Chadar Trek Tour (165309),Holiday Packages to Zanskar, Leh Ladakh

Package Overview

Departure Date
10 Jan

Duration
9 Days 8 Nights

Views
36

Maximum Seats
10

Class six rapids in summer, classic winter highway for centuries — the River Zanskar in Ladakh, boasts many distinctions. The most recent thrust upon the chadar trek has been that of offering the “wildest trek” in the world, where temperatures often goes to -30° at night and day -10° to -15° is normal, the ice puzzle constantly shifting to take your breath away, it’s a claim few dispute. There are few if any adventure treks on our planet to match the Chadar trek winter expedition for sheer, awe inspiring winter beauty and none to match it in terms of day to day challenge and excitement.

Zanskar and Ladakh in the winter are challenging enough as the frost smoke wreaths the Indus. The Chadar a ‘veil’ for the snow and ice that covers the river in winter is one of the great adventures of the world. To penetrate the Zanskar gorges in winter is a serious undertaking and Zanskaris you meet en route inevitably look at you Greet with Julley and askance, and reply ‘Chadar?’ with an unbelieving nod of the head; and then salute you as they go in Zanskari fashion.

But much before being reduced to an adrenalin rush, the traverse of the Zanskar had been a journey of nerves and faith. A vestige of the Silk Route, residents of the remote valley of Zanskar would walk 90 miles and 11 days to Leh over the frozen river to trade their wares. This route was used to carried/trading butter, salt and other many commodities these villagers traded with the outside world. It had to be traded in winter, as it was the only time it could travel from the cool summer cellars of their houses to Leh without spoiling. Today, they go back and forth still trading with modern stuffs and sometime in modern gears, but also taking children to school or making visits to the sacred (monasteries) sites around Leh.

Zanskari reads the ice with the eye and sense it by their feet, prayed for good weather, and rested in caves high up in the gorge. They called the river’s icy winter muzzle Chadar and held the river sacred, sliding across on padded shoes so they would hurt neither the river nor its pride. Meeting the Zanskaris as they travel this ancient route is just one of many high points for those who join this adventure. The abundant wildlife, and incredible scenery are more highlights – as you look up from the bottom of the Zanskar gorge and realize, yes, that is the frozen river beneath. Fish scatter from your shadow under the ice, and snow leopard tracks pattern the snow and if you are lucky then snow leopard as well.

Even today, when trekkers with crampons walked to their boots troop on behind local porters and guide, the locals pray for the river to forgive them. An all-weather road has been creeping towards Leh through Zanskar’s Gorge. Bulldozers, dynamite and empty bitumen barrels, plastics have already taken their toll on the Chadar, which now freezes for less than two months each winter, which used to be 4 months. Locals say the benevolent spirits that protect them will desert their domain once the road is opened in near future, and that they will take the freeze with them.”

For us Chadar trek is not just a full scale winter expedition, but a travel into the past, where we enjoy in our ultrahigh-tech winter gears, will trek side by side with locals wearing woollen Gonchas (local winter dress) and sounding the ice-snow with their stout poplar staffs to drive away the demons that lurk there.

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Day wise Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrival Leh

Take morning flight to Leh, which in winter is rarely delayed. Our tour begins by watching a spectacular sunrise over snowy peaks as we cruise at a height of 30,000 feet, far above the mountains. After an hour long memorable flight over the Himalayas, we land in Tashi Namgyal’s 15th century capital, Leh. The cold air will catch your throat and you will definitely feel the altitude. We stay at the comfortable Hotel Shynam near main bazaar, which has heated rooms. After a late breakfast, we will go on a slow stroll around Leh to see a little piece of central Asian history, with its palace dominating the old bazaar with a backdrop of snowy peaks. Lunch on the way and back to hotel for rest. This is a day for acclimatisation.
Day 2 : Leh

We will spend this day easy, visiting some sights nearby without straining too much. We drive through the mountainous terrain to ancient monasteries at Thiksey and Stakna and see the colourful decorated prayer halls – a little bit of old Tibet. There is also lot to explore in this wonderful Central Asian town; the fort and palace, colourful gompas, the mosque, back alleys with steaming Muslim bread, tiny antique shops tucked away, colourful fruit and vegetable bazaars. While you explore the town, our guides will be busy with preparation of trek, gears and porters.
Day 3 : Visit the Snm Hospital for Checkup

By the end of the Chadar season 2018, a new policy for the safety of trekkers was introduced by the J&K Got. As per this policy each trekker has to visit the Sonam Norbhu Memorial Hospital and get a routine check-up done. On completion of this we sort the wildlife permits and permissions and head back to our accommodation and get ready for the next day to start.
Day 4 : Leh –shingra Yokhma - Tso Paldar

Post breakfast, we take a beautiful drive through the beautiful scenery with your first views of the Indus river and later the Zanskar river at their confluence at Nimoo. From Nimoo you follow the Zanskar to the roadhead at Shingra Yokma. Deboard the vehicle after a point and trek towards SomoPaldar campsite. Overnight in tents.
Day 5 : TsomoPaldar – Dibb Cave

Your trek to Dibb Cave begins today.Trek through the deep gorges of the Zanskar valley with sheer cliffs on both sides. The lack of direct sunlight keeps the snow well packed for the trek. We end the day at the big cave here which is used by the locals when traversing this valley and set up camp for the night. Overnight in trekking tents.
- Themes : Hill Stations & Valleys, Trekking
Day 6 : Dibb Cave - Nyerak

Post breakfast, we continue the walk through the gorges to the Nyerak village. Enroute we pass a large frozen waterfall which is gushing water during the non-winter season and is a stop point on our rafting trips down the Zanskar river during the Aug-Sep period. Today we camp below the Nyerak village and one can go up to the village in the evening. Overnight in trekking tents.
- Themes : Trekking
Day 7 : Nyerak – Hotang

From Nyerak on this day, we retrace the same route and stop at Hotang. Overnight in tents.
Day 8 : Hothang – Shingra Yokma - Leh

Today is your last day of the trek. Post breakfast we trek back towards Shingra Yokma walking on thick ice of Chadar. You will be trekking for about 9 hours with a couple of breaks in between. We will camp here for the night. Overnight in trekking tents
- Themes : Trekking
Day 9 : Depart Leh

You will be transferred to the airport. Depart to your onward destination.

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Inclusions

Hotel
Sightseeing

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Terms & Conditions

Payment Terms & Methods :
* Some Advance Percentage of total booking amount
* Airfare/Transport fare to be paid full at one time in advance.

Cancellation & Refund Policy :
* Upon cancellation, refund will be made after deducting the Retention Amount.
* Retention Amount varies as per the number of days left before your package start date.

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