E Ladakh Tourism

Chadar Trek (Winter Trip) - 2024 Frozen Zanskar River Trek

  Duration : 08 Nights / 09 Days

  Destination : Leh - Tilad Do - Chilling - Tilad Do to Shingra Koma - Tibb cave to Naerak camp - Tibb Cave

Description: Chadar Trek or the Frozen Zanskar River Trek. It is all white, snow all around the place, walk on the bed of ice. Just be there and you will realize all about the magic of nature. Its thrilling as well as chilling. Honestly Speaking, its a paradise for the trekkers and the humankind.

Chadar in Hindi means 'a blanket'.: During winters, large sections of the Zanskar River freezes to resemble a blanket of ice, thereby deriving the name. As heavy snowfall isolates a few desolate villages from the main habitation, the Chadar Trek remains the only way to reach these villages. Through much of the trek, steep canyons accompany you on both sides. Sometimes the canyon walls are the only support you have as you make your way across fast flowing icy cold river water. Thick snow covers much of the trail and at night, you camp in tents on ice or in ancient caves.

Price : On Request : Call : +91-7982397457 , Whatsapp

Day 01 : Fly to Leh : Pickup from Airport and Drop to The Guest house

Overnight stay at the hotel/guest house.

Keep your woollen cap and gloves handy.

Flying over miles and miles of heavily snowed mountains will tell you just why it's impossible to reach Ladakh by road in the winters. The moment you land at the Leh airport, one of the highest airports in the world, you will feel the fresh and crisp air, and a drastic drop in the temperature. The town has just begun shedding off the thick winter slumber and is slowly coming to life. Taking a stroll through the Leh market, you will find that very few shops and eateries in the town are open for business; but if required, some last minute-shopping for the trek can be done here. The chill in the air will serve only as a preview of the temperatures during this winter trek. The night is spent in a copy guest house.

Day 02 : Drive to Tilad Do via Chilling (11,400 to 10,390 ft)

Climb to Shanti Stupa and Witness the Sunrise

Trek to Tilat Sumdo ( 1-2 Hours approx.)

Overnight stay at camps

You can start the morning by witnessing the sunrise from the Shanti Stupa , from where you can get a panoramic view of the entire town of Leh and its surroundings. You can also see the peak of Stok Kangri almost beckoning you to climb it.

But today's agenda includes a very picturesque and thrilling long-drive to Chilling. The roller-coaster ride takes you along the Indus to the village of Nimu, where the Zanskar converges into Indus. After stopping at this confluence point to take in the view, the drive continues and the road begins descending right into the river valley. There are quite a few heart-stopping moments as the vehicle negotiates the steep hairpin bends over snow covered road. The road goes past Chilling to Tilad Do. Among these mammoth mountains, the feeling of insignificance of one's being does not escape anyone.

To reach the camp-site, you have to cross the frozen Zanskar river and this is when you take your first steps on the Chadar. It takes a while to get a hang of walking on the ice sheet. As the evening comes, the team pitches tents on the banks of the Zanskar, and hands out thick warm sleeping bags. To get some exercise and keep warm, you can climb up the nearby mountains and get a good look at the frozen river. As the sun sets, it drags the temperature down with it, and the sleeping bags in the tents look quite inviting.

Day 03 : Tilad Do to Shingra Koma (10,390 to 10,550 ft. Trek 10 kms)

Reach Gyalpo via Shingra Koma , Overnight stay in camps at Gyalpo

The biggest challenge of this day, and all the remaining days, is to get out of the warm toasty sleeping bags and go out into the giant freezer outside, but the steaming cups of tea being served provide ample motivation.

Today is a long walking session, about 10 km, on the Chadar. The trek leaders will give a briefing about the day, and give tips on how to walk on the Chadar. Depending on the weather, the Chadar can assume various forms. It can be a cold and hard surface of slippery ice, or it can have a dusting of snow over it, providing a good grip. The ice can be thick or thin, and its best to keep closely following the guide. The locals, it appears, have a sixth sense as to where exactly to step on the Chadar. At places, it might be necessary to wade through ankle deep water, or climb on the cliffs at the side of the river. Eventually you get used to walking on the Chadar, which looks like a cross between gliding and skating. Mid way to Gyalpo, the porter-cum-cooks prepare hot bowlfuls of soupy noodles for lunch. It is important to keep up a decent level of fluid intake. Nothing makes you adapt to the conditions faster than nicely circulating blood in your system. After passing Shingra koma, you reach the camp-site for the day at Gyalpo. The Gyalpo campsite is at a bend in the river, surrounded by high peaks and walls of rock-faces which almost look man-made. All that is left to do is to soak in the views, have an early dinner and call it a day.

Day 04 : Shingra Koma to Tibb Cave (10,550 to 10,760 ft.

Trek through Zanskar (15 km approx) Overnight stay in tents

This day follows the same early morning routine: bed tea at 7, breakfast at 8, and quick-march at 8:30. Have a good breakfast, as today is the longest walk of the day - almost 15 km. But that is nothing to worry about, all the walking keeps you incredibly warm.

Today's walk through the deep ravines of the Zanskar is stunning. The sublime walls of the mountains on either sides of the river keep the sunlight away from the Chadar for most part of the day. There are numerous caves in these mountains, big and small. Today is the day when you can see frozen waterfalls, some higher than the others. As the fable goes, centuries ago the local villagers faced a dearth of water and went to Tibet to plead for water. They were given a box which they were to open once they reached the village, and not any time sooner. But curiosity got the better out of them, and when they opened the box, two fishes jumped out of it, creating two huge waterfalls. One of those waterfalls, miraculously, is not iced-up even in such freezing cold. The rocks below this waterfall are covered with moss, and this is the only greenery you'll see on this trek.

At Tibb, there is a big cave. This cave is the dwelling of all the porters, and they welcome you warm-heartedly in here. The highlight of the day is to share a cup of butter-tea with them!

Day 05 : Tibb cave to Naerak camp (10,760 to 11,150 ft. Trek 12.5 kms

Overnight stay at camps in Nyerak Village

Attraction Frozen waterfall

Today is the most spectacular of all days on this trek. Walking on the river you cross deep gorges and reach a point where Juniper trees are covered with prayer flags. The porters give you a twig of this tree tied with a piece of prayer flag as a badge of good-luck and good-health. A few steps away stands the mother-of-all frozen waterfalls - a huge instance of suspended animation several feet tall and equally wide. You can see dozens of colours in this enormous ice structure as sunlight plays off its surface. Right next to the waterfall is a bridge across the river which is a part of the summer-time road from Zanskar to Leh.

The Naerak village lies several feet above the river, a vigorous hour-long trek can take you to the village if you want to see the life of a Zanskari. The camp is set up close to the river.

Day 06 : Naerak to Tibb Cave (11,150 to 10,760 ft Trek 12.5 kms) Stay in tent

Today you start the return journey and go back to the Tibb cave. And if you thought that it was just a matter of retracing your steps back to Chilling, you can think again. The Zanskar River reacts to the slightest change of temperature, and constantly keeps repackaging itself. The Chadar would have assumed a completely new form, and will it will almost be impossible to say whether you have been here before.

On the way, you can meet a lot of locals wearing their traditional woollen Gonchas - some of them monks who are hiking from the Lingshed Monastery to Leh, some of them young students accompanied by their parents returning to their schools in Leh after the winter vacation. Watching the locals negotiate the Chadar is a fascinating sight. They are suitably adept to the climate and seem very much at home in the sub-zero temperature and the biting cold winds. Nothing wipes the smiles off their faces and dampens the warmth of their spirit.

Day 07 : Tibb Cave to Shingra Koma (10,760 to 10,550 ft. Trek 15 kms) Stay in tent

Starting from Tibb, go up to Gyalpo today. The high walls of mountains rising from the sides of the river almost look like castle walls. You can see several trails of pug-marks all along the trek - footprints belonging to foxes, ibex or snow-leopards. You would be lucky to view a snow-leopard; but you can almost be sure that you are being watched by one all the time.

Day 08 : Shingra Koma to Tilad Do and drive to Leh (10,550 to 10,390 and drive to 11400 ft. Trek 10 kms)

Drive 65 kms to Leh

Last day of Chadar Trek

Check-in into the guesthouse

Dinner , Overnight stay in the guesthouse

This is the last day of treading on the Chadar - the last chance to immerse in the pristine beauty of the frozen river. Once you reach Tilad Do, it is time to say good-bye to the Zanskar and the Zanskaries. The team and porters will take good care of you and make this trek one of the most memorable experiences for you. Tonight you get to sleep in a warm guest-house again.

Day 09 : Leh Departure

After Breakfast Check out Guest , Continue with your return journey

Experience ends here

Package Inclusions

  • Assisted arrival / departure transfers in Leh.
  • Accommodation on twin / double sharing basis at all destinations.
  • Daily buffet breakfast and dinner at above listed hotels.
  • Inner Line Permit.
  • Transportation use : - Crysta / Innova / Scorpio / Xylo and Tempo Traveler (All Non AC).
  • Driver Allowances, & All Parking Charge.
  • All Taxes Includes and parking and all.

Exclusions

  • Airfare to and from Leh.
  • Any Lunch, Mineral Water,
  • Camel Ride in Hunder.
  • Personal expenses such as tips, laundry, phone call etc.
  • Monastery entrance fees, camera fee, and monument guide services
  • Anything not specifically mentioned under the head“Cost Inclusion”.
  • Adventure activity like Rafting, Camel Safari, Mountain Biking, Motor Biking etc.
  • Extra nights in hotel due to ill health, flight cancelation, Road blockage or any other reason.
  • The service of vehicle is not included on leisure days & after finishing the sightseeing tour as per the itinerary.
  • Extensions of tour programme or diversions in the tour itinerary for any reasons eg. due to bad weather, road closure, breakdown or any natural calamities.
  • Oxygen Cylender ( nubra & Pangong)
  • 5 % GST FOR ONLINE TRANSFER PAYMENT

Price On Request

Call Us - +91-7982397457 Whatsapp

Email : - eladakhtourism1@gmail.com

Book A Tour

Note : Transportation Sitting Capacities  : - Crysta, Innova (5 Passangers + Driver) | Scarpio , Safari & Xilor ( 6 Passangers + Driver) | Tempo Traveller (12 Passangers + Driver)

Supplementary Other Charges:

  • Air condition in vehicle Rs 9 per Kms
  • Cultural Program Rs. 11,000 per program (Approx. 60 – 70 Mins) at respective hotel in Leh.
  • Professional Tourist Guide Rs. 3000/- Per Day.
  • Oxygen Cylinder INR 800 per day (Ex Leh, charges will be calculated from Leh onwards)
  • River Rafting Charges (Transfers by sharing vehicle + Lunch + Rafting INR 1000 – 2500 approx.)
  • For A/C Vehicle in Ladakh region, it will be calculated as per tour plan.

Payment Policy

  • 30% Required at the time of booking.
  • 30 % Transfer payment before 20 Days Trip
  • 40% Cash / Transfer Pay in Leh during the trip.
  • + 5 % GST Charge.

Terms & Conditions:

  • Prices valid from 01st April to 10th Oct.
  • Final Confirmation will be provided on full payment.
  • Vehicle Provided as per the mentioned tour plan (Point to Point Basis only)
  • No Refund or Compensation for any unused services / transportation in any circumstances.
  • Extra charges applicable if any change in the itinerary/ stay on account of flight cancellation due to bad weather, ill health, roadblocks and/or any factors beyond our control.

Cancellation Policy for Tour Package

  • 10% cancellation charges if cancelled 30 days before the tour.
  • 25% cancellation charges if cancelled between 30 – 20 Days before the tour.
  • 50% cancellation charges if cancelled between 19 – 10 Days before the tour.
  • No refund will be made if cancelled 10 days before the tour.