When you think of trekking in the Zanskar, the first thought that comes to your mind is Chadar Trek. If you search for the best treks in India or the most rewarding trek in India, Chadar Trek will be among the top suggestions.
Chadar which is a word of Hindi origin literally translates to a blanket. During winters the Zanskar river freezes and a blanket of ice is formed. You got it right! You will be trekking on a frozen river.
The locals call the frozen river trail Khaado Sanglam.
However adventurous it might sound, the Chadar Trek is not for the faint-hearted and non-serious trekkers. The temperatures may drop below -25 degrees at night. The Chadar trek, categorised as a difficult one, is suitable for trekkers who are looking forward to an extremely adventurous trek. The Chadar Trek will test you physically and mentally.
The Chadar Trek that stretches over 62km is ideally an 8-day itinerary.
Chadar Trek
EnquireChadar Trek: A unique experience in the Zanskar region of Ladakh
Chadar Trek features
Altitudes of your trek
Min : Minimum altitude of your trek.
Max : Maximum altitude of your trek.
Ascent : The difference of altitude between the trek starting point and the highest point of the trek.
Descent : The difference of altitude between the highest point of the trek and the trek ending point.
Difficulty of your trek
Stamina : The physical effort involved during your trek. Rated from 0 (easiest) to 100 (most strenuous). If you have an average fitness you can consider all the treks up to 50. See here for more details
Technical : Difficulty of your trek in terms of exposure to danger and required experience.
0 to 20 : No difficulties,
20 to 40 : Walk on good mountain trails,
40 to 60 : Some walks on difficult mountain trails (steep slope, rocks, etc.),
60 to 80: You are exposed to some dangers (void, snow, falling rocks, etc.),
80 to 100 : Experience required (please inquire).
Overall : Average between Stamina and Technical rating.
Best time to do the Chadar Trek
Best time to plan your Chadar trek is between January to February
This is when the Zanskar river freezes!
This is when the Zanskar river freezes!
Chadar trek itinerary
Arrival in Leh. You can check in at your hotel by 11 AM. Please ensure that your warm layers(gloves and jacket) are handy when you land in Leh.
Rest and acclimatize at the hotel. You can visit the market in the evening
Visit the Leh palace, Thiksey Monastery and Shey Gompa. Rest and acclimatize well. Drink plenty of water to avoid high altitude sickness.
We drive from Leh to Bakula (70 kms) and then we trek for 4/5 hours to reach our first campsite Shingra Koma
Today is a 15 km trek day and we will be taking 7 hours to reach the next camping spot at Tibb. Marvel at the mesmerizing views as we walk on the frozen river surrounded by magnificent rock structures. We don’t have the right words to tell you what Tibb is! Serene waters and spectacular caves, and on a clear night, a starry sky to gaze at.
The Nyerak waterfall is a nature’s masterpiece. A 56 feet high frozen waterfall! We will cover a distance of 13 km in 6/7 hours today
We start our return journey today. We may encounter local porters with traditional woollen robes called Gonchas.
We reach where we started from; Bakula and then drive to Leh
You can book your return flight for today or ask our suggestion if you wish to explore Ladakh for some more days.
Photos of the Chadar trek
The Zanskar river
The Zanskar river will be your companion during the entire trek.
Icefall
There are many icefalls that can be seen on the Chadar trek
Fairy tale atmosphere
Trekking on a frozen river, clear blue sky overhead and marvelous landscapes around you
Other treks in Ladakh
Recognition of Himalayan Ecotourism
Our awards
Himalayan Ecotourism is the winner of the To Do award 2022 in the field of "Socially Responsible Tourism".
We are also the Overall Winner of the Indian Responsible Tourism Award 2019 and the Gold winner in the Best Adventure Operator category.
We have been declared winner of the Sustainable Tourism Award 2019 by Skal International and Biosphere.
Our cooperative-based model of social enterprise and our efforts to conserve the Himalayas are the main reasons for winning these awards.
Thank you to all our cooperative members, our customers, our friends and well-wishers !
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