A winter trip to Ladakh may have looked impossible a few years ago, but not today. It is now open for tourism all year round. You will have little trouble finding lodging, hiring a taxi, and even renting a bike for local touring. Your Ladakh winter vacation itinerary can encompass all there is to see in Ladakh, with the exception of a few destinations we will explore in this post. There are various options you can easily research the best deals for international flights from USA to India. It aims to find convenient and affordable options for your upcoming journey.
One popular misconception is that Ladakh closes down entirely in the winter and is covered with snow everywhere. Still, practically all of Ladakh’s internal roads are open, even when it’s the middle of winter. When severe snowfall blocks the high-altitude passes, BRO (Border Roads Organisation) clears the route as soon as possible. In reality, parts of the two routes heading to Ladakh are still open to Army vehicles. Civilian transportation is the only thing that comes to a total halt due to safety concerns.
Leh Ladakh in Winter
In the winter, a road trip to Ladakh is out of the question. The only way in and out is by plane. You can take a road trip as early as late April and as late as late October. From November to mid-April, the sole alternative is to take a trip to Leh.
When you arrive in Leh, you can hire a taxi to show you around. The weather will be cold, with temperatures plunging as low as -25 degrees Celsius at night. As a result, you must ensure that you are properly prepared to deal with such extreme cold.
Some people consider renting a local bike for sightseeing. This is only a smart move if you have enough biking experience and know how to handle a bike on slick roads and snow. If not, you should take a local taxi.
Can You Visit Pangong Tso in Winter?
The answer is that you absolutely can. The road from Leh to Pangong Tso is also open in the winter. Snowfall can cause the Chang La Pass to close at times. Even if this occurs, the route will reopen as soon as BRO is able to clear the path.
During the months of January and February, Pangong Lake is entirely frozen, strong enough to support the weight of an SUV (believe me, this is genuine). This is likely to be the most gratifying vista of your journey.
You can either leave early from Leh and return by midnight, or you can make it an overnight trip. However, there will be no camping on the banks of Pangong. You will need to stay at Tangste, Spangmik, Man, or Merak.
Food and facilities will be quite basic at this time, but the locals will offer you hot water and a gas heater for your accommodation. You don’t need to search tirelessly for cheap tickets to India from USA, you can find multiple affordable options for upcoming travel plans.
Can you visit Nubra Valley in Winter?
Nubra Valley is also open throughout the winter season. The sole exception would be if Khardung La were to close momentarily owing to excessive snowfall. If this occurs, you will have to wait for BRO to clear the route before proceeding to Nubra Valley.
You can either visit Nubra Valley and return to Leh the same day, or you can stay in the valley for a day or two. Accommodation will be limited during the winter season as most hotels and guesthouses close their doors at this time.
You should stay in either Diskit or Hunder. In comparison to the rest of the valley, they are the most suitable option for finding a place to stay. You can have a chance to witness all these mesmerizing places with cheap flights on Tripbeam.ca for your next trip to India.
Can you Visit Tso Moriri in Winter?
Once again, the answer is yes. Tso Moriri can be reached in winter via one of two routes: Leh to Tso Moriri or Pangong Tso to Tso Moriri.
Moriri, like Pangong Tso, is totally frozen in winter and makes for a spectacular spectacle. Unlike Pangong Tso, which is a saltwater lake, Moriri is a sweetwater reservoir with a lot of vegetation and possibly even fauna. It is both a migratory bird sanctuary and a wetland reserve, so it is well worth the visit.
Other Places to visit in Ladakh in Winter
Apart from the tourist attractions We described above, there are plenty others that you can visit. The Srinagar-Leh highway journey is highly recommended. You can do it as a day trip or travel as far as you can and return to Leh in the evening.
If you have the time, you may even make it a two-day excursion with an overnight stop in Kargil. During the winter, the route between Leh and Kargil remains open. So getting to Kargil should be no problem.
Other attractions along the Srinagar-Leh highway include Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Patthar Sahib, and the Indus-Zanskar confluence. Leh Palace, Shey Palace, and Shanti Stupa are all worth seeing while you’re in Leh. You visit a number of monasteries on the Srinagar-Leh highway as well as those in Leh. It is recommended that you should always keep an eye out for cheap flight tickets from USA to India. You need to search for the best deals to plan your next international journey.
Also Read: A Journey To Heaven On Earth, A Journey To LADAKH