Chadar Trek: Chadar" means blanket or veil of ice that covers the Zanskar river over the winters.

The frozen Zanskar river, part of the Indus watershed, has been used by the people of Zanskar, to go back and forth to the outside world when the passes are locked into frozen winter silence, for centuries. The Chadar route is the only way to connect to the outside world during the winter times.

It is a lifetime experience for the trekkers.


Tour Route: Leh to Padum This trek takes the main Chadar route, then, once in Zanskar, has a number of extra days built in to visit either remoter valleys or sacred sites and palaces of the once Kingdom of Zangla.

Difficulty Level: Strenuous

Best Season to go: January to middle of March

Temperature: below –20 (min) to 30 (max).

Experience level of Guide, Crew and Achievements: Tsering Phunchok started doing the chadar trek way back in 1996. Tsering, born in Padum in the heart of Zangskar is an experienced guide who knows the chadar route very well and has many achievements under his belt. We will also have a team of up to 18 porters, who we kit out in good, warm gear. They will be constant companions on the ice, and their say so on the route choices is a vital part of our expedition.

Duration: 18 to 21 days

Chadar Trek - (Frozen River Trek)

Day 01: Arrive Leh

Complete Rest in Leh for acclimatization.

Day 02: Local sightseeing

Visit to various monasteries like Shanti Stupa, Sankar Gompa, Shey and Thikse monasteries

Day 03: Leh- Chilling

Morning after breakfast. Drive to chilling in taxi on the way visit of Phyang gonpa and offer prayer to start with visit of chilling famous for traditional handicraft. We will meet here our local porters and kitchen staff to make sure all things in order

Day 04: Trek chilling- Darbau

On this day here we start our chadar trek, virtually after breakfast start walking with day pack. Lunch stop overat tilat sumdo, the confluence of chharap river. After the lunch walk till to camp, where parties have already busy with salting up of the camp near the small cave, this day you will experience we the different of the chard trek and the normal trek. Over night campsite.

Day 05: Trek Darbau- Tip yokma

Today we will come across a waterfall called chhumchar, coming out of rock. Here we assemble for lunch stop over may see wildlife in herd of groups. Here we will camp in a natural cave. Which can be accommodation more then 40 peoples, the biggest one on way in chadar caves. Over night Campsite.



Day 06: Trek Tip yokma- Nyrak Pollu.

Today we come across a juniper tree before Nyrak villages. And yulchung nalla. After short walk from juniper tree one most beautiful ice fall which is quite picturesque. In this area we see nyrak village’s upper top of camp and across bridge. Which made local wood over night camp Nyrak pullo.

Day 07: Trek Nyrak pollu- lingshed.

Morning after the breakfast walk along Zanskar River till lingshedsumdo, from lingshed sumdo we leave zanskar river chadar ice route enter in the lingshed Nalla, lunch stop and walk till lingshed villages from the villages very nice view of gonpa. Which is famous in the area for panting as well. Over night in the local family house.

Day 08: Trek lingshed- Hamlung.

Morning after the breaks fast visit the monasteries at the top of the villages. And we walk base down to the river bank side, lingshed do keep continue on the chadar trek. Here lunch near lingshed sumdo over night camp on sand beach at Hamlung.

Day 09: Trek Hamlung- Hanamil village.

Today we come across a under river spring, which is supposed to be one in heddle in chadar trek, here the river appeases some time , then one has to take. Peoples ask whether there the ice some time softer its hold and water appear on the ice over night in local family house. The first village’s zanskar on the chadar trek route.

Day 10: Trek Hanamil- pishu.

We are in zanskar valley now further here we either take the land route or the river route. The area remain mostly remain cover with heavy snow so take the guided route only. Explore the villages. Over night family local house.

Day 11: Trek Pishu- Karsha.

Morning after breakfast proceed towards karsha in the left. We will see Zangla palace and villages where royal family still resident and we pass small villages Rinam, stop for lunch on arrival at Karsha we explore the area, as we are in the main town and on the other side of the river we can see Padum two night in local house in Karsha.


Day 12: Morning after the break fast visit the Karsha monasteries and after noon free for personal activities. Evening local culture show for groups.

Day 13: Trek Karsha- Tongday

This is the day of return journey we proceed towards via pipiting guru visit, after lunch trek to tongday. Over night in local family house .there we can visit tongday gonpa.

Day 14: Trek Tongday- Zangla village.

This is the day we will see the traditional Royal palace and visit a village and visit local traditional House where chang(local beer) will be served over night local house.



Day 15: Trek Zangla – Tsarakdo.

This day we will be again in chadar after Pidmo village. On the chadar trek return journey till chilling by the some route skipping as we are trekking down words it will hers time to get campsite.

Day 16: Trek Tsarakdo- Nyrak pullo.

Over night campsite.

Day 17:Trek Nyrak pullo- Padartsomo

Over night camp site. Trek up to Tsomopaldar. Dinner and overnight stay in cave

Day 18: Trek Padartsomo- Tilat sumdo.

This is the day of return journey we proceed towards via pipiting guru visit, after lunch trek to tongday. Over night in local family house .there we can visit tongday gonpa.

Day 19: Tilat sumdo- Chilling.

The last day of our trek. Today we will trek up to chilling and from here return back to Leh by jeep. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel.

Day 20: Leisure in Leh

Day 21: Leh – Delhi flight

Early in the morning transfers to airport and from here catch a flight for Delhi

Further information regarding itinerary equipments and important dates can be obtained by directly contacting on any of our E-mail ID or give us a call. Contact Us