh are –

• Mountain Biking
• wildlife safari
• Quad Biking
• Rock climbing
• Paragliding

What are the popular trekking routes in Ladakh?

Without trekking adventure your holidays in Ladakh would be incomplete. Trekking is one of the top adventure activities to do in Ladakh.  The landscape of Ladakh is best for trekkers due to the snow-capped mountains and high cold deserts, sparkling lakes and natural beauty.  Some of the most popular trekking routes of Ladakh are –

• Markha Valley Trek
• Nubra Valley Trek
• Chadar Frozen River Trek
• Rumtse to Tso Moriri Trek
• Stok Kangri trek
• Sham Valley Trek
• Spituk to Stok Trek
• Lamayuru to Alchi Trek
• Zanskar Trek from Padum to Lamayuru
• Snow Leopard Trek
• Padum to Darcha Trek

What are the accommodation options available in Ladakh for tourists?

Don’t worry you will get clean and moderate budget accommodation in Ladakh. Hotels in Ladakh offer the best hospitality to the tourists with all the facilities that a traveler needs.  However, if you are in High altitude region or village, you will not get any luxury hotels, but the guest houses will welcome you with warm hospitality and decent facilities. You will get good accommodation options to stay with family.  Any moderate budget stay accommodation in Ladakh would cost around 1500 to 2000 for double bedrooms. Luxury lovers will also get good accommodation options with all the comforts. Some of the best Luxury accommodation options are The Grand Dragon Ladakh, Woody Vu Stok House, Chamba Camp, Nubra Organic Retreat and Stok Palace Heritage Hotel.

What are the popular must-see cultural festivals in Ladakh?

Some of the popular and must-see cultural festivals to enjoy in Ladakh are –

• Losar Festival- February to March
• Hemis Tsechu- Late June to July
• Sindhu Darshan Festival- June
• Ladakh Harvest Festival- September
• Saka Dawa Festival- June
• Dosmoche Festival – May
• Yuru Kabgyat – June

Is Ladakh a good destination for Honeymoon couples?

Good? Say Best! Don’t underestimate Ladakh’s beauty. It is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations of India. Honeymoon couples must visit Ladakh. Every landscape of Ladakh is colorful, beautiful, steeped in beautiful history and amazing stories. The unique cultural experiences, the thrilling adventure activities, the scenic motorable passes, the enchanting monasteries, everything Ladakh is blissful for a romantic couple. For honeymoon couples Ladakh is a must recommend.

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• Ladakh Itinerary Of 9 Days: This Amazing Trip Took Us To The Best Of Leh Ladakh

27 Mar 2023

We were really planning to go on a vacation for a very long time. And we knew that it was Ladakh where we wanted to go. It was because the place is very different from any other destination in the entire country. No hill station has a similar landscape as Ladakh. Moreover, we also thought that because of the lower oxygen level maybe once we have kids or grow old, visiting this destination can become a little problematic for us. Soon we started to plan our trip. We got in touch with Traveltriangle and very soon they came up with our Ladakh itinerary of 9 days .

A Look At Our Ladakh Holiday Package

Cost: INR 64500 Duration: 9 Days No. Of People: 4 Adults Inclusions: Breakfast, Dinner, Airport Transfer, Welcome drink on arrival, Goct taxes, 1 Hotel, can for sightseeing Exclusions: Lunch, English Speaking Driver, Camel Ride, Entree fee, flight, rafting, extra meals, tips, insurances, laundry, anything not mentioned in the pricing list Travel Agent From TravelTriangle: Milli Group Of Our Travels

9 Days Itinerary Of Ladakh

Day 1: Arrival, Check-in Day 2: Magnetic Hills, Gurudwara Patthar Sahib Day 3: Nubra Valley Day 4: Diskit Monastery Day 5: Thiksey Monastery and Sindhu Ghat Day 6: Pangong Lake Day 7: Tsomoriri Lake Day 8: Tsokar Lake and Tanglangla Pass Day 9: Departure

Must Read: 40 Best Things To Do In Ladakh That You Can’t Afford To Miss In 2022!

Ladakh’s Weather

We took this trip in August and we got really lucky since the entire place was flourishing with greenery and beautiful flowers. The weather was nice, pleasant and a bit cold. But Nubra Valley was hot in the afternoons.

Details Of Our 9 Days In Ladakh

While in Ladakh we visited a whole lot of areas and we ticked off every popular tourist destination. Here’s the list of places that we went to.

1. Magnetic Hills

Visiting Magnetic Hills was one of the first things that we did when we reached Ladakh. There isn’t much to see other than experiencing the magnetic pull on the road.

2. Gurudwara Patthar Sahib

This is one of the most popular places to visit when here. The must-see here is the giant rock that has Guru Nanak’s back embedded on one side of it and a big food of a demon on the other side who tried to kill Guru Nanak with that rock. We were really happy to have this place added to our Leh Ladakh itinerary of 9 days .

3. Nubra Valley

Though it was a bit hot, we really enjoyed our stay at Nubra Valley. We were amidst a lot of greenery and beautiful flowers. Here we stayed in camps and loved the whole experience.

Suggested Read: Losar Festival Ladakh: A Cultural Sojourn In The Land Of Mystic Lamas!

4. Pangong Lake

Of course, we visited and Pangong Lake. We camped here but it was a little too cold for camping here. We really appreciated the serene beauty and absolute silence here.

5. Tsomoriri Lake

It is located 220 km from Leh and is widely popular for its natural beauty. We were absolutely speechless seeing the beauty of this lake. Here you can see some exotic migratory birds as this is a reeding area for birds like Brahimini Duck, Bar Headed Goose, Black Naked Cranes, etc.

Our Hotels In Ladakh

During our vacation, we stayed in multiple places like hotels and camps. Here is how our experience was like:

1. Sand Dunes View Resort

We liked our stay at this property. The rooms were nice and cozy and had all the basic amenities that we neede during the stay. We really enjoyed our stay here after a long tiring day.

2. Pangong Delight Camp

Our stay in this camp was also very enjoyable. Even though it was a bit cold but we really loved the whole experience of staying at a camp under the open sky lit with millions of stars.

3. Tsomoriri Lake View Hotel

This again was a good hotel where the staff was also very helpful. The rooms were nice and equipped with all the basic amenities and facilities. We truly enjoyed our stay here. Even the food was good that we thoroughly enjoyed.

Suggested Read: 12 Astounding Spots For Trekking In Ladakh That Need To Be On Every Hiker’s Bucket List In 2022

How To Reach Ladakh

All four of us are from Dehradun. We took a flight to Ladakh from New Delhi. But when we had to return, our flight got canceled. The next flight that we were getting was from Srinagar. So we traveled to Srinagar and then back to Delhi.

Our Budget For The Ladakh Trip

Our budget was INR 20000 for two people which included a few of our meals and a few tours and activities that we got indulged in along with a little bit of shopping.

Shopping In Ladakh

We did not shop much in Ladakh. We just bout a few souvenirs. Since the prices of everything were hiked due to the heavy tourism we decided not to indulge in too much of shopping. People can buy dry fruits from here since the place is known for it. But I recommend that you find a shop that sells dry fruits, not on exorbitant prices.

Ladakh Food

A lot of our meals were included in our package at our hotels itself. But we still tried a lot of food in the markets from small eateries. What we absolutely loved was that we could enjoy tons of momos guilt-free since they were made of wheat grain and not maida ( white flour). Eben rotis were made of wheat grain. People can also try a lot of cafes here and keep themselves warm sipping on hot coffee, tea or thukpa.

What To Pack For 9 Days Ladakh Trip

• Inner thermals are a must-pack
• Windcheaters to save yourself from the cold winds
• Sunscreen is a must to protect your skin from sunburn
• Basic medication is also a must

Suggested Read: Can You Plan A Trip To Leh Ladakh Much Cooler Than Sandeep’s? He Dares You

Ladakh Travel Tips

• Do not forget to pack Dyomox Tablet which helps you with low oxygen level
• Pack warm as well as summer clothes for Ladakh if you are planning to go in August
• Certain places in Ladakh might require a permit, get that well in advance and carry that with you
• Keep cash in handy since ATMs are seldom spotted in the area or frequently out of cash
• When planning a trip to Ladakh, do not rush into visiting places. Take your time in exploring the area

Our Experience With TravelTriangle

Our experience with TravelTriangle was absolutely amazing. Whatever was added to the itinerary was up to the mark. Our hotels, camps, tours, everything was just spot on. The driver who was provided was very professional. The TravelTriangle team made sure that we have a memorable trip. We are really very happy with how this whole trip was executed and are happy with the team as well.

Further Read: Article 370 Scrapped: Effects On Travel In Jammu & Kashmir, And Ladakh

Our Ladakh Itinerary for 9 days was absolutely amazing. It was absolutely wonderful and we saw every major destination that is to be seen in the place. We had days of leisure as well as days full of travel. We cannot thank the TravelTriangle team enough for planning a vacation for us that we surely will remember throughout our lives. If you too want a similar kind of experience then plan your holiday with TravelTriangle to Ladakh and have a great time.

Disclaimer:  TravelTriangle claims no credit for images featured on our blog site unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to its respectful owners. We try to link back to original sources whenever possible. If you own the rights to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear on TravelTriangle, please contact us and they will be promptly removed. We believe in providing proper attribution to the original author, artist or photographer.

Please Note:  Any information published by TravelTriangle in any form of content is not intended to be a substitute for any kind of medical advice, and one must not take any action before consulting a professional medical expert of their own choice.

Common Queries About Ladakh

When should we go to Leh Ladakh?

April to Mid May mark the starting of the tourist area. People can visit the place starting from April to June as that is the best time.

Is it safe to travel to Leh Ladakh now 2022?

Yes, it is absolutely safe to visit Ladakh now. The place is as safe as ever and people have nothing to worry about.

How much does a trip to Leh Ladakh cost?

Anywhere between INR 50K to 60K more than enough for Ladakh for a week. The flights alone will cost around 20K to 25K.

Which bike is suitable for Leh Ladakh trip?

The bigger the engine the better as the ride will be smooth. So an Enfield is definitely one of the best choices along with other bikes with powerful engines.

How many days are best for the Ladakh holiday?

7 to 10 days trip is fine for Ladakh as you would be able to see a lot of places. But if you wish to do a trip that isn’t full of travel then 15 days are perfect.

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Travel & Adventure Blog

23 Most Beautiful Places To Visit In Ladakh

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Whether you’re looking for places to visit in Ladakh in July or places to visit in Ladakh in November, Ladakh is a backpacker’s haven, with emerald lakes, trekking trails, and valleys which is also known as the land of monasteries and monks, beautiful villages tucked away in picturesque landscapes, there is a lot to experience here even if you’re looking for places to visit in Ladakh for honeymoon.

Ladakh offers everything. But now it’s time to find out the best places to visit in Ladakh and Leh, so let’s find out now.

Here are the 23 Most Beautiful Places To Visit In Ladakh:

1. Tso Gompa

Founded in 1430 by King Tashi Namgyal of Ladakh, it has a three-story high gold statue of Maitreya Buddha and ancient manuscripts and frescoes.

Tso Gompa  is located on a hill right above the Leh Palace. This mud-brick monastery, built in 1430, houses an 8m-high statue of Maitreya Buddha (the future Buddha). It can be accessed on foot from Leh Palace and there is also a road up to the gompa.

The monastery offers a panoramic vista of the flowing Indus River, the snow-capped Zanskar range, and the surrounding countryside. Besides offering mesmerizing views in its vicinity, the Tso Gompa also sites sacred scriptures and artistic watercolor paintings within.

The monastery also has sculptures of Alokistesvara (also known as Padmapani) and Manjushri, both of which are revered elements of the Buddhist faith. This stunning monastery is a must-visit whenever you’re in Leh.

Check out 5 Beautiful Places To Visit In Leh

2. Yarab Tso Lake

Tucked away in the Nubra Valley, there is beautiful  Yarab Tso Lake in the backdrop of snow-capped mountains and extensive plains, which give blue skies a very panoramic view.

Yarab Tso Lake is Ladakh’s best-kept secret that is situated some 15 km from Diskit Region and is believed as a sacred place in Ladakh. It is a high-altitude lake that is hidden in the Sumur Village and can only be reached by trekking uphill for 20 minutes.

The charming lake with perfectly clear water, set in the midst of the contrasting rocky surroundings makes it a genuinely awesome site. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the feeling of tranquility experienced on visiting Yarab Tso Lake compensates for the fairly troublesome climb.

But remember, this lake is regarded as one of the holiest and high altitude lakes in the Nubra Valley, Yarab Tso Lake is highly revered among the locals of the region. It is advised not to wash your feet or try to swim in this enrapturing lake. So, try to simply sit by the rocks, breathing in the unpolluted mountain air, relishing the sight of colorful prayer flags fluttering around the crystal clear aquamarine water, and experience the sense of calmness it brings.

If you are planning a trip to Ladakh, then the beautiful lakes here cannot be missed at any cost. These lakes are an integral part of the landscape here especially this pictorial lake holds crystal-clear water, and is still untouched by the outer world.

Famously known for its therapeutic hot springs, the  Panamik is the last destination for tourists traveling across Ladakh which is a beautiful scenic village in the Nubra valley.

The hot water springs of Panamik are enriched with a high amount of Sulphur. A dip in these Sulphur hot springs is believed to cure various health ailments. Owing to the health benefits of these hot springs, the Panamik village is visited daily by the people from neighboring villages.

But this uninterrupted destination in Ladakh creates a heaven on earth ambiance. With the snow-clad peaks and rich green valleys, a visit to Panamik Village will truly amaze you. With the shadows formed by fluffy clouds above, you can see them pass you as you walk around the charming village.

As the region lies on the Indo-Tibetan border, it serves as a base for the trek to Ensa Monastery, which is famous for Buddhist murals. The tiny hamlet is also known for the Pashmina goats and the Bactrian camels which have two humps and were a great mode to transverse in the silk route.

Although everything about this place is captivating, the view of the sun-capped peaks and green valleys is truly mesmerizing. The panorama is more enchanting during the month of September and October when the trees turn yellow with a tinge of red. So, don’t miss it.

Check out The 7 Amazing Places To Visit In Nubra Valley

4. Khardung La Pass

Khardung La is a mountain pass that local pronunciation is “Khardong La” or “Khardzong La” but, as with most names in Ladakh, the romanized spelling varies. The pass on the Ladakh Range is north of Leh and is the gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valleys.

Located at an altitude of 18,380 ft, Khardung La falls on an extremely scenic route in Ladakh that is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ladakh, and for good reason. It is the highest motorable road in the world after all that offers astonishing views of the twisting roads up the mountain and the awesome valley.

This pass promises an escape from the regular destinations and it provides splendor sites for the naked eye. Alternatively known as the ‘Pass of Lower Castle’, Khardung La is the inspiration of motorbike, automobile, and mountain biking expeditions. This makes it an adventure aficionados’ paradise indeed.

A visit to Khardung La Pass is one of the must things to do in Ladakh. The picturesque panoramas and pure air lure tourists from every nook and corner of the world.

Besides, how can you not admire the colorful prayer flags that simply add an added charm to your highway to glory?

Check out the 3 Spectacular Places To Visit In Khardung La Pass

5. Pangong Lake

The word Pangong is derived from the Tibetan word Banggong Co which means “long, narrow, enchanted lake”. Pangong Lake is an endorheic lake in the Himalayas situated at a height of about 4,350 m (14,270 ft).

Pangong Tso is geographically situated in a disputed territory, claimed both by India and China. The eastern end of the lake is in Tibet and is not claimed by India. The western end of the lake is not in dispute.

This beautiful multi-shaded ocean-like lake is about 5 KM wide at its broadest point and about 134 KM long with about 60% of the length extending into Tibet.

But if you remember the scene from the Bollywood movie “3 Idiots” when Kareena Kapoor comes riding on a scooter to meet Aamir Khan, then you have already seen the scenic beauty of the picturesque Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake.

Pangong Tso-lake in Changthang region of Ladakh has emerged as one of the most wanted places to visit among domestic tourists in recent times especially after the Bollywood blockbusters “3 idiots” and “Jab Tak Hai Jaan”.

The beauty of Pangong Tso cannot be described but can only be experienced. The lake mesmerizes one and all with its shimmering beauty. In simple words, we can say Pangong Lake is “Turquoise Blue Paradise” that you would not like to miss at any cost while traveling to Ladakh, and also it is one of the best places to visit near Ladakh.

Check out 3 Best Places to Visit in Pangong Lake

6. Panikhar

While most of the villages in Ladakh are known for their extremely enticing beauty and charm,  Panikhar  totally steals the show which is located 26 km from the village of Sankoo.

Panikhar is a captivating village in the Suru Valley of Ladakh, this magnificent hamlet is among the best maintained and serene villages which you will find during your trip to Ladakh.

Panikhar is only 75 km from Kargil and can be reached in less than 3 hours by hiring a cab. Untouched by the hands of commercialization, Panikhar has endured and also showcases its bountiful beauty with full glory. With the Suru River following the trails that lead to this bewitching village in Ladakh, the beauty and splendor get further adorned with greeneries on both sides.

This serene village is ideal for enjoying the scenic views. It is the best place to get a view of Nun mountain. You can also visit the nearby Parkachik Pass. You can stop at Panikhar to witness the simple lifestyle of the inhabitants here who are quite hospitable.

And if you happen to visit Panikhar during the winters, you will be welcomed by captivating views of snow-capped peaks with its pearly-white meadows casting their spell on you! On the other hand, summers are marked by a magical change that converts the entire village into fantasy land!

All you can witness during the summers is colorful flowers throughout the village; which is also known as the ‘Valley of Flowers’ of the Trans-Himalayan region. I am pretty sure after reading this, you won’t like to miss this magical village for sure on your trip to Suru valley.

7. Kun Peak

Located in the upper Suru Valley,  Kun Peak  is the second-highest peak of the Nun Kun massif. Kun was the first to be conquered in 1913 by the Italian mountaineer Piacenza, while Nun, the highest summit of the massif, was first scaled by the Swiss climber, Madame Claude Kogan in 1953.

The Nun Kun Massif is a very popular climbing area of the region that is booked out from months ahead, sometimes years, by climbing expeditions, therefore advance arrangements are a necessity. It offers an opportunity for climbers to scale one of the highest peaks of Ladakh (7, 077 m), and higher than any other peaks in the world outside the great Himalayas!

Climbing Kun Peak will bring you a once-in-a-lifetime experience of conquering Mount Kun peak, and thereby the experience to conquer yourself. So, don’t miss climbing this Himalayan mountain if you love to climb but remember it is considered one of the most challenging climbing destinations in the Great Himalayas.

Check out 4 Beautiful Places to Visit In Ladakh’s Suru Valley

Located midway between Padum in the scenic Zanskar Valley and Kargil,  Rangdum  is one of the most beautiful places to visit during your trip to Ladakh. Being one of the most extreme and isolated, Rangdum is an oblique extended plateau encompassed by breathtaking hills on one side and encrusted rocky mountains on the other.

This gorgeous valley in the pictorial valley of Ladakh is adorned by fascinating and colorful peaks on one side and stunning glaciers along with rugged mountains on the other side.

The chief attraction of this place is a massive 18th-century monastery ‘Rangdum’ which houses as many as 40 monks. It is perched atop of a centrally rising mound and ensconced by a separated route of a mountain stream that creates an aura of age-old fortification protecting a mystical mountain.

Secluded from the humdrum of city life, Rangdum is the ultimate place to wind up, relax, and get rejuvenated while having a tryst with the enchanting beauty of nature. In addition to this, visiting Rangdum will also get you the opportunity to witness and enjoy the contrasting sides of the Ladakh region.

While you enjoy the stimulating views of the rugged mountains where you can revel in the astounding views and charm of several vibrant mountains around the valley.

So don’t miss it because along with the snow-clad peaks that depict the unique charm and aura of a Ladakh trip, there are the verdant meadows that will make your stay in Rangdum an extremely soothing affair!

Padum , named after Padmasambhava and known as the second Buddha is the only town in Zanskar and one of the two main capitals of the erstwhile Zanskar Kingdom. It is the most populated town of Zanskar that is inhabited by around 2000 people.

The traditional heart of the village is below the gompa where two large chortens stand above old buildings. Padum is the base for many difficult treks such as Padum to Darcha via Shingo La, Padum to Lamayuru via Singge La, and Padum to Leh via Cha Cha La, Rubrang La, and the Markha Valley.

Around Padum, you can visit the Starrimo Monastery, which houses about 30 monks, and Pibiting village, with its dominating hilltop monastery. Bardan, about 12 km from Padum on the trekking route to Darcha, has a 17th-century gompa, which is worth visiting.

A favorite among photographers, the town of Padum is scenic and known for its Spartan splendor. The fields that acquire different hues with the change of season and the close view of the Drang-Drung glacier’s long and winding river of ice and snow create an almost magical image to be captured.

Check out 4 Beautiful Places To Visit In Ladakh’s Zanskar Valley

10. Tiger Hill

Tiger Hill traditionally known as Gangz La (also called Point 5062) is a mountain in the Drass-Kargil area which is one of the highest peaks in the area and was the subject of a battle during the 1999 Kargil War.

Since Tiger Hill is the highest peak in the sector, it overlooks National Highway 1D, a road that connects Srinagar to Kargil, and is the main supply route of the Kargil sector.

The main tourist attraction of this hill is trekking where you can climb up to the viewpoints to get a panoramic view of the surrounding area. You can consider camping there to enjoy an outdoor evening.

There is a Kargil War memorial on the highway road. You can get a good view of the hill from the memorial on a clear day. Inside the Kargil War memorial or the Drass War Memorial, you can find a memorial sandstone wall with the names of the soldiers who died during the battle.

Another notable point of elegance here is the beautiful natural beauty of Tiger Hill, which is covered in mild verdant foliage paired with sublime clouds in the background. The fresh morning air as you make your way to the summit is a refreshing experience away from the banter of city life.

11. Suru River

The  Suru River is a 185 km long river tributary of the Indus River that flows entirely through the Kargil where the Penzella glacier near Pensi La is the main source of the Suru River.

The Suru River forms the western and northern boundary of the Zanskar Range.  The river flows westwards, along with the Kargil-Zanskar Road, from its source and forms the Suru valley, which is towered by the massif of Nun Kun mountain.

It drains the Nun Kun mountain massif of the Zanskar Range in the Suru valley and is joined by a tributary “Shafat Nala” at the pastures of Gulmatango. The Suru River has extensive possibilities for rafting and it is practiced during the summer.

The Suru Valley is the starting point for rafting trips, and it also provides a base for mountaineering expeditions to the Nun Kun mountain massif.

Check out The 5 Beautiful Places To Visit In Kargil

12.  Mushkoh Valley 

Located about 8km from Drass,  Mushkoh Valley is a glacial paradise, mostly known for its remarkable wildflowers that bloom in the summer months whose trekking trails offer the most surreal experiences.

It is considered to be glaciated and unsuitable for human habitation that is situated at an elevation of around 11,000 feet is just eight kilometers from the main market in Drass.

The valley has a population settled in a beautiful highland village surrounded by mountains and meadow on all sides that has a breathtaking landscape as Dras River also flows through it.

From Mushkoh, you can also trek to Tilail in Gurez (Bandipore) in few days which passes through many meadows. The meadows are dotted with different varieties of flowers. The mountain slopes in the Mushkoo Valley are filled with flowers giving the village a breathtaking beauty. So, if you’re an adventure enthusiast, a trek here is highly recommended.

13. Minamarg

Located at a distance of 30km from Dras and lying on one of the trails of Amarnath Yatra,  Minamarg  is known for its scenic hills and valleys and Machoi glaciers.

Surrounded by the pristine Machoi Glacier – a place where the Drass river originates from and brimming with lush vegetation and exotic flora, Minamarg is a true paradise for all nature lovers. You need to visit this place for the most spectacular view of the Drass Valley.

So, If you’re looking for a slightly more immersive experience in Drass then look no further than Minamarg, a charming and unexplored valley that will take your breath away.

Check out The 4 Amazing Places to Visit In Drass Valley

14. Alchi Monastery

Located in the Alchi Village of Ladakh,  Alchi Monastery is a complex of Buddist temples of which Alchi Monastery is the oldest and most famous.

It is regarded as one of the most important Buddhist centres in Ladakh and also as one of the monastic jewels of Ladakh that dates back to nearly one thousand years and so the effect of the Tibetan influence can be seen in the local culture.

Cemented on a flat ground unlike other monasteries in Ladakh, the traditional architecture of the monastery is a monastic complex that has 3 separate temples, known as Dukhang, Sumstek, and the Temple of Manjushri. Dukhang, the assembly hall, is the largest and the oldest preserved part of the monastery. The walls of the assembly hall are full of ancient paintings that depict different forms of Buddha and goddesses.

Sumtsek, the three-story temple is popular for its four-armed big Bodhisattva statue which occupies two floors of the temple. On the ground floor, there is a Maitreya Buddha along with a figure of white Avalokiteshvara and Manjushri.

The Temple of Manjushri is also known as Jampe Lhakhang. Along with images of Manjushri, the temple has a sculpture and a painting of Rinchen Tsangpo.

Apart from the historical and cultural factors, Alchi Monastery is also a place for adventure lovers. Rafting is a popular choice among people who visit this monastery due to its location being close to the Zaskar River, which is an added advantage for the rafters.

Check out 3 Beautiful Places To Visit In Alchi

15. Shyok Valley

Shyok Valley which is close to Nubra is a valley of the Shyok river, which originates from the Rimo glaciers and is at an elevation of 10,500ft. Rising from the Khumdang glacier, the Nubra and Changchenmo rivers fill the waters of the Shyok river.

The Khardung La pass, the highest motorable road in the world, on the Ladakh Range which is on the north of the town of Leh is the gateway to the Shyok Valley.

Shyok Valley is a paradise for those who yearn to witness the greener side of Ladakh Valley. Away from the humdrum of a typical tourist destination, this valley is the ultimate destination to laze around while doing nothing but enjoying the pristine beauty of nature.

The towering ranges of the valley are a visual delight with vegetation on its borders. Shyok river is also known as the river of death, probably because its route is a difficult one, not opted by many. This river is a tributary of the river Indus. Untouched by the hands of commercialization, a visit to Shyok Valley is a must while planning a trip to Leh.

 16. Stok Kangri 

Located in Hemis National Park, 12 km southwest of the trailhead in the village of Stok and around 15 km southwest of the city of Leh, Stok Kangri is the highest mountain in the Stok Range of the Himalayas. Stok Kangri (6,121m), in the Zanskar mountain range, is the most accessible, and one of the most popular climbs.

It is a non-technical climb, and on a good day, you can make it to the summit and back to the base camp, on the same day. The peak provides stupendous views of the Indus valley and the Karakoram mountain range.

A paradise for those who desire to have a tryst with the snow-clad peaks and mountains in Ladakh, Stok Kangri is definitely one of the most enthralling tourist attractions in Ladakh! Reaching a maximum height of 20,182ft, this soaring mountain is the highest peak in the Stok Range of the great Himalayas in the entire Ladakh Valley.

Among all the treks, the Stok Kangri Trek that usually originates from the base of Stok Village and winds upon reaching the peak is the most sought-after trek in Ladakh. It is often compared with the thrill and adventure of the poised Roopkund Trek and requires an ardent trekking experience along with proper acclimatization. But the view from the top of Stok Kangri is simply one of the best in the Himalayas. You can enjoy great views of the Zanskar and Karakoram ranges including the second highest peak in the world from here.

17. Tso Moriri Lake

Also known as Mountain Lake, Tso Moriri Lake  is a spectacular site amidst mountain ranges in Leh. Tso-Moriri or Lake Moriri is a High Altitude Lake that is officially named as Tso-Moriri Wetland Conservation Reserve which is located in the Changthang area with an altitude of 4,595 m (15,075 ft).

This lake measures about 28 km in length from north to south and about 4-6 km in breadth and about 100 feet on average in-depth. The maximum depth of Tso-Moriri Lake is 248 feet.

This beautiful lake is surrounded by barren hills, with the backdrop of beautiful snow-covered mountains. Tso-Moriri is a mind-numbingly beautiful, calm, and sacred lake for the local people of Ladakh. The water is crystal clear and of deep blue color.

However, since Tso-Moriri Lake has no outlet, its water is consequently brackish, although not very detectable to the taste. Tso-Moriri is slightly higher than Pangong Tso and the water is far less brackish supporting more birdlife. In fact, Tso-Moriri Lake was once a popular source of salt.

In reality, this place is extremely harsh and difficult to survive especially in winters but this eye-soothing lake is the Divine Destination in Ladakh.

18. Rupshu Valley

Rupshu is a small valley in the midst of mountains that is actually a western extension of the Tibetan Plateau. The Rupshu Valley lies southeast of Ladakh on the road from Manali to Leh which has some of the most amazing scenic panoramas that are found in Ladakh.

This pretty valley is inhabited by a small population of ‘Changspa’, who are nomadic shepherds. It is an abode of different sects of the Indo – Tibetans that reflects from cloister to cloister, a terrain that changes its color at every turn, and a cascade of mountains which is captured from high altitude passes, Rupshu Valley perks you to discover a potpourri of culture and nature.

So, don’t forget to explore Ladakh’s remote Rupshu district, home of nomadic tribes, hidden forts, high passes, and majestic yak.

19. Tso Kar Lake

Being very popular with bird watchers, Tso Kar Lake  is surrounded by the marshlands that host amazing birdlife which include Brahmni ducks, bar-headed geese, and the great crested grebe.

The Tso Kar Lake is also known as ‘White Lake’ is one of the three high-altitude saltwater lakes in Ladakh. It is known as ‘White Lake’ because of the white salt of the water deposits all over the lake shores.

Tso Kar Lake is the smallest lake among the three important lakes in Ladakh that is situated in Rupshu Valley, about 250 km southeast of its principle town, Leh at an altitude of 4660m/15280ft in the Changthang region of South Eastern Ladakh. Tso Kar Lake is at a distance of around 50 km from Tso Moriri Lake. Besides birdwatchers, Tso Kar also attracts a lot of wildlife lovers.

Surrounded by hills and mountains on all sides, the lake itself gives a wonderful scenic and amazing view. The views at Tso Kar, just as breathtaking as they are during the day and can be even more exciting during the night, with the mountains around shining in the glow of moonlight. The lake looks up to an endless sea of mountains. The Lake has bewitching beauty that keeps you hooked all your life.

20. Magnetic Hill

Located at a height of 14,000 feet above sea level, Magnetic Hill also known as gravity hill and sometimes called mystery hill or a gravity road, is a place located on the Leh-Kargil-Srinagar national highway, about 30 km from Leh.

To the eastern side of the hill flows the Sindhu River, originating in Tibet and goes to Pakistan. The layout of the surrounding land produces the optical illusion that a very slight downhill slope appears to be an uphill slope. Thus, a car left out of gear will appear to be rolling uphill.

Magnetic hill near picturesque Leh has magnetic properties that attract metallic objects, making vehicles move up at a speed of about 20 km per hour with their engines off.

Did you know? The local administration has put up a billboard near the “Magnetic Hill” for tourists stating that if a vehicle is placed on a particular spot on the road and the engine is switched off, it would not slide down but move up.

So, don’t miss visiting this hill that has magnetic properties and is one of the several unique places which you can find in Ladakh.

21. Uletokpo

Located 70 km west of Leh on the Leh–Srinagar Highway, Uletokpo  is an enchanting village at an altitude of  10,000 ft (3040m).

Being the central hub in the city, Uletokpo is an ideal stopover for acclimatizing to Ladakh’s climate and altitude.

Uletokpo is world-famous for outdoor activities, like camping and trekking, as it offers a perfect blend of vast terrains and ultimate natural beauty where you can also explore some of the famous monasteries, like Lamayuru, Alchi, and Rizong, which are situated in Uletokpo.

Uletokpo is a bed of narrow and deep valleys that makes it perfect for trekking. Trekking provides adventure enthusiasts an amazing experience of walking up and down the high peaks, along with a chance to enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of villages and lush landscapes.

The trek routes you may access in Uletokpo are Leh-Spituk-Alchi-Uletokpo, Uletokpo-Lamayuru-Leh. This place also has a rich heritage of ancient Tibetan art and sceneries.

The summer season is the best time to visit Uletokpo to experience trekking. The season extends from early June to mid of October. So, don’t miss visiting this amazing landscape while traveling to Ladakh.

22. Lamayuru

Founded in the 11th century by Mahasiddacarya Naropa,  Lamayuru is on the Leh – Srinagar Highway and can be visited from Leh.

Lamayuru is a tiny village that’s popularly known as the Moonland of Ladakh. Lamayuru is immensely popular for housing one of the oldest and largest monasteries in Ladakh.

However, its claim to fame is accredited to the surreal breathtaking view of moonlike landscapes carved into the mountains. A large lake long ago dried up, and the protrusions looked like the surface of the moon.

While in Leh, you can take a day trip to Lamayuru, known for its Lamayuru Monastery and a stretch of land borrowed from the moon.

Visit the monastery to witness the frescos and paintings it houses and the Moonland, for something a bit beyond extraordinary. So, don’t miss visiting Lamayuru because people from various places visit this relatively serene destination to immerse themselves in this scenic beauty.

Check out 4 Best Places To Visit In Lamayuru

Located in the Himalayas on the Leh-Manali Highway, between Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh,  Sarchu  is also known as Sir Bhum Chun and is an important halt point with tented accommodation.

It is situated between Baralacha La to the south and Lachulung La to the north, at an altitude of 4,290 m. Sarchu comes into the center of attention from May to September every year when the snow thaws on this route thus making the place a transit campsite in the Himalayas on the Leh-Manali Highway.

Sarchu also becomes the starting point for treks to Zanskar in Ladakh. The route is popular with trekkers and high altitude climbers as one has to deal with hostile conditions and difficult terrain.

But ever wondered why Ladakh is also called the  ‘Land of High Passes ’? And every time you cross one at an altitude greater than you have ever done before in Ladakh, it adds to a sense of achievement.

Sarchu also resembles Ladakh with its barren splendor which is a beehive of activity between June and September when the snow melts and the Leh-Manali highway is open for traffic.

Check out 4 Amazing Places To Visit In Sarchu

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10 Best tourist places to visit in Ladakh in 2024

L adakh is often called the "Land of High Passes" because it's full of tall mountains and stunning scenery. People come here from all over the world to see the amazing views, visit old monasteries, and experience the unique culture. If you're thinking of visiting Ladakh in 2024, we've made a list of the top 10 places you just can't miss! Also, besides sightseeing, there are lots of fun things to do in Ladakh , like stargazing, trekking, and river rafting.

Pangong Lake - Azure Oasis

Pangong Lake is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Ladakh, Pangong Lake is a shimmering oasis of crystal-clear blue waters nestled between rugged mountains. Located at an altitude of 4,350 meters, this breathtaking lake stretches across the border into Tibet. The lake is located on the Changtang plateau in eastern Ladakh, this lake is a fantastic spot for camping. It's really popular with tourists right now, making it one of the best places to visit in Ladakh. If you want to avoid the crowds, it's a good idea to visit during the off-season.

Best Time to Visit: June to September

Nubra Valley - Valley of Flowers

The valley is accessible via the world's highest motorable pass, Khardung La, and offers a unique blend of adventure and tranquillity. The sandy hills in Nubra Valley give visitors a feeling like they're in the Arabian Nights story. Another cool place to check out in Nubra Valley is Panamik village, known for its hot springs that smell like sulfur.

Best time to visit: During the autumn season between the months of July to September.

Leh Palace - Ancient Royal Residence

Leh Palace represents Ladakh's rich history and culture. It was built in the 17th century by King Sengge Namgyal and has nine floors. From here, you can see beautiful views of the mountains and valleys around. Inside, you can walk through its maze-like halls, admire old paintings and objects, and learn about Ladakh's royal family. Plus, there's a lovely Buddha statue at the back, making it even more special.

Best time to visit: The ideal time to visit Leh Palace is in the evening. The weather is pleasant, and you'll be treated to a stunning view of the city as the sun sets.

Tso Moriri Lake - Jewel of Changthang

Tso Moriri Lake is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks and pristine meadows, this high-altitude lake is a haven for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. Visitors can spot rare species such as the black-necked crane and bar-headed goose, while soaking in the serenity of the landscape.

Best Time To Visit: From May to early September

Diskit Monastery - Serene Himalayan Sanctuary

Diskit Monastery sits atop a hill, looking out over Nubra Valley. It's one of the oldest and biggest monasteries in Ladakh, dating back to the 14th century. Inside, you'll find a huge statue of Maitreya Buddha and many old books and items. You can join the monks for their prayers in the morning, wander around the beautiful halls and rooms, and take in the amazing views of the area.

Best time to visit: July to September

Hemis Monastery - Spiritual Oasis

This monastery is renowned for its annual Hemis Festival, which attracts devotees and tourists from far and wide. Visitors can explore the monastery's museum, which houses a priceless collection of thangkas, statues, and religious relics, and witness the colourful masked dances performed during the festival.

Best time to visit: April to August

Alchi Monastery - Hidden Artistic Gem

Alchi Monastery, also called Alchi Gompa, is found along the banks of the Indus River. It's like finding a hidden treasure chest full of really old art and buildings. It was built way back in the 10th century! People love it for its beautiful paintings, fancy wood carvings, and ancient books. When you visit, you can spend time admiring the detailed art on the walls of the temples and other buildings. It's a peaceful place where you can feel a special kind of calm.

Best time to visit: May to October

Magnetic Hill - Gravity-Defying Wonder

Magnetic Hill is definitely one of the coolest spots in Ladakh. It's a hill that seems to break the rules of gravity, making cars and bikes look like they're rolling uphill! Scientists and tourists have been scratching their heads over it for ages. You can find it on the Leh-Kargil-Srinagar highway. Visitors can park their vehicles at a specific spot and see this strange phenomenon up close. After that, you can take in the beautiful views of the Indus Valley from the area around the hill.

Lamayuru Monastery - Enigmatic Landscape

If you're looking to explore one of the most breathtaking hidden gems in Leh, Lamayuru Monastery is one of the oldest and most beautiful monasteries in Ladakh. Founded in the 11th century, this monastery is renowned for its stunning architecture, ancient murals, and panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Visitors can explore the monastery's prayer halls and chapels, participate in meditation sessions led by resident monks, and hike to the nearby Moonland, a surreal landscape of eroded rock formations.

Best time to visit: June to September

Shanti Stupa - Beacon of Peace

Shanti Stupa is a symbol of peace and harmony in the Himalayas. Built by Japanese Buddhist monks in the 1980s, this white-domed stupa offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, making it the perfect spot for meditation and reflection. Visitors can climb the steps to the top of the stupa, spin the prayer wheels, and soak in the serene ambience of this sacred site.

Best time to visit: May to September

Whether you're an adventure seeker, a history buff, or a spiritual seeker, Ladakh offers a wealth of experiences that will leave you spellbound. So pack your bags, embark on an unforgettable journey, and discover the timeless beauty of this Himalayan paradise in 2024.

Frequently asked questions

1. When is the best time to visit Ladakh?

Ladakh is best visited during the summer months, from May to September, when the weather is pleasant and most of the mountain passes are open. However, some adventurous travellers also visit during the winter months to experience the snow-covered landscapes and frozen lakes.

2. What are the accommodation options available in Ladakh?

Ladakh offers a range of accommodation options, including hotels, guesthouses, homestays, and campsites. In Leh, you'll find a variety of hotels and guesthouses catering to different budgets. In more remote areas like Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake, accommodation options may be more limited.

3. What are the transportation options available?

The main mode of transportation in Ladakh is by road. You can either hire a taxi or rent a motorcycle to explore the region. Public buses also operate between Leh and some of the major towns and tourist destinations.

4. Is altitude sickness a concern in Ladakh?

Yes, altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), can be a concern due to Ladakh's high altitude. It's important to acclimatize properly by spending a few days in Leh before venturing to higher altitudes and drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated.

List of famous things to buy in Ladakh

10 Must-Do activities in Ladakh in 2024

Apr 23, 2024

Explore Leh

Begin your Ladakh journey by exploring the charming town of Leh. Visit Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa, and Leh Market to immerse yourself in the local culture, architecture, and vibrant atmosphere.

Credit: Envato

Visit Monasteries

Ladakh is home to numerous ancient monasteries, each with its own unique architecture and spiritual significance. Some must-visit monasteries include Thiksey Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Diskit Monastery, and Lamayuru Monastery.

Credit: Unsplash

Visit Pangong Lake

Experience the surreal beauty of Pangong Lake, famous for its ever-changing shades of blue. Spend a night at one of the camps near the lake to witness the magical sunrise and sunset against the backdrop of the Himalayas.

Explore Nubra Valley

Explore the high-altitude desert landscape of Nubra Valley, where you can ride double-humped Bactrian camels amidst the towering sand dunes of Hunder and Diskit. Don't miss visiting the Diskit Monastery with its giant statue of Maitreya Buddha.

Khardung La Pass

Embark on a thrilling journey to Khardung La Pass, one of the highest motorable passes in the world. Enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, and don't forget to capture some memorable photographs at the iconic signboard.

Ladakh offers a variety of trekking opportunities for adventure enthusiasts. Popular treks include the Markha Valley Trek, Stok Kangri Trek, and the Chadar Trek (in winter). These treks take you through remote villages, high mountain passes, and breathtaking landscapes.

River Rafring

Experience the adrenaline rush of river rafting in the Indus and Zanskar rivers. The thrilling rapids amidst the stunning scenery make for an unforgettable adventure.

Attend Festivals

If you're visiting Ladakh during the festival season, make sure to attend festivals like Hemis Festival, Ladakh Festival, and Sindhu Darshan Festival. These festivals offer insights into the region's culture, music, dance, and traditional rituals.

Photography

Ladakh is a paradise for photographers, offering stunning landscapes, vibrant culture, and unique wildlife. Capture the beauty of the region, including dramatic landscapes, colourful prayer flags, and traditional Ladakhi architecture.

With its clear skies and minimal light pollution, Ladakh offers excellent stargazing opportunities. Spend a night under the starry sky, marvelling at the Milky Way and constellations visible in the high-altitude desert.

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