Can we visit Leh Ladakh in October? The answer to this question is definitely yes. A lot of people travel to Ladakh in October and you can as well. But you must also know that October is not really the tourist season in Ladakh and there will be a few challenges that you must be prepared for.
If you were thinking that you will be the only one in Ladakh in October then you are wrong. There will be quite a handful of people around. I know I said that it is not the tourist season but it is not the off-season as well.
Hotels, restaurants, roads, and pretty much everything will still be open. In fact, visiting Ladakh in October has quite a few perks of its own that you will not get in the earlier months.
In this article, I will discuss a few tips on how you can plan to visit Ladakh in October followed by some details on how you can lay out your itinerary. If you have any questions, you can contact me on Instagram and I will be happy to answer.
You can also consider subscribing to my YouTube channel and asking a question there. To organize your trip to Ladakh, book a taxi, rent a bike, or get the best hotel rates, you can contact Kunal @ 9910402252.
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How to reach Ladakh in October
First things first. What is the best way to reach Ladakh in October? This will entirely depend on the dates of your travel. Of the two roads leading to Leh, the one from Manali gets closed for the year in October and Ladakh becomes accessible by road only via Srinagar.
Manali Leh Highway in October
If you are planning to travel from Manali to Leh in October, the safest time to do so is the first week of the month. The highway remains open until mid and sometimes even late October but it is not considered safe for tourists.
The high-altitude passes on the way start receiving snow in September itself and by October, it can be enough to block the road entirely.
If you could not travel in early October, then it is of utmost importance that you reach Ladakh via Srinagar and return the same way.
Baralacha La is usually the first high-altitude pass to receive snow on the Manali route. After Baralacha, there are 3 more passes you will need to cross before you make it to Leh. If the road ahead closes, you will get stuck in between.
There have been instances when tourists were stranded on the highway or were turned back because the road was snowed out. Even if it does not get blocked entirely, the threat of Black Ice will always remain. Accommodation at places like Jispa, Sarchu, and Pang will be difficult to find as well.
If the dates of your travel are after 10th October, it would be best to keep the Manali Leh highway out. If you still want to take a chance then ensure you get complete information about the weather and road conditions first. Take a look at this thread Manali Leh Highway Status where I keep updating the most recent status of the road.
Srinagar Leh Highway in October
The road from Srinagar to Leh remains open in October and can be traveled without much trouble. The only place that you would have to be careful about is the high-altitude pass of Zoji La. It would definitely have received snow in October.
Due to bad road conditions, crossing the pass can become challenging if there was snow on the ground. Before you cross Sonamarg, just ask around how the road at Zojila was. Travel slowly and carefully and you will be OK.
By Bus
Like all other tourist-related activities, the availability of public transport gets scarce in Ladakh in October. Either there will be no transport available at all or it may not be on schedule due to extreme weather or a possible roadblock.
The chances of this happening are more towards the end of October. If you were planning to use public transport, it would be best to cancel the trip for now and plan it for next year.
The Leh to Manali Bus operated by HPTDC gets withdrawn towards mid of September so that will definitely not be available in October.
Your only option would be the bus service provided by HRTC but chances are that this bus as well will not be available after September. Just assume that after 30th September, there will be no bus available from Leh to Manali or vice versa.
However, if you went via Srinagar, the JKSRTC bus from Srinagar to Leh will still remain available. It operates throughout the month of October except for rare occasions when snowfall can block the road at Zojila.
By Flight
The flights to Leh remain available for all 12 months. If your flight remained on schedule, you can reach Leh by Air in October and rent a local cab for sightseeing. The only challenge in reaching by flight will be of AMS in Ladakh which I have covered further in the article.
Local Commute in Ladakh in October
All the internal roads in Ladakh will remain in October and public transport will remain available as well. For your local commute, you can either board a bus or a private taxi. If you were traveling by your own vehicle, you can drive to any part of Ladakh as long as you have a permit for it.
Where to Stay in Ladakh in October
As you probably would already have guessed by now, you will have no trouble finding a hotel anywhere in Ladakh in October. The place where you may struggle a bit is Manali Leh Highway.
Chadar tents and campsites on this route start wrapping up in October so you may not find so many places to stay. But the rest of the Ladakh will not be a problem.
Whether or not to book in advance is entirely your choice. I will recommend booking your stay in Leh City. But for the rest of the places, you can negotiate an on-the-spot deal.
Places to visit in Ladakh in October
This then brings us to the next question. What to see in Leh Ladakh in October? The answer is everything. The entire region remains open in October and you will be able to cover all the places on your itinerary. Let us take a look at them one by one.
Nubra Valley in October
Nubra Valley remains open for tourists in the month of October. You will be able to reach here easily via Khardung La and explore the valley completely.
You can visit all the local villages like Diskit, Hunder, Sumur, and Panamik, and travel as far as Turtuk or Siachen Base Camp. Hotels too will be all up and running in all the villages.
The only catch is that there could be a snowfall at Khardung La blocking the road for a few hours or a day. But other than that, there will be no other hitch in your plans.
You can either travel by your own vehicle or book a private taxi. If traveling on a budget, you can either board a Bus or shared cab from Leh Bus stand, both of which will be easily available in October. For more details, please read How to Plan a Trip to Nubra Valley in Ladakh.
Pangong Lake in October
Yes, you will be able to travel from Leh to Pangong Lake in October easily. There could be a snowfall blocking the road at Chang La but only temporarily. The bus service to Pangong from Leh remains operational throughout October. Shared cabs too can be boarded from the Leh Bus stand.
The campsites at Pangong start to wrap up for the season in October and are mostly all gone by early November. You will however have no problem finding a place to stay in October.
If you wish to stay at a cemented hotel, you can look for accommodation in the villages of Spangmik, Man, or Merak. You can find a place to stay here in January or February as well as a matter of fact. For more details, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Pangong Tso Lake.
Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake Direct Route
There are three ways that you can travel from Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake or Vice Versa. The first way is that you go back to Leh and then travel from there to Pangong Lake via Chang La the next day. This route will be open in October as we just discussed.
The second road is Wari La Pass which is the toughest of all three routes. It is a very remote road that only a few tourists or locals travel on.
Wari La also starts receiving snow in October and there is a high chance that it may not get cleared immediately. It would be wise to ask around in Nuba Valley before attempting Wari La in October.
The third way is the Shyok road which is the shortest and now also the easiest. By this route, you can make it to Pangong from Nubra in just about 6 hours. In October, this road will remain open and safe to travel as well.
There is no public transport available on Wari La and Shyok road though. For more details, please read How to Travel Directly from Nubra Valley to Pangong Lake.
Tso Moriri in October
Like Pangong and Nubra Valley, Tso Moriri will also remain open in October. You can arrive here either directly from Leh via Chumathang or directly from Pangong Lake via Chushul.
There are plenty of guesthouses and homestays at Tso Moriri (Karzok) where you can stay for the night. In fact, accommodation choices at Tso Moriri are better than even Pangong. For more details, please read How to Plan a Trip to Tso Moriri.
Tso Kar Lake will be open in October as well. If you were coming from the Manali side, you can visit Tso Kar while coming to Leh by taking a short diversion from Debring. The other way, if you reached Leh by flight or via Srinagar, is to take the road across Tanglang La and visit Tso Kar via Debring.
The third way is to reach here from Tso Moriri via Sumdo and Polo Kongka La and then continue to either Leh or Manali. For a visual presentation of the routes I explained above, please see The Most Comprehensive Road Map of Entire Leh Ladakh.
Pangong Tso to Tso Moriri Direct Route
This is the road that you take to travel directly from Pangong Lake to Tso Moriri via Chsuhul, Loma, Nyoma, Mahe, and Sumdo. On the way, if you had an additional day, you can also cover the small yet beautiful village of Hanle. For more details, please read How to Travel directly from Pangong Tso to Tso Moriri.
This entire route will remain open for tourists in October. Accommodation on this stretch is available at Man, Merak, and Hanle.
You can look for a homestay at Loma, Nyoma, and Mahe. Mostly, however, it is Hanle that people break their journey for the night. From Pangong, you reach Hanle on Day 1, stay there for the night, and move on to Tso Moriri the next day.
Umling La Pass, which is located near Hanle, will also be accessible in October. But before you go there, ask around in Hanle about the road conditions or if there was a recent snowfall at the pass.
Leh to Kargil Route / Sham Valley
Now we are referring to the highway between Leh and Kargil which the locals usually refer to as Sham Valley tour. The places that you visit on this stretch are Gurudwara Patthar Sahib, Magnetic Hill, Indus Zanskar Confluence, Lamayuru Monastery, Maitreya Buddha, Moonland, Mulbekh, Alchi, Likir, and several others.
For a complete list, please take a look at Places to Visit on Leh to Kargil Route. All these places remain open for tourists for all 12 months and they will be in the month of October as well.
Zanskar Valley in October
Zanskar Valley gets a little tricky in October. It may or may not be open and you will have to find out about it in advance before including it in your itinerary. Chances however are that it will be open at least in early October.
The only time it could be inaccessible by road is if there was early snow and you were traveling toward the end of October. For more details, please take a look at Zanskar Valley Travel Guide.
Leh Local Sightseeing
A common notion is that Leh remains buried under snow during the winter season which is not actually right. There are frequent snowfalls but it does not completely turn white. Most of the year, it remains dry. In October, the weather will be cold and there could be snow in the city but it will remain open for tourists.
All the local sightseeing places like Leh Palace, Shey Palace, Shanti Stupa, Hemis Monastery, Thiksey Monastery, and the local market will be open and can be visited. For a complete list, please take a look at Places to Visit in Leh City.
Snow in Ladakh in October
If the idea of a live snowfall is on your mind then chances are that you may catch one here in October. It starts to snow at the high altitude passes by mid-September and you may witness a light spell of snow while traveling to Ladakh in October. If not a live snowfall then you will at least get to see plenty of snow around at the top of the passes.
Festivals in Ladakh in October
Diskit Gustor Festival is celebrated in the Diskit Monastery of Nubra Valley in the month of October. It is a grand festival that thousands of people attend.
For more information on festivals in Ladakh and their dates, please read Festivals of Ladakh: A Colorful Celebration of Life. To know the exact dates of the festival, you can take a look at Ladakh Festival Dates.
Camping, Rafting & Trekking
Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri are the two best places to go camping in Ladakh. There are a few campsites in Nubra Valley as well where you can stay. All these options remain available in October.
Some other places where you can find camps are Pang and Sarchu on the Manali Leh route, Sham Valley, and Srinagar Leh highway.
If you were camping in your own tents, the entire Ladakh is a vast camping ground for you. Just make sure you bring in the best quality sleeping bag to keep you warm in 0 degrees temperatures.
You can also rent camping gear and sleeping bags in Leh City as well. For some more tips on camping in Ladakh, please take a look at How and Where to Camp in Ladakh.
I know there are a couple of tour companies in Leh that can arrange rafting for you if you were up to brace the cold waters of the Zanskar River in October. Just ask around in Leh and you will easily find a rating agency. I will personally not recommend going rafting in October.
Ladakh is home to several trails leading deep into the Himalayas. Stok Kangri Trek is probably the most famous one but there are several others as well. Sham Valley Trek and Markha Valley Trek are the two other well-known ones.
An easy one would be from Lamayuru to Alchi. In Zanskar, the trek to Phuktal Monastery is another relatively easy one that can be done in 2-3 days. For an even longer duration and exploring deep into the Himalayas, you can go on a snow leopard expedition.
Weather of Leh Ladakh in October
The weather in Ladakh will be terribly cold throughout the month. Sun may remain gone for an entire day and there will be a chance of snowfall even in Leh City. Days will be dry and cloudy and nights will be freezing. It will be slightly better towards the beginning of the month but will then keep getting colder with each passing day.
October is the month of the autumn season and in places like Nubra Valley, Sham Valley, and Suru Valley, you will see plenty of golden orange, giving a magical touch to the landscape.
The average temperature in Leh City in October ranges between a maximum of max 14°C and a minimum of -1°C. At places like Pangong and Tso Moriri, this will be even lower by several degrees. At the top of the passes, even during the day, the temperature will remain close to 5°C.
Clothes to Pack for Ladakh in October
Thermals and woolens at this time are a must. Carry your clothes in a way that you can wear them in layers. For example, wear thermals/warmers first and put on regular cotton clothes above them. Then wear a woolen sweater followed by a thick windproof jacket on the top.
This way, you can put on the clothes as you feel cold and remove them in layers when you start to feel warm. Gloves, woolen socks, and a woolen cap that can cover both your head and ears are a must. Please take a look at Clothes for Ladakh Trip: What to Pack for more details.
In terms of shoes, your normal sports shoes will do just fine but make sure you are carrying woolens socks as well to keep your feet warm.
Your packing will also vary if you were traveling to Ladakh with family. If you had kids in the group, please make sure that you plan on keeping them completely covered at all times.
Some other things to carry will be a pair of sunglasses, some basic medicines, a sunblock lotion, cold cream, lip balm, moisturizer, a pain relief spray or balm, and other toiletries based on your needs.
Mobile Network & Connectivity
BSNL has the largest network in Ladakh and works even in places like Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake. The voice clarity however is questionable with BSNL connections.
The best networks of Leh and Nubra Valley are Jip and Airtel. You can actually get 4G speed with these networks. At Pangong, only BSNL works intermittently. None of the networks work at Tso Moriri. Between Leh and Kargil, Airtel is the best.
The most important thing to remember however is that only postpaid phones work in Ladakh. If you had a prepaid phone, it will be as good as a paperweight the moment you land in Leh. For more details, please take a look at Mobile Network in Ladakh & Data Connectivity.
Acute Mountain Sickness
Altitude sickness in Ladakh is both a risk and a threat. Several tourists have lost their lives because of AMS. The chances increase even more when you are catching a flight to Leh.
To ensure that you do not suffer from AMS, take plenty of rest and spend at least the first two days in Leh City only. This way, if your condition started to get worse, you can go see a doctor and even get hospitalized if needed. Since there are no hospitals elsewhere, traveling to any other place on Day 1 or 2 will be a risk.
For a very detailed version of the information on AMS and tips on how can you tackle it better, please read How to Handle Acute Mountain Sickness in Ladakh.
Medical Assistance
The hospitals in Leh City remain open for all 12 months. So yes, in case of an emergency, you can visit and consult a doctor in any of the hospitals.
There is no hospital in Nubra Valley, or at Pangong or Tso Moriri. But in case of a medical emergency, you can approach the nearest Indian Army post for assistance. For a visit in October, I will highly recommend that you carry some basic medicines for cold, flu, and fever along.
Itinerary for Leh Ladakh in October
Mentioned below are a few examples of itineraries that you can follow for your trip to Leh Ladakh in October. I will suggest a few different examples of itineraries depending on the mode of your mode of travel and the places you wanted to cover.
I am suggesting a travel plan that will cover all of the tourist attractions in Ladakh. You can however add or remove places based on your preference and time in hand.
By Air
If reaching Ladakh by Air, below is an example of an itinerary that you can follow.
- Arrive in Leh. Rest and arrange Permits – Day 1
- Leh to Lamayuru to Leh – Day 2
- Leh to Diskit – Day 3
- Diskit to Leh – Day 4
- Leh to Pangong – Day 5
- Pangong to Leh – Day 6
- Leh to Tso Moriri – Day 7
- Tso Moriri to Leh – Day 8
- Fly Out – Day 9
The above plan was suitable for someone traveling by Bus or shared cab. If you were going to rent a private taxi or motorcycle, you can modify it to a plan like below.
If you were renting a motorcycle or booking a private cab, then you can modify the plan to something like below.
- Arrive in Leh. Rest and arrange Permits – Day 1
- Leh to Lamayuru to Leh – Day 2
- Leh to Diskit – Day 3
- Diskit to Pangong Tso – Day 4
- Pangong Tso to Hanle – Day 5
- Hanle to Karzok (Tso Moriri) – Day 6
- Karzok to Leh via Tso Kar – Day 7
- Fly Out – Day 8
By Road
If you wanted to travel from Manali to Leh then the plan can be like below.
- Delhi to Manali – Day 1
- Manali to Jispa – Day 2
- Jispa to Pang – Day 3
- Pang to Leh – Day 4
- Leh – Day 5
- Leh to Diskit – Day 6
- Diskit to Pangong – Day 7
- Pangong to Hanle – Day 8
- Hanle to Karzok – Day 9
- Karzok to Leh via Chumathang or Tso Kar – Day 10
- Leh to Kargil – Day 11
- Kargil to Srinagar – Day 12
- Srinagar to Jammu – Day 13
- Jammu to Delhi – Day 14
If you wanted to start from Srinagar, the itinerary can be like the one mentioned below.
- 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 Pangong – Day 7
- Pangong to Hanle – Day 8
- Hanle to Karzok – Day 9
- Karzok to Pang via Tso Kar – Day 10
- Pang to Jispa – Day 11
- Jispa to Manali – Day 12 (Skip this day if you were short on time and go straight to Manali from Pang)
- Manali to Delhi – Day 13
Please note that for all of the places I mentioned above, you will need to obtain an inner line permit. The procedure to procure the permit is all online now and is very easy. You should be able to get your permit within minutes. For more details and step-by-step directions, please take a look at How to Get an Inner Line Permit for Ladakh.
Keep Buffer Days in Your Itinerary
This is very important. Do not bind yourself to strict timelines and keep at least 2 days as a buffer. It will definitely snow at the high-altitude passes in Ladakh and you got several to cross.
It is a possibility that you were visiting Nubra Valley and cannot return because the road across Khardung La was blocked due to recent snowfall. Or maybe you were at Pangong while it snowed at Chang La.
You must keep a couple of days in hand for situations like this. If all went well and according to the plan, you can use these days in hand to either rest in Leh or explore some other areas. Or you can come back home and rest a while after you returned from the trip.
Leh Ladakh Bike Trip in October
Is a bike trip to Ladakh possible in October? Yes, it is. But you will have to go via the Srinagar Leh route and return the same way. The only way to include Manali in the trip is if you were traveling early in the month and the weather gods really favored you.
If you were catching a flight to Ladakh, you can still rent a bike in Leh and then use it for local sightseeing. The rent usually is between Rs. 1000 to Rs. 2000 depending on the type of bike you chose.
Even scooters like Activa are available for rent if you want to use those for your local commute in Leh City. You can use it for visiting the local market, Leh Palace, Shanti Stupa, etc.
Leh Ladakh in October – Conclusion
I believe that covers most of what you should know about visiting Ladakh in October. If you have any questions, you can contact me on Instagram and I will be happy to answer. You can also consider subscribing to my YouTube channel and asking a question there.
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140 comments
Hi Vargis,
I am planning to visit Leh ladakh on 1st Oct 2023, whether roads to Umlingla Pass will be open at that time? can i visit with my car that is not 4*4 ?
It depends on the weather but the road usually remains open in October. Which car do you have?
Tata tigor , wheelBase – 2450 , ground clearance – 165. Route – Hanle -> Photila Pass -> Umling la Pass
Is it possible to take my car?
Ground clearance could be a problem on the way but you are taking the Photila route anyway. It is doable. Do not go via Nurbula
Thanks for your reply Vargis.
You are welcome !!!
Hello Vargis bhai, hope you’re doing well. I have been reading your detailed amazing blogs from few years ago. Can you please let me know if i can dk bike trip in Ladakh from 14th October to 27th October 2024?
Hi Vargis, hope this message finds you in good health. Need some guidance from you.
My team is planning to visit Ladakh in the month of October, this year.
This is my itinerary:
15th: flight to Srinagar, stay at Srinagar (5200 ft)
16th: Srinagar to Kargil via Drass, stay at Kargil (8780 ft)
17th: Kargil to Leh via Lamayuru, stay at Leh (11482 ft)
18th: DC office, Leh sightseeing, stay at Leh
19th: Leh to Nubra via Khardungla, stay at Nubra (10000 ft)
20th: Nubra to Turtuk and back, stay at Nubra
21st: Nubra to Pangong Tso, stay at Pangong (13862 ft)
22nd: Pangong to Leh, stay at Leh
23rd: buffer day + shopping, sightseeing stay at leh
24th: Flight from Leh
Is it a feasible plan? Please suggest any modification.
Hi Kaustav – This plan is doable bhai. No change needed
Hi Vargis ,
Hope you are doing well.. We are planning srinagar Kargill leh ladakh Pangong manali trip from Bangalore.. and we are taking car from Delhi on 15th oct 2022 and we are planning to retuen Delhi on 29th oct 2022.
I request you to advise whether our scheduled time is safe and cover all these regions?
It is a little late in the season. You will have to keep the Manali Leh route out of your plans and there is a very high chance that there could be snow at the top of the passes en route. Secondly, if you are renting a car from Delhi, it will not be allowed for sightseeing in Ladakh
Hi Vargis, info that you table are very nice and clear. Missed to thank you when we made my first bike trip ( delhi – chandigarh – manali – leh – kargil – srinagar and all the way back to Kanyakumari ) in July 2018. Missed to thank you, then. ‘m planning for a trip this winter . Would be looking for your inputs. God Bless.
Hello Vargis,
I have been following yout blog since I started planning for the Leh-Ladakh trip. It’s really a gem. I have planned the below itinerary tentatively. The main challenge is here my aged in laws, who will be going with us.
10th oct – reach Leh in the early morning, After rest, sight-seeing nearby, night stay at Leh
11th oct – Sham valley tour incl Lamayuru, night stay at Leh
12th oct – Go to Nubra valley
13th oct – hunder/turtuk visit, else go to pangong
14th oct – Visit pangong, night stay at Spanghmik/others
15th oct – Visit Tso moriri
16th oct – return to leh
17th oct – fly out from leh
——
Is this itinerary holds good as we are travelling with senior citizen? We will have private car with us and will carry oxygen cylinder with us.
Also as we are already acclimatizing in Leh and Nubra and then going to Pangong/Tso Moriri, is the night stay at the later places still not advisable?
Hi Vargis … ur information is so helpful n so easy to understand….
As a couple we r planning a trip on 30th Sept 2021 arriving frm Mumbai early morning n plan to stay in Leh for a day n then next day taking a bike trip to Diskit n would stay there for 4 nights n travel frm there to do the sights of neighboring places … do u think it’s ok or shd I just stay for a night n stay as we travel to other places… after my 4th night in Diskit I will be back in Leh for a night n hv my flt bk to Mumbai on 6th Oct…. pls advice
Hi Vargis… thanks for your information regarding the trip to Ladakh in the month of October…We from Guwahati are planning a trip to Ladakh in October…We are 14 people….We will be flying to Leh on 11th of October… Will stay there on 12th too and 13th we will be going to Nubra followed by Pangong…Just tell me do we need to carry portable oxygen cylinders with us?
Hi Vargis,
I am doing a road trip from Bangalore to Leh on 23rd Oct. I read your post and i have ruled out Manali route and would be taking the Srinagar. I want to cover Kahrdungla ( Not sure if that would be open during that time) Pangong Lake Thiksey Monastery . Whats the best route that i can do
Hey Vargis,
You advise helped me during my Spiti trip on RE. Now, Im planning to do Leh again in 3rd and 4th of October by car. Let me know if it possible for non 4×4 car to do high passes in snow ? I will be driving Tata Nexon (FWD)and planning to use Nylon ropes on tyres as a precaution in Snow. Other details would help me to plan. Btw, I would take Srinagar Leh highway for to & fro… places to visit: Khardungla, Nubra, Tso Morriri , Hanle
Hi Vargis – Is a road trip by Manali to Leh in October end possible? I understand it all depends on the weather but what are the chances historically?
Hi Shoyab, It is usually closed by October end. Even if it is open, it is definitely not safe to travel on.
Very good information….thanks…. we are senior citizens couple above 65 years…..would you advise us to travel on both of us to ladakh for about 15days from last few days of September end from Shrinagar where we expect to reach by 26th September 2021 from chandigarh…of course, we live in Mumbai but will be reachingchandigarhfrom Manali…..yourwriteup.on spiti valley is also very informative & useful …thanks…Kishor Karia
thanks
How are you traveling after you reach Chandigarh Sir? Private taxi?
What kind of clothes should we bring to Ladakh?
Please see this
https://vargiskhan.com/log/clothes-for-ladakh-trip-pack/
Dear please advise for family trip to leh-ladakh in September end is good or October 1st week??
10-12days plan
Hello Naveen – Please try in September. October will be a little too cold for a family trip.
The Agham Shyok road remains open in October as well?
Yes it does
On an overall basis, would you call October a good month to go or a bad one?
Only early part of the month can be called a good time.
Hi Vargis.
Me and my wife are planning to visit Leh on around 20th October. Leh to Nubhra to Pangong is on our mind. Considering the steep taxi rates (24k for this) I’m much more inclined towards renting a bike (BTW I’m a biking enthisiast but never did any long journeys much). I understand it’ll be difficult considering the snow, winds and bad weather. Can you draw some points on how to narrow down on one. And if yes what should be of prime importance if planning by bike.
Hi did you travelled LEH on the month of October end. If you did can you share some of your experiences.
hello to all,
i am planing my leh trip by flight from delhi to leh on 5th of oct with my wife then from leh to all local destination by rented bike if any couple want to join us by rental car or bike so we both can hire one car and one bike in sharing fare so we can enjoy both in our journy bike and car..let me know 971566659890.thanx
Hello Vargis,
I hope your doing well.
I am planning a bike trip from Hyderabad to Ladakh.
My trip will start from Oct. 11 and I have planned to reach the ladakh by 15th Oct. or 16th Oct. via Srinagar route.
I am also planning to visit Khardung la, Pangong lake and want to return from Manali highway to Haridwar.
Can you please tell me is this a good plan and how many days should I take for this route plan?
If this is not a good plan, can you please suggest me some better option, so I can cover all these destinations.
Awaiting your response!
Thanks!
Hi we planned to arrive ladakh by October 3rd morning and return on 7th of October by flight from Hyderabad . Please help us the best places to visit and we can make the trip as a good trip.
Hi Vargis, I am Planning to go to leh Ladakh, with family , just after Diwali this year , reaching there end of Oct and coming back in beginning Nov.. do you think this is an ideal time for visit, I understand it will be cold but is it going to be sunny. I am a nature photographer and that’s one of attraction to visit leh / Ladakh .. your advise would be of great help .. I read in many websites that its going to be very cold and many hotels close down, however many hotels remain open ( those who have heating ) and many tourists also travel .. so is my confusion .. Thanks & regards Avijit
Dear Vargis
Very useful information.
We are planning to drive from Delhi to ladhak 4 friends in October. We will be coming from different parts assembling in delhi.
Your suggestions for any rental agency to hire cars
More importantly what type or car would u recommend ? Petrol / Duesel / four wheel / Bolero or is a sedan good enough …
looking forward to hear from you
Tarun
Asslamwalekum , bhai we are planning for 29 step to 6 October is it safe to travel by car , we will only take two breaks like first stop is Delhi to mankind then direct leg ,is it good
Walaikum As-Salam. Manali to Leh direct will be a very long journey, you will have to break the journey in between.
hello sir, How can I get reached in leh and back to delhi, since one option is to take flight from Delhi to Leh. The fare for delhi to leh fly is affordable fare is around 2500 rupees, but the return flight from leh to delhi requires around 3 times the fare of delhi to leh fly that is around 6 to 7 thousand. Why is that so? Is there any other options possible? Please help us. We are planning the trip in October.
Hi Sidharth – You can try reaching Ladakh via Srinagar by Bus, or come back by Bus
Dear vargis
All your blogs are very helpful for me in planning my trip. As I m doing it solo need info on my planned itinerary
Date :-sep28 to Oct 12
29-sep Chandigarh to kasol-
30 sep kasol- to Manali
1 Oct Manali and kulu (Tuesday rhotang pass closed)
2 Oct Manali to pang (Gandhi jeyanthi will rhotang pass be opened)
3rd oct pang to pangong tso
4th oct pangong to nubra to tutuk
5th Oct nubra to leh
6th Oct leh
7th Oct leh to drass
8th Oct drass to gulmarg to Srinagar
9th Oct Srinagar to Katra
10th Oct Katra to golden temple
11th Oct amristar to Chandigarh
Please let me know if this works
Email [email protected]
Mobile :-+919944506111
How are you traveling Aswin?
Hello vargis… Thank you for your quick reply. Renting a bike at Chandigarh
And also can you please let me know
1 )if I the get the permits done through online for rhotang and leh inner circle do I have to visit the respective office to get stamped or something?
2) can I travel to pangong tso from pang without going to leh because I don’t most people prefer the route
3) I am skipping tso moriri because I need to visit golden temple on my return so in order to get 2 days
Thanks in advance for the same
Hi Aswin,
1. Please see these two posts
https://vargiskhan.com/log/rohtang-permit-2019/
https://vargiskhan.com/log/how-to-get-ladakh-permit/
2. No you cannot go there without geting your permits stamped at Leh first.
Thank you for the information vargis… I went through both your blogs… Clear that without going to leh and get my online permit stamped I cannot move to nubra valley…
Thanks again
That is correct Aswin. You are welcome !!!
Thank you for the timely reply…
As I m a solo Traveller sorry to ask you again I got info from another lead that I can travel to pangong tso from pang without going to leh … Getting permits done through online and stamped in some tourist center…
Can you please suggest me on that alone…
And also as I m renting bike from Chandigarh will I be allowed to travel inside leh nubra and pangong…
Please provide me leads…
Will be very helpful
That is not correct. Only way around this is if someone can get the permits stamped on your behalf and courier them to you. Secondly, your Chandigarh rented bike will not be allowed to go to Pangong so you will have to go to Leh first to rent another bike from there.
Dear Varghis, first of all, thank you for creating such an amazing, super-informative blog. You have been a great source of help for many of my trips to the Himalayas! 😀
We are a group of four friends and planning to visit Ladakh in first week of October this year. We will hire a 4×4 SUV with good ground clearance for the entire duration of our trip. Our itinerary is as follows:
Day 1 (2nd Oct) – arrival in Leh; acclimatization; getting all the permits done
Day 2 (3rd Oct) – Leh to Diskit; night stay in Diskit
Day 3 (4th Oct) – Diskit to Pangong Tso via Agham-Shyok road; night stay near Pangong
Day 4 (5th Oct) – Pangong to Hanle; night stay in Hanle
Day 5 (6th Oct) – Hanle to Tso Moriri; night stay in Karzok
Day 6 (7th Oct) – Tso Moriri to Leh
Day 7 (8th Oct) – Back to Delhi
Wanted to know your thoughts on the feasibility of this plan. If it’s doable (considering the weather in October) or too hectic? Unfortunately, we don’t have time for spare days so will it make more sense to skip some destination?
Look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Sagun
Hi Sagun – Plan is doable. There won’t be any problem completing it at all.
Hi Vargis, thanks a lot for your feedback! Just a quick follow-up question: If we do the itinerary in reverse (i.e. go to Tso Moriri first), do you think there is a greater risk of AMS in that case? Or the first day rest in Leh and gradual ascent on Day 2 should be fine?
Hi Sagun – Yes, there is a greater risk of AMS if you went to Moriri first. Better to do it the way you planned it.
Hi Vargis,
Just wanted to let you know that we got back from a wonderful trip to Ladakh earlier this week. We managed to do Pangong to Tso Moriri in one day (took us about 8-8.5 hours with plenty of stops though) and thus got ourselves an extra day in Leh for R&R. The drive along Pangong was truly mesmerizing with some incredibly beautiful villages (especially Merak) along the way. Glad we took that route while going to Tso Moriri.
Thanks once again for all your suggestions and advice.
Cheers,
Sagun
Hi Sagun – That is good to hear. I am glad that your trip was fun. Thank you so much for taking the time to drop a note and let me know.
Hi Everyone,
Good Day!!!
We are planning ladakh trip on 5th october. We are travelling from south to delhi by air then in car by road. Since this this our first experience and the unconditional climate, we are looking for a team where we can travel together from delhi to ladakh. If any one who is interested please let me know.
me too leaving on 5th of oct with my wife from delhi please what app me:971566659890 thanx.
We (Husband-Wife) too are planning to visit Leh during 1st week of Oct. If your sharing plan is still open, please mail your itinerary to [email protected] or sms your number at 9830023731.so that we can take this to next level…. – Harish
Dear Vargis Bhai,
I am planning to visit Leh from 1st October to 7th October 2019 as my son’s examination will be get over on 30th September..I along with my wife & two kids (11yrs+4yrs)…Is this the right time to visit Ladakh or I have to wait for june’2020??????
Need your valuable suggestions.
Please reply soon….
Ibrar Bhai yes you can go but it will be very cold in October so please prepare accordingly.
Hi, my husband, I along with our 3.5 yr old son want to travel to ladhak between 25 Sept to 4 Oct 2019. Is it OK for kids to travel at this time. I have not read any experiences along with toddlers so confused as not sure if kids face altitude sickness.
Please see this post. Should answer your questions.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/traveling-to-ladakh-with-children/
Hi vargis
i just seeing your feed back for all traveler, it is so valuer for them. i have also a almost same question but little difference, We are 3 couple age group 50-56, have some bP problems. We have planed the tour between 18oct to 24 oct. We are from delhi. Here is any risk for us from the weather or oxygen problem.
we have a plan to to nubra and stay there, is it fine or not.
kindly give my valubale feed back.
thanks dear vargis
Hello Mr. Mohan – I would strongly advise consulting a Dr. first and take recommended precautions. A friend of mine died yesterday in Ladakh due to acute mountain sicknes so please practice caution. See the post below.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/rest-in-peace-my-friend/
Hi VARGIS
We are planning to fly Leh on 24 of Oct 2019 and return on 31 of Oct
please Guide
Hi Vargis,
We are flying to leh on 28 Sept,2019 and will be back by 6th October.
So we have planned like below –
Day 1 – Leh
Day 2 – Leh to Nubra via Kharding La
Day 3 – Nubra to Turtuk and Back to Hundar
Day 4 – Hundar to Pangong
Day 5 – Pangong to Tsomoriri
Day 6 – Tsomoriri to Leh
Day 7 – Rafting at Zanskar River
Day 8 – Leh Local sight seeing
Day 9 – Fly Out.
Q1.Hundar to Pangong, road will be opened during that time?
Q2.Pangong to Tsomoriri , road will opened? or do we need to back to leh and then from leh to Tsomoriri?
Q3.Is it possible to do the rafting during that time in Zanskar River?and the strating point is how much from leh?
please let me know if you have any suggestions on this?
Hi Rima,
1. Yes
2. Yes it will be open
3. Yes it is possible. Starting point is Nimmu near Leh
Is it safe to visit Chusul area ( upto Mirpal Tso) in last week of October ?
Regards .
You can go towards Chushul but I doubt they will allow you to go towards Mirpal Tso
Hello Mr.Vargis Khan – I am a solo traveller and will be flying into Leh on the 27th morning. I will have time until the 31st afternoon for sightseeing. After that starting from the 11th of November, I can take a few more days to stay there. I have a few questions. It would be very helpful if you could give me some information on this.
1. How much time should I allocate for the Thiksey Gustor festival and when is the right time to go there?
2. Will it be possible to rent a bike and go to the Nubra Valley and come back to Leh within two days, for e.g., on the 29th and 30th?
3. Will it be possible to go to Pangong Tso on the 11th or 12th of November? Once again, I am thinking of renting a bike.
4. Any possibility of buses operating to Manali post 11th of November?
Your response will be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Hi
I am planning Leh (14-20th Oct) with wife and 9 year old son is that comfort or it’s tough for child
We will not cover many location stay in hotel and want to relax
It should be OK but make sure you pack well though. It has started to snow at Khardung La and gotten very cold in Ladakh.
We are planning to fly Leh and then by road to nubra and pangong , then come back. And fly back from Leh itself.i read your article which gave us an idea. Thanks for that.
Any other suggestions sir ?
We are planning from 10th to 15th of October , sorry , forget to quote that
No, pretty much the same as to what I mentioned in the article. Weather has gotten very cold so please pack accordingly.
hey vargis IS IS SAFE to take direct route from nubra to pangong via shyok during mid october?
Yes it is Avish
Hi Vargis,
Need your advice on below :
1. Are there decent hotels to stay in October first week in nubra and pangong ?
2. Do we get shared taxies while traveling from/to leh to nubra and pangong ?
3. Is it advisable to travel directly from nubra to pangong .
M landing in leh on 29 Sept and flying out on 3 oct. Really looking forward to your response.
Hi Sahil
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes but there are no shared cabs on the direct routes.
Hey Vargis. We 2 people planning to go Leh by air on 29th september. There we want to take bike on rent and visit all the place by bike. Or return flight is on 4th October. We are having several queries
1. We eagerly want to drive bike there and want to visit all places by bike from there. Kindly comment on this.
2. Can u give us the plan accordingly.
1. Yes you can ride around on bikes but it will be very cold as well so prepare accordingly.
2. You can travel like this
29 – Leh. Arrange permits and bikes
30 – Leh to Lamayuru to Leh
1 – Leh to Diskit
2 – Diskit to Turtuk to Panamik
3 – Panamik to Pangong to Leh
4 – Return
Hi vergis,
We have planned trio to ladakh
And we’ll reach leh by flight on 2nd oct and retuen flight is on 8th oct.
Pls suggest us itienry as this one is our first time.
We r 4 around age group of 25 to 30.
Is it good time to rent bike and roam around leh or taxi would be preferable.??
Thanx in advance
Hi Savan – Private taxi will be better but will also be costlier. You can travel like this.
2nd – Leh. Rest, arrange permits and taxi
3rd – Leh to Kargil via Lamayuru
4th – Kargil to Leh via Batalik
5th – Leh to Diskit
6th – Diskit to Turtuk to Panamik
7th – Panamik to Pangong to Leh
8th – Fly Out
Or Like this
2nd – Leh. Rest, arrange permits and taxi
3rd – Leh to Lamayuru to Leh
4th – Leh to Diskit
5th – Diskit to Pangong to Leh
6th – Leh to Tso Moriri
7th – Tso Moriri to Leh
8th – Fly Out
Sirji what about nubra velly…??is it not on the route??
Hii vargis ! Your blogs are really helpful for All the travellers. I have some queries. Actually me n my husband are planning Leh road trip in October 1st week. Can we complete the full circuit starting From Delhi-manali -Leh-Srinagar-delhi.
Wil the manali route be open in October first week? If yes how many days are required to complete this circuit n if no then any other route if you can suggest.
Thanks in advance
As long as your trip is within first 10 days of October then yes, you should be able to complete the entire circuit. About 12-14 days is a safe number to assume for the trip.
Ok thank you so much for replying.. So happy yeyeye. We can complete the circuit.. thanks again. N keep doing this great work and keep travelling!!!!
You are welcome !!! 🙂 Do let me know how your trip went after your return
Yes. Surely
Hlo sir me and my friends planning to visit leh from 4 oct to 7oct .so i just want to ask that 3 days is enough .
3 days is not really enough but if that is all the time you can afford, then read through the post below.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/ladakh-in-3-days-plan-trip/
Hi Reetika, I’m also visit leh from 4th October to 6th October with my wife. If you want you can join with us.
Superb blog with parent like guide …thanks for your valuable inputs …it will be really helpful for adventure lovers …i just want to know one thing …chance of getting share cab to & from Ley towards other destinations ?
Hi Bro
Thanks a lot for your wonderful advice, could you help suggest if there any high latitude issue
i m planning to travel from [boarding from Delhi] 27th sept to 2nd OCt 2018 along with my 2.5years kid
Kindly help to answer followings:
1) are we good with our itinerary along with timing we choose?
2) is it safe to travel with my kid
3) Also during this week ,will Manali-Leh highway be opened?
4) we have not yet booked return ticket from Leh- to Delhi, what if we choose road trip to Leh-Srinagar
and thereafter Srinagar to Delhi by Air.
Please help to reply at the earliest.
Thanks a Ton!
Hi Ajay Bhai,
1. Timing is OK but it will be very cold so prepare acccordingly.
2. Unless there is any medical history, you should be OK. I will still strongly recommend a visit to the doctor to get a professional opinion and some other tips.
3. Yes
4. Yes you could do that as well. Sounds like a good plan.
Hello sir,
We are planning the leh trip by flight on oct 16 from delhi. We have to visit the places like Nubra valley, Khardung La, pangong Tso,Hemis national park and Kargil. We’ll be there on Oct 16’th morning. And planning to visit the leh palace,Hemis national park on the same day itself by means of public transport. And on the next day we would like to go for a bike trip to Pangong TSO , can we back to leh on the same day itself? And the same way on oct18’th another bike trip to Nubra valley and Khardung La and back to leh on the same day. On oct 19’th plannig to visit the Kargil by car. And on 19th morning we will be back to Delhi.
Will the plan work for us? If so how can we get the cars and bikes on rent? If any permission needed to visit any of the mentioned places how could we get those?
If the above mentioned plan ain’t a better idea can you suggest us a better plan?
thank you.
hello sir, please give us your suggestion.
Hello Sidharth,
1. Leh to Pangong and back on same day – Yes you can do it.
2. Nubra and Leh same day – Yes you can do it.
3. How to get Permits – Please see this link. https://vargiskhan.com/log/obtaining-ilp-for-ladakh/
4. There are several places you can rent bikes from in Leh. Just take a walk around in the city and you will come across several rental agencies and mechanics.
Hi vargis Khan , this is tarun sharma .we are planing to visit leh in the first week of Oct 2018 . it that ok traveling with 8 years old kid?
Hi Tarun – Yes it is. Just be prepared for the cold though, specially with the child traveling. Do take a look at this post as well.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/traveling-to-ladakh-with-children/
Hi,
I am planning to visit Leh from 19th Oct-23rd october this year 2018 .
Please reply to my queries below . As stated, i have read your whole page and got some valuable inputs but would like you to address below queries:
1. September third week is best to visit Leh and ladakh?
2. Should we book room once reach leh or prior booking should be done?
3. One or two jackets are enough to cover the trip ?
4. Which are the best places to enjoy without no rush
Please reply.
1. Yes it is a good time
2. Book in advance wherever you can
3. Yes but carry some light woolens or Thermals as well
4. Spend a day at Nubra, Pangong and Moriri each and that should cover majority of the must visit places.
Thanks for the reply Vargis.
You are welcome Lalit !!!
Quite helpful. However I have a few things to ask. Plz look into my itinerary :
2nd oct – Delhi To leh (Flight)
3rd oct – Leh to Pangong then Pangong to Nubra
4th oct – Nubra to Tso moriri
5th oct – Tso moriri to Leh
6th oct – Leh to Lamayuru and back
7th oct – Back to Delhi
‘Is Pangong to Nubra possible on 2nd oct via the Shyok rd you mentioned?’
Is this plan gonna work?
Please suggest.
Hello – You can visit Nubra and Pangong in Oct 2nd week but your itinerary seems a bit off. Take a look at this article please. I have suggested a few itineraries here to cover Ladakh in 5 days. On 6th day, you can fly out.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/visit-leh-ladakh-in-5-days/
Hi, planning to fly leh in first week of oct for 6 days…any suggestions ?? what and how to cover places
How are you planning to travel locally in Ladakh Lokesh? Also, take a look at this post please.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/leh-ladakh-in-6-days/
Sir we r planning explore Delhi to ladakh and back to Manali by Royal Enfield Byk in the month of October 15th this year So kindly advice some valuable tips
Hi Subrata – My advice would be the same that I mentioned in the article above.
my programme to leh-ladakh tour from 20th Oct to 24 Oct’2018 with family.
please advise weather condition, location we can visit…
Any risk about oxigen problem ?
It depends on how many days you have in hand but the following posts should be of help. Please take a look.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/rent-oxygen-cylinder-for-ladakh-trip/
https://vargiskhan.com/log/tourist-attractions-in-ladakh/
Hello Vargis … thx for putting this together. This is really helpful. Just wanted some advice as we 6 people all around 40.. plan to travel to Leh around 3rd wee of October through Manali . Understand that it might be risKy but really wanted to explore that route as we have not been through that n the past. We have been to Djojila pass etc through Srinagar. Do advice…. we loo fwd. Thx
Hello Jyoti,
Giving an exact reply would be a bit tought right now because it all depends on how the weather trends in October. Historically, the road remains open until late October so you should be able to travel in 3rd week but best would be to wait until late September before finalizing your plan.
Hi
Thanks so much for compiling this info.
We are a group of 20 ppl with teenage kids and want to travel to leh on 15 oct 2018.
For a week. We will be flying from Delhi to Leh . Would it be a good time to come to come there
If you are flying then yes it is a good time to go but do not delay it any further.
Can i get you number…I’m very upset…i have already book flight on 13 october
It was very helpful…but can we go to nubra valley and stay over night there and nubra to pangong stay over there…is it possible on 13 oct ?
Yes you can go to Nubra and Pangong and stay there for the night on 13th. As a matter of fact, you can stay at these places even in peak winter, in December and January as well.
Thank you very much…but we going with family…is it safe to pass from khardungla top and changla pass on octuber 14 to 15??
Please help me out
Yes it is safe. There are plenty of tourists in Ladakh in October so you really have nothing to worry about.
Hello;
I’m going to Leh in November so can you recommend me some hotels there that are not too expensive?
Thank you!
Please take a look at this post.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/good-budget-hotels-in-leh-with-tariff/
Really very useful! thank you!
You are welcome !!!
Dear Vargis
Thanks for this article, we have bought the flight ticket for first and second week of October 2018
and would need your advise if tour agent is needed at this critical period, instead of using public transport
It’s our first to North India
Thanks
Yong
Malaysia
Hello Yong – No need to hire a tour agent, you will just end up paying more. If not the bus then you will still be able to find shared taxi to other parts of Ladakh in October.
Then how we can go to nubra valley and pangong lake…without agent? We r 7person (family) member women also.
HI vargas bhai, have got a great deal of respect in my minmind for ur work and experience and the enthusiasm to share it with the world and help.. I would be very thankful to you if u help me decide upon the best out of two months, start of October or may to see the best of beauty in ladakh as a whole and pangong.. the reason for the question is that we are planning our couple shoot there and because of our tight schedules, sadly now we are left with just these two time options.. we were to go in third week sept but circumstance made us cancel the trip. So when would be the best time according to ur experience.. to see the best of beauty of ladakh as a whole and beautiful colors of pangong.. please help
Hello Dhara Bhai – Thank you so much for your appreciate words. I am glad that the information posted was of help. Coming to your question, if possible at all, please make the trip in October itself. November will get colder, chances of snowfall and passes getting blocked will be way higher. Between Oct and Nov, you should plan within this month.
Hello vargis, thank’s for the response. However, I was not asking between Oct and Nov. I just have two options in my bucket, month of may and October. So can u consider my concerns mentioned earlier and suggest me better of these two months. Thanx
Hello Dhara – Month of May would be much better as compared to October.
Hey thanx a lot vargis, u are doin a great work. I might need u further, for suggestion, if so, it would be great if u email me with your number so that i have ur email id and number for indepth discussion related to this.. thanx again 🙂
Hi Dhara – Please email me your number and I will give you a call. You can send me an email using the contact me button in the menu
Hi Vargis,
I’m traveling to Leh on Sunday with a foreign citizen and am really tensed about a few things. Would it be possible for you to share your number and get on a quick call. Would really help calm my nerves down.
Thanks in advance
Sahil
Sahil – I replied on your email with my number.
Thanks for your useful information, I have plans to go to Leh and stay there in the winter from early November until the end of 1/2018. What difficulties do I need to know? Does the airport in Leh operate in winter? Really thank you if I could know the difficulties I will encounter on my trip. You have great articles and useful.
Please take a look at the articles below. Let me know if you have any further questions.
https://vargiskhan.com/log/ladakh-in-winter-necessary-preparations-precautions/
https://vargiskhan.com/log/ladakh-winter-travel-guide-ideal-itinerary/
https://vargiskhan.com/log/ladakh-winter-trip-essentials-items-carry/
Thank you, it was very helpful to me!
You are welcome !!!