India, March 29 -- Come spring, and the stark, high-altitude valleys of Ladakh briefly soften as apricot trees burst into bloom, marking the start of a much-awaited festival across the region. In 2026, the Apricot Blossom Festival will take place from April 8 to 16, with celebrations moving from one village to another.

Ladakh's Apricot Blossom Festival 2026: Key dates, locations, and what to pack

When Ladakh Tourism described the Apricot Blossom Festival as "an invitation to wander through blossoming orchards, taste Ladakh's sweetest apricot delicacies, and lose yourself in the rhythm of ancient folk music beneath snow-capped peaks", you can trust that it was not an exaggeration.

Locally known as 'Chuli Mendok', the festival marks the ...