Chadar Trek

The Chadar Trek adventure begins at Leh, at an altitude of 11,400 ft. To call it adventure trekking is an understatement. It is an experience of a lifetime. During the winters, the Zanskar river in Ladakh freezes over, a thick sheet of ice covering it completely. Hence, the name ‘Chadar’ or blanket. The most interesting thing to note about the Chadar is that there is a new one every day! The Chadar forms during the night melt during the day, and reforms during the night! The unparalleled experience of the Chadar Trek includes trekking on the frozen Zanskar river, an event that will remain forever etched in your memory. Ladakh, located amidst the majestic Karakoram range and the mighty Himalayan range, presents to the world this great trekking opportunity that only the brave and the strong can undertake. This frozen river trekking opportunity makes Ladakh all the more special.

The Chadar Trek or the frozen river trek is different in the slow gain that it takes in altitude, spread evenly throughout, and takes you to a maximum height of 11,800 ft, deep in the Himalayas! The experience starts at Leh, crosses the frozen Zanskar, and reaches the Ladakh town of Chilling, the actual starting point of the trek from where the frozen river trek starts. The total distance covered during the Chadar trek is a 62 km, spread evenly throughout the 6 days of the trek that you undertake on foot. The Chadar trek is only open in the months of January and February, as these are the only times when the emerald, flowing Zanskar river is frozen enough to enable trekking on it.

The weather throughout the Chadar trek remains mind-numbingly cold. Though you may have the blessed opportunity of experiencing a temperature slightly above 0 degrees as you land in Leh, as soon you cross over to Ladakh and start the frozen river trek, the temperature dips down to sub-zero degrees. The temperature throughout the trek varies from -5 to -15 degrees during the day and reaches as low as -30 degrees during the night. You will encounter the lowest temperature during the night at the Nerak campsite, i.e., on your fifth night. You will be walking through a thick carpet of snow throughout the Chadar trek. Even Leh will have a blanket of snow laying as thick as 6’’ on it!

Apart from the obvious specialty of making the trekkers walk on a thick sheet of ice, covering the Zanskar river, the Chadar Trek is also a major attraction for adventure seekers for the many fascinating and out-of-this-world sights that the trek brings you across. Starting from the Magnetic Hill and the Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, the trek brings you across natural wonders like the frozen waterfalls, knee-deep snow, and white sand - the epitome of a cold desert-like Ladakh! The most iconic sight of the Chadar Trek is the frozen Nerak waterfall. The water, falling from a height of 56 ft, seems to be frozen in time itself, suspended mid-air. The curious sights will set your senses on fire and make the memories of Chadar trek sharp in your memory every time you envision them later! If you are looking for a splendid experience of trekking in India, the Chadar trek is the answer!

One thing of importance to note is that the Chadar trek is considered to be one of the most difficult treks of the world. Trekking on ice and through knee-deep snow make a major part of that difficulty. The trekker must be aware of the challenge that trekking on snow, and especially ice can present. Starting from taking the heat away from your body, to causing accidents by slipping and falling, ice can become a daunting rival to overcome. However, if certain things are kept in mind, the foe too can be tamed during this Chadar Trek experience. Ensuring that you always wear layers and waterproof clothing, including one windcheater at least at all times, helps in maintaining your body temperature and prevents the heat from escaping. While trekking, be sure of your footing. Avoid slippery patches of ice and find ice which is covered in snow. It is also of utmost importance that you avoid any patch of ice that has cracks in it, and be nimble and run away at the first signs of ice cracking under your feet. Choosing the correct camping spot is also extremely important for a safe and enjoyable experience of trekking in Chadar!

This splendid experience of one of the best treks in India begins at Leh. During the winter season, you can reach Leh only by air, as the roads are all covered by snow, making transit impossible on them. To reach Leh, you can take a direct flight from Delhi. Certain flight operators have one flight plying daily from Delhi to Leh. It would be advisable to book your Chadar trek and the transport in advance to minimize your costs!