from 2 reviews
9 days 8 nights
Specific Tour
15 people
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The Chadar Trek or the Zanskar Gorge is a winter trail over the frozen Zanskar River, which lies in the Indian union territory of Ladakh. It is traditionally the only means of travel in the area during the harsh winter months. The trail has become popular with international adventure tourists. The overall distance is approximately 105 kilometers (65 mi) – an average trekker walks 16 kilometers (10 mi) per day.
Important Note: Every trekker must have done a COVID-19 RT PCR test from an ICMR authorized testing lab not later than 72 hours of their arrival in Leh.
The trek happens in wintertime and Leh will be accessible only via air transport. You will arrive at one of the most beautiful airports in the world. The moment you get down at Leh airport you will be greeted by snow-capped mountains and freezing air. Moments before you land you will start seeing the snow-covered mountains and peaks of Ladakh. It will be advisable to keep your warmers on hand since you will experience a drastic fall in temperature as soon as you exit from the plane. Jackets, gloves, beanies, warmers, woolen socks, and warm boots are mandatory while coming to Ladakh. Once you reach your guesthouse/hotel you will rest for the rest of the day. However, you can go to take a stroll in and around the Leh market. Taking rest would be necessary since there would be a drop in the oxygen level during winters and the temperature would be really low. Once you start walking on the icy frozen sheet of the Zanskar river the temperature will only continue to drop. Hence, it is necessary to rest once you arrive in Leh. Intake of warm brews and keeping your body hydrated is also really important since it helps you maintain your body temperature in the sub-zero region of Ladakh.
After breakfast, we will start our day with the Shanti stupa which is situated at the top of the Leh main city where you can have a nice view of Leh city and Stok mountain range. After that will proceed towards the famous Leh Palace which was constructed by a famous king of Ladakh Singay Namgyel. Will drop you at your respected hotel once we are done with these two visits.
The Chadar Trek is not for everyone, and not everyone who books it will be able to do it. The reason for this is because each trekker will be required to pass a mandatory health check-up and obtain medical clearance from the Leh administration's approved physicians. Trekkers must get medical insurance in addition to obtaining authorization to walk the frozen Zanskar river. This is a critical decision made by officials in the aftermath of annual fatalities and deaths on the Chadar Trek. As the trekkers must endure inhospitable conditions to trek at an altitude of 11150 feet, where the daytime temperature hovers around -10 degrees Celsius and the nighttime temperature hovers between -20 and -25 degrees Celsius. This action would undoubtedly reduce the number of victims compared to past years. This initiative has been taken to ensure the safety and security of adventurers attempting the 100-kilometer Chadar or Zanskar Trek between January and March.
You will begin the journey from Leh, in you can stop at some spots for photographs like gurudwara Pathar Sahib, and Sangam confluence viewpoint. You will then be driving along Zanskar River, you'll go to Tsomo Paldar through Chilling and Shingra Koma, which is the first campground. Here you will see some beautiful landscapes. Shingra Koma, located near the U bend of the Zanskar River, is Chadar's most unusual location. You will reach Shingra Koma after 4-5 hours of the ride. You will ride in the car until the road ends and the trekking route starts. From here you will start your trekking. The ice sheet layer may appear thin here, and walking in gumboots will be difficult in the beginning but, after walking for a kilometer or so you will get comfortable in it. Different kinds of rock formations can be seen en route. It might take you some time to understand the ice pattern but, slowly you will gain expertise in it. With the help of your walking stick, you will be able to tell where the ice is thin and where it is reliable. While traveling down the majestic Zanskar, you will come across a variety of ice surfaces, and as you go, you will learn more about them. A backpack will be helpful for you to maintain your balance on the ice sheet. After an hour and a half of trekking, you will now reach Tsomo Paldar, your first campground.
After a chilly night at Tsomo Paldar, have an early meal with a warm drink, this will help you to regain your energy and start fresh for the next day from Tsomo Paldar to Tibb Cave. Once you start going further into the trek you will experience a gradual increase in height. Over the course of almost 7 hours, an increase of 400 meters will be felt. Tsomo Paldar (11,400 ft) to Tibb Cave (11,800). You will have one of the best experiences on this route as it hosts some of the most scenic and famous waterfalls as you start traveling to the next campsite, Tibb Cave. The origin of these waterfalls is unknown yet and so many tales go within the locals regarding their origin. Yet another heart-warming experience at this point will be seeing the mighty Zanskar river flowing calmly on the side. Somewhere on the way, you will have lunch and then after a few hours of walking, you will be camping near Tibb Cave bordered by sand. Some things worth noticing would be the different rock formations and the designs formed on them because of sun rays and weathering. It would look as if the strokes had been drawn by someone with the gifted talent in Arts.
After spending the night at Tibb Cave, on the 6th day of the trek would be leading towards the most anticipated campground, Nerak campground. The best thing about this part of the trek is the magnificent chadar trek that will reach after almost 13 kilometers of trekking. The world-famous chadar frozen waterfall is one of the most beautiful sights and natural wonders. You'll be camping almost 20 minutes away from the waterfall. If you arrive at the waterfall in a timely manner, you may be able to see the Nerak Village. In Nerak you will experience by far the coldest weather. Here the temperature sometimes drops as low as -32 degrees Celsius at night hence you will have to cover up yourselves with layers and layers of clothes. En route, you will be served lunch and tea and perhaps a hot bowl of Maggi noodles.
On day 7th you will be starting your trip back from Chadar. One thing you will notice here is the fresh formation of ice sheets and the melting away of the old ones. Trekking back from Nerak you will now go back to Tibb Cave. You will be served meals en route. Weather will be really unpredictable during this time and the whole path on the way back, although, same will seem to look new altogether. This is the specialty of the once-in-a-lifetime Chadar trek, where you will not only get frostbites but will also get to make so many memories that you will treasure for the rest of your lives. This day you say goodbye to the local residents and it's time to retrace your steps back to Tibb Cave. Spend the last chilly day in the tent and if you are brave enough, you might even want to stargaze in the middle of the night for a few minutes, since the sky looks a whole different from this place. This will be the last chance for you to make memories and one more chance to savor and resist and be more determined about life and facing the unpredictable moments of life. You will get to learn so many things here.
This is ‘THE LAST DAY’ of the Chadar trek. Re-energize yourselves with warm food and get ready to face yet another rough journey back to Leh. You will notice that nothing is the same anymore. Everything has changed and this would be yet another beauty of the whole trekking. The chaddar might have thinned by now and beautiful rocks from beneath will be visible. A fresh layer of Chadar will be seen forming on the way back and this will not be a very easy journey. From here now you will go back to Shingra Koma and from there you will board back on cars and go back to Leh, on the rough roads again, ending your journey of THE CHADAR TREK. Get up early once more for a long trek back. It's not exactly retracing your steps because you'll see that a lot has changed. Chadar may have melted, the Chadar layer may have thinned, and now beautiful rocks may be seen. That, after all, is the wonder of nature and the Chadar journey. Arrive in Shingra Koma and prepare to board cars. You'll arrive in Leh after another rough trip.
They say that we conquer the mountains but honestly, you would find enough reasons to conquer yourself. The journey would come to an end here as you once again get ready to depart and say goodbye after having your morning breakfast. You came here to cover the Chadar Trek but you will leave here with all the energy and experiences with yourself.
Naman
Amazing trip