As a tourist destination, Leh Ladakh is seen as an adventurer's paradise. With plenty of adventure activities like mountain biking, river rafting, camel safari, etc. available, thrill and excitement are guaranteed! Those who refrain from adrenaline inducing activities revel in the calm and tranquility offered by its monasteries. There are tourists who visit Leh Ladakh for food tours, homestays and living the local life for a digital detox. Then, there are ones who come here to observe the vastness of the skies and do stargazing and night camping.
But did you know that the “cold desert” of Leh Ladakh has also become a prime destination for flower and cultural tourism? Sounds confusing? Well, even in higher altitudes, the villages of Leh Ladakh grow wheat, barley and fruits like apples, peaches, cherries and special varieties of apricots. The most exported varieties of Ladakhi apricots are called Halman and Lakste-karpo that have an incredible sweetness to them and are super soft to chew.
Apricot Blossom Tourism in Leh Ladakh
Before apricots become fully ripe fruits, the flowers that the apricot trees bear a striking resemblance to cheery blossoms flowers. And we know how Japan has become a prime destination for flower tourism and attracted many tourists to its cherry blossom festival. Similarly, the north eastern state like Meghalaya also hosts a cherry blossom festival in Shillong which is a music cum cultural festival that boosts tourism.
Seeing this as an opportunity to expand tourism avenues in Leh Ladakh and boost local economy, the Department of Tourism, Leh UT Ladakh organised its first Apricot Blossom Festival in 2021. It was started with expectations to attract tourists to enjoy the natural beauty of apricot blossoms and promote Leh Ladakh as a major exporter of high-quality apricots and apricot-based products.
When is the Apricot Blossom Festival?
The Apricot Blossom festival starts in the Spring season in Ladakh i.e. April and continues till May. If you want to explore a new cultural and festive experience in Leh Ladakh, add Apricot Blossom Festival to your bucket list. Some tour operators to Leh Ladakh even hand out Apricot Blossom group tours and itineraries that you can look for. Considering the current time, the festival has already passed (since it took place from early April to early May). Therefore, you can only plan to visit the festival next year in 2026. Taking note of how much Ladakh’s Tourism Department is pushing and working hard, the Apricot Blossom Festival will only get bigger and better.
Now, if you’re wondering what to expect from the Apricot Blossom Festival in Leh Ladakh, the below section talks about the highlights of the event.
So, What All Happened in Apricot Blossom Festival 2025? Here are the main highlights:
1. Ladakh’s Apricot Blossom Festival 2025 started from April 10’ 2025 and ended on May 4th 2025. The festival was celebrated across the villages of Leh and its main purpose was to attract tourists and make them see the beauty of Apricot blossoms. The festival kicked-off in the scenic village of Skur Buchan.
2. The traditional Ladakhi music and stalls selling delicious Ladakhi food created a festive ambiance. The cultural diversity of communities present in Ladakh was clearly visible from the food offered and the music played. The beautiful apricot trees bearing flowers of pink and white created a beautiful scenery.
3. The honourable speakers emphasised on tourism and cultivation of apricot variety that is unique to Ladakh. The event also featured folk dance performances by artists donning their traditional attire. The festival continued at different locations in Leh Ladakh. It gave tourists opportunities to soak in the beauty of this land and click Instagram-worthy photos with apricot blossom trees that are no less than the Japanese cherry blossoms.
Considering the Apricot Blossom festival only started in 2021, it is still in its emerging stage. As years will pass and more tourists will get to know about it, the scale, production and celebration will only get grander.
Other than the main highlights of the festival, tourists can also enjoy the following activities:
1. Sampling and Shopping
There are many stalls across the villages of Leh Ladakh where you can sample apricots and taste the sweetness of apricot-based delicacies. These include jams, syrups, and apricot-based juices. When else will you get the opportunity to buy 100% farm fresh apricots or their dry version without any adulteration. Plus, take home some apricot goodness as souvenirs for friends and family back home.
2. Learn How to Harvest Apricots
If you go around at a time when apricots or their variety are ready for harvest, you can also do apricot harvesting. This will be an excellent experience for you, learning from local farmers and learning techniques of picking fresh apricots from the trees.
3. Arts, Handicrafts & Local food items
This goes without saying, but during the festival many stalls are set up to shed light on the artisanal skills and talent of locals. These artists put up brilliant pieces of wooden handicrafts, art pieces and decor items that are too good to resist. Browse them and buy some to take back home. Just like handicrafts, you can also look for dried fruits (apple, pears, peaches, etc.), chhurpi (dried yak cheese) and tsampa which is roasted barley flower.
So be prepared in advance and on your next Leh ladakh trip, make sure to attend the Apricot Blossom Festival. This experience will add a new dimension to your Ladakh vacation.
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