Travel advisory · IndiaLadakh is in or near an area where governments advise against all travel: Within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border, Srinagar–Ladakh road.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Jammu and Kashmir (Union Territory) · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, UK, US
- Kashmir Valley · avoid all travel · Spain, France, Italy
- Manipur · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, UK
- Within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, UK, US
- Bihar · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Chhattisgarh · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy, New Zealand
- Jharkhand · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Odisha (Orissa) · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Rural West Bengal · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Srinagar–Ladakh road · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
Also named by one government: Jammu region (Spain), Tripura (Ireland), Assam border areas with Bangladesh (New Zealand), Border areas of Jammu and Kashmir (Italy), Gulmarg (Italy), Imphal (Ireland), India-Myanmar border (France), Ladakh (Spain), Ladakh border with China (immediate vicinity) (France), Nagaland border areas with Myanmar (New Zealand), Pahalgam (Italy), Rural Andhra Pradesh (Spain), Sonamarg (Italy), Srinagar (Italy)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Exercise increased caution (regional advisories) | Jun 16, 2025 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | No warning against the whole country; partial warnings for specific areas (regional advisories) | Oct 14, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs) | High Degree of Caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Pays relativement sûr dans son ensemble, sous réserve de respecter certaines règles et de tenir compte du risque terroriste (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Ladakh
Travelers go for monasteries above the Indus, high mountain passes and the blue water of Pangong Tso.
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Ladakh is a high-altitude region in northern India, a cold desert of brown ridges and snowy peaks with green irrigated villages along the Indus River. Leh, the main town, sits at about 3,500 meters. Monasteries such as Thiksey and Hemis rise above the river valleys, and they are the main draw for most visitors. Expect thin air on arrival, so keep the first day easy.
A common loop adds Nubra Valley, where the Hunder sand dunes and double-humped camels sit near Diskit Monastery, and Pangong Tso, a long blue lake that runs into Tibet. Both need a Protected Area Permit for foreign visitors, and both are a long drive from Leh over high passes. The trip suits people who handle altitude well and are happy with long days on mountain roads. Summer, roughly June to September, is when the high passes are usually open. Plan at least a week, and more if you want Nubra and Pangong in one loop from Leh.
Ladakh in five
- Choose a circuit, not a list of sightsDistances are long and roads are slow. Nubra and Pangong each need a day or more from Leh, and Tso Moriri is farther still, so pick one or two circuits and let the days breathe.
- Stay at lower elevation firstLeh is already high, and valleys such as Nubra are lower while Pangong and Tso Moriri are higher still. Sleep low first and move up, rather than the reverse.Leh
- Get permits earlyForeign visitors need permits for Nubra, Pangong and other border-area valleys. Leh agents handle the filing, and the process and cost change, so confirm the current rules.
- Carry cash and a spare dayATMs are rare outside Leh and Kargil, and weather or landslides can close roads. Leave a buffer day before a flight out.
- Come between June and SeptemberRoads and lodges run mainly in summer. Winter brings snow and deep cold, and only a few places stay open.Kashmir & Ladakh
Things to do in Ladakh
See all attractions in Ladakh
Need to know
- Airport
- Leh (IXL), the only airport; flights from Delhi and some cities
- Getting there
- Fly to Leh; or road from Manali or Srinagar in the open months
- Getting around
- Car with a driver from Leh; shared jeeps on some routes
- Best base
- Leh, then a night in Nubra or by Pangong
- Time needed
- 7 to 10 days with a circuit
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryFreezing, closed
- FebruaryCold, closed
- MarchCold, few open
- AprilPasses reopening
- MayEarly season
- JunePeak season
- JulyPeak, dry
- AugustPeak, dry
- SeptemberClear, quiet
- OctoberCold, closing
- NovemberMost places close
- DecemberFreezing, closed
Right now in Ladakh
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
-7
- Feels like
- -11°
- Humidity
- 63%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 2%
Ladakh
04:08 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today3°-6°2%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 3°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Wed3°-6°7%Wednesday: Snow. High 3°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Thu2°-6°10%Thursday: Snow. High 2°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Fri1°-6°22%Friday: Snow. High 1°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 22%.
- Sat3°-6°0%Saturday: Fog. High 3°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun2°-8°0%Sunday: Clear. High 2°, Low -8°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 03:58 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 95.08 INR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Nubra Valleyabout 1 to 2 days from LehSand dunes, monasteries and a drive over a high pass; plan an overnight.
- Pangong Tsoabout 5 to 7 hours from LehA long, colorful lake on the border; most people stay a night in a lakeside camp.
- Sham Valleyabout 1 to 2 days from LehAlchi, Lamayuru and the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar, an easy-lower circuit.
Before you go to Ladakh
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Rules for Ladakh, checked
- Most foreign visitors need an Indian e-Visa or another valid visa to enter India. Check eligibility on the official e-Visa site before you book.Source
- Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit for several areas, including Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake. Apply through the Ladakh district authorities before you travel.
- Leh is at about 3,500 m. Read current FCDO advice on altitude sickness, and rest for a day after arriving before any hard walking.
- Remove shoes in temples and monasteries, cover shoulders and knees, and ask before photographing monks or prayer halls.
- Single-use plastic bags are restricted in Ladakh. Check the current rules with the Leh authorities before you pack.
Plan around Ladakh
Entry rules, regions and trip planning
Read the guideLehAltitude, the old town and nearby monasteries
Read the guideKashmir & LadakhSrinagar and the road to Leh
Read the guideManaliThe southern road into Ladakh
Read the guideSrinagarThe valley route to the plateau
Read the guideConnectivity for IndiaSIM and eSIM options before you land
Read the guideLadakh FAQ
How many days do you need in Ladakh?
Seven days cover Leh, acclimatization and one main circuit like Nubra or Pangong. Ten days allow two circuits without rushing; allow extra for a Zanskar or Tso Moriri trip.
What is the best time to go to Ladakh?
June to September for open roads and lodges. July and August are busiest and warmest, while September has clear light and fewer crowds.
How do you travel around Ladakh?
Most visitors hire a car with a driver from Leh, and shared jeeps run on some routes. Public buses are slow, so plan more time than the map suggests.
Do I need a permit for Ladakh?
Not for Leh itself, but foreign visitors need permits for some border-area regions such as Nubra and Pangong. Agents arrange them; check the current rules and fees before you travel.
Is Ladakh safe for first-time visitors?
Many travelers go each summer, but altitude is the main risk. Acclimatize, drink water and read your government's current advice before booking, and keep a flexible schedule.