Best Time to Visit Leh Ladakh: Weather by Month and What to Expect

The best time to visit Leh Ladakh is from May to September, when the days are sunny and pleasant, the high passes are open, and camps at Pangong Lake and Nubra Valley are running. June to August is the peak season; May, September and early October are quieter, cooler and often clearer.

Ladakh is a high-altitude cold desert, so its weather is unlike the rest of India. It hardly rains, the sun is strong, and the temperature can swing by 20°C between afternoon and night. This guide explains the Ladakh weather month by month, when the roads open, and which season suits which kind of trip.

Temperatures are indicative for Leh. Pangong, Tso Moriri, Hanle and the high passes are much colder, especially at night.

• April: the season begins. Leh is cold but sunny, apricot trees blossom in the lower valleys, and Nubra and Pangong can be visited, although some camps are not yet open and snow can close passes for a few hours.
• May: a good month for a quieter trip. Days are pleasant, nights cold, and Pangong may still be partly frozen early in the month. The Srinagar–Leh road is usually open; the Manali road may not be.
• June: peak season begins, with comfortable days, all camps open and both highways usually open by the second half of the month. Hemis festival often falls in June or July.
• July and August: the warmest months and the busiest. Ladakh lies in a rain shadow, so it gets little rain, but heavy showers in Himachal and Kashmir can cause landslides on the highways. Flights and hotels are in high demand.
• September: one of the best months, with clear skies, fewer tourists and the start of autumn colours. The Ladakh Festival is held in September.
• October: crisp, clear and quiet, with golden poplar trees in the first half. Nights fall below freezing, many Pangong camps close mid-month, and the Manali road usually closes in October or November.
• November to March: winter. Leh is reached only by air, many hotels close, and temperatures drop well below freezing. It is the season for the Chadar trek, snow-leopard spotting and the Losar new-year festival.

The Srinagar–Leh highway via Zojila usually opens first, often in April or May, and the Manali–Leh highway usually opens by late May or June. Both normally stay open until October or November, depending on snow. Inside Ladakh, the roads to Nubra over Khardung La and to Pangong over Chang La are kept open most of the year, but can close for hours or days after snowfall. Exact dates change every year, so we confirm them before you travel. Read more in our Ladakh mountain passes guide.

• First visit, families and seniors: June to September.
• Road trips from Manali or Srinagar and bike trips: mid-June to mid-September.
• Hanle, Umling La and Tso Moriri: June to September.
• Honeymoon and photography: September and early October for clear skies and colour; June for long days.
• Budget travel: May and late September to October, when hotels are quieter.
• Snow and winter adventure: January and February for the Chadar trek; February and March for snow leopards.

Snow falls mostly on the passes and higher ground; Leh itself sees light snowfall a few times each winter. A winter trip to Leh is magical but demanding: temperatures can fall to −20°C or lower at night, water pipes freeze, many hotels and restaurants close, and some roads are closed. Winter trips need experienced planning, heated rooms and a flexible itinerary. Pangong freezes completely in January and February.

In summer, pack light layers for the day, a fleece and a warm jacket for evenings, a cap, sunglasses and strong sunscreen. In spring and autumn, add thermals, gloves and a down jacket. For winter, you need full winter gear. See our complete packing list and altitude tips.