This dangerously thrilling trek involves walking on the frozen Zanskar River, camping in this icy wonderland, and discovering the dramatic beauty of a winter landscape, where the trees are bare and you are surrounded with ice, snow and cold.

You'll see bubbles trapped in the ice beneath your feet, stand in awe in front of tall waterfalls that are frozen in mid-fall, and in some cases, see the river flowing under the ice beneath your feet. These 8 days will be amongst the most memorable in your life.
Destination

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.
 

CHARDAR TREK  - 1
Tour Program :  Trekking Program 8 nights 9 days
Trek Route :  Leh - Tilad Do - Chilling - Tilad Do to Gyalpo - Tibb Cave - Naerak - Tibb - Leh

Day 1:  Leh:
Arrive at Leh airport, to be received by our representative & transferred to the hotel. Take a full day rest at the hotel as you need to acclimatize well. Overnight Guest House in Leh.

Day 02: Drive to Tilad Do via Chilling
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; 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 TTH 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 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 12 km, on the Chadar. The trek leaders from TTH 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, where the tents have already been pitched by the porters. 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: Gyalpo to Tibb Cave
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 14 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
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 colors 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
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 woolen 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 to Gyalpo
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: Gyalpo to Tilad Do, and drive to Leh
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. TTH team and our 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: Depart from Leh
As this unforgettable journey gets over, you depart from Leh having a newfound respect for the Zanskaries who brave all odds and survive with style in their beloved land. This trek also leaves behind a tremendous feeling of accomplishment - one of having undertaken and endured an extraordinary and challenging trek. The Chadar trek will be a cherished memory for life.

CHARDAR TREK  - 2
Tour Program :  Trekking Program 7 nights 8 days
Trek Route :  Leh - Chilling -  Shingra Gongma - Deepyokma - Nyarakpulu - Deepyokma - Tilatdo - Leh

Day 1: Delhi - Leh:
Arrive at Leh airport, to be received by our representative & transferred to the hotel. Take a full day rest at the hotel as you need to acclimatize well. Overnight Guest House in Leh.

Day 2: Leh Sightseeing of Hemis, Thiksey and Shey:
After breakfast drive for a full day sightseeing with visits to Shey Palace, Thiksey and Hemis monasteries. Overnight Guest House in Leh.

Day 3: Leh - Chiling/Tilatdo to Shingra-gongma (3200m) 5 hrs drive (Taxi/Bus):
After breakfast drive towards Nimoo where the confluence of river Zanskar & Indus is, from there take left & drive along the Zanskar River till you reach Sumdado. At Chiling after Lunch visit the White Copper artists famous for their handmade works.After that walking towards Tilatdo (0.5hr) from where the Trek will start till you reach Shingra-gongma(5 hrs). Stay overnight in the tent.

Day 4: Trek Shingra-gongma to Deepyokma (3300m) 5 hrs.
After breakfast start the 4hrs trek to Deepyokma where you'll see no. of caves, Tsomo Paldar, naturally flowing spring water. Overnight camp.

Day 5: Deepyokma to Nyrakpulu (3400m) 5-6 hrs.
Start the trek to Deepyokma, after 4-5 hrs reach Nyarakpulu. Camp at irrigation field.Another 1hr walk up along with a small stream you will reach a beautiful village called Nyarak. From here Singee-La will be visible, which is a summer trek pass. Overnight camp.

Day 6: Nyarakpulu - Deepyokma (3300m) 5 hrs:
Taking the same route back from Nyarakpulu to Tsomopaldar.Overnight camp.

Day 7: Trek Deepyokma / Tilatdo/Chilling/Leh (3200m) (6 hrs trek & 2 hrs drive)
Trek back from Tsomopaldar to Shingra gongma, Tilatdo & then to chilling.Reach chilling and drive back to Leh. Overnight Guest House in Leh.

Day 8: Leh - Delhi:
In the morning transfer to the airport from where you'll board the flight to Delhi.

Tour Ends