The most beautiful time to visit Ladakh

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Hi Anirban here. In this newsletter, I help foreigners discover the untold India. Two issues a week, straight to your inbox.

Today, we’re talking about the Apricot blossom festival in Ladakh.

So, you gotta know about Ladakh. I highly doubt that you’ve never heard of Ladakh. Almost everyone in this world knows about ‘The land of high passes’.

But if I only talk about Ladakh, then you won’t be able to get the full details, because Ladakh is big.

And the celebrations are held across apricot-growing villages in both Leh and Kargil.

On the Leh side, places like Alchi, Domkhar, Wanla, Sumoor and Tar are in the Leh district of Ladakh, mostly along the Indus and in the Sham/Nubra regions. These are promoted specifically by Ladakh Tourism as Apricot Blossom Festival venues to showcase Leh’s apricot belt.

Also, Villages such as Garkone, Sanjaq, Hardass, Shilikchey and Karkitchhu fall under the Kargil district in Ladakh. Official Ladakh administration notes and festival press releases describe the event as a Ladakh-wide initiative held in different Kargil villages each year to promote eco-tourism.

International to Delhi (DEL)

Airports: Fly to Indira Gandhi International (DEL) Terminal 3. This is the main hub for international connections.

Best routings: You can fly from New York or Newark with Air India or United. From Europe.

Book three to six months early for a return fare of ₹80,000 to ₹1.25 lakh, which is around $1k-$1.5K. Try to arrive in Delhi in the morning on Day 1.

Delhi Airport to Leh Airport (IXL)

Domestic flight: IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet operate four to six flights every morning. Departure windows are usually from 6 to 11.

Duration: Around one hour and fifteen minutes. You can book the same day or the next morning after your international arrival.

Cost: 10K to 16K rupees for a return ticket. Use Skyscanner, which accepts international cards.

Tip: Keep a four to six-hour buffer between your international arrival and your domestic check-in. Terminal 3 to the domestic is very smooth.

Leh Airport to Leh town or hotel

The drive takes ten to fifteen minutes.

Prepaid taxis: Fixed rates from 500-800 to central Leh. The taxi counter is right outside arrivals.

Roads are clear, and there is almost no traffic.

Leh to the blossom villages (from Day 3 onwards)

Private taxi: Book through the Leh taxi union or your hotel. Rates for the Sham or Alchi side are 3.5k to 5K rupees per day.

Routes: Leh to Alchi is around 65 kilometres. Leh to Domkhar is around eighty kilometres. Leh to Garkone is around one hundred twenty kilometres on the Kargil side.

Public buses: Leh to Kargil buses run daily, but they do not go deep into all the blossom villages. They are not convenient for foreigners.

Homestays in Alchi, Wanla, Domkhar, and Garkone will be the best ones as they give you the authentic apricot orchard views and local meals. Book via Ladakh Tourism or directly.

You can try local dishes like thukpa, momos and Paba, along with apricot-based products like jams, juices, syrups and desserts made from Ladakh’s famous varieties such as Raktsey Karpo.

Leh is high at 3,500 metres. You will most likely feel mild altitude symptoms like headache, tiredness or light sleep on your first day. This is normal. To stay safe, give enough rest. Do not walk too much, avoid climbing stairs, drink four to five litres of water and avoid alcohol and smoking.

If you feel a strong headache, nausea or dizziness, go down to a lower point or visit the hospital in Leh. If you use Diamox, speak to your doctor before the trip. Make sure your travel insurance covers altitude and evacuation.

Roads in early April are usually open for Sham, and the blossom villages, but Nubra or Khardung La can close because of snow. Check daily road updates through local taxi drivers or local apps. Use only Ladakhi drivers and avoid self-driving because the oxygen level is low. Day temperatures stay around ten to 18 degrees, and nights can drop to -5. Carry thermals, gloves, UV sunglasses and high SPF sunscreen.

Leh and the villages are very safe. Crime is extremely low. Keep a passport copy for checkposts. Leh has a good hospital, so keep basic medicines like Diamox, paracetamol and electrolytes. Keep in mind that Delhi to Leh flights can get cancelled because of the weather, so add one or two buffer days to your plan.

Dress modestly near monasteries and villages. Ask before taking photos of people, and do not fly drones near monasteries or orchards without permission. Apps like IMD for weather and Ladakh road status help a lot. Travel with a group, a shared taxi is safer and more fun, especially outside Leh.

The Apricot Blossom Festival is a spring festival in Ladakh that takes place from early April to early May. Locals call it Chuli Mendok. During this time, the apricot trees in the villages of Leh and Kargil bloom in pink and white, with snow-covered mountains behind them. It is one of the most beautiful times to visit Ladakh.

It started in 2021, and by 2025, it had grown popular among both locals and travellers. It was created to promote eco-friendly tourism and to give people a closer look at Ladakh’s village culture.

At the festival, you can see traditional Ladakhi music and dance, small plays about local stories, friendly archery games, and village markets. Artisans display thangka paintings, woodwork, woven pieces and other handmade crafts. The whole festival feels colourful, peaceful and very local.

Day 1 → Arrive in Delhi

Land in Delhi and stay in a hotel slightly away from the airport because airport hotels are expensive. Rest after your long flight.

Day 2 → Delhi to Leh

Take a morning Delhi to Leh flight which takes around one to one and a half hours. Check into your hotel and rest for the day. In the evening, take a slow walk in the Leh market.

Day 3 → Sham Valley and the first blossoms

Drive from Leh to the Alchi and Sham Valley side. Visit Alchi monastery and walk through the apricot orchards and village lanes. If you want a rural experience, you can stay in a village homestay in Alchi, Wanla or a nearby village.

Day 4 → Blossom village immersion

Visit a main blossom village like Domkhar or Tar, or whichever village is hosting the Chuli Mendok program that day. Watch cultural performances, try local food and look at apricot products. Stay overnight in the village or return to Leh.

Day 5 → Extra blossom belt or Nubra

If the high passes are open, you can go to Nubra for dunes, apricot trees and monastery visits. If the passes are closed, you can explore deeper parts of Sham Valley or visit another blossom village. End the day with a monastery visit or a café evening in Leh.

Day 6 → Leh to Delhi to onward

Take a morning flight from Leh to Delhi. You can connect to your international flight the same evening or keep one more night in Delhi as a buffer before flying home.

This itinerary is clear, safe and practical for foreigners and works perfectly for early April travel.

1. International return flight

$1,200–$1,500

This covers your long-haul flight to Delhi with good timings and smooth connections. It can be less if you purchase it 4-6 months ahead.

2. Delhi to Leh return flight

₹10,000

This covers your domestic flight into Ladakh, the fastest and safest way to reach Leh.

3. Stay for 5 nights

₹7,500–₹11,000

This includes:

One night in Delhi.

Four nights in Leh and the blossom villages in safe, comfortable homestays or guesthouses.

4. Local transport

₹3,500–₹6,000

This includes a private Ladakhi driver for three full sightseeing days and your airport transfers in Leh.

5. Food

₹3,600–₹6,000

This includes six days of meals, local cafés, snacks and occasional apricot-based dishes.

6. Entries, festival costs and shopping

₹3,000–₹6,000

This includes monastery entry fees, camera fees, small festival contributions and apricot products like jams, oils or dried fruit.

The blossom period generally runs from early April to early May, with exact festival dates adjusted each year based on the bloom and climate. Expect pleasant but still cold weather, especially mornings and evenings, so it is usually a mix of sunlit orchard walks and chilly nights in homestays or small guesthouses.

Ladakh is one of the most scenic places in the world, and the apricot blossom season makes it even more special.

Hope you enjoyed this newsletter and found it useful.

See you in the next edition. Julley.