Avoid
Alchi in November
Ladakh, India
November closes Alchi to casual visitors. The Leh-Manali highway shuts, flights to Leh become the only access, and temperatures plummet. The monastery is technically accessible from Leh but the village has no visitor facilities. Only residents and monks remain.
The November story
November Alchi is for Leh residents, researchers with specific monastery access arrangements, and almost nobody else. The village shuts down for winter โ no guesthouses, no food service, no transport. The monastery caretaker can sometimes arrange access, but it's not guaranteed. If you're in Leh for work and have a free day with good weather, the drive to Alchi is stark and beautiful โ snow on every peak, the Indus dark blue and narrow, the desert palette of brown, white, and blue that is Ladakh at its most essential. But plan this as a day trip from Leh with your own supplies, not as a destination visit.
Why November scores 1/5
Roads & Access
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 3/5. rescue: Indian Army, SDRF. helpline: DC Leh: 01982-252010. ambulance: 108 (limited). police station: Khalsi Police Station (20km). nearest hospital: PHC Khalsi (20km), SNM Hospital Leh (68km)
Network
JIO: Yes, BSNL: Yes, AIRTEL: No
Kids
Kid-friendly (3/5) โ
Elevation
3,100m โ Moderate altitude
Who should go
- โFirst-time travelers
- โSenior citizens
- โLeh-based residents or long-term visitors with a free day
- โResearchers with pre-arranged monastery access
- โWinter photographers willing to self-support the entire trip
Who should think twice
- โAll casual tourists โ there is no infrastructure operating
- โFamilies or groups โ this requires self-sufficiency
- โAnyone flying in specifically for this โ not worth the cost and risk
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1/5 | โ |
| February | 1/5 | โ |
| March | 1/5 | โ |
| April | 2/5 | โ |
| May | 3/5 | May is Alchi's sweet spot for most travellers. |
| June | 5/5 | June brings the first wave of Ladakh tourism, but Alchi โ 70km from Leh โ stays quieter than Hemis or Thiksey. |
| July | 5/5 | July is peak Ladakh season. Tour buses visit Alchi as a day trip from Leh. |
| August | 4/5 | August continues peak season with an added wildcard: Ladakh gets occasional cloudbursts now that climate change has introduced monsoon-fringe weather. |
| September | 5/5 | September is Alchi's autumn grace period. |
| October | 3/5 | October is Alchi's last accessible month for most travellers. |
| Novemberviewing | 1/5 | โ |
| December | 1/5 | โ |
Practical Details
How to reach
Contact local transport
Elevation
3,100m
Difficulty
easy
Budget tier
budget
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