Chadar Trek – The Frozen Zanskar River Trek

Per Person Price +5% GST
From₹24,999₹19,999
Per Person Price +5% GST
From₹24,999₹19,999
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9 Days
Availability : January-February
Leh
Leh
Min Age : 15+
Trek Details

Region :- Ladakh
Duration :- 9 Days
Grade :- Difficult
Max Altitude :- 11,400 Ft.
Approx Trekking Kms :- 60 Kms Approx

Your trek journey starts from the beautiful mountain town of Leh. All our trekkers reach Leh by flight which is  the best option to reach Leh. Zanskar River is completely frozen during the months of December to February. So, the best time to do Chadar Trek is from January to February because the ice remains harsh and stable. Trek starts from the freezing point of Zanskar River and that is Chilling.

Therefore, the “Chadar trek” is also known as “The Frozen River Trek”. This Trek is over a frozen river in the Zanskar region of Ladakh and it is totally different from all other treks in the Himalayas.

It is one of the trickiest treks in the world which is done in peak winter months only. On this trek, you can explore the Zankari culture and get to know about it and the main highlight of this Frozen River Trek is a completely frozen waterfall “Nerak”.

Fixed Departure Dates

#January 2022
Batch 1 :9-Jan,
Batch 2 :10-Jan,
Batch 3 :16-Jan,
Batch 4 :17-Jan,
Batch 5 : 23-Jan,
Batch 6 : 24-Jan,
Batch 7 : 30-Jan

#February 2022
Batch 8 : 3-Feb,
Batch 9 6-Feb

Departure & Return Location

Leh To Leh

Max Altitude & Total Trekking Distance

11,400FT / 3475 Meters Approx

60 Kms Approx

Inclusions

  • Transport: Leh City To Chadar Trek Starting Point and Return
  • All Meals While On Trek (From Day 4-7)
  • Accommodation:- Hotel/Home Stay (Triple/Quad Sharing) and Camping (Triple Sharing) During Trek
  • Qualified & Experienced Trek Guide, Cook And Support Staff
  • First Aid Medical Kits
  • Trek Equipments: Sleeping Bag, Mattress, Tent, Kitchen & Dinning Tent, Toilet Tent, Utensils And Crampon (If Required)
  • Porters To Carry Central Equipment

Exclusions

  • Flights & Airport Transfers (From Airport to Hotel and Return)
  • ALTOA Fees ( Wildlife fees, Environment tax, Insurance, Permits, Evacuation charges, Medical checkup charges)
  • Personal Trekking Equipment like Gum Boots, Trekking Pole, and others
  • Room Heaters at Hotel/ Guest House in Leh ( we suggest not use the room heaters as it dehydrates the body).
  • Any Kind Of Personal Expenses
  • Meals At The Hotel ( Various restaurants are available at a walking distance from hotel)
  • Porter To Carry Personal Luggage
  • Travel Insurance
  • Any additional expenses arising out of unforeseen circumstances like cancellation / roadblocks / landslides / strike or any other natural causes out of human control or any emergency evacuation expenses.
  • Any Kind Of Expense For Loss / Misplaced / Theft Of Personal Belongings
  • Anything Not Specifically Mentioned Under The Head

Note : Normally Trekkers are expected to carry their personal luggage on their own, if you wish to offload your backpack, you can give it to Porter/Mule.
Charges of offloading backpack:-
INR 6000/- if you make an online payment, 10 days in advance
INR 7000/- if you inform us after reaching Leh
The backpack cannot weigh more than 9 KGS. Backpack should have waterproof cover. Suitcases/strolleys/duffel bags will not be allowed.

More About The Trek

The Chadar Trek is over the frozen Zanskar river and the ice can turn dangerous sometimes so it is important to find a safe path over the perilous sheet of ice.

During the trek, you do not camp here at the meadows or the forest clearings but inside the caves which are present along the banks or in the tents pitched at the stable ice.

The temperature remains chilly and freezing (-2 to 5 degrees during day time and -10 to -25 degrees during night), so keep warm layers to protect your body against chilly cold and prevent the freezing of blood.

Short Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Leh (By Air)

  • Altitude: 11,400 feet
  • Cabs are available from the Airport to the hotel (at your own cost)
  • Spend the day in the room to acclimatize properly
  • Overnight stay at Hotel/ Home stay

Day 2: Acclimatization Day

  • Rest Day to acclimatize.
  • Can do local Sightseeing of Leh city ( At your own cost) 
  • Overnight stay at Hotel/ Home stay

Day 3: Medical Checkup Day and Acclimatization

  • Wake up early and head to Government medical center for a health checkup.
  • Oxygen and Blood Pressure readings are taken
  • Explore Leh market in evening
  • Overnight stay at Hotel/ Home stay

Day 4: Drive from Leh to Shingra Koma then Trek to Tsomo Paldar

  • Drive Distance –  70km/ 4-5 Hours
  • Trek Distance- 3 Kms/ 2 hours
  • Altitude- 11,400 Ft
  • Overnight stay in tents.

Day 5: Tsomo Paldar to Tibb Cave

  • Trek Time – 7 hours
  • Trek Distance – 15 kms
  • Altitude- 10,800 Ft Approx
  • Overnight stay in tents

Day 6: Tibb Cave to Nerak

  • Trek Distance: 13 Kms
  • Trek Time – 6 hours
  • Altitude- 11,100 Ft
  • Overnight stay in tents

Day 7: Nerak – Tibb Cave/ Tsomo

  • Trek Distance: 13 Kms
  • Trek Time – 6 hours
  • Altitude- 11,400 Ft
  • Overnight stay in tents

Day 8: Tibb Cave/ Tsomo to Shingra Koma and Drive back to Leh

  • Trek Distance: 13 Kms
  • Trek Time – 6 hours
  • Altitude- 11,400 Ft
  • After reaching Shingra Koma, Drive back to Leh (70Kms)
  • Overnight stay at Hotel/ Home stay

Day 9: Checkout from Leh Hotel

  • Catch your flight back to your city.
  • Cab can be arranged from Hotel to Airport (At an extra cost if required)
Detailed Itinerary

Day 1Arrival at Leh (By Air)

Arrive Leh, a great tourist attraction. The only way you can arrive Leh in winters is by flight, catch the glimpse of snow-capped Himalayas while flying high.

Reach Leh and experience the drastic change in temperature with a touch of cold breeze on your face. Acclimatize and have enough rest today, spend your night comfortably in a hotel/home stay.

Day 2Acclimatization Day

Most trekkers go through Altitude Sickness and because of this health issue, the government of Ladakh has made a rule i.e. anyone who is going for Chadar Trek will spend two days in Leh for proper Acclimatization.

This rule is strictly followed by everyone visiting this place.

Today you can go to the nearby areas, there is a market you can go there. The temperature further will fall when you start trekking over frozen Zanksar, make your body used to the cold temperature.

Stay in the hotel and check all the important things required for your trek.

Day 3Medical Checkup and Acclimatization

As the rule of Ladakh Government medical check- up of the trekkers in “Tourist Information Center” is mandatory. After the approval, you can go for the Chadar Trek next day. The trekkers will get their permits and important documents from ALTOA and Wildlife Department.

Day 4Drive from Leh to Shingra Koma then Trek to Tsomo Paldar

  • Drive Distance –  70km/ 4-5 Hours
  • Trek Distance- 3 Kms/ 2 hours
  • Altitude- 11,400 Ft

Starting point of this trek is Shingra Koma, drive through some picturesque places of Ladakh and en route see some places i.e. Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib and Indus and Zanskar’s confluence.

Drive is along the Zanskar River and after one and a half hour reach Chilling, the freezing point of Zanskar.

Start your trek over frozen Zanskar, it will be challenging in the starting of the trek to walk with heavy gumboots. Walk carefully and check with the help of your trekking pole if the ice is stable before stepping on it.

Tsomo Paldar is your campsite for today which lies at the river bend surrounded by gigantic peaks and rock faces. Tents will be setup after analyzing the place and stability of ice properly.

Day 5Tsomo Paldar to Tibb Cave

  • Trek Time – 7 hours
  • Trek Distance – 15 kms
  • Altitude- 10,800 Ft Approx

You will gain altitude steadily on this trek. Wake up in chilly cold and have hot cup of tea and salubrious breakfast then head towards your campsite for today i.e. Tibb Cave.

On the way, you can have a glimpse of frozen awe spell binding waterfalls and their origin is not known. Trek next to Zanskar river which has bluish green water and in middle of the day have your lunch.

Further you will see rock patterns on the way to the “Tibb Cave” campsite which is surrounded by sand. Overnight stay in camp.

Day 6Tibb Cave to Nerak

  • Trek Distance: 13 Kms
  • Trek Time – 6 hours
  • Altitude- 11,100 Ft

Nerak camp is a frozen waterfall and the most beautiful point of Chadar Trek which lies 13 km away from Tibba Cave and it is your campsite for the day. People from different areas desire to come here to catch a glance of this frozen waterfall.

You will get packed lunch which you can have in middle of the journey. This campsite is going to be the most freezing one because the temperature can drop down to -30°C. Wear enough warm layers and stay protected from the chilly cold temperature.

Reach this totally frozen waterfall then go to visit Nerak village. The campsite can be reached in 20 minutes after you’ve reached the frozen waterfall. Retire for the night in tents.

Day 7Nerak – Tibb Cave/ Tsomo

  • Trek Distance: 13 Kms
  • Trek Time – 6 hours
  • Altitude- 11,400 Ft

Post breakfast, start the journey back to Tibb Cave. Getting back isn’t easy because the change in temperature changes the Zanksar River and it gets totally different.

While getting back to Tibb Camp, you can see the locals wearing their traditional dresses (Woolen Gotchas). The monks can also be seen returning from Lingshed and coming back to Leh. You will be surprised by the way they work in the freezing cold and still have mesmerizing smiles on their faces.

Reach Tibb Cave and sleep overnight in tents.

Day 8Tibb Cave/ Tsomo to Shingra Koma and Drive back to Leh

  • Trek Distance: 13 Kms
  • Trek Time – 6 hours
  • Altitude- 11,400 Ft
  • After reaching Shingra Koma, Drive back to Leh (70Kms)

From Tibb, you will be returning to Leh via Gyalpo and Shingra Koma. On side of the river you can see big and high mountain walls and also the footprints of animals like Fox and Snow Leopards will be visible on the trail.

You can spot Snow Leopards if you’re lucky. Trek over the white sheet “Chadar” this is the last day you will be walking over it. Completing this tricky frozen River trek will be a totally different experience.

From Shingra Yokma, leave for Leh and you can reach in the evening there around 6:30 pm. Stay at hotel/guest house in Leh.

Day 9Checkout from Leh Hotel

  • Catch your flight back to your city.
  • Cab can be arranged from the Hotel to Airport (At an extra cost if required)

Important Requirements

  • The trekker must be fit and have sufficient stamina to cover 5 km of distance in 30 minutes without a stress.
  • Since it is a Difficult level trek, people who suffer from Heart problems, high blood pressure, asthma, and epilepsy cannot be reconciled on this trek.
  • Don’t forget your ID proof, address proof in original and 3 photo copies along with 3 passport size photographs.
  • Prepaid sim cards do not work in Ladakh
  • It’s always good to plan for an additional day to accommodate any unforeseen conditions like bad weather, broken bridges, flight delays, casualties that may arise.
  • One should inform one’s family before coming for this trek, so in case of an emergency, they can come for help.
  • As there won’t be any pharmacies on the Chadar river trek, please do carry the required medications and a first aid kit, in case of any bruises or cuts.
  • Drinking alchohol or any form of intoxication during the trek is strictly prohibited. If found flouting the rules, your participation on the trek will be cancelled with immediate effect.
  • Abide by the instructions given by the trek leader or instructor in order to enjoy safe and sound trekking
Map
Photo Gallery
Things To Pack For The Trek
  • Down Jacket (Main Warm Jacket)
  • Gumboots: Only for Chadar
  • Raincoat/ Poncho
  • Tshirts and Fleece Jacket
  • Track Pants
  • Extra Pair Of Socks And Undergarments
  • Good Trekking/ Hiking Shoes (Forclaz 100 and above or Arpenaz 100. You Can Buy It From Decathlon Stores)
  • Woolen Cap, Mufflers/ Neck Warmer
  • Slippers, Sunglasses, Tissue Roll, Hand Sanitizer
  • Personal Toiletries, Sunscreen Lotion
  • Medicines and A Basic First Aid Kit
  • Power Bank and Head Torch
  • Extra Thermal Clothing Layers (For Winter Treks)
Cancellation Policy
  • To initiate the cancellation request, you need reply to the email of payment receipt that you have received at the time of booking
  • Free Cancellation upto 60 days before the departure date
  • Up to 30 Days: – 80% of Trip cost will be refunded
  • Between 21 – 30 Days: – 50% of Trip cost will be refunded
  • Between 20 – 10 Days: – 25% of Trip cost will be refunded
  • Less than 10 Days/ No Show - No refund
  • Incase of government orders, harsh weather conditions, protests, landslides or any other unforseen circumstances, we work out the best possible alternate plans or trips/treks. At times even certain activities are cancelled, we provide the best alternate but no refunds are provided
  • If a trek is called off at the last moment due to a natural calamity/unforeseen circumstances (like rain, snowfall, earthquake, landslides, strike, bandh etc.), Travelikers will issue a trek voucher for the full amount and if possible will provide an alternate trek. The voucher can be redeemed upto same amount for the same trek or another trek in the next 365 days from the trek departure date.
  • If a trek or trip cannot be completed due to natural calamity/unforeseen circumstances (like rain, snowfall, earthquake, landslides, strike, bandh etc.). No refund would be provided.
  • Any extra expenses coming due to any natural calamity/unforeseen circumstances (like rain, snowfall, earthquake, landslides, strike, bandh etc.), Will be beared by customer.
  • The Cancellation policy will differ during the peak season and popular places.
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