8 Nights / 9 Days
The Start of the Journey
The journey starts at the mountain town of Leh. The only way to reach Leh is by flight and it is surrounded by snow giving it a complete white look. One can catch a glimpse of the snow capped mountains from the flight as it descends toward Leh which is located at 11400 feet above sea level. The trek is over the Zanskar River which lies frozen during the winter. The most preferred time to cross the ice would be in February. During that time, the ice tends to be at its most stable state. The Frozen River Trek begins from the small village of Chilling from where the Zanskar River begins to freeze.
Across the Ice
The ice can be as dangerous at times as it can be safe during others. One needs to figure out the safe paths over the precarious sheet and must always be aware of the ice conditions below the feet. The trekkers can choose to camp in the caves along the banks like the locals or set up tents where the ice is the most stable. The setting is close to twenty degrees below freezing point and decreases further after sundown as well. Warm and layered clothes are recommended as is being on the move as much as possible. These help invariably in keeping the body warm and prevent cold sores and also keep the blood from freezing.
Better Safe than Sorry
It is always recommended to be aware of the ice conditions at all times. There are several factors to consider ensuring a safe journey. Most of these factors involve the conditions of the ice and the footing choices of the trekker. The precautions include:
The trekker must be aware of the ice sheet conditions.
There may be cracks in the ice which should be avoided.
Finding places with a coating of snow is the best place to walk normally.
Slippery ice can be found on several sections as well and should be walked on with utmost care.
Cracks may suddenly appear under ones feet and it is required to run to more solid footing immediately.
The ice is not a trekkers friend and one should always respect it and be aware of the conditions at all times especially while choosing the camping spot.
Gear and Trekking Info
Trekking gear should be brought from home as there are not many places available at Leh during the winter where supplies can be bought. Food that can be preserved and made quickly such as instant noodles is an excellent addition. One should always have enough before starting off as it is recommended to be moving for the better part of the day in order to keep warm as well as keeping the journey in momentum. Ice picks, trekking boots, several layers of extra warm clothing are a compulsion in such conditions. Tents are recommended but optional as one can easily camp in caves like the locals who journey across the river. However, being a non-local, that idea may not be advisable and carrying tents is always commendable.
You will be landing at the Leh airport which is one of the most picturesque airports that you would come across. Just before the touchdown time, youll be greeted with the entire range of snow-capped peaks that will surely get you wonderstruck. Its important to keep your warmies handy as youll fell the sudden drop in temperature as soon as you arrive at the Leh airport. A jacket, woolen gloves and a woolen cap is a necessity. After reaching the guesthouse you will be given enough time to relax and acclimatize to the conditions. Later in the evening, you can spend some time at the Leh market for last minute window shopping. It is very important that you get used to the cold temperature in Leh because the temperature will only tend to fall as you start walking on the frozen Zanskar. From the end of January to mid-February, the temperature can be anything between -10 to -15 degrees during the day. It is also important to keep your body hydrated by increasing the intake of fluids that will help to maintain your body temperature.
Keeping in mind the health problems that trekkers are facing (AMS), as per the new regulations applied, anyone doing the Chadar Trek should be atleast spending two days in Leh to get your body fully acclimatize to the weather conditions. It is irrevocable and it is important that it is strictly followed by every trekker. You can spend the day by visiting the places around the city. It is advisable that you avoid visiting places which are at a higher altitude. Crosscheck you essentials before going to bed.
On this day, youll be headed to the first campsite which is Tsomo Paldar via Chilling & Tilad do. It is one of the most scenic drives which lets you witness some of the top spots in Ladakh. Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Magnetic Hill and the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus are some of the places where you can take a pit stop for clicking pictures. An hour and a half drive along the Zanskar will get you to Chilling. The car will drop you right where the road ends, this will be your starting point of walking on the Zanskar. Walking with you gumboots on will definitely be a challenge in the initial stage. Understanding the ice patterns will take time, slowly but steadily you will know which surface is fragile and which is trustworthy. There are multiple number of ice surfaces that you would come across while walking on the mighty Zanskar and as you start walking you will know more about it. Planting your foot will be important in most of the cases, you can check for the ice for its steadiness with your walking stick before stepping on it wholeheartedly. A small and light backpack will help as you will able to manage your body weight in an effective manner. After an hour and half of slipping, falling and trying to gather your balance youll be reaching your first campsite at Tsomo Paldar. This will be your first experience of camping under sub-zero temperatures.
Chadar is one such trek where your not gaining altitude in quick successions. Slowly but gradually from Tsomo Paldar to Tibb Cave (6-7 hours), you will be gaining an altitude of 400ft. (Tsomo Paldar: 11,400 to Tibb Cave: 11,800) After spending a cold night in the tent at Tsomo Paldar get done with you breakfast that will re-energize your senses in the morning. The much needed hot cup of tea will be special in such frosty conditions. As you start heading to the next campsite which is Tibb Cave, this trek route has some of the most eye-catching frozen waterfalls that youll see. Waterfalls that stand frozen in time. The source of some of these frozen waterfalls is still unknown and there are a lot of myths amongst the villagers. The mighty Zanskar will be flowing all along with you on the trail and the emerald green water will have a smoothing effect. You will be served lunch midway to Tibb cave. After walking for a couple of hours youll come across different rock patterns along the way which look artistic when the sun rays fall on them making their way from behind the clouds. You will be camping near the Tibb cave which is surrounded by dry sand.
As you move on to the most awaited campsite of the trek which is Nerak, the 13km long trail will take you to the most iconic landmark of the Chadar trek. i.e. The frozen waterfall. The frozen waterfall is a natures masterpiece in itself that attracts trekkers around the world. Hot lunch will be served on your way to Nerak. By far, Nerak will be the coldest of all the campsites on the trek where the temperature goes down to as low as -30 degrees during the night. It will be important that you wear proper clothing in layers to stay safe from the biting cold. If you manage to reach the waterfall on time, there are chances of paying a visit to the Nerak Village as well. You will be camping at a distance of 15-20 minutes from the waterfall.
Back from Nerak:
You might have heard stories of how unpredictable the weather patterns can get here on the Chadar trek. There are instances where the formation of Chadar no longer exists on your way back from Nerak. In the same way, you will witness a new layer of Chadar formed at some. Even though its the same route, youll be amazed to see how different it appears while coming back. Chadar Trek is an experience of a lifetime that every trekking enthusiast should witness. And then, what if we told you that these eight days of your life are going to be some of the best days youve lived so far and that youll cherish these moments till the very end.
Nerak – Tibb Cave
Tibb Cave to Gyalpo
Gyalpo to Tilad do to Leh
You will reach Leh by approximately by 6:30 in the evening.
No of pax | Age Limit | Price per pax (Rs) |
---|---|---|
Adult | Above 12 years | 23499 / Adult ( With Tax ) |
The Crazy Mountaineers is a tour and travel agency, involved in offering a variety of services & solutions to travel enthusiasts coming to explore North India. We operate from Dehradun (Uttarakhand, India) with a network of tour operators and travel agents to make your travel safe and convenient. We started our company operations in 2019 with under the leadership of Mr. Kanishk Singh Rathore. He holds years of industry knowledge and experience required to run smooth company operations. Working under his able guidance, we have secured a good name in the area of operations. When you choose us to plan your travel itineraries, right from tour package booking to your safe return to your homeland, we provide complete support at every step of your travel. Read More...
Chandigarh City - Narkanda - Sangla - Kalpa - Kinnaur - Dhankar
New Delhi - Manali - Jispa - Leh Ladakh - Kargil - Srinagar - Pathankot - Tabo - Ka..
Shimla - Garhwal - Solan - Parwanoo - Dharamshala - Jammu
Birding Tour for Corbett and Uttarakhand
Corbett - Pangot - Kumaon - Sundargarh - UP East - Sahibabad
Honeymoon Tour To New Zealand - Colors O..
Auckland - Rotorua - Queenstown - Christchurch
Ahmedabad - Bhuj - Kutch - Dwarka - Somnath - Rajkot - Sasangir
New Delhi - Katra - Anantnag - Srinagar - Ganderbal - Baramulla
Satna - Jabalpur - Umaria - Pachmarhi - Chhatarpur - Balaghat
Jammu And Kashmir With Leh Ladakh Tour P..
Srinagar - Pahalgam - Leh Ladakh - Kargil - Gulmarg
By Road 07Nights 08Days Srinagar - Leh T..
Srinagar - Sonamarg - Leh Ladakh - Kargil
Gogiyies Ladakh - Kashmir 11 Nights - 12..
Srinagar - Pahalgam - Leh Ladakh - Kargil - Gulmarg