When to go · Leh
Leh in January
Avoid month. Listed as a month to avoid: Dec–Feb (deep cold, many places shut); avoid the first 48 h at altitude for hard activity.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Avoid
- Temperature
- −2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C) / −16°C (3°F)3°F (−16°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 1
- Crowds
- High
- India overall
- Prices
- High
- India overall
Verdict
Listed as a month to avoid: Dec–Feb (deep cold, many places shut); avoid the first 48 h at altitude for hard activity.
Is another month better than January?
January is rated avoid. These months rate higher:
Weather in January
- LehHighs around -2 °C (28 °F), lows around -16 °C (3 °F), rain on about 1 dayHighs around 28 °F (-2 °C), lows around 3 °F (-16 °C), rain on about 1 day
- Ladakh and Spiti, India · Leh, Nubra, Pangong, Spiticool
High desert above 3,000 m: roads over the passes open roughly June–October; winter is –20 °C (68 °F).High desert above 3,000 m: roads over the passes open roughly June–October; winter is –68 °F (20 °C).
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Christmas and New Year big impact
25 Dec – 1 Jan · India
Goa beds triple in price; Rajasthan and Kerala hotels full.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · India overall
- High
- Prices · India overall
- High
India overall: Peak for Rajasthan, Kerala and Goa; fog in the north delays trains and flights in the mornings.
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Leh, side by side.
Verdict
Jan: Avoid
Jun: Great (better)
Daytime high
Jan: -2 °C (28 °F)28 °F (-2 °C)
Jun: 22 °C (72 °F)72 °F (22 °C)
Night low
Jan: -16 °C (3 °F)3 °F (-16 °C)
Jun: 9 °C (48 °F)48 °F (9 °C)
Rain days
Jan: 1 (better)
Jun: 5
Crowds
Jan: High
Jun: Low
Prices
Jan: High
Jun: Low
Festivals listed
Jan: 1
Jun: 0
January: Listed as a month to avoid: Dec–Feb (deep cold, many places shut); avoid the first 48 h at altitude for hard activity.
June: Inside Leh's best window: Jun–Sep.
Leh: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat and gloves for mornings and evenings
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket