If you were a little conflicted about it, then let me, first of all, confirm that visiting Leh Ladakh in September is definitely a great idea. It is one of the best times to be in Ladakh for several reasons that I will discuss further in this article. But September also has its own set of challenges that you must be prepared for.
There are two aspects to planning a trip to Ladakh in September. Are you traveling in the first half of the month or in the later part of it? Why do I ask? It is because the chances of snowfall increase with each passing day after September 15th.
Due to this fact, your itinerary would have to be planned carefully, irrespective of whether you were reaching Ladakh by air or by road. The cold weather of the region will be your next challenge and you will have to pack accordingly.
The views in this month however will surely charm you and you will be glad that you visited Ladakh in September. How can you plan your trip in the best possible manner is what I will be talking about in the post below.
For planning a trip in any other month of the year, you can take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Leh Ladakh – A Complete Travel Guide. To organize your trip to Ladakh, book a taxi, rent a bike, or get the best hotel rates, you can contact Kunal @ 9910402252.
How to Plan a Trip to Leh Ladakh in September?
Let us first briefly take a look at how you can reach Ladakh in September. After that, I will move on to other details like where to stay, what to see, itinerary planning, and safety tips, etc.
Manali to Ladakh in September
You can definitely plan a journey on Manali Leh Highway in September. It is only after early October that traveling on the Manali route becomes a bit risky.
The road remains open until Mid-October though, and then is declared closed after it starts to snow at Baralacha La. So going from Manali to Leh by road in September is perfectly safe.
Do keep in mind though that the longer you delay it, the colder it will get. If possible at all, then plan your journey in the early part of the month.
Between Manali and Ladakh, there are 5 high altitude passes, and it may very well snow at the top of either of these. If not heavy then a light shower of snow is definitely possible.
Srinagar to Leh in September
Srinagar Leh highway remains open for a little longer than the Manali Leh highway. In recent years, the road was open until early December so there should not be any problem in traveling from Srinagar to Leh by road in September.
But yes, there is a high chance of snowfall here as well. It won’t snow in lower areas but a light shower of snow is definitely possible at the top of passes en route like Zoji La.
By Bus
There is a daily bus between Manali and Leh operated by HRTC. From the Srinagar side, JKSRTC operates a daily bus between Srinagar and Leh.
Both of these buses remain operational in September. There is also an HPTDC bus between Manali and Leh that remains operational until the 15th of the month.
The difference between these buses is that the ones by HRTC and JKSRTC are ordinary buses. The one by HPTDC though is a deluxe luxury bus. For more details on this topic, you can take a look at the Manali Leh Bus Service and Srinagar Leh Bus Service.
By Private Taxi
Yes, you can also rent a taxi for your trip. But the important thing to remember is that a private taxi from either Srinagar or Manali can only take you to Leh. It cannot be used for sightseeing in Ladakh and no driver would even agree to it.
So for example, you rented a taxi from Srinagar. It will drop you in Leh and then you will have to rent another taxi there for visiting places like Nubra Valley or Pangong. The ones from Srinagar and Manali will not be allowed to travel on the local routes.
Another point to note is that it will be better to book a taxi in advance. If there are a lot of tourists in Ladakh at the time of your trip, you may have trouble finding a cab for your trip. For more detail, you can also take a look at Leh Ladakh Taxi Rates & How to Book.
By Shared Taxi
Shared taxis also remain available in September. They may not be as cost-effective as a bus but will also not be as expensive as a private taxi. You can find shared cabs to Leh near the bus stand in Manali and from TRC in Srinagar.
On average, it will cost you between Rs. 2500 to Rs. 3500 per person to reach Leh by shared taxi. There is no advance booking for shared cabs and you will have to find one on the spot. For more detail on this, you can also take a look at How I Traveled to Ladakh by Public Transport.
Local Commute
In Ladakh, buses on all routes like Nubra, Pangong, and Moriri will be available in September. From the bus stand itself, you can also find shared cabs for these destinations if a bus wasn’t available.
Just reach there in the morning and if you can’t find a bus for your destination, look for a shared taxi which is mostly a Sumo or Bolero. Fare per person will be a little higher than the bus but these are more frequent and easily available.
Just keep in mind that during the latter part of the month, if there was a heavy snowfall at Khardung La or Chang La, you may not find public transport until the road is declared safe to travel on.
Where to Stay
It is still the tourist season so all hotels and guest houses will remain operational in the month of September. It is only after the first week of October that they start to wind up for the season.
In the last few years, Ladakh has started to get a bit crowded, and finding a hotel in the months of May and June. This however is not the case in September. By this time, the number of tourists starts to go down and you can easily find a place to stay.
With that being said, a lot of people still chose to book in advance and you may do so for your peace of mind. For budget travelers, I will recommend that you arrive at your destination, find a hotel per your liking, and negotiate an on-the-spot deal.
Places to visit in Leh Ladakh in September
Every major and minor tourist attraction in Ladakh can be visited in the month of September. Let me give a breakdown of different tourist places in Ladakh that you can include in your itinerary while visiting Ladakh in September.
Nubra Valley in September
Nubra Valley remains accessible throughout the month of September. You will easily be able to reach Nubra from Leh directly via Khardung La or from Pangong by Shyok Road.
All internal areas in Nubra Valley including Diskit, Hunder, Turtuk, and Panamik will also be open in August. Since this is the peak tourist season, all tourism-related businesses including hotels, guest houses, and guides will be open for business.
Diskit and Hunder are where most of the tourists stay but you can find accommodation in other places like Turtuk, Panamik, and Sumur as well.
Pangong Lake in September
Pangong Tso remains open and accessible in the month of September. A trip to the lake is ideally a 2 days journey. You travel from Leh to Pangong on Day 1, stay there for the night, and return to the city on Day 2.
There are numerous campsites on the banks of Pangong where you can find accommodation. If you want to stay within cemented walls, then you can look to stay as a paying guest at Spangmik or at any of the guest houses in Man or Merak.
You can also visit from Leh to Pangong Lake in one day but that will just mean that you spent most of your time on the road. Nonetheless, it can still be done.
You just need to ensure that you take an early start from Leh, possibly by 6 AM so that you have some time to spend at Pangong before you return.
Another way to plan the trip is to first go to Nubra Valley on Day 1 and then continue to Pangong from there via Shyok Road on Day 2. The connection road between Nubra and Pangong will remain open in September.
Also Read: Leh City Travel Guide
Tso Moriri in July
After Nubra Valley and Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri is definitely the third most visited place in Ladakh. This freshwater lake may be smaller in size than Pangong but is no lesser in beauty.
Like Nubra and Pangong, Tso Moriri too remains open in September. Accommodation here is available in the form of small guest houses and homestays.
Chushul Route & Hanle
The direct route from Pangong to Tso Moriri via Chushul too is open for tourists at this time It is ideally a 2 days journey with a night halt at Hanle but if you wanted to, you can make it directly to Karzok as well.
Reaching Hanle in September will also not be a problem. For more details, please read How to Travel directly from Pangong Tso to Tso Moriri.
Sham Valley
The road between Leh and Kargil actually remains open all year long so you will definitely be able to visit places like Gurudwara Patthar Sahib, Indus Zanskar Confluence, Magnetic Hill, Lamayuru Monastery, Mulbekh Maitreya, Moonland, etc.
If you were traveling on the Srinagar Leh Highway, then all these places will fall on the way and you can cover them all by taking short sightseeing breaks.
Sham Valley is actually the area around the villages of Likir, Suspool, and Hemis Shukpachan. It is best known for its trek routes and is among the least visited places in Ladakh. To know more, please read How to Plan a Trip to Sham Valley.
Umling La
Umling La remains accessible in the month of September and you can include it in your itinerary. You will first have to reach Pangong, then Hanle via Chushul, and then plan a day trip to Umling La pass from there.
Zanskar Valley in August
Zanskar Valley will be accessible in September. The most common way of including it in your trip plan would be to reach Ladakh from Manali and then return to Srinagar while covering Zanskar on the way.
The entire route from Kargil to Padum is open in September and you will also be able to find public transport on it. An ideal way to plan this trip is to have at least 2 days in your itinerary for Zanskar.
On Day one, you can reach Padum, and then the next day, you can either return to Kargil or go straight to Manali via Shinku La. If you have time, then stay for a day in Zanskar and explore other places while making Padum your base.
Snow in Leh Ladakh in September
Does it snow in Ladakh in September? The answer is a yes but as I mentioned above, at the top of the peaks only. The chances of snowfall in Leh City or other places like Diskit or Hunder are very less. There will not be any snow in Leh in September. In lower areas, it starts to snow only towards November or December.
But with all of that being said, global warming and climate change have started to prove all this wrong. The chances of snowfall are higher after September 15th. So if the weather turned extreme, do not be surprised if there is a light spell of snow even in Leh City toward the end of the month.
Weather in Leh Ladakh in September
Weather in Ladakh starts turning cold in September, but it won’t be unbearably cold. In the first half of the month, it would still be pleasant. Days will be moderately warm but the temperature will drop at night.
By mid of September, it starts to snow at Khardung La and Chang La top which brings cold winds even in lower areas like Leh City and Nubra Valley. Snow is often accompanied by rain.
So when it is snowing at the top of the passes, lower areas may witness a bit of rain. The frequency however won’t be that great and is more towards the latter part of September.
On a general basis though, if you are thinking of visiting in September, you should be ready for temperatures close to 0 degrees Celsius in some places like Pangong Lake.
Clothes to Wear in Leh Ladakh in September
Continuing from the point above, a trip to Ladakh in September means that you would have to bring your winter clothes. It does not matter if you were coming by motorcycle, car, or flight, your packing would have to include a pair of thermals, woolens, good quality gloves.
If possible then warm socks and a good heavy windproof jacket. Make sure that your jacket has a hood to protect your head, face, ears, and neck. If not then please pack a muffler as well. For more details on this topic, please take a look at Clothes for Ladakh Trip – What to Pack?
That is why visiting Ladakh in September is considered a better time than other months. How you can plan your trip and what are some of the things you should keep in mind is what I will provide information on in this post.
The reason why visiting Leh Ladakh in September is considered a good idea is of more convenience and lesser risk. Convenience is in terms of road conditions which in September is as good as it will ever be. By now, the restoration work in the entire region is almost complete and roads will be in their near perfect condition. After September, it is just the harsh winter ahead and roads won’t get any better.
If you went in the month of May or June, then it would be the opening of the season; and you will be met with badly broken roads; that BRO would have just started to work upon. This is also the time when snow would have just started to melt and there will be numerous water crossing en route.
Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Leh Ladakh?
If you however went in the months of July and August then the problems would just increase further. Monsoon arrives in Himalayas by July and after that, there is no telling when and where it may rain. Landslides and cloudbursts up in the hills are common in these two months. Remember the Ladakh cloudburst of 2010 that killed hundreds? That happened in the month of August. Another problem with monsoon is the increased flow of water in water crossings. In July and August, fed by melting snow and rain, these small rivulets turn into monster nallahs and post a great challenge to cross.
This was in terms of safety and convenience. But this is not all that September is all about. It probably is also the best time in terms of vistas. Monsoon would be long gone by September but the greenery won’t. You will still be treated by lush green hills in Lahaul and Kashmir valleys. It is the start of the autumn season and the views en route and in Ladakh will leave you spellbound.
Also Read: Places to visit in Ladakh – A Complete List
Last but not the least is the tourist crowd. Ladakh in recent times has started to get real crowded in peak tourist season. A few times people could not find a place to stay overnight at Nubra and Pangong; and had to return to Leh city. September on the other hand is considered as the end of tourist season. While there will still be tourists here, it won’t be as crowded as it was in prior months.
Is Ladakh Open in September?
The answer is a definite yes. Ladakh is completely open for tourists in September. Though it is considered as the end of tourist season, all hotels and guest houses here remain operational well into October; as well as the other tourist related activities like taxis, bike rentals, rafting etc. The entire region of Ladakh including Nubra valley, Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri too are accessible by road in September.
Water Crossings
There will still be plenty of these but the intensity and flow of water will depend on your time of travel. If you were traveling in early September, then there will be plenty of water flowing through. As September progresses however, the weather starts to get colder, reducing the snow melting process and thus the water in the streams. If you were traveling towards late September, there will only be a few large water streams en route. Smaller ones would already have vanished.
Also Read: How to Plan a Solo Trip to Ladakh?
Black Ice
This is more or less related to the point above. As the flow of water decreases, some of these streams get reduced to mere puddles of water; or just a little bit of water flowing across the road. Problem arises however when this water freezes overnight and forms black ice on the road. This problem is more towards the second half of the month than first. If you were traveling towards end of September then it would be best to wait for the sun to come up before starting your journey for the day. This way, the black ice ice at least would have melted away. There of course cannot be any traveling involved at night; after dark or before sunrise.
Ladakh in September on Bike
One of my personal favorite times to ride a bike to Ladakh. Roads will be smooth, there will be no rain and the views will be mesmerizing. If you have even slightest of interest in photography, then you would find yourself stopping at every turn to click more and more pictures. The only word of precaution here would be to prepare for cold. It starts to snow at high altitude passes like Khardung La and Chang La towards mid September. Even at passes like Baralacha La and Zoji La, there could be lights showers of snow overnight. This also will get related to the Black ice point I mentioned above.
So when planning a trip to Leh Ladakh in September, ensure that you are carrying a proper riding gear that can keep you warm throughout the ride. This will include thermals, a heavy windproof jacket and good quality gloves. And once again, wait for the sun to come up before starting the journey. If there was any snow on the road from the night before, a bit of sunlight would ensure that it has melted away.
Keep Buffer Days in Itinerary
This actually applies irrespective of the time you are going to Ladakh. You should not tie yourself down to strict timelines. Keep at least one day as buffer in your itinerary. This way, if you got stuck at some place for a day or two, you would at least be able to afford it without something going wrong at home in your absence. If your trip went as planned then you could use this day to just relax at the end of the trip.
Also Read: Leh to Tso Moriri Travel Guide
Also Read: When is the Best Time to Visit Ladakh?
Also Read: What to See on Srinagar Leh Highway?
Places to visit in Ladakh in September
All of it and as many as time permits. The entire region remains open for tourists in September and the only restriction will be the number of days you have. Further in the article, I have suggested an itinerary that you can follow including all major tourists places to see.
Ladakh in September
So in order to summarize it all here is a breakdown of how Ladakh would be in which part of September.
Ladakh in September first week: This is the best time to visit. Plenty of greenery en route on both Manali – Leh and Srinagar – Leh highways. If you are a bit into photography, this is the time when you should plan a trip.
Leh Ladakh in Mid September: It will start to get a bit cold at this time and chances of snowfall at top of the passes would increase. Number of tourists in Ladakh would start to go down and you may actually get better deals at hotels.
Ladakh in September End: If you are planning a trip to Ladakh in September last week then ensure that you are bringing plenty of woolens, thermals and a heavy windproof jacket. It would already have snowed at top of high altitude passes by now. Temperature at nights would definitely drop close to 0 degrees Celsius.
Ladakh in September- October: If your trip was in a way that you were traveling in last week of September and first week of October then it would be better to go via Manali Leh highway and return via Srinagar.
Suggested Itinerary
That I think covers all that there is to know about visiting Ladakh in the month of September. To end it, below is an example of an itinerary that you can follow. For the sake of this article, I will assume that you are traveling from Delhi. If your starting point was different, then only the journey for first and last day will change; rest of the details will still apply.
- 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 Turtuk to Panamik – Day 7
- Panamik to Pangong via Shyok – Day 8
- Pangong to Hanle – Day 9
- Hanle to Karzok – Day 10
- Karzok to Pang – Day 11
- Pang to Jispa – Day 12
- Jispa to Manali – Day 13
- Manali to Delhi – Day 14
For more itineraries for a different number of days, please take a look at the Itinerary Section for Leh Ladakh.
Can we visit Ladakh in September?
Yes, definitely. Just keep in the mind the points I mentioned above and have a safe journey. I hope the information above was of help. If you have any other questions; or need any further details; please feel free to ask in the comments section below; or at our Community Forum; and I will be glad to answer.
89 comments
Hi Vargis, I’m planning a trip from 25 sept to 3 October 2021 with parents who are around 60 years. Is it advisable to travel then? Will the main places like Nubra and Pangong be open around this time? Will there be any difficulty in traveling? We live in Mumbai and aren’t used to cold climates.
Hello sir,
Thanks for this blog, we have a booking for flight in September 11-arrival September 18- departure with a group of 6 friends.
We don’t want to visit monasteries etc. just very good views a bit of camping bike riding/rafting etc. are in the plan.
Could you please suggest best places considering our duration of tour, also if possible please provide some contacts for local taxis/bikes/hotels/camps which are affordable as we are a group of 6 young friends don’t require luxury.
Thanks,
Owais
Hi Sir,
Please answer my query I need to plan accordingly.
Regards
Hi Sir,
Hope you are fine
Kindly provide the response to my query.
Thanks
Hello sir,
Kindly respond to my query.
Thanks
Owais Bhai please take a look at the Contact Me page at the top. I have provided a list of my contacts there.
What is your current itinerary?
Hello sir thanks for responding.
Sorry I didn’t know about the contact me page, for bikes and hotels , I will take contact on the given number.
Currently we didn’t plan any itinerary days are fixed since flights are booked we will reach leh on 11th September and leave from there on 18th.
Could you please suggest best places considering our duration of tour, and the month of September,
as mentioned earlier we are a group of 6 friends don’t require luxury.
Thank you
Hi Vargis,
I am planning for Leh-ladakh from 26th Sep to 3 Oct .Will it be okay to travel.Are these open for travelling.
Hi Tanuja – Ladakh is closed this year for tourism, you will have to plan for 2021
Hi Vargis,
I am planning for Leh-ladakh from 20th Sep 2021 to 26th Sep .Will it be okay to travel.Are these open for travelling.
Hi Abdullah – It is OK to go at this time
Hi Sir,
Please answer my query I need to plan accordingly.
Regards
Hi Planning to travel to Leh early sep, what are the requirements regarding covid and other restrictions .. would you know the detaisl.
I fly from Bombay – delhi – le and then back in 10 days to Bombay – short layover at delhi airport, any ifo will be helpful. thank you
Ladakh is closed for tourism this year. You should plan for 2021.
Your blogs are so interesting and informative. So I (64yr) have planned a trip with my son sep 14-29, 2020.
I would like to have a rough itinerary say from sep16, since we would be flying directly to Leh and may have to tackle altitude sicknesses.
Could you also give a budgetary estimate to cover various points both by taxi and shared taxi. Is bus very strenuous? This is justso we pick the right option. Any help in local contacts welcome.
Thank you in advance
Brinda Takley
Pune
Hello Mr. Takley,
Are you planning to fly in and out of Leh only? I will recommend to fly into Leh and fly out of Srinagar. Can you do that?
Dear Vargis,
The information that your have shared in your blog is astounding.it has been very helpful in many occassions.
We have planned a trip to leh ladakh starting SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2020 solely on the information that you have provided in your various articles on ladakh.
We planned a car trip with our Hyundai i20 active from siliguri with details here under.
Day 1. Siliguri to Gopalgunj
Day 2. Gopalgunj to Agra
Day 3. Agra to Pathankot
Day 4. Pathankot to Srinagar.
Day 5. srinagar to sonmarg
Day 6. Sonmarg to kargil
Day 7. Kargil to leh.
Day 8. Stay at leh.
Day 9. Leh to hunder
Day 10. Visit and sasoma ,panamik, warsi and stay at diskit
Day 11.diskit to pangong via SHYOK
Day 12.pangong to leh.
Day 13.leh to sarchu.
Day 14.sarchu to manali.
Day 15 to Day 18 :- journey back home.
Under the above circumstances, i have a few questions for you and would be grateful to get an answer.
1.we are travelling by two cars.8 pax.we would require 4 rooms. should we book hotels in advance or should we book them after reaching the locations ( considering the advantage of bargaining in the month of september).
2.we wish spend a night near Pangong lake.is it allowed?
3.we wish to take pictures of the milky way , starry sky.. considering that, which hotel / tent in nubra valley would give us the best sight?
4.From where can we get permission to fly drone?
Shall wait for your reply.
Thank You.
Hi Abir,
1. No need to book since you are traveling towards the end of the season.
2. Yes
3. You would get the best view from Pangong actually or Sarchu. Only catch is to stand out in the cold and manage the camera with your hands shivering.
4. Nowhere. People do it without permission.
Hi VARGIS.KHAN Jhi,
We have planned to go Ladakh by a bicycle from Manali at this 2nd week of Sept. Request you to provide your valuable suggestions.
Hello Naveen Ji – It is a good time time go. Weather will be good and the routes will be all open.
Hi Vargis,
I loved to see the information above, it is very helpful. Can you please let me know whether camping is available at Pangong lake aftr 20th September
Hi Deepak – Yes it is
Hi Vargis,
I am planning for Leh-Ladakh trip in first week of September exact dates that we are planning for are 31st August to 8th September. We are group of 4 people (2 boys and 2 girls). We will leave from Delhi on Friday night (30th August) to reach Manali and then are planning to book cab from Manali towards Leh and visit the places on the way to Leh and then take bikes on rent to roam in Leh-Ladakh and then i) back with cab to Shrinagar and take flight back to Delhi or ii) take direct flight back to Delhi from Leh. We do not know what all places should be visited on the way to Leh or after reaching Leh.
I precisely have following questions –
1) Would the above plan be feasible considering the no. of days that we have ?
2) We are thinking to following modes of transport for whole trip –
Flight from Delhi to Manali—-> Cab from Manali to Leh—-> Bikes for Leh-Ladakh—-> Cab from wherever in Leh-Ladakh to Shrinagar/Jammu—-> Flight to Delhi
Could you please suggest whether above plan for transport is feasible ?
3) Weather conditions during these days ?
4) What all type cloths and other items we should carry considering the weather ?
5) Can we get hotel bookings easily on the spot or we have to book in advance ?
6) Do we have mobile networks there ?
7) Could you please suggest an Itinerary suitable for above plan ?
Many Thanks in advance 🙂
I am 70 years old wants to visit laddakh in sep this year with wife,from n dehli via Srinagar/Manali for a total of 10 days max
Can u suggest which road route is has better view from Srinagar or Manali,
Can u also help me in planning and organizing my trip or u will advise me to book the thomod kooc etc
C k Gupta
9654855670
It will be better to book a tour Sir and you should cover both Srinagar and Manali side
Can I travel with my 3 and half Yr daughter in September to leh ladakh?
Read this
https://vargiskhan.com/log/traveling-to-ladakh-with-children/
Hi.. I am planning trip to Ladakh but confused whether I should plan in July second half of September. I will be flying to Ladakh. Please let me know which is the better time. Thanks.
Hi – September will be better.
Does it make a lot of difference?? As I was more inclined to go in July.
No the different in both times isn’t huge. July is good as well.
Is khrdunga la pass open in september?
Hello Sir, I am planning bike ride in Mid September, from Srinagar side and will be going to nubra and pangong 20th Sep in Pangong, woulld we have any weather trouble?
Hey, I am planning from 30 aug to 4th sept for 6 days. Can you please share the itinerary for 6 days ? Thanks in advance!
Please see this
https://vargiskhan.com/log/leh-ladakh-in-6-days/
i want to book hotels for leh and ladakh tour
Hi Vargis,
I have booked my flight tickets for Leh , arriving on 21st September morning and leaving on 29th September…I will be with family ( all aged between 25 -30)..can you suggest an itinerary for us, we would like to visit Turtuk..:).. waiting for your response…and thankkkkk u..
Hi Prateek – How will you be traveling locally in Ladakh once you land there? Private taxi or public transport?
Private taxi..for sure..as we will be group of 5
You can travel like this
21 – Leh
22 – Leh to Lamayuru and Back
23 – Leh to Diskit
24 – Diskit to Pangong via Shyok
25 – Pangong to Hanle
26 – Hanle to Tso Moriri
27 – Tso Moriri to Leh via Tso Kar
28 – Sightseeing in Leh
29 – Fly Out
Thanks a lot Vargis…..if possible can you please let us know the approximate cost if we book a car for the entire trip…and suggest trusted travel owners/shops for renting a car.. once again thank you and Ramazan mubarak…
Ramzan Muarak Prateek Bhai. Please talk to Nasir in Leh @ 9906229203. Give my reference and he will give you the best possible quote for the journey. In case it did not work with Nasir, you can also talk to Rohit @ 9910722252
hello sir, starting the ride from delhi is good idea or not?
Yes it is a good Idea.
Hi vargis, we are planning to visit leh the coming weekend 28Sep- 2 oct. How the weather will be and what itenary should we follow.? Are 4 days enough to explore leh and ladakh. We will fly to leh on either Friday or Thursday morning and planning to return on 2 nd morning. Will that be a sufficient time to spend and exlpore leh.?Please reply Asap
Hi Vargis. Even I have the same concern. Flying to Leh on 28th september and returning on 3rd. Itenary is some what sorted and planned (thanks to your various articles). Just one thing, we want to travel as light as possible, so other necessary items we ll carry but can we get riding gears (windproof jackets, gloves, gaurds etc) on rent there itself in Leh?
PS already had a virtual trip to Leh reading all your content. Your writings are just great man. Cheers 🙂
Hi Shubham – Yes you can get riding gear on rent in Leh but it would be better if your brought your own. It is going to be cold in Leh anyways so just wear it as you catch the flight, if you were worried about the allowed weight in the flight.
Hi Vargis is it possible to travel nubra to pangong to leh in a single day?? With a private taxi
If yes then how should we plan.
Hi Ashish – No, it is not doable.
Hi Vargis,
Your website, writing and photography are the very best! Thank you for all of your information!
I am planning to make a bike journey from Manali to Leh via Jispa and back via Sringar departing Sept 23 and returning to Manali by Oct 10.
I plan to rent a bike in Manali, take 2-3 days to reach Leh and then visit Tso Moriri, Pangong Tso, and Diskit areas over a weeks time before traveling toward Srinagar stopping Kargil and Dras on the way. Then visiting Gulmarg if time permits before traveling back to Manali staying in Kishtwar and/or Killar on the way.
1) Is this itinerary doable in 16 days or is it too ambitious?
2) Do you recommend visiting Tso Moriri and Pangong Tso on the way to Leh or traveling to Leh first and then to the Tso? Will I need a Leh bike for Tso Moriri and Pangong Tso evening if coming from Manali?
3) I have booked some accommodations but not all. Do you recommend booking all accommodations ahead of time for smaller towns or will I be able to reasonably find accommodations on arrival on the last week of September and first week of October?
Thank you for all of your help!
Hi Nick,
1. Yes it is doable
2. You will have to go to Leh first to get a Leh registered bike and also your permits. Manali rented bike won’t be allowed, will have to leave that parked in Leh.
3. No need to book. It is end of the season and you will easily get a place to stay.
Thank you for your response.
I see that the weather forecast shows high temperatures during the day of -5C to -10C for days around the end of the month and beginning of Oct.
Is it unsafe to travel on days where the daytime highs do not go above 0C? Or will the sunshine melt most of the black ice?
Also can you recommend a good weather forecast site for Ladakh region? Many of the sites I see show conflicting forecasts.
Many thanks.
Sunshine will melt most of the ice, just wait for the sun to come up before you start. I am sorry but even I am not aware of a weather website that can provide accurate information.
Hi Vargis
Just wanted to check one information. Earlier Ladakh festival used to happen from 1st to 15th September. Than it shifted to 20th to 26th September every year. Has the duration of the festival now been shortened and dates have changed because this year Ladakh Festival is held in name of Ladakh Tourism Festival from 22nd to 25th September. Any idea?
Is there any word limit to post a comment?
Nope
Hi Vargis,
Your blog is really helpful for first time Leh-Ladhak traveler like me. I am going to visit leh from 21st September to 27th 2018. I have certein queries:
1. Should I go from Nubra to Pangong directly and then come back to Leh or Nubra to Leh and Leh to pangong?
2.Mode of local transport. Shall I hire a single cab for complete tour or hire a shared taxi?
3.can we get inner line permit on saturday? Since friday( 21st sept) is a gazetted holiday.
Hi Sonam,
1. Do Leh – Nubra – Leh – Pangong – Leh. There will be nno more camping at Pangong after 15th as per the update as of now so better make it a day trip to Pangong from Leh
2. Depends on your budget. Private cab will be best and comfortable but expensivee
3. In the first half of the day, yes.
Thank you vargis ji for your guidance. I have another query regarding ILP. Can I get ILP on 4th Saturday(22nd September) as J and K bank remains closed on 2nd and 4th Saturday.
Please do reply asap.
Thanks
.
I think you should still be able to get it before lunch
Hey Vargis,
Just needed information regarding pangong, I heard government(my travel agent informed me ) has asked all camps to wind up before 20th September this year. Do you have any knowledge on that .
Regards
sourav
Hey Vargis bhai… waiting wa for your input .
Regards
Sourav
Sourav Bhai that is correct. No more camping at Pangong after 15th. Leave early from Leh, visit Pangong and return by evening. Or look for a home stay at Spangmik, that is the current situation.
Sourav Bhai that is correct. No more camping at Pangong after 15th. Leave early from Leh, visit Pangong and return by evening. Or look for a home stay at Spangmik, that is the current situation.
Hello Vargis,
I’m planning a solo trip to Leh in mid-September. I have finalized following intnerary-
Sep13: Delhi to Srinagar
Sep14: Srinagar to Kargil
Sep15: Kargil to Leh
Sep16: Leh local sightseeing
Sep17: Leh to Nubra
Sep18: Nubra to Leh
Sep19: Leh to Pangong
Sep20: Pangong to Leh
Sep21: Leh to TsoMoriri
Sep22: TsoMoriri to Sarchu
Sep23: Sarchu to Manali
Sep24: Manali to Delhi
Please suggest modes of transport considering solo travel for-
1. Leh to Nubra and back, including travel within Nubra
2. Leh to Pangong and back
3. Leh to TsoMoriri
4. TsoMoriri to Sarchu/Manali
(Bikes are not an option as I can’t ride one)
Also are tickets for buses from Srinagarto Leh easily available or I have to book in advance?
Is Leh-Manali route advisable since there are no HPTDC buses after Sep15. What are the alternatives?
Thanks
Hi Shubham,
1. Modes of Travel – You will easily find bus or shared taxis from Leh Bus stand
2. Tso Moriri to Sarchu – You will have to hitch hike. No public transport available.
3. Srinagar to Leh – Will have to buy bus ticket a day in advance
4. Manali to Leh – HRTC Bus or shared cab
hi vargis bhai,
we are planing 9 days trip leh Ladakh and I already messaged regarding the itinerary before and u said its good. I have one doubts to clear. we are planing to visit tso morriri (by taxi) and one night stay there and return on next day morning. we want cover a road trip in the “more plains” region of pang to tanglang la on the same day while going back to leh. is there any road which connects tso morriri to pang or more plains region? other wise how we will plan this road trip?
thanks in advance.
Hi Hadi – Yes. While coming back to Leh, you can take the road via Tso Kar and it runs right through More Plains.
I heard some people are blocking rental bikes or cars taken from Manali while going owards leh-ladakh.
Is this correct?
No problem until Leh city but you cannot take these to other areas in Ladakh. For that you will have to rent another bike from Leh itself.
Dear Vargis,
This is really helpful information for those who planning to travel in Sep. I will arrive Leh on 7th Sep by flight as a solo traveler. Will it be easy to find people to share taxi to visit places around leh. I mean how do I meet fellow travelers willing to share taxi cost.
Hello Sanju – Yes you should be able to find a shared cab easily. Just go to the main bus stand in Leh.
Hi Mr. Vargis..
We are planning trip to Leh-Kargil-Srinagar-Jammu (me &husband)
Since it’s only two of us can you just provide us an estimate of budget part. We have already booked tickets till Chandigarh and return from Jammu.
But now scared about the long journey and of course on the budget.
Hey Supriya,
I am also travelling to Leh with few friendsm but in first week of September. Can you help with your timelines and itinerary?
Vinod
Hi Vinod, Below is my confirmed dates
31st reaching Chandigarh by flight and travel towards Manali
1st Reaching Manali
2nd traveling towards Leh..
In. Between Planning to cover Leh Nubra Pangong Kargil Srinagar 14th return from Jammu
Above are my dates
Hey Supriya – I have the same timings. 1st I will reach Manali, will head towards Leh on 2nd morning. And I have return flight on 12 from Leh covering Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri.
how are you traveling from Manali to Leh and in rest of Ladakh. For better communication please ping me on 7018547184.
Thanks for this excellent blog on Leh-Ladakh. Very informative. This is a one stop place to know about the region..
Planning to start journey from Pune on 6-Oct-18. Will it be advisable to visit Leh during this period?
trip by car. reach leh by 8/9 oct via srinagar-leh road. Follow your 4/5 day itinerary. No offroadings, follow your hatchback-safe routes. return back via manali. Please suggest..
Hi can I have suggested iti for 8days..? Tq
Hey I am traveling alone in September is it safe for solo female travellers??
As far as I can tell yes. I have never heard any women traveler talk about any security concerns there.
Thanks so much..I have read almost all your blogs about leh they were all very helpful.. I also wanted to know about sharing cabs to Nubra ,Pangong and Tso Moriri will they be avalaible mid September?
Hi Rahila – Yes shared cabs will be available in Mid-September.
Hi Rahila — I also am a solo female traveller and will be in Leh from Sept 11-21. Let me know if these dates line up with yours and you are interested in booking some shared taxis etc. together! Happy to share my email.
Thank you for the useful and informative tips. Our trip will be on mid Sept 2019.
My first trip in India
ops… Sept 2018
Thanks Rus. Welcome to India and I am glad that the information as of help.
Thanks for a detailed information about Leh journey in September.. We are planning our journey in this september.. It is more useful for my family,. Thanks
Thank you Mr. Parmar. I am glad that the information was of help.