The year at a glance
| Month | Ride this | Avoid this | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Rajasthan, South India, Kerala coast | All Himalayan routes (closed) | Cool desert mornings, 22 to 25 °C days; peak heritage-hotel demand |
| February | Rajasthan, South India, Hola Mohalla build-up in Punjab | Himalaya | Best desert month; book early |
| March | Rajasthan (early), Hola Mohalla festival ride, South India (early) | Himalaya | Heating up by month end; Holi mid-month |
| April | Lower Himachal (Heritage Himachal), Nepal lower routes | Rajasthan (hot), high passes (snow) | Shoulder month; rhododendrons in the hills |
| May | Heritage Himachal, Bhutan, Nepal Mustang (late May) | Rajasthan (40 °C+), Ladakh (roads opening only) | Manali-Leh usually opens late May or early June |
| June | Ladakh, Spiti (from mid-month), Zanskar (late) | South India (monsoon), Rajasthan (heat) | Long days, snow walls on the passes, fewer riders than July |
| July | Ladakh, Spiti, Zanskar, Sach Pass | Everything south of the Himalaya (monsoon) | Peak Himalayan month; Ladakh is in a rain shadow and stays dry |
| August | Ladakh, Spiti, Zanskar | Manali-Leh approach can see landslides in wet years | Busiest month in Leh; Srinagar approach as an alternative |
| September | Ladakh, Spiti, Sach Pass, Kinnaur | South India (still wet) | Best light of the year, cold nights, stable weather; our favourite |
| October | Spiti (early), Rajasthan (from mid-month), Nepal, Bhutan, North East | High Ladakh passes after mid-month | Transition month; Pushkar Fair late October or November |
| November | Rajasthan, South India, Nepal Mustang, North East | Himalaya (closed) | Pushkar Camel Fair; clear skies everywhere south |
| December | Rajasthan, South India, Hornbill Festival (Nagaland) | Himalaya | Cold desert nights, warm days; Hornbill runs 1 to 10 December |
Himalaya: June to September
Ladakh sits in the rain shadow of the main Himalayan range, so it stays dry through the monsoon that soaks the rest of India. The constraint is snow: the Manali-Leh highway and the high passes open in late May or June and close in October. June has snow walls and space; July and August are warmest and busiest; September has the clearest skies and the coldest nights.
Spiti opens a little later (Kunzum La mid-June) and stays rideable into early October. Zanskar and Sach Pass have the shortest windows, roughly July to mid-September. The approaches through Manali and Kinnaur are in monsoon territory in July and August, so we plan buffer days for landslide delays.
Rajasthan and the deserts: October to March
From mid-October the heat breaks and Rajasthan becomes the best road-riding in India: 25 °C days, cool nights, long straight desert highways and heritage stays every night. December and January mornings are cold enough for a liner and gloves. The Pushkar Camel Fair (late October or November) is the single most spectacular event to ride to. By late March temperatures climb past 35 °C.
South India: November to February
Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are wet from June to September and again in October and November on the east coast. December to February is dry, warm (28 to 32 °C) and green after the rains, with tea estates, coastal roads and temple towns at their best. Our Spice Trail runs in this window.
Nepal, Bhutan and the North East
- Nepal Upper Mustang: May to early June and late September to November; Mustang is dry but the approach through Pokhara is not in July and August.
- Bhutan: March to May and October to November for clear mountain views; festivals cluster in spring and autumn.
- North East India: November to March. The Hornbill Festival in Nagaland is 1 to 10 December every year.
- Tibet from Nepal: May to October, weather permitting; permits take time, so book early.
Matching your holidays
- US and Canadian summer, UK and European August: Ladakh and Spiti.
- Christmas and New Year: Rajasthan, South India, Hornbill (early December).
- Australian summer holidays (December, January): Rajasthan and Kerala.
- Easter and May bank holidays: Heritage Himachal, Bhutan, Nepal.
- UK October half-term: Rajasthan or Spiti (early October).
Rajesh Kumar founded Brahmand Tour in 2015 after 15 years of travelling India and has led Royal Enfield groups over every major Himalayan pass. About the team.
