Snowfall In Ladakh – This Season’s First Spell of Snow

by Vargis.Khan

Winter seems to have marked its arrival with the first snowfall in Ladakh at Khardung La and Chang La top.  There was not much snow yet but it was enough to paint the roads and nearby hills complete white. There was no snowfall however yet in the city of Leh, or any other nearby areas like Nubra valley, Pangong Tso or Tso Moriri.

The snow was as of now limited to the top of the peaks; also including Wari La and Tanglang La pass. The roads from the Manali and Srinagar sides are currently open but not for long. It is now only a matter of time before Manali Leh highway is closed early in October. The route from the Srinagar side however remains open until November.

Snowfall in Ladakh

The weather in Ladakh is really unpredictable. It can snow here anytime in the year, including the summer months as well. I have in fact witnessed a snowfall at Chang La once in the month of July.

Chances of that happening are however quite rare. Mostly, between May to August, there is now snowfall but you will still find plenty of snow at the top of the passes. Below is a monthly breakdown.

Snowfall in Ladakh in May

Though May marks the arrival of the summer season, there is still a high chance of snowfall at top of the passes. If not, you will still find snow at almost all the passes en route. There will be no snow in Leh City though.

Snowfall in Ladakh in June

The chances of a snowfall anywhere in Ladakh are quite rare in June. You will only find snow on the ground. If you are traveling in early June, your chances of finding snow walls like in the picture below are high.

vargis khan

Snowfall in Ladakh in July

It does now snow in Ladakh in July. Even if it did at top of any of the passes, it will be a very light spell of snow that will melt within a few hours.

Snowfall in Ladakh in August

Same as July, it does not snow anywhere in Ladakh in August. There could however be a light snowfall at the passes.

Snowfall in Ladakh in September

It snows in Ladakh in September but not in Leh City. Khardung La and Chang La are the first ones to receive snow by end of the month. Baralacha La from the Manali side and Zojila from the Srinagar side also start to experience snowfall.

Snowfall in Ladakh in October

October marks the beginning of the winter season in Ladakh and the entire region starts to receive snow by this time. If you were visiting Ladakh in October, you will definitely find snow at the top of the passes. If you were lucky, you may even catch a live snowfall. You should be ready for extremely cold weather though.

I did not add the months of November, December, January, February, March, and April here because everyone knows how heavily it snows in Ladakh at this time. The temperature can drop as low as -30 degrees celsius. Some of the passes can receive as much as 50 ft of snow during the winter season.

Below is a picture of how Leh City looks in the months of December to March after a snowfall.

leh city in january

Below are a few pictures of the recent snowfall in Ladakh.

snowfall in ladakh snowfall in ladakh

snowfall in ladakh

Manali to Leh & Srinagar Leh Highway

Neither of the two highways leading to Ladakh has witnessed snowfall as of now. They both continue to remain open yet. It did snow at Tanglang La top however the snow was just a little.

If you are planning a road trip to Ladakh, it is yet can be considered safe to travel. However, as the year progresses further into winters, the risk of snow resulting in a roadblock will continue to increase.

If planning in October, then it would be best to travel via Srinagar Leh highway and return the same way. Exclude the Manali route completely from the itinerary.

While the road from Srinagar continues to remain until mid-November, the Manali highway can be declared closed anytime now. Baralacha La receives heavy snow even in the month of October post which the road becomes inaccessible.

Best Time to Visit Ladakh for Snowfall

The months of January and February are the best time to visit Ladakh to see snow. But it also depends on what kind of snowfall you want to see.

If you want to see a white Ladakh when even the lakes of Pangong and Tso Moriri freeze completely, then January and February are the best time. Below is a picture of how it looks in the peak winter season.

pangong lake in winter season pangong lake in winter season

If you however just want to see a light shower of snow without having to survive the freezing winter season of Ladakh, then the months of April, September, and early October are the best. Below is a picture of an HRTC bus traveling to Ladakh after a snowfall early in the season.

hrtc bus in ladakh

Conclusion

I hope the information on snowfall in Ladakh 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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34 comments

Bulbul Mukherjee March 15, 2023 - 12:13 pm

*LADAKH TOUR* (I want to go this tour in Durga Puja Vacation 2023)

14.10 Kol to Chandigarh to Manali
15.10 Manali to Jispa
16.10 Jispa to Leh
17.10 Leh
18.10 Nubra
19.10 Nubra
20.10 Pangong
21.10 Leh
*22.10 Leh -> Tsomorari -> Leh*
(Instead of going to Tsomorari one day can be spent on Keylong beforehand *Manali -> Keylong – > Jispa*
23.10 Leh -> Kargil
24.10 Kargil to Srinagar
25.10 Srinagar to Kolkata
* If there is availability of flight then we can back Kolkata from Leh directly.
Is this tour plan ok? Please suggest.
Me and my husband take high BP and cholesterol medicines. Is there any risk to go Ladakh?

Reply
Amrita batabyal August 16, 2021 - 4:16 pm

Can I cover ladakh by public bus in from 12th oct- 21st Oct?

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Sumita September 2, 2019 - 3:27 am

Hi Vargis!
We are planning a trip to ladakh this year during Diwali time, end of Oct or 1st week of Nov. But that will be completely based on your suggestions. Since I have a 2 yrs old infant with me & we have travelled with him in the mountains many times as we belong to the hilly region of North East.
We would come by flight & would travel by private rented car. 2 children are with us so bike ride is out of question.
My daughter wants to see snow badly so,keeping this in mind kindly plan our trip accordingly what places can be covered.
Thanks,

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Indranil Nath April 25, 2019 - 7:03 pm

Hi Vargis

We 10 people including 2 kids are coming leh on 6th Oct’19 via flight from delhi and going back on 4th oct. our schedule is as follows

Day 1 leh
day 2 leh sight seeing
day 3 leh- nubra (Night stay at Nubra/Diskit)
day 4 nubra pangong (Night stay at Pangong)
day 5 pangong leh
day 6 departure – leh del

I have informed that night stay in Pangong is not allowed now.

We will be travelling by taxi.
1) kindly suggest the best itinerrary for 6 days.
2) what will be the weather condition? As we are travelling with 2 kids of 10 years.
3) where we can get snow/ snowfall in this time?
Any help would be highly appreciated here

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Vargis.Khan April 25, 2019 - 10:08 pm

Hi Indranil,

1. Youc an travel like this

Leh – Day 1
Leh to Lamayuru to Leh – Day 2
Leh to Diskit – Day 3
Diskit to Pangong to Leh – Day 4
Leh to Tso Moriri – Day 5
Tso Moriri to Leh – Day 6

2. Weather will be very cold in October so please prepare accordingly.
3. At top of the passes. If you were lucky you may even catch a snowfall.

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Natsukashi September 12, 2018 - 7:17 am

Thanks much brother. I was able to make a successful solo trip in Sep with all the info. Now my frens wanna go in Nov so i wanted to know if the weather is gonna b clear that time like it was in Sep or is it gonna be covered wit fog?

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Vargis.Khan September 12, 2018 - 12:07 pm

Hi Natsukashi – It won’t be foggy as such but will definitely be very cold.

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Rishav Ganguly September 7, 2018 - 7:06 am

Can you kindly say … in the first week of july will snowfall occur ?

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Vargis.Khan September 7, 2018 - 12:11 pm

Not at all, not in July unless weather turns unpredictably and surprisingly at top of any of the passes

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dharmender June 6, 2018 - 10:16 am

Hi,vargis actualy we are planing to go leh in oct month,please suggest this is right time to go ladakh…

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Vargis.Khan June 6, 2018 - 7:28 pm

Hi Dharmender, How are you traveling? By road or flight?

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Arjun November 28, 2017 - 7:52 am

Hi Vargiskhan,

Thanks for sharing. My wife and I are visiting Leh on Dec 3rd and coming back on Dec 6th. Based on climate condition and transportation availability, planning to visit Pangong lake and Nubra valley. This is my 2nd visit to Leh but earlier I visited leh in different condition during May and June 2016. What are your thoughts about visiting Pangong lake and Nubra valley? How is snow fall? Please share your experience if anyone has visited Leh during Dec.

Thanks,
Arjun

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Vargis.Khan November 30, 2017 - 5:09 pm

Hello Arjun – I am assuming that you are renting a private taxi in Leh, correct? If yes, then visiting Pangong and Nubra will not be a problem at all. Roads to both these places remain open throughout the year, even in January and February.

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K.RAMALINGAM November 1, 2017 - 10:37 am

Dear Mr.Vargis,

I am planning to visit in the first week of May for four days. Arrival on saturday by flight. Leaving by Wednesday flight. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday is available. Can I plan like this… One day: Leh – Alchi, Second day : Leh – Nubra (Hundur, Diskit), Third day : Pangong lake. Will it be okey. or to extend one more day.

will it be advisable to rush for Nubra valeey in a day. If not, advise me as to how to manage the accommodation cost at Leh if I stay overnight at Diskit.

Your suggestion is highly appreciated and required.

K.Ramalingam

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Vargis.Khan November 6, 2017 - 12:03 am

Hello Mr. Ramalingam – First of all, how do you plan to move around? Taxi, motorcycle or public transport? Your itinerary will depend on this.

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Auro October 3, 2017 - 10:10 am

Hi Vargiskhan,

Thanks really for detailed account of Leh/Ladakh in your series. Guess the posts together take care of almost all the queries a visitor might have.
My query is regarding your comment dated 02 Oct 17 above ” It is out of question completely right now brother. The pass is under construction and there is no way they will allow you permits to go this way until completed”.
We plan to visit Leh (incl Nubra, Pangongtso) 20-30 Oct 17….so did you mean that khardungla will not be open due to some ongoing construction ? or that it is temporarily closed due to the snowfall ?
Thanks in anticipation.
Warm regards,.

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Vargis.Khan October 3, 2017 - 1:57 pm

Hi Auro – That comment was regarding Umling La, a pass that is way too close to the border and is under construction right now. You will easily get permits for Khardung La.

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peters October 1, 2017 - 4:10 am

is khardungla umlingla out of question in third week of october

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Vargis.Khan October 2, 2017 - 9:55 pm

It is out of question completely right now brother. The pass is under construction and there is no way they will allow you permits to go this way until completed.

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SOMESH JANORIA September 28, 2017 - 5:35 am

You post nicely Mr.Khan.
I am planning to visit in last fortnight of December month, Delhi -Leh by air. Any suggestions.

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Vargis.Khan September 28, 2017 - 2:49 pm Reply
praveen September 27, 2017 - 11:38 am

good to see the Snow ,and that’s for your valuable inputs on your site.

I am planning to travel during october last week this year . is it possible to hire bike Leh during this time and also is it safe to drive bike to Naubra valley ,Pangong lake and Tso morriri during October and snow is there . will it slippery to ride bike during October .

please help us with your valuable thoughts

Reply
Vargis.Khan September 28, 2017 - 2:42 am

Hello Praveen – Yes you will be able to rent a bike in Leh and go to Nubra and Pangong even in last week of October but please make sure that you enquire about the road at Khardung La and Chang La before you start. If there are words of a recent snowfall at the top, best to wait it out and plan for the next day. Take a look a this article please.

https://vargiskhan.com/log/plan-trip-ladakh-in-october/

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Saurabh Jain September 24, 2017 - 3:22 pm

Hi Vargis

We are coming leh on 29 sept via flight from delhi and going back on 4th oct. our schedule is as follows

Day 1 leh
day 2 leh sight seeing
day 3 leh- nubra
day 4 nubra pangong
day 5 pangong leh
day 6 departure – leh del

can you suggest it seems ok or any changes are required due to road conditions. Any help would be highly appreciated here

Thanks
Saurabh

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Vargis.Khan September 28, 2017 - 3:32 pm

Hi Saurabh – Plan is OK as long you are traveling by either a private taxi or rented motorcycles. There is no public transport available on Nubra to Pangond direct route.

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Gunjan mehta September 21, 2017 - 11:04 am

Hii.. m planning to go leh on 26th oct via flight from delhi.. is that okk to go this time..

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Vargis.Khan September 21, 2017 - 1:55 pm

Yes, you are OK to go. There will still be tourists there in October.

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Gunjan mehta September 21, 2017 - 3:00 pm

Thanks

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Vargis.Khan September 21, 2017 - 3:02 pm

You are welcome !!!

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MANOJ CHAUHAN September 21, 2017 - 7:10 am

On which date it happened???

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Vargis.Khan September 21, 2017 - 1:58 pm

This happened last week Friday and Saturday, 15th.

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MANOJ CHAUHAN September 21, 2017 - 5:20 pm

Then this is the second snowfall because the first snowfall was on 7th Sept’17 as I witnessed that while proceeding from Durbak to Changla in the noon time.

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Vargis.Khan September 21, 2017 - 6:33 pm

Thanks for correcting that brother.. If possible, do share some pictures of the snowfall that u saw and I would love to add those to the article here. You can email me a few at [email protected]. I appreciate it.

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Julie May 17, 2020 - 4:06 pm

Hello Mr. Vargas Khan
We are a group of 10 people ,including 3 kids of 11, 5 and 1 year. On my kids demand of visiting a snowy place, we are planning to visit Leh in December fist week. Can you suggest how should we plan a trip to leh for 5days.

Reply

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