A lifetime Experience of A Frozen River Trek, Chadar, Ladakh
One of the most adventurous and exhilarating treks in India, Chadar Trek offers the trekkers a great opportunity to witness a whole new experience in the Zanskar valley. Calling it one of the most engrossing winter treks all across the world, Chadar Trek wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Nestled almost 1300 feet above sea level, this frozen river with irresistible surroundings is always ready to welcome the explorers.
Before we move ahead with this detailed guide, here is a question for you all. Does anyone know why the trek is named so? as the name suggests Chadar means ‘Sheet’ and during the winter months, the entire region gets covered with very thick sheets of snow.
Besides attaining a gut-wrenching experience, this strenuous trek in Ladakh offers several wonderful opportunities to witness exotic wildlife species such as blue sheep, snow leopard, and many others. Well, the glory of the Chadar trek doesn’t end here as you also get to know about varied cultures by exploring different places and interacting with the locals.
So, if you are an ardent trekker and looking for an enthralling adventure holiday then add this frozen river trek to your bucket list. We would advise you not to wait any longer and step in your trekking shoes to add more memories to your travel frames. To help you plan a hassle-free trekking holiday, Shikhar Travel has brought a detailed Chadar trek guide consisting of all the relevant information.
What is Chadar Trek
Due to its elevated location, River Zanskar freezes in the winter season and the entire Zanskar Valley gets covered with thick sheets of snow and this is why the trek is popularly called Chadar Trek. The beauty of this place can never be expressed in words and the place attracts several amateurs as well as professional trekkers from different parts of the nation and world.
This happens to be one of the most challenging and exciting trekking sites settled amidst the beautiful landscapes of Ladakh. Due to the bone-tearing cold climate, a trekker has to face challenges during this expedition hence, one must be ready to cope up with the inconsistent climatic conditions and prepare accordingly.
- Also Read: Best Treks in India for Winter Season
Reasons to Cover This Strenuous Trekking Expedition
Adventure enthusiasts are always looking for destinations where they can relieve their stress and can satisfy their desire for adventure and excitement by undertaking tough challenges. Chadar trek is not like any other trekking experience as the adventurers have to face the toughest challenges where one has to tread through irresistibly chilly cold weather and sleep in the caves.
The trek also offers an opportunity to witness the secrets of the magnificent Himalayas and to capture the awe-inspiring glory of the surroundings and the snow-covered mountain peaks. The excitement of ascending on icy rocks and walking on snow is unbeatable and has no match.
Best Time to Plan your Chadar Ttrek
January and February are the two most recommended months for this wonderful trekking expedition. Precisely, if you plan your holiday between the 15th of January and February end then you get to enjoy the unmatched beauty of Zanskar Valley. The river freezes into a glimmering sheet of ice and the entire valleys present a pristine white trail for trekking expeditions. Additionally, the snow-peaked mountains accompanying you all along the way glisten and gleam in the first rays of the sun.
The temperature in Leh ranges between -10 and 0 degrees Celsius during the daytime which even lowers down to -25 degrees Celsius after the sunset. Hence, we advise the trekkers not to forget to carry enough woolen clothes to survive in this monkey-brass weather.
The Difficulty Level of Chadar Trek
As stated above, the Chadar trek happens to be one of the most strenuous and challenging trekking places in India. During the winter months, the gorgeous Zanskar Valley freezes into a white sheet of ice hence, the only accessible way to reach the valley is this trekking route. Due to heavy snowfall, all the mountain passes are closed therefore, the only open route is walking on the frozen Zanskar River.
The temperature of the region is very low during the daytime which even drops down to the freezing temperature after the sunset hence, we strictly advise the explorers to be prepared in advance to face such challenges and harsh camping conditions. On this 105 km long trail, a trekker will have to climb up the rocky hills and boulders which are not easy for a novice.
Note– you need to be both physically as well as mentally strong.
How to Reach the Starting Point of the Chadar Trek
The only possible way to reach Zanskar is by airways and the nearest airport to the destination is in Leh. One must be aware of the fact that all the flights coming from different cities land before noon as the climatic condition becomes unfavorable in the second half of the day.
On reaching the Leh Airport, you will have towards Chilling by roadways and then after trekking for almost 2 hours you reach Tilat Sumdo, the base point of Chadar trek.
How Long Do We Trek Each Day During This Exciting Expedition?
The trekkers have to cover a total distance of 105 km along the trek which means they are covering almost 17 km distance on daily basis. The visuals of snow-clad mountains and the icy bindings are quite pleasing and eye-treating. The snow-peaked slopes of the Himalayas reward adventure lovers with hidden secrets and offer mesmerizing views of the panoramic landscapes from a huge height.
Most of the trekking trail is covered on foot by walking on the pristine sheet of ice and it also requires a little bit of maneuvering and climbing. Also, the climatic conditions of the region are not favorable and this makes it more challenging to walk on snow. You will be spending your overnight halt in the chilly caves established near Zanskar River and this is why carrying heavy woolens is a must for completing your Chadar trek experience most excitingly.
Group Size for Chadar Trek
Generally, a group of at least 6 persons is required to commence this journey and the largest group of the trek doesn’t exceed 18 people. The groups include both male and female and to ensure the safety of the female trekkers, we have made special arrangements like we have a special support crew for them. We also provide you a local guide, chef, a porter, helper, and a few other staff to accompany you on the trip.
Note– the groups consist of joyful and sound-minded participants so that you enjoy and relish your journey and face the challenges and the harsh conditions with a smiling face.
Accommodation Arrangement
You will be staying in world-class hotels and will be provided with delectable meals when you are in the mainland area. After reaching a particular height on the trek to Chadar, you don’t find any hotel or guesthouse and only caves are available for overnight stay. Therefore, we strictly advise the trekkers to carry essential woolen clothes like wind-proof jackets, socks, shoes, gloves, and most importantly warm sleeping bags to stay fit and secure.
Quality of Food Served
To ensure the security and good health of the trekkers, the foods prepared on the trek are decided and cooked in a very careful manner. One usually gets to binge on Indian vegetarian dishes and sometimes eggs are also served during the expedition. Shikhar Travels ensures the safety of their explorers hence, we take proper care of the dietary needs of the participants. Hygiene and safety are the two topmost priorities during this journey, so we take the utmost care while preparing food for our guests.
There is nothing to deny the fact that one needs to be physically very fit to complete this 105 km long trekking trail therefore, we genuinely ensure that there should be no shortcoming in meeting the hunger needs of the participants.
Things to Keep in Mind on Chadar Trek
- You are advised to take proper care of your hygiene and dietary needs throughout the journey/
- To survive in this extreme climatic condition, the adventures shall pack heavy woolens and other essentials in their luggage.
- One needs to be both physically and mentally strong to cover this challenging trek and we don’t recommend beginners to go for this trek.
- Take proper care of certain very important arrangements like accommodation, food, and water availability to prevent yourself from any cataclysm.
- Packing your medical kit is very important as you don’t find any medical shop very easily. The first aid box must contain medications for common illnesses like headache, cough, cold, fever, vomiting, etc.
- Generally, a group of at least 6 persons is required to commence this journey and the largest group of the trek doesn’t exceed 18 people. The groups include both male and female and to ensure the safety of the female trekkers, we have made special arrangements like we have a special support crew for them.