Is It Monsoon?
Leh, India JANUARY
-6°
★★★
Shoulder season
-11° to -1°
Deep Winter
The coldest month of the year, with nights that can drop to -18°C or lower, and Leh reachable only by air.
🧥 Extreme cold layers✈️ Air access only
-3°
★★★
Shoulder season
-9° to 3°
Bitterly Cold
Still deeply cold, though slightly milder than January, with roads to Leh still closed.
🧥 Extreme cold layers✈️ Air access only
3°
★★★
Shoulder season
-3° to 9°
Winter Fades
Temperatures climb above freezing during the day, though nights stay cold and the access highways remain closed.
🧥 Heavy layers🛣️ Roads still closed
7°
★★★
Shoulder season
1° to 13°
Roads Reopening
The Leh-Manali Highway typically starts to reopen, though snow can still temporarily block the highest passes.
🧥 Heavy layers🛣️ Roads reopening
11°
★★★
Peak season
4° to 18°
Roads Open
Access roads are generally open, with mild days, though early-month snow can occasionally close the highest passes.
🧥 Layers for cold nights🛣️ Check pass conditions
15°
★★★
Peak season
8° to 22°
Warm & Clear
Comfortable, dry weather with roads fully open, one of the best months for trekking and sightseeing.
☀️ Sunscreen🥾 Great trekking weather
19°
★★★
Off-peak season
12° to 26°
Warmest Month
The warmest month of the year, good for high-altitude trekking, though it can feel uncomfortably hot at Leh's own elevation, with a slight chance of rain.
☀️ High-altitude sun protection🥵 Can feel hot at lower elevation
19°
★★★
Off-peak season
12° to 26°
Peak Heat
Nearly as warm as July, with the highest chance of rain all year and a small risk of landslides on the Leh-Manali Highway.
☀️ High-altitude sun protection⚠️ Slight landslide risk
15°
★★★
Shoulder season
8° to 22°
Cooling Fast
Still pleasant, but noticeably cooler than the summer peak.
🧥 Light layers☀️ Sunscreen
7°
★★★
Peak season
0° to 14°
Clear & Quiet
Cooler than summer but dry and clear, with fewer tourists and local festivals tied to the Tibetan calendar.
🧥 Warm layers✨ Festival season
1°
★★★
Shoulder season
-6° to 7°
Access Closing
The Leh-Manali Highway typically closes for the season, with winter setting in fast.
🧥 Heavy layers🛣️ Roads closing
-4°
★★★
Off-peak season
-10° to 2°
Frozen & Remote
Deeply cold, with frozen rivers and lakes, and Leh reachable only by air.
🧥 Extreme cold layers✈️ Air access only
Drag through the year Jan
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
⭐️
May
⭐️
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
⭐️
Oct
Nov
Dec
This month
Rainfall
10 mm
1 rainy day this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
78%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
14 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
8 mm
1 rainy day this month
Sunshine
7.5 hrs/day
58% of daylight hours
Humidity
75%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
13 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
10 mm
1 rainy day this month
Sunshine
8 hrs/day
62% of daylight hours
Humidity
60%
Comfortably humid
Wind
12 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
10 mm
1 rainy day this month
Sunshine
9 hrs/day
69% of daylight hours
Humidity
50%
Dry, comfortable air
Wind
12 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
10 mm
1 rainy day this month
Sunshine
9.5 hrs/day
73% of daylight hours
Humidity
45%
Dry, comfortable air
Wind
10 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
5 mm
0 rainy days this month
Sunshine
9.5 hrs/day
73% of daylight hours
Humidity
42%
Dry, comfortable air
Wind
9 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
15 mm
2 rainy days this month
Sunshine
10 hrs/day
77% of daylight hours
Humidity
50%
Dry, comfortable air
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
15 mm
2 rainy days this month
Sunshine
9.5 hrs/day
73% of daylight hours
Humidity
48%
Dry, comfortable air
Wind
8 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
10 mm
1 rainy day this month
Sunshine
9 hrs/day
69% of daylight hours
Humidity
42%
Dry, comfortable air
Wind
9 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
8 mm
0 rainy days this month
Sunshine
8.5 hrs/day
65% of daylight hours
Humidity
48%
Dry, comfortable air
Wind
9 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
5 mm
0 rainy days this month
Sunshine
7.5 hrs/day
58% of daylight hours
Humidity
60%
Comfortably humid
Wind
11 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
Rainfall
5 mm
1 rainy day this month
Sunshine
7 hrs/day
54% of daylight hours
Humidity
75%
Air feels heavy and sticky
Wind
14 km/h
Light, barely noticeable
★★★ peak season, ★★☆ decent shoulder months, ★☆☆ true off-peak, based on rain frequency, heat, and haze.
Seasons at a glance
🌟
Peak season: May, Jun, Oct
Ladakh's most reliable stretch for road access and comfortable trekking weather. May can still see occasional snow blocking the highest mountain passes early in the month, while October brings cooler but clear weather, fewer crowds, and local festivals tied to the Tibetan calendar.
🌤️
Shoulder season: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Sep, Nov
This tier spans real extremes. November through April is deep winter, when the access highways from Srinagar and Manali are closed and Leh can only be reached by air; roads within Ladakh generally stay open, but temperatures are very cold. September sits just after the warmest months, still pleasant but cooling fast.
☔
Off-peak season: Jul, Aug, Dec
July and August are the warmest months and good for high-altitude trekking, but at Leh's own elevation the heat, combined with the year's only real chance of rain, can make lower-altitude trekking uncomfortable, and landslides are possible on the southern stretch of the Leh-Manali Highway.
Good to know
✈️
One of the highest airports in the world
Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport sits at 3,500m, and altitude sickness is a real risk; most visitors are advised to rest on arrival before any strenuous activity.
🛣️
Road access only runs mid-year
The Srinagar-Leh and Manali-Leh highways are typically open from June to mid-October; outside that window, Leh is reachable only by air.
🐆
Snow leopard territory
Hemis National Park, just south of Leh, is one of the best places in the world to spot snow leopards, especially in winter when they descend into the valleys.
🌡️
Extreme swings between day and night
Even in summer, warm 30°C days can be followed by cool nights, while winter nights regularly drop to -18 to -20°C.
🪪
Permits needed for some areas
Popular sites like Pangong Lake and Nubra Valley require an Inner Line Permit, which is straightforward to arrange in Leh itself.
Top attractions
1
Pangong Lake
A high-altitude lake stretching 134km along the India-China border at 4,350m, known for shifting shades of blue and turquoise through the day.
2
Leh Palace
A nine-story former royal palace built in the 17th century, blending Tibetan and Mughal architectural styles above the old town.
3
Nubra Valley
A high-altitude valley northeast of Leh with sand dunes, two-humped Bactrian camels, and monasteries, reached over the Khardung La pass.