Trek Overview
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.
Quick Itinerary
Day 1: Reach Leh
- Altitude: 11,400 ft
- Rest and acclimatization
Day 2: Acclimatize Yourself
- Explore Leh and allow your body to adjust to the altitude
Day 3: Medical Checkup
- Mandatory health checkup and clearance for the trek
Day 4: Drive from Leh to Shingra Koma via Chilling & Tilad Do, Trek to Gyalpo
- Altitude: 11,400 ft
- Drive & Trek along the frozen Zanskar River
- Stay: Camping at Gyalpo
Day 5: Trek from Gyalpo to Tibb Cave
- Altitude: 11,800 ft
- Trek Distance: 14 km (approx. 7 hrs)
- Stay: Camping at Tibb Cave
Day 6: Trek from Tibb Cave to Nerak
- Altitude: 11,150 ft
- Trek Distance: 12 km (approx. 7 hrs)
- Highlights: Frozen waterfall at Nerak
- Stay: Camping at Nerak
Day 7: Trek from Nerak to Tibb Cave
- Altitude: 11,800 ft
- Trek Distance: 12 km (approx. 7 hrs)
- Stay: Camping at Tibb Cave
Day 8: Trek from Tibb Cave to Shingra Koma, Drive to Leh
- Altitude: 11,400 ft
- Trek Distance: 14 km (approx. 7 hrs)
- Drive Distance: 70 km (approx. 3-4 hrs)
- Arrival: Leh by evening
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Reach Leh | 11,400 ft
Meet us at the hotel in Leh on the first day of this Leh Ladakh trekking experience. During your flight, try to grab window seats as the stunning views that you encounter during the journey start right as the plane reaches the ground! The snow-capped mountains, in view so suddenly, will take your breath away! Make sure to keep your woollens nearby as the temperature will be hovering around 2 degrees when you come down to the tarmac. From here, you will head to your guesthouse, where you can check-in and drop off your luggage before heading out for some sightseeing and window-shopping. Do make sure not head to higher altitudes on this day, get plenty of rest in preparation for the upcoming adventure and keep yourself hydrated!
Day 02: Acclimatize yourself
s per the government regulations, all trekkers undertaking the Chadar Trek must spend at least two days in Leh to first acclimatize to the high altitude. This is to avoid Acute Mountain Sickness that tends to overcome the trekkers at such high altitudes. After breakfast, you are free to further explore the town and go sightseeing. This is the best time to take stock and ensure that your inventory is complete as Leh is the last stop where you will have access to shops and civilization. In the evening, the trek leader will take you through the essentials of trekking on frozen water and give out safety instructions for the trek. Enjoy your hot, delicious dinner before heading to your bed!
Day 03: Medical Checkup
s per the government regulations, all trekkers undertaking the Chadar Trek must spend at least two days in Leh to first acclimatize to the high altitude. This is to avoid Acute Mountain Sickness that tends to overcome the trekkers at such high altitudes. After breakfast, you are free to further explore the town and go sightseeing. This is the best time to take stock and ensure that your inventory is complete as Leh is the last stop where you will have access to shops and civilization. In the evening, the trek leader will take you through the essentials of trekking on frozen water and give out safety instructions for the trek. Enjoy your hot, delicious dinner before heading to your bed!
Day 04: Drive from Leh to Shingra Koma, via Chilling and Tilad Do and trek to Gyalpo | 11,400 ft
Wake up at the crack of dawn for a delicious breakfast. This is the day we finally start the much-awaited trek! The day will begin with a wondrous drive to Chilling, the starting point of the Chadar Trek. The drive will cover the Leh to Zanskar river distance. During the drive, revel in the majestic sights of the cold desert, like the confluence of the Zanskar and the Indus, the Magnetic Hill and the Gurudwara Pathar Sahib! The drive, right alongside Zanskar, will take about an hour and a half to complete, with picturesque pit stops and at a comfortable pace. After this starts the trek to Gyalpo, the first campsite of the Chadar trek. Along the way, we pass Tilad Do and Shingra Koma. This short trek will take only an hour and a half to complete. This is the ideal duration and length for the first experience of trekking on the Zanskar in Ladakh. You will start on the trek by slipping and sliding you way across the ‘chadar’ or the thick blanket of ice covering the Zanskar river. It is only after a while that you will start understanding the trick to planting your foot right in order to stay standing! As you reach the campsite at Gyalpo, take in the splendid vista as you rest for a while and setup camp. Make sure to keep yourself warm and hydrated as you head into your tent for the night!
Day 05: Trek from Gyalpo to Tibb Cave | 11,800 ft.
Start with a radiant Himalayan sunrise and enjoy a satisfying breakfast as the hot cup of tea soothes your cold aches from the night. After the breakfast, we start the trek to Tibba Cave, perched at an altitude of 11,800 ft! The trek will take about 6-7 hours to complete, and you will be trekking right alongside the Zanskar throughout. You will be left speechless at the vistas awaiting you on this trek! The waterfalls, frozen in whatever way they were flowing, present the most fascinating sight that you will come across! You will also come across some of the most interesting rock formations, which seem to take on different hues and shapes in the sunlight. As you reach the campsite near Tibb Cave, take in the beautiful vista of the cold desert, epitomized in the sand surrounding the campsite! After you are done setting up camp, enjoy your hot, gratifying dinner and head in for the night!
Day 06: Trek from Tibb Cave to Nerak | 11,150 ft
Start the day with the rising sun and enjoy the sensation of the hot breakfast going down your mouth. Prepare yourself for the day, as this is the day you will be hitting the lowest temperature of the entire trek, despite the slight reduction in the altitude. The trek for the day is 13 km long, and will take about 7 hours to complete. The destination of the day takes you to the most awaited sight of the trek - the Nerak Waterfall. This waterfall, which stands tall and proud at a height of 56 ft, presents the fascinating view of water suspended in time, frozen midway to the ground! If we manage to reach the waterfall in time, we might have enough time to head to the Nerak Village as well, for some exploration! The campsite is located 20 minutes away from the waterfall. On this day, special care has to be taken to dress properly and keeping yourself warm. The temperature at this particular campsite dips down to as low as -30 degrees during the nights! After your hot, well-earned dinner, you can head inside your tents for the night!
Day 07: Trek from Nerak to Tibb Cave | 11, 800 ft
Start the day by gulping down the hot, tasty breakfast. After packing up, we start the trek back to Tibb Cave. As you look, you will notice that the route doesn’t look as familiar as it ought to, considering that the path and the trail is the same. The reason is that the Zanskar is sensitive to even the slightest changes in the temperature and changes with them. The return journey along the same route will be as new as though this is your first time traversing it! Along the way, you will probably come across some human activity in the form of monks, coming back to Leh from Lingshed, or in the form of some locals, going about their business. The sight will curiously make you feel better and relieved. Probably because it is heartwarming to see the children laughing and smiling on their way to school even in such harsh conditions. After trekking for about 6-7 hours, you will reach the Tibb Cave campsite, where you will be camping overnight!
Day 08: Trek from Tibb Cave to Shingra Koma, and drive to Leh | 11,400 ft
Wake with the sun and bask in the glorious Himalayan sunrise. Enjoy a warm, mouth-watering breakfast and start for the return trek. The trek will be along the same route as before and you will be passing by the same frozen waterfalls and fascinating rock formations. The beautiful trail, running parallel to the emerald green waters of the Zanskar roaring through Ladakh, will bring you to the Gyalpo camping site. From here, start the final leg of the trekking expedition, across the Zanskar, and on to Chilling. You will enjoy a hot, satisfying lunch en route. On the way, you will also come across different groups of trekkers, just starting the trek! Enjoy being the storyteller for the time! The trek is short and will take an hour and a half to complete. From here we get into the vehicle for our drive back to Leh. You will reach Leh at around 6:30 in the evening. Check-in at the guest house and bask in the luxury of return to civilization! On this night, we will have a celebratory dinner to commemorate your successful completion of this challenging trek! Take a warm bath, and get in the warm, comfortable bed for the night!
Inclusion / Exclusion
Inclusions:
- Accommodation (Guest house, Home stay, Camping).
- Meals while on trek (Veg. + Egg).
- Trek equipment (Sleeping bag, mattress, kitchen & dining tent, crampon, utensils, tent).
- All necessary permits and entry fees.
- First aid medical kits, stretcher, and oxygen cylinder.
- Mountaineering qualified & professional trek leader, guide, and support staff.
Exclusions:
- Any kind of personal expenses.
- Food during the transit.
- Insurance.
- Mules or porter to carry personal luggage.
- Anything not specifically mentioned under the inclusions.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Change/Cancellation of Booking by the Participant
Process
The cancellation process is completely automated. Please log in to your Mountain Hike account and follow the instructions on your dashboard. You can choose between Instant Refund or Cash Refund as per the policy below.
Replacement of Participants
Participants can be replaced through the Mountain Hike dashboard if the booking status is “Paid” and at least 5 days remain before departure. If you face issues, email themountainhike@gmail.com with a screenshot of the error. The new participant must submit a signed undertaking form.
Note: Any Volvo/Train transport booked for the original participant will be automatically canceled and is non-transferable.
Cash Refund Policy
Cash refunds apply only for bookings made without promotional codes or vouchers. Refund amounts will be deducted as follows:
- 30+ days before departure: 5% deduction
- 15-30 days before departure: 50% deduction
- Less than 15 days before departure: No Refund
Refunds will be processed to the original payment method and are based on the Base Price of the trek, excluding transport, insurance, and portage fees.
Voucher Refund Policy
Voucher refunds are available for all types of bookings, including promotional offers. Refund amounts will be:
- 5+ days before departure: No deduction
- Less than 5 days: No Refund
Vouchers are valid for 10 months from the date of issue. The refunded voucher amount does not include service tax paid during the original booking.
Cancellation or Change Initiated by Mountain Hike
We reserve the right to modify or cancel an event due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather conditions, natural disasters, low participation, or any force majeure events. If this occurs, you will be given the choice of:
- A replacement event of equivalent value
- A full refund (processed as a voucher valid for 6 months)
If cancellation is due to low participation, participants can choose between a cash refund or a voucher.
Changes/Cancellation After Departure
Due to Force Majeure
No refund will be provided for cancellations due to force majeure after departure.
Other Reasons
If cancellations occur for reasons other than force majeure, we will attempt to arrange alternative services or provide a refund in the form of a 6-month voucher (or cash, if preferred).
Participant Dropout During the Event
No refund will be provided if a participant voluntarily drops out of the trek. Any additional costs incurred for return arrangements will be borne by the participant.
Early Return from an Event
If a participant returns early due to force majeure or an event ending sooner than planned, additional expenses (extra nights, transport) must be covered by the participant.
Emergency Evacuation
In case of a medical emergency, we will arrange evacuation to the nearest hospital. Any costs for porters, vehicles, ambulance services, or hospitalization must be covered by the participant.