The Himalayas beckon with adventures unlike any other, and the Chadar Trek 2024 promises an experience that will stay with you forever. Embark on a challenging yet rewarding journey across the frozen Zanskar River, a landscape transformed into a spectacular winter wonderland. Tempest Treks is your one-stop shop for an unforgettable Chadar Trek tour package designed to ensure safety, comfort, and an immersive exploration of this frozen paradise.
A World of Frozen Beauty
The Chadar Trek is a unique adventure that takes place during the peak of winter, from mid-January to the end of February. The Zanskar River, usually a raging torrent, metamorphoses into a vast expanse of frozen ice, creating the “chadar” or “blanket” that gives the trek its name. The stark beauty of the frozen landscape, punctuated by dramatic ice formations and snow-capped peaks, is a sight to behold.
Tempest Treks – Your Trusted Guide
At Tempest Treks, we understand the importance of expertise and experience when it comes to conquering the Chadar Trek. Our team of seasoned guides comprises local experts who are intimately familiar with the terrain, weather patterns, and the unique challenges of this high-altitude adventure. We provide comprehensive Chadar Trek tour packages that take care of everything, from logistics and permits to camping equipment and meals.
A Challenging Yet Rewarding Experience
The Chadar Trek is not for the faint of heart. It’s a challenging trek that demands a good level of physical fitness, mental fortitude, and the ability to withstand extreme cold. Temperatures can plummet to as low as -30°C, and the icy terrain can be treacherous. However, the sense of accomplishment you’ll feel upon completing the trek, and the breathtaking scenery you’ll witness along the way, will make it all worthwhile.
What to Expect on Your Chadar Trek 2024 with Tempest Treks
Our Chadar Trek tour packages are meticulously designed to provide a safe and enjoyable experience. Here’s a glimpse of what awaits you:
• Pre-departure briefing: Our team will provide a comprehensive briefing on the trek itinerary, safety procedures, essential gear, and what to expect during the adventure.
• Acclimatization: We prioritize a proper acclimatization schedule in Leh before starting the trek. This allows your body to adjust to the high altitude and reduces the risk of altitude sickness.
• Camping under the Stars: Experience the magic of camping on the frozen Zanskar River, surrounded by a blanket of stars in the clear night sky.
• Delicious and Nutritious Meals: Our chefs prepare delicious and wholesome meals to keep you fueled throughout the trek. A special focus is placed on high-calorie meals to combat the cold weather.
• Safety Measures: We prioritize safety throughout the trek. Our guides are equipped with first-aid kits and have extensive knowledge of handling emergencies in high-altitude environments.
Tempest Treks – More Than Just a Trek
Our Chadar Trek tour packages go beyond just the trek itself. We offer a cultural experience that allows you to connect with the Ladakhi people and their unique way of life. You’ll get a glimpse into their traditions, customs, and resilience in the face of harsh winters.
Embrace the Challenge, Conquer the Chadar
The Chadar Trek 2024 is an opportunity to push your limits, experience the raw beauty of the Himalayas, and create memories that will last a lifetime. With Tempest Treks by your side, you can embark on this incredible adventure with confidence.
Contact Tempest Treks today to discuss your Chadar Trek 2024 adventure and book your place on this unforgettable journey. Let us guide you through this frozen wonderland and experience the magic of the Himalayas in winter.
Follow Us On Our Social Media Pages
The Chadar Expedition Jan-Feb 2024
Featuring a surreal backdrop of nature colours, the Frozen River Trek, commonly known as the Chadar Trek, is one of the challenging treks in the Ladakh region. The strenuous mountain trail on the ice-clogged river under the blue winter sky passes through valleys, mountain caves and frozen waterfalls. It is one of the most arduous treks of Indian Himalaya as the trekkers will pass through craggy rocks and the temperature may dip to below minus 10 degrees, a rare climatic condition which can be difficult to survive.
Walking on the frozen river is an ultimate experience for adventure lovers. The traditional name of the trek is “Chadar Trek
” the frozen sheet trek, which was only way in and out for the people of Zanskar in winters when all other ways are closed due to heavy snowfall at high passes.This is a trek into some of the most isolated yet inhabited regions in the Zanskar
Mountains, Trekking on ice, the frozen Zanskar River, on an average five to seven hours daily at an easy pace. But a reasonable degree of physical fitness is needed to sustain walking for nine days during winter
conditions.The trek commences from the village of Chiling located not far from the confluence of Indus and the Zanskar River. The trek follows the river gorge through a spectacular landscape, a photographer’s paradise,offering occasional sightings of wildlife. Although pleasant on clear, sunny days, the weather conditions can change abruptlywith winds & temperatures falling up to minus 20 to 30 degree Celsius.
Frozen River Chadar Trekking Tour Highlights
- Trek along the traditional winter trading route connecting Padum to Ladakh along the frozen Zanskar river.
- This is a real adventure with only a couple of groups making the trek every year. The conditions on the river can be variable so a flexible approach is required!
- Gain insight into the remote cultures of Zanskar and Ladakh and you will have the chance to stay with local Zanskaris along the way.
- Go for a sightseeing tour to explore the Gompas and forts around Leh as you let your body acclimatise to the altitude.
Spot rare Ladakhi animals like snow leopard, ibex, Himalayan Thar, blue sheep, etc.
Best Time to Do Frozen River Trek
January to February : This is the time when the upper layer of the Zanskar River freezes. The river looks like a sheet of ice; hence, it is referred in the local language as ‘Chadar’.
Where is the Frozen River?
During the winter season, the Zanskar River converts into ice, giving trekkers a perfect platform for trekking. The trail to the Zanskar valley is going to be a challenging yet exciting one as the ice walls are vertical cliffs, which are up to 600 m high, and the Zanskar river is narrow, approximately 5 m wide. Once upon the time, the trail used to be traditional trade route
Expedition Itinerary:
DAY 01:FLIGHT DELHI TO LEH:-
Upon arrival at Leh Airport you will meetour representative and transfer to the Hotel for Check in. On the first day of your
trekking trip in Ladakh, you will spend your entire day in Ladakh for acclimatization. Although there are many things to do in Leh town, it’s best that you spend your entire day at leisure allowing time for high altitude acclimatization. Full day rest. Overnight in Leh.
DAY 02: LEISURE DAY/ VISIT LOCAL MARKET:-
Rest or leisure day for acclimatization.
Overnight in Leh
DAY 03: MEDICAL CHECKUP
After the breakfast visit Leh SNM hospital for medical check up and to get a medical certificate. Overnight in Leh
DAY 04: LEH TO TALID SUMDO(DRIVE) TREK TO TSOMO PALDER:-
After breakfast we will drive from Leh to chilling with our support staff to begin this amazing and most exciting winter trek. Shortly after leaving Leh, we reached Nimoo, the confluence of Zanskar and Indusrivers. The sight is amazing as the iced up and frozen Zanskar meets the fast flowing Indus. We stop here for around 5-10 mts for all tohave a view and a click. We then turn down from Nimoo following the track parallel to the frozen River Zanskar, a drive towards the road head beside the frozen river is another amazing experience. Travel distance between Leh and Chilling is around 64 KM. We reach now to the point, past the village of Chilling to where the road head ends. Touching the Chadar for the first time, we started the trek for 1-2 hrs along the magnificent frozen river Zanskar till Tilat Sumdo. Hearing the different sounds of Chadar forming and breaking, you will soon get familiar where the Chadar or the ice cover is thick and thin. With an early lunch break in between, we would soon reach the majestic. Lunch is in between the trek, where we all stop where sunlight is abundant though duration is much less as the river flows through a gorge and directsunlight time is limited. We trek again on frozen ice towards theWe trek again on frozen ice towards the designated camping site for the day. Overnight at camp.
DAY 05: TSO MO PALDER TO NEYRAC PULLEY:-
Today we will have early breakfast, it isanother day of ice expedition among some of the most fantastic landscapes and ice vistas. Vast mountain sides rise up abruptly from the river as it flows through the gorge. We might even catch sight of bharals or blue sheep as we trek along the frozen river. Though today is the longest day of the trek, we pass through some magnificent beautiful waterfalls and frozen ice cliffs on the left. It is life walking through a giant freezer. The walk also crosses through a narrow gorge, where the trekker may have to climb briefly on to the rocky river bank. We trek again on frozen ice towards the designated camping site for the day. The sharp bends and current of the river breaks the ice in some places. Lunch in between a flat rocky hill side by the river with a magnificent day on the chadar trek. However, the caution being that this can become difficult if the Chader is not very firm. The vistas are stunning though as we pass through giant frozen waterfalls, ice cliffs and one may even catch sight of the mountain fox. After lunch we
pass the incense tree, so called because the locals use its branches to burn in their morning rituals and the prayer flags draped tree marks the entrance to Zanskar proper. The porters will normally trace a few twigs from the tree. We reached the Naerak campsite by late afternoon. An old, dilapidated bridge on the river as folklore goes is thought to be more than 1000 years old. A trail is normally beaten through in the snow towards the village up high in the mountain. Overnight in camp.
DAY 06 : NEYRAK PULLU TO TIBB:-
Though technically it is the same way back,it is also quite different. The Chader or the blanket of ice that is forming on the River Zanskar is always changing, breaking up and forming itself again. As the Chader dynamics are ever changing, the same route and place would look and feel different as the texture and conditions change. All along the way, trekkers will pass by and meet a lot of locals wearing their traditional woolen dresses, trekking their way towards the villages of Padum, Lingshed and Neyrac. Pleasantries are exchanged and even a few stories and legends about the Zanskar and
its people can be heard. Their warmth and smiles is amazing among all the hardships.
Overnight at camp.
DAY 07 : TIBB TO SHINGRAKOMA:-
Starting from Tibb, go up to Shingra Koma 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 even snow leopards. You might be lucky to see a snow leopard but you can almost be sure that you are being watched by one all the time.
Overnight in camp.
DAY 08 : SHINGRA KOMA TO TILT DO BACK TO LEH:-
Today is the last day of this amazing unique trek. We finally return back to the road head where our vehicle will be waiting to take us back to our hotel at Leh. A huge goodbye to the supporting staff, thrie absolute dedication and support is
nothing short of amazing. Finally on reaching Leh the hotel room of Leh after some 8 days is most welcome, yet the
experiences of this ice trek linger and will be remembered forever. Overnight at Leh.
DAY 09 :DEPART LEH (FLY OUT):-
Tour concludes. Travel To Himalaya thank you for your patronage and ensure a punctual transfer to Domestic Airport to catch flight to Delhi.
INCLUDED IN THE TREK
- Expert Mountaineering Guide
- Skilled local staff who has ample knowledge of the rout
- Transportation from leh t0 trekking point on day 4 and back to guesthouse to leh on day 8
- Vegetarian meal on the trek (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner ) starting on day 4 pack lunch to day 8 Breakfast
- Stay in guest House on triple/Quad sharing basis in leh on day1, Day2,day3, and day8.
- Daily Breakfast starting from day1 today9
- Hot water in buckets shall be provided on request while staying in guest house in leh
- Stay in alpine / Dome tents on triple/quad sharing basis on day 4, day5, day6, and day7
- Common kitchen / Dining / toilet tents will be used during the trek
- Cooks / Helper and other requisite
- Cost of transport , meals and stay if in case you leave the trek in between and return to leh before the scheduled arrival on day8
- There is no centralized heating and portable heater provided.
- Anything not mentioned in the inclusions.
List of Essential items to carry for Chadar trek
- Backpack (Min60 Ltr ) with Rain Cover
- Gum Boots
- 4 Pair of full sleeve shirt/t-shirt and
- track pants( 1 should be waterproof/windproof)
- 4 pair of cotton socks , 3 pairs of woolen socks
- 2 full sleeves sweater
- One heavy down jacket, thermal inner-2 pair
- 2 pair waterproof hands gloves, 2 pair woolen gloves,sun cup,one scarf
- Light towel, lip balm, cold cream,Hand lamp or torch with fresh pair of batteries, personal toilet kit and toilet paper, personal medical kit
- Dark sunglasses ( u/v protected)
- Walking stick ( at least one )
- People who wear spectacles-should avoid contact lenses and use photochromic glasses instead.
