Best Time to Visit Ladakh – A Complete Travel Guide

by Vargis.Khan

Best Time to Visit Ladakh

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.

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

Best Time to Visit Ladakh

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

Best Time to Visit Ladakh

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
  • Clothes Needed: Regular summer clothes, light woolens, caps, windproof jacket

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
  • Clothes Needed: Regular summer clothes, light woolens, caps, windproof jacket

lahaul valley

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
  • Clothes Needed: Regular summer clothes, light woolens, caps, windproof jacket

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.

  • Average Temperature in Leh City: 17 °c Minimum and 30 °c Maximum
  • Clothes Needed: Regular summer clothes, light woolens, caps, windproof jacket

pangong lake

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
  • Clothes Needed: Heavy woolens, caps, windproof jacket, warm socks, thermals

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
  • Clothes Needed: Heavy woolens, caps, windproof jacket, warm socks, thermals

kargil war memorial

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.

pangong tso

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.

frozen suraj tal

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.

kargil to padum

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 15th June till 15th 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.

delhi leh bus

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.

best time to visit ladakh

Conclusion

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.

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126 comments

Likhit August 7, 2023 - 12:48 pm

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

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Vargis.Khan August 7, 2023 - 9:39 pm

Have a safe trip bhai !!!

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Tushar Basak July 18, 2023 - 8:00 am

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?

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Vargis.Khan July 18, 2023 - 8:23 am

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

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Tushar Basak July 18, 2023 - 7:57 am

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?

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Vargis.Khan July 18, 2023 - 8:23 am

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

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sanju June 25, 2023 - 3:40 pm

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.

TIA

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Vargis.Khan June 26, 2023 - 8:13 am

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

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sanju June 25, 2023 - 3:39 pm

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.

TIA

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Vargis.Khan June 26, 2023 - 8:13 am

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

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Amit Mehndiratta June 17, 2023 - 7:53 am

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

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Vargis.Khan June 17, 2023 - 9:42 am

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.

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Sujit Ghosh September 10, 2022 - 3:49 pm

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?

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Vargis.Khan September 13, 2022 - 10:58 am

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

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Selvakumar June 7, 2022 - 6:07 am

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 …

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Amruta Ayagole May 3, 2022 - 5:27 pm

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 ?

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Vargis.Khan May 5, 2022 - 7:40 am

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

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Nilesh February 20, 2022 - 4:20 am

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

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Vargis.Khan February 22, 2022 - 10:12 am

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

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Vishnu Mohan February 15, 2022 - 2:26 am

Excellent detailed travelogue

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Vargis.Khan February 15, 2022 - 10:28 am

Thank you !!!

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Robin Dutta July 17, 2021 - 10:13 am

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.

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Vargis.Khan July 19, 2021 - 6:43 am

Hi Robin – It will be best to wait until September

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Rahul Patni September 24, 2021 - 2:05 am

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?

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Komal gupta March 30, 2021 - 1:54 pm

Hello

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Komal gupta March 30, 2021 - 1:53 pm

Hello sir

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Komal gupta March 30, 2021 - 1:43 pm

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

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Nakee La Pass, Ladakh - Travel Guide & Sightseeing - Vargis Khan November 4, 2020 - 12:49 am

[…] 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. […]

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Dr. T K Ajaikumar October 12, 2020 - 12:25 pm

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

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Vineet Jain March 7, 2020 - 5:45 am

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

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Vargis.Khan March 7, 2020 - 10:07 am

Yes it will be

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Vineet Jain March 7, 2020 - 3:44 pm

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.

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Vargis.Khan March 9, 2020 - 6:07 am

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

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Vineet Jain March 15, 2020 - 3:28 pm

Thanks a lot

suraj March 4, 2020 - 10:05 am

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 ??

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Anabela Marinho January 24, 2020 - 4:08 pm

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

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Deepak S. January 21, 2020 - 6:51 am

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

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Vargis.Khan January 23, 2020 - 4:38 pm Reply
Thyagarajan January 10, 2020 - 1:20 am

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

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Vargis.Khan January 12, 2020 - 2:30 pm

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

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Pradipan Bhowmick August 23, 2019 - 6:06 am

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…..?????

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Mukund Mittal July 15, 2019 - 12:55 pm

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?

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Vargis.Khan July 21, 2019 - 5:30 am

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.

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ratheesh July 10, 2019 - 6:07 am

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??

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Vargis.Khan July 21, 2019 - 5:30 am

Yes it is available

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Arindam Basu June 13, 2019 - 3:43 pm

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…

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Vargis.Khan July 21, 2019 - 5:31 am

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

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UTTAM KUMAR KAR froমনে ASSAM May 29, 2019 - 3:08 pm

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

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Deepu T April 19, 2019 - 12:34 pm

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?

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Vargis.Khan April 19, 2019 - 1:08 pm

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

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Pranita Dhasade April 18, 2019 - 7:12 pm

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?

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Pranita April 19, 2019 - 3:00 am

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

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Vargis.Khan April 19, 2019 - 1:17 pm

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

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Vargis.Khan April 19, 2019 - 1:17 pm

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

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Pranita Dhasade April 19, 2019 - 4:31 pm

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 ?

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Vargis.Khan April 19, 2019 - 11:15 pm

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.

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Manoj Daya March 19, 2019 - 12:15 pm

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

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Vargis.Khan March 19, 2019 - 4:03 pm

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/

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Sagar S March 7, 2019 - 12:41 pm

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

Reply
Vargis.Khan March 7, 2019 - 7:45 pm

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.

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Sagar March 12, 2019 - 6:51 am

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 ?

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Vargis.Khan March 12, 2019 - 12:55 pm

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.

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Shamini January 29, 2019 - 6:03 am

Hi Vargis,

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

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Vargis.Khan January 29, 2019 - 11:15 am

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.

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Paraag November 29, 2018 - 5:04 am

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?

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Vargis.Khan November 29, 2018 - 2:03 pm Reply
Kunal kohli November 11, 2018 - 11:01 pm

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??

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Vargis.Khan November 11, 2018 - 11:07 pm

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.

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Aravind October 21, 2018 - 4:18 am

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?

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Vargis.Khan October 21, 2018 - 4:26 am

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.

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Himanshu Tanwar September 17, 2018 - 9:36 am

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.

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Vargis.Khan September 17, 2018 - 5:56 pm

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/

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sapan kumar pradhan September 13, 2018 - 11:09 am

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.

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Vargis.Khan September 13, 2018 - 12:42 pm

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

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Shubham Dixit July 21, 2018 - 1:41 am

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

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Vargis.Khan July 21, 2018 - 2:14 am

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

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shalaka June 23, 2018 - 8:05 am

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

Reply
Vargis.Khan June 23, 2018 - 3:10 pm

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.

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Shrddha June 23, 2018 - 5:22 pm

Hello Vargis,

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

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Shrddha June 23, 2018 - 5:26 pm

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.

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Vargis.Khan June 23, 2018 - 7:27 pm

No, if you only have 6 days then drop these places.

Vargis.Khan June 23, 2018 - 7:27 pm

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.

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Khushita May 12, 2018 - 8:15 am

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)?

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Vargis.Khan May 12, 2018 - 9:06 pm

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.

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Khushita June 12, 2018 - 11:34 am

Thanks

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Vargis.Khan June 12, 2018 - 1:21 pm

You are welcome

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Harry May 11, 2018 - 8:20 am

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 ??

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Vargis.Khan May 11, 2018 - 1:14 pm

Hi Harry, It depends on how soon the road opens but in all probability, yes the HRTC bus will be available.

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Harry May 11, 2018 - 3:03 pm

Thanks bhai

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Vargis.Khan May 11, 2018 - 3:19 pm

You are welcome Bhai

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Sachin Arora May 10, 2018 - 9:09 am

Hi,

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

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Vargis.Khan May 10, 2018 - 3:51 pm

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/

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Reita April 9, 2018 - 6:41 am

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.

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Vargis.Khan April 9, 2018 - 1:33 pm

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.

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Sushruth M P April 8, 2018 - 6:09 pm

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 ?

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Vargis.Khan April 9, 2018 - 1:21 pm

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.

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Sushruth M P April 9, 2018 - 4:52 pm

Thank you.
Aren’t the self driven cars allowed in nubra valley , khardung la and pangang so ?

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Vargis.Khan April 9, 2018 - 5:41 pm

You are welcome and no they are not.

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Meenakshi lochan April 8, 2018 - 4:36 am

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

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Vargis.Khan April 8, 2018 - 5:42 pm

August is the time of Monsoon but yes you can go. How are you traveling and for how many days?

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Rashedul Islam February 26, 2018 - 4:26 am

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 😛 😛

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Vargis.Khan February 26, 2018 - 3:44 pm

Hello Islam Bhai, June will be better as August is the time for monsoon and that may create some problem.

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Dennis August 24, 2017 - 11:14 am

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?

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Vargis.Khan August 24, 2017 - 1:18 pm

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.

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Sarath August 15, 2017 - 10:11 pm

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

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Vargis.Khan August 16, 2017 - 12:54 pm

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.

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DJ August 1, 2017 - 3:53 pm

Thanks a lot, friend. I guess tyre sealants are not a practical option…

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DJ August 1, 2017 - 10:11 am

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

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Vargis.Khan August 1, 2017 - 3:07 pm

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.

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bhushan July 5, 2017 - 10:52 am

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?

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Vargis.Khan July 5, 2017 - 4:55 pm

Hi Bhushan – No rain around Leh, Nubra and Pangong. All routes are open.

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Sougata Roy June 16, 2017 - 10:51 am

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.

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Vargis.Khan June 16, 2017 - 1:16 pm

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.

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Sougata Roy June 16, 2017 - 5:28 pm

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.

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Vargis.Khan June 16, 2017 - 8:11 pm

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?

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Sougata roy June 17, 2017 - 1:32 pm

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.

Vargis.Khan June 17, 2017 - 8:59 pm

I am a bit confused here. Do you want to go to Moriri from Pangong via Changthang or from Leh via Chumathang?

Basubandhu Bhattacharyya May 11, 2017 - 11:22 am

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.

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Vargis.Khan May 11, 2017 - 3:27 pm

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.

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Neha May 9, 2017 - 11:13 am

Hi, is there local bus transport available from Leh to khardungla?

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Vargis.Khan May 9, 2017 - 3:57 pm

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/

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Neha May 9, 2017 - 11:10 am

Hi, is there JKRTC bus service available from Leh to Khardungla?

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Vargis.Khan May 9, 2017 - 3:58 pm

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/

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Dennis April 28, 2017 - 9:30 am

Thanks for this truly well written article!

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Vargis.Khan April 28, 2017 - 2:42 pm

Thank you for taking the time to drop a note Dennis.

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Dennis April 28, 2017 - 9:27 am

Hi, I am from Kerala, planing for a solo Enfield Ladakh ride in Sept. Any riders like to join? [email protected]

Reply

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