Quick answer
The best time to visit Ladakh is June to September, when Leh is 20–25°C by day, both the Srinagar–Leh and Manali–Leh highways are open and camps at Nubra and Pangong are running. May and early October are quieter and cheaper but colder. From November to March Ladakh is a flights-only, sub-zero destination for specialists.
Month-by-month at a glance
- Jan-2°Avoid
- Feb1°Avoid
- Mar6°Fair
- Apr12°Fair
- May17°Good
- Jun22°Best
- Jul25°Best
- Aug25°Good
- Sep21°Best
- Oct14°Good
- Nov7°Fair
- Dec1°Avoid
Ladakh weather, crowds and what to expect
| Month | High / Low | Rain | Crowds | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryAvoid | -2° / -14° | 10 mm | low | Deep freeze; Chadar trek and specialists only |
| FebruaryAvoid | 1° / -12° | 9 mm | low | Very cold; winter festivals, many hotels shut |
| MarchFair | 6° / -6° | 10 mm | low | Snow leopard season ends; Pangong frozen |
| AprilFair | 12° / -1° | 7 mm | low | Flights only; cold nights, few camps |
| MayGood | 17° / 3° | 6 mm | medium | Highways reopen; Pangong thawing |
| JuneBest | 22° / 7° | 4 mm | high | Peak season; dear flights; Hemis festival |
| JulyBest | 25° / 10° | 15 mm | high | Warmest month; all camps open |
| AugustGood | 25° / 10° | 15 mm | high | Cloudburst and landslide risk on highways |
| SeptemberBest | 21° / 5° | 9 mm | medium | Clear skies, Ladakh Festival, fewer crowds |
| OctoberGood | 14° / -1° | 5 mm | low | Golden poplars; camps close mid-month |
| NovemberFair | 7° / -7° | 3 mm | low | Highways closing; Leh-only trips |
| DecemberAvoid | 1° / -11° | 7 mm | low | Sub-zero days; Ladakhi Losar |
Long-term monthly averages. Individual years vary — check a forecast in the week before you travel.
Festivals and events in Ladakh
December or January (lunar)
Ladakhi Losar
Ladakh's new year, celebrated about two months before Tibetan Losar; home rituals and fire processions in Leh.
January (lunar)
Spituk Gustor
Masked cham dances at Spituk monastery near Leh airport.
June or July (lunar); 24–25 June in 2026
Hemis Tsechu
Ladakh's best-known monastery festival, 45 km from Leh; book Leh hotels early.
June
Sindhu Darshan
Riverside festival on the Indus at Shey, near Leh.
Usually September
Ladakh Festival
Cultural programmes, polo and archery in and around Leh.
October or November (lunar)
Thiksey Gustor
Two-day masked-dance festival at Thiksey monastery.
When should you go to Ladakh?
Ladakh is a high-altitude desert. Leh sits at about 3,500 m and gets under 100 mm of rain a year, so the monsoon that shuts down Himachal barely touches it. Temperature and road access decide the season, not rain.
June to September: the main season
All roads are open, every camp at Pangong Tso and Hunder is running, and days are warm enough for a T-shirt in Leh. June and the first half of July are the busiest, and late-booked flights from Delhi can cost ₹20,000 or more return. August can bring cloudbursts and landslides on the highways, especially on the Himachal side, though flights are unaffected. September is the pick: clear skies, thinner crowds and the Ladakh Festival in Leh.
May and October: the shoulder months
In May, Pangong is still partly frozen and nights drop below zero. The Manali–Leh road usually opens in mid-to-late May (it reopened around 12–13 May in 2026), and the Srinagar route via Zojila opens a little earlier with time-bound, one-way traffic at first. By mid-October many lakeside camps close and nights fall to –5°C, but the light is superb and Leh hotels discount.
November to April: winter Ladakh
Flights only. Leh drops to –14°C at night in January and many hotels shut. People come for the Chadar trek on the frozen Zanskar, snow leopard tours and winter festivals. It is not for first-timers or anyone with heart or lung conditions.
Whatever the month, treat your first 36–48 hours in Leh as rest. Altitude sickness ignores the calendar. Our 7-day plan in itineraries builds this in.
When are the roads open?
| Route | Usually open | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Srinagar–Leh via Zojila | April or May to November | Time-bound, one-way slots early in the season |
| Manali–Leh | Mid-May or June to October | Reopened in mid-May in 2026 |
| Leh–Nubra via Khardung La | Year-round, weather permitting | Closes for hours or days after snow |
| Leh–Pangong via Chang La | Year-round, weather permitting | Camps run roughly May to mid-October |
For budgets by tier, see Ladakh trip cost; plan your days with things to do in Ladakh and pack using our packing lists.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best month to visit Ladakh?
Do Indians need a permit to visit Ladakh in 2026?
Can I visit Ladakh in winter?
Is August a safe time to go to Ladakh?
When does Pangong Lake freeze?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
