Avoid
Khardung La in January
Ladakh, India
Pass closed by snow.
Snow closure makes passage impossible for most vehicles and people in January
Why January scores 1/5
Weather
Pass closed by snow.
Roads & Access
self drive: Any roadworthy car or motorcycle can do it in summer. Permit required (Inner Line Permit for Indian nationals, PAP for foreigners).. road condition: Paved and maintained by BRO — one of the best high-altitude roads in India. Top section can get rutted mid-season.. public transport: No scheduled buses. Shared taxis Leh–Nubra pass through with a brief stop.. from nearest city: 39km from Leh (1.5–2h ascent with acclimatisation and photo stops).. last km difficulty: hard
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 2/5. note: At 5,359m, AMS symptoms can escalate to HAPE/HACE within hours. Descend immediately if symptoms appear.. rescue: Army checkpost at South Pullu can radio for evacuation.. helpline: 1363 / +91-1982-252010 (Leh Tourism).. ambulance: 108. nearest hospital: SNM Hospital Leh (39km).
Network
VI: No, JIO: No, BSNL: Yes, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: No. BSNL postpaid only — prepaid and other carriers do not work. Signal patchy even then.
Kids
Not ideal for kids —
Elevation
5,359m — High altitude, acclimatisation needed
Who should go
- ✓Experienced trekkers / adventurers
Who should think twice
- ✗First-time travelers
- ✗Anyone with health conditions
- ✗Families with young children
- ✗Those prone to altitude sickness
- ✗Anyone needing constant connectivity
- ✗Those with flexible dates — better months exist
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Januaryviewing | 1/5 | Pass closed by snow. |
| February | 1/5 | Closed. |
| March | 1/5 | Closed. |
| April | 2/5 | BRO begins snow-clearing. Pass sometimes opens late in month. |
| May | 3/5 | Open most days by mid-May but closures still frequent. |
| June | 5/5 | Reliably open. Clear skies. Peak motorcycle season starts. |
| July | 4/5 | Open throughout. Occasional afternoon snow flurries even in summer. |
| August | 4/5 | Still reliably open. Nubra valley in full summer swing. |
| September | 5/5 | Crisp, clear, low crowds. The best window for photography. |
| October | 3/5 | First snowfall often mid-month. Pass still open most days. |
| November | 2/5 | Snow builds up. Closures becoming regular. BRO stops clearing by end of month. |
| December | 1/5 | Closed for winter. |
Practical Details
How to reach
39km from Leh (1.5–2h ascent with acclimatisation and photo stops).. Roads: Paved and maintained by BRO — one of the best high-altitude roads in India. Top section can get rutted mid-season.. Self-drive: Any roadworthy car or motorcycle can do it in summer. Permit required (Inner Line Permit for Indian nationals, PAP for foreigners).. Public transport: No scheduled buses. Shared taxis Leh–Nubra pass through with a brief stop.. Last stretch: hard
Elevation
5,359m
Difficulty
extreme
Budget tier
mixed
Nearby in Ladakh scoring high in January
- Access
- Paved and maintained by BRO — one of the best high-altitude roads in India. Top section can get rutted mid-season.
- Emergency
- 108 · SNM Hospital Leh (39km).
- Stay
- ₹N/A/night
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