Let us save you some time. Baralacha Pass is not reliably open in May. Not in early May, and not always in late May either.
If you are planning a trip to Baralacha La in May 2026 based on a blog post that says "May to September is the best time," you need a more honest picture before you book anything.
Here is what actually happens. Baralacha La sits at roughly 16,000 feet on the Manali to Leh highway. It stays buried under deep snow through winter, and BRO snow clearance usually does not push through to the pass until mid to late May at the earliest.
Some years it takes until June. There is no fixed opening date, no official calendar that says "May 15, gates open." It depends on how much snow fell, how clearance is progressing, and what the weather does during the clearing window.
Early May? Almost always too early. Late May? Sometimes possible, but only if the stars align and you are flexible.
The Manali to Leh highway does not open all at once, and reaching Lahaul through the Atal Tunnel is very different from actually getting to Baralacha.
This guide by Travel Coffee is built to give you the full, honest picture. Week by week, question by question. So you can decide whether May is realistic for your plan or whether a different timing or route would serve you better.
Not reliably. Early May is almost always closed. Late May sometimes opens a narrow window depending on how fast BRO clears the highway.
Yes, in most years. Snow clearance typically has not reached Baralacha before mid-May. You can get to Jispa or Keylong, but not to the pass.
Sometimes. If clearance is on schedule and winter snowfall was moderate, a window can open in the last ten days of May. But it is never guaranteed.
Only partially. Lahaul is accessible via the Atal Tunnel. The full highway through Baralacha, Sarchu, and onward to Leh usually opens in the second half of May or later.
Only if the road to Baralacha has been cleared. Suraj Tal sits just below the pass and depends on the same road-opening timeline. Early May is almost certainly a no.
If the road opens in late May, the snow scenery is dramatic. Tall snow walls, a white landscape, frozen stillness. But getting there is the hard part.
Most travel websites treat Baralacha Pass like a standalone destination. You check the weather, pick a date, drive there. That is not how it works.
It does not open on its own. It opens only when BRO clears the road all the way from the Lahaul side through Darcha, up past Zingzing Bar, and over the pass.
That clearance is a massive operation that starts after winter and works section by section, from both the Manali and Leh ends, pushing inward.
How deep was the snow that winter? Is fresh snowfall disrupting clearance? How many machines has BRO deployed on this stretch versus other routes? Are there landslide-prone sections slowing things down?
It is not something you can predict from a calendar. Some years, Baralacha clears by the third week of May. Other years, it stays closed well into the first or second week of June.
Planning around a fixed date in May is a gamble, and the earlier in May you try, the worse your odds.
Do not lock in a Baralacha trip for May around a fixed date. Plan around live road updates. Keep flexibility in your schedule. And be genuinely okay with the possibility that the pass may not be open when you arrive.
This is the single most important question travelers ask, and most articles online do not separate it clearly. So here it is, broken down honestly.
In most years, early May is too early. Full stop. Snow clearance has usually not pushed beyond Darcha or the approach to Zingzing Bar at this point. The pass itself is still under meters of snow, and the road leading up to it from the Lahaul side is not drivable.
You can absolutely reach Keylong, Jispa, and sometimes a bit beyond through the Atal Tunnel. Lahaul is open. But Baralacha is not Lahaul. It is further, higher, and deeper in snow.
If your trip is locked into the first week of May with no flexibility, Baralacha should not be on your plan. Spend that time in Lahaul instead. It is genuinely beautiful and far more accessible.
This is the in-between zone. In lighter snowfall years, BRO clearance sometimes pushes close to Baralacha by mid-May. But "close" is not the same as "open."
More commonly, mid-May means the road is still being carved open somewhere between Darcha and Zingzing Bar. You might get tantalizingly close to the pass without actually being able to cross.
If you are flexible, mid-May can occasionally reward you. But you need to be ready to spend a day or two waiting, and you need a solid backup plan. Travelers who cannot handle a "maybe" should not bet on mid-May.
This is your best shot within May, and even then, it is not a certainty.
In many years, the final stretch of clearance reaches Baralacha sometime during the last ten days of May. BRO may allow trial traffic, or the road may open for limited movement. Snow walls tower on both sides.
The surface is often rough with slush, meltwater, and loose gravel. Conditions feel raw, cold, and early-season.
But if Baralacha in May is genuinely your goal, late May with two to three buffer days is the most realistic approach. Confirm the road status before you leave.
Talk to operators in Keylong or Jispa. Do not drive up assuming the road is open because someone on Instagram posted a photo from last year's late May.
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It is not just one thing. Several factors stack up to make May genuinely difficult for this pass.
At roughly 16,040 feet, Baralacha La is one of the highest points on the Manali to Leh corridor. That altitude means snow piles up deep through winter and takes significantly longer to clear than lower stretches of the highway.
While Rohtang and Keylong might be accessible, the snow at Baralacha is in a different league.
BRO does extraordinary work every year, but the pace depends on factors no one fully controls. Fresh snowfall in April or early May can set progress back by days.
Machine breakdowns happen. Some sections are more avalanche-prone and require extra caution. The result is that no two years clear at the same speed.
Think slush that can be a foot deep in places. Loose gravel. Waterlogged patches where meltwater has nowhere to drain yet. Stretches where the road surface is barely stabilized. This is nothing like driving the same route in July.
The snow walls that look so dramatic in May photos exist precisely because the road was only just carved through. That same snow creates the delays, the slush, the unstable conditions. The beauty and the difficulty are the same thing.
This is where a lot of travelers get confused, so let us make it very simple.
Yes, you can drive from Manali into Lahaul in May. The Atal Tunnel runs year-round and takes you directly into the Lahaul Valley, bypassing Rohtang entirely. Sissu, Keylong, Jispa. All accessible. That part is sorted.
But here is what catches people out. Getting to Lahaul is not the same as getting to Baralacha. After Jispa, the road climbs toward Darcha, then continues through Patseo, Zingzing Bar, and eventually up to Baralacha La.
That entire stretch depends on BRO snow clearance, and it is the section that stays closed or uncertain through much of May.
So when someone says "I will drive from Manali to Baralacha in early May," they are really saying "I will drive from Manali to Jispa, and then I will find out the road beyond is closed." Unless they have confirmed that clearance has reached the pass, which in early May is extremely unlikely.
The practical takeaway: you can always head toward Baralacha from Manali in May. How far you actually get depends on the week, the clearance, and a bit of luck.
May is the month the Manali to Leh highway is being born for the season. It is not the month it is reliably open.
The Manali to Keylong section through the Atal Tunnel works fine. Beyond Keylong, toward Jispa and Darcha, is usually accessible.
But the high-altitude sections through Baralacha, Nakee La, Lachalung La, and onward to Sarchu and Pang are cleared progressively, and the full corridor to Leh typically does not open until late May at the earliest. In many years, the official opening for through-traffic happens in June.
Do not plan a complete Manali to Leh road trip in early or mid-May expecting to drive the whole thing. Parts will be open. The complete route probably will not. And being stuck at a road closure point at 14,000 feet with no options is not a fun experience.
If driving Manali to Leh end to end is your actual goal, mid-June onward is far more practical. If you just want to explore as far as the road takes you in May, that is a different and more flexible kind of trip.
Forget everything May means at lower altitudes. At Baralacha, May still feels like winter. The calendar says spring. The thermometer says otherwise.
During the day, temperatures near the pass sit somewhere between minus 2 and plus 5 degrees Celsius. That is the "warm" part of the day.
Mornings and evenings drop well below freezing. Wind chill pushes the feels-like temperature even lower, and the wind up here can be relentless.
At 16,000 feet, UV radiation is intense. You can get sunburned badly while your fingers go numb from the cold. That combination catches people off guard more than anything else.
If the road is open, it cuts through walls of snow that can be several feet tall. The ground is white in every direction. Water sources are frozen or just beginning to thaw. The air is thin and dry.
Proper thermals. A windproof and waterproof outer layer. Insulated gloves. Warm headgear that covers your ears. Woolen or thermal socks. Sunscreen and good sunglasses. This is not a casual-jacket trip. If you are not dressed for genuine cold, you will be miserable.
If you're unsure whether you’re prepared for these conditions, reach out to Travel Coffee on WhatsApp and get honest guidance before you plan your trip.
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Suraj Tal is one of the highest lakes in India, sitting just below Baralacha Pass on the Manali side of the highway. It is one of the most searched reasons people want to visit this area. But in May, it follows the exact same story as Baralacha itself.
If the road to Baralacha has not been cleared, Suraj Tal is not accessible. You cannot reach it on some alternative path. It sits right alongside the highway, and the highway is the only way in.
In early May, the lake is almost certainly frozen and the road to it is blocked. In late May, if BRO has pushed through to the pass or close to it, you may be able to reach Suraj Tal. But the lake at that point is usually still partially or fully frozen, surrounded by thick snow.
It looks stark and beautiful in a severe, high-altitude way, but it is not the vivid blue-water image that circulates on social media. That version of Suraj Tal belongs to July and August.
Treat Suraj Tal as part of the Baralacha road-opening story. Same timeline. Same uncertainty. Same need for real-time confirmation before you go.
That depends entirely on what kind of traveler you are.
if you are the kind of person who finds raw, snow-covered, high-altitude landscapes exciting. If you are flexible with your dates and you are not the type to fall apart if a road is closed for one more day.
If you are already planning a route through upper Lahaul or the Manali to Leh corridor and Baralacha is a natural part of that journey. If you understand that early-season travel means accepting some uncertainty, and that is part of the appeal for you.
if you need every day of your trip to go exactly as planned. If you are traveling in the first half of May with zero flexibility.
If you want a smooth, comfortable family road trip. If you are expecting summer-like roads and easy conditions. If the idea of reaching a dead-end road closure genuinely bothers you.
There is no shame in deciding May is not your month for Baralacha. Plenty of experienced travelers deliberately wait for June or July. The scenery is still spectacular, and the roads are actually open. Choosing a later month is not settling. It is smart planning.
May is not a good month for families at Baralacha. The road is rough, the cold is serious, medical help is far away, and the uncertainty makes it nearly impossible to plan around children.
Kids get cold fast at this altitude, and being stuck at a road closure with restless children is no one's idea of a good time. Families will have a much better experience exploring Sissu, Keylong, or Jispa, which are all accessible and genuinely beautiful in May.
If both of you are comfortable with adventure and do not mind roughing it, late May can work. But go in with open eyes. This is cold, raw, unpredictable travel.
If one person is enthusiastic and the other is reluctant, this trip will create tension, not memories. Make sure you are both genuinely on board.
Experienced bikers who have ridden in snow, slush, and water crossings before can handle late May at Baralacha.
The road surface will be loose, wet, and partially cleared. For newer riders or anyone who has not dealt with cold-weather mountain riding, this is not the trip to learn on. Wait for June or later.
Possible in late May with a high-clearance vehicle, good tires, and genuine mountain driving experience. But treat this with respect.
Water crossings, slushy stretches, and unpredictable road surfaces are part of the deal. If your driving experience is limited to highways and city roads, this will feel like a different planet.
Honestly, May at Baralacha is not the best introduction to high-altitude travel. The combination of thin air, freezing temperatures, rough roads, and route uncertainty is a lot for a first timer.
Start with something more accessible. A Lahaul valley trip in May, or Baralacha in July. Build up to the hard stuff.
If you're new to high-altitude travel, this Sissu travel guide will give you a clear idea of what to expect in May.
Baralacha Pass typically opens sometime between late May and mid-June. In lighter snow years, BRO has occasionally cleared through by the third or fourth week of May. In heavier snow years, the pass has stayed closed until the second week of June or even later.
There is no officially announced opening date. BRO works through the clearance, and the highway opens when the highway opens. What you will find online is a mix of past-year reports, optimistic estimates, and outdated articles that treat one year's timeline as a permanent pattern.
The most important thing to internalize is this: just because someone crossed Baralacha on May 22 in 2024 does not mean it will be open on May 22 in 2026. Each winter is different. Each clearance season is different. Check current-year conditions, not old trip reports.
If you want the full Baralacha experience without the uncertainty, June through September is your window.
June still carries some early-season character. The road is generally open, but you might encounter patches of slush or minor disruptions. Snow is visible on the mountains, and the scenery has a raw beauty to it.
July and August offer the most stable conditions. The road is well-established, the weather is as warm as it gets at this altitude, and you can focus on the experience instead of worrying about whether the road is open.
September works too. Crowds thin out, the air gets crisper, and early autumn light makes the landscape look incredible. The cold starts creeping back, but the roads are still open.
For most travelers, especially those planning a first Manali to Leh road trip or a family holiday, mid-June onward is the sweet spot. You get the scenery, the adventure, and the open road, without the coin-flip uncertainty of May.
If you reach Lahaul in May and Baralacha is still closed, your trip is not ruined. Not even close. Lahaul Valley is one of the most underrated travel regions in Himachal, and in May it is quiet, stunning, and far less crowded than it will be in peak summer.
Jispa is a calm, scenic base in upper Lahaul. In May, it offers mountain views, the Bhaga River, and a peaceful atmosphere that is hard to find at more popular Himachal destinations. It also puts you in the best position to reach Baralacha if the road opens during your trip.
Keylong is the district headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti. It has basic amenities, local culture, monasteries worth visiting, and serves as a practical base for exploring the wider valley.
Sissu sits close to the Atal Tunnel exit and gives you easy access to waterfall views, the Chandra River, and a relaxed pace. If you are looking for something beautiful without the uncertainty, Sissu in May is hard to beat.
is a genuinely rewarding alternative. Instead of fixating on one pass, use May for valley exploration. Drive from Sissu to Keylong to Jispa. Take in the side valleys. Visit Kardang Monastery. Enjoy a part of Himachal that most tourists skip.
If Baralacha is your real goal and you have any flexibility, pushing your trip to late May or the first week of June can make all the difference. A few days of patience can turn a frustrating dead-end into a genuinely rewarding crossing.
If you’re not able to cross further, Sissu still offers a complete experience - this Sissu travel guide for May by Travel Coffee shows you how to make the most of it.
Do not rely on blog posts, YouTube videos, or social media updates from previous years. What happened in May 2024 may have nothing to do with what is happening in May 2026. Road conditions at Baralacha are season-specific, and they can change within days.
Check official BRO updates and government advisories for the Manali to Leh corridor. Call guesthouses or local transport operators in Keylong or Jispa and ask them directly what the road looks like today.
Look at current-season traveler reports, not last year's. Some travel groups and forums carry near-real-time updates during the opening season that are far more reliable than static blog content.
Check two to three days before you plan to leave, not two weeks before. Things move fast in May. A road that was blocked on Monday can open by Wednesday. A road that was clear on Friday can get hit by a fresh snowfall over the weekend.
If you are planning through Travel Coffee, we share current route updates and help you time your departure based on what is actually happening on the ground. That kind of real-time, locally sourced information is what turns a gamble into a plan.
Reach out to Travel Coffee on WhatsApp if you want help understanding whether Baralacha Pass in May fits your travel plans or if you should consider a safer window.
Plan for late May with flexibility built in. If you cannot afford to wait an extra day or two, this route in this month is not for you.
If your entire itinerary collapses because of a single day's delay, your plan is too rigid for Baralacha in May.
Thermals, windproof and waterproof jackets, insulated gloves, warm socks, and proper headgear. At 16,000 feet in May, you need genuine cold-weather gear.
16,000 feet is no joke. Acclimatize properly. Stay hydrated. If you are coming straight from Manali, do not rush the ascent. Spend a night in Jispa and let your body adjust.
Top up at Manali or Keylong. Fuel availability beyond Keylong is unreliable in May, and running out of fuel on this stretch is a serious problem, not an inconvenience.
Snow melts as the day warms up, turning the road surface into slush and creating water crossings that were not there at dawn. Morning travel is safer and more predictable.
Medicines, a first-aid kit, snacks, water, basic tools, a tow rope, a torch. Help is not around the corner out here. If something goes wrong, you need to be able to handle it until help arrives.
Baralacha in May is a high-altitude, early-season mountain route. Approach it with the seriousness it demands.
If you’re planning other early-season mountain routes, it’s worth understanding how conditions differ at places like Rohtang Pass or Kunzum Pass during April.
If Baralacha in May is on your mind, talk to us before you finalize anything.
Tell us your dates, your group, and what kind of trip you are looking for. We will tell you honestly whether Baralacha fits your window or whether Jispa, a Lahaul valley itinerary, or pushing your trip to early June would actually give you a better experience.
No overselling. No vague "it should be fine" answers. Just clear, ground-level advice from people who know these roads.
That is what Travel Coffee does. We help you plan trips that actually work.
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