This trek is considered as one of the most exciting and unique treks – a very special and an extraordinary trek on shiny ice on
the bank of Tsarap River. You will be dropped by a vehicle at Chilling Sumdo (crossed road) then yourtrek leads in a narrow valley...
Auli Snow Skiing - 06Days / `13,500 + (Service Tax 3.63%) (Haridwar to Haridwar) Including Transport
Auli is a must visit destination if skiing is your passion. The slopes are located at an altitude of almost 2500 to 3000 metres, offering exciting skiing opportunities to both beginners as well as professional skiers....
The trek begins from Joshimath, in the Chamoli district of Himalayas, which has evolved into the hub for trekkers and pilgrims in this part of the Himalayas. Confluences of several rivers - the Pinder, Kaliganga, Nandakini, Birehiganga & Dhauli Ganga give make up the Pancha-Prayag...
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This trek is considered as one of the most exciting and unique treks – a very special and an extraordinary trek on shiny ice on the bank of Tsarap River.
You will be dropped by a vehicle at Chilling Sumdo (crossed road) then yourtrek leads in a narrow valley filled with breath-taking views of ice-peaks and
unexpected hanging icicles that will attract your gaze for some time. You will spend the night at cave camps with the help of a born fire that will keep
you warm and relaxed.
The ‘Chadar’ is a perfect example of this resourcefulness of the Ladakhis and their indomitable spirit, in the face of such daunting odds. The term
‘Chadar’ means blanket in the local language, thereby giving an indication to the nature of this whole experience. Large sections of the river Zanskar, which
is one of the mightiest rivers in Ladakh, freeze over in the dead of winter and are covered by a thick blanket of ice.
Flying over miles and miles of heavily snowed mountains will tell you just why it’s impossible to reach Ladakh by road in the winters. The moment you land at the Leh airport, one of the highest airports in the world, you will feel the fresh and crisp air, and a drastic drop in the temperature. The town has just begun shedding off the thick winter slumber and is slowly coming to life. Taking a stroll through the Leh market, you will find that very few shops and eateries in the town are open for business; but if required, some last minute-shopping for the trek can be done here. The chill in the air will serve only as a preview of the temperatures during this winter trek. The night is spent in a cozy guest house.
Day 02: Drive to Tilad Do via Chilling
You can start the morning by witnessing the sunrise from the Shanti Stupa, from where you can get a panoramic view of the
entire town of Leh and its surroundings. You can also see the peak of Stok Kangri almost beckoning you to climb it.
But today’s agenda includes a very picturesque and thrilling long-drive to Chilling. The roller-coaster ride takes you along the Indus to the village of
Nimu, where the Zanskar converges into Indus. After stopping at this confluence point to take in the view, the drive continues and the road begins
descending right into the river valley. There are quite a few heart-stopping moments as the vehicle negotiates the steep hairpin bends over snow covered
road. The road goes past Chilling to Tilad Do. Among these mammoth mountains, the feeling of insignificance of one’s being does not escape anyone.
To reach the camp-site, you have to cross the frozen Zanskar; and this is when you take your first steps on the Chadar. It takes a while to get a hang of
walking on the ice sheet. As the evening comes, the Adventure Konnect team pitches tents on the banks of the Zanskar, and hands out thick warm sleeping
bags. To get some exercise and keep warm, you can climb up the nearby mountains and get a good look at the frozen river. As the sun sets, it drags the
temperature down with it, and the sleeping bags in the tents look quite inviting.
Day 03: Tilad Do to Gyalpo
The biggest challenge of this day, and all the remaining days, is to get out of the warm toasty sleeping bags and go out
into the giant freezer outside; but the steaming cups of tea being served provide ample motivation.
Today is a long walking session, about 12 km, on the Chadar. The trek leaders from Adventure Konnect give a briefing about the day, and give tips on how to
walk on the Chadar. Depending on the weather, the Chadar can assume various forms. It can be a cold and hard surface of slippery ice, or it can have a dusting
of snow over it, providing a good grip. The ice can be thick or thin, and its best to keep closely following the guide. The locals, it appears, have a sixth
sense as to where exactly to step on the Chadar. At places, it might be necessary to wade through ankle deep water, or climb on the cliffs at the side of the
river. Eventually you get used to walking on the Chadar, which looks like a cross between gliding and skating. Mid way to Gyalpo, the porter-cum-cooks prepare
hot bowlfuls of soupy noodles for lunch. It is important to keep up a decent level of fluid intake. Nothing makes you adapt to the conditions faster than
nicely circulating blood in your system.
After passing Shingra Koma, you reach the camp-site for the day at Gyalpo, where the tents have already been pitched by the porters. The Gyalpo campsite is
at a bend in the river, surrounded by high peaks and walls of rock-faces which almost look man-made. All that is left to do is to soak in the views, have
an early dinner and call it a day.
Day 04: Gyalpo to Tibb Cave
This day follows the same early morning routine: bed tea at 7, breakfast at 8, and quick-march at 8:30. Have a good
breakfast, as today is the longest walk of the day – almost 14 km. But that is nothing to worry about, all the walking keeps you incredibly warm.
Today’s walk through the deep ravines of the Zanskar is stunning. The sublime walls of the mountains on either sides of the river keep the sunlight away from
the Chadar for most part of the day. There are numerous caves in these mountains, big and small. Today is the day when you can see frozen waterfalls, some
higher than the others. As the fable goes, centuries ago the local villagers faced a dearth of water and went to Tibet to plead for water. They were given a
box which they were to open once they reached the village, and not any time sooner. But curiosity got the better out of them, and when they opened the box,
two fishes jumped out of it, creating two huge waterfalls. One of those waterfalls, miraculously, is not iced-up even in such freezing cold. The rocks below
this waterfall are covered with moss, and this is the only greenery you’ll see on this trek.
At Tibb, there is a big cave. This cave is the dwelling of all the porters, and they welcome you warm-heartedly in here. The highlight of the day is to
share a cup of butter-tea with them!
Day 05: Tibb Cave to Naerak
Today is the most spectacular of all days on this trek. Walking on the river you cross deep gorges and reach a point where
Juniper trees are covered with prayer flags. The porters give you a twig of this tree tied with a piece of prayer flag as a badge of good-luck and
good-health. A few steps away stands the mother-of-all frozen waterfalls – a huge instance of suspended animation several feet tall and equally wide.
You can see dozens of colors in this enormous ice structure as sunlight plays off its surface. Right next to the waterfall is a bridge across the river
which is a part of the summer-time road from Zanskar to Leh.
The Naerak village lies several feet above the river, a vigorous hour-long trek can take you to the village if you want to see the life of a Zanskari.
The camp is set up close to the river.
Day 06: Naerak to Tibb
Today you start the return journey and go back to the Tibb cave. And if you thought that it was just a matter of retracing
your steps back to Chilling, you can think again. The Zanskar River reacts to the slightest change of temperature, and constantly keeps repackaging itself.
The Chadar would have assumed a completely new form, and will it will almost be impossible to say whether you have been here before.
On the way, you can meet a lot of locals wearing their traditional woolen Gonchas – some of them monks who are hiking from the Lingshed Monastery to Leh,
some of them young students accompanied by their parents returning to their schools in Leh after the winter vacation. Watching the locals negotiate the
Chadar is a fascinating sight. They are suitably adept to the climate and seem very much at home in the sub-zero temperature and the biting cold winds.
Nothing wipes the smiles off their faces and dampens the warmth of their spirit.
Day 07: Tibb Cave to Naerak
Starting from Tibb, go up to Gyalpo today. The high walls of mountains rising from the sides of the river almost look like
castle walls. You can see several trails of pug-marks all along the trek – footprints belonging to foxes, ibex or snow-leopards. You would be lucky to
view a snow-leopard; but you can almost be sure that you are being watched by one all the time.
Day 08: Gyalpo to Tilad Do, and drive to Leh
This is the last day of treading on the Chadar – the last chance to immerse in the pristine beauty of the frozen river.
Once you reach Tilad Do, it is time to say good-bye to the Zanskar and the Zanskaries. Adventure Konnect team and our porters will take good care of you
and make this trek one of the most memorable experiences for you. Tonight you get to sleep in a warm guest-house again.
Day 09: Depart from Leh
As this unforgettable journey gets over, you depart from Leh having a newfound respect for the Zanskaries who brave all
odds and survive with style in their beloved land. This trek also leaves behind a tremendous feeling of accomplishment – one of having undertaken and
endured an extraordinary and challenging trek. The Chadar trek will be a cherished memory for life.
Send Your Queries
Package Brief
✓ Accommodation. (Camping) and Leh guest house (Day 1, and Day 8 according to Itinerary)
✓ Meals while on trek (Veg.)
✓ Trek equipments.
✓ Permits.
✓ First aid medical kits and oxygen cylinder.
✓ Qualified & experienced trek Leader, Guide and Support staff to help trekkers.
✓ Transport from leh to Road head and return.
✓ Food / Meal in Leh.
✓ Any kind of personal expenses.
✓ Insurance.
✓ Porter to carry personal luggage.
✓ Anything not specifically mentioned under the head price Includes.
Normally Adventure Konnect expect to carry your personal luggage on your own, if you don’t want to carry your backpack so you can give it to porter, but you have to informe us in advance and have to pay Rs. 600/- extra per day per bag.
To book a Trek/ adventure program please use our online booking form or, alternatively, you can call us on the given for confirmation of tour you have to wire a deposit and initial deposit.
Paying the Trek / Adventure activity fee:
The fee can be paid by online transfer /check deposit / demand draft. Instruction for payment will be forwarded along with your confirmation email.
When your transfer is done, please e-mail us a confirmation mail with your transfer details, so that we can follow up your reservation efficiently.
Normally Adventure Konnect expect to carry your personal luggage on your own, if you don’t want to carry your backpack so you can give it to porter, but you have to informe us in advance and have to pay Rs. 600/- extra per day per bag.
To book a Trek/ adventure program please use our online booking form or, alternatively, you can call us on the given for confirmation of tour you have to wire a deposit and initial deposit.
Paying the Trek / Adventure activity fee:
The fee can be paid by online transfer /check deposit / demand draft. Instruction for payment will be forwarded along with your confirmation email.
When your transfer is done, please e-mail us a confirmation mail with your transfer details, so that we can follow up your reservation efficiently.
When to book:
It is wise to make your booking at least two months in advance. However, if you want a good deal on your domestic/international flight, we recommend organising your trip at least five months in advance. (Please contact us if you require a late booking)
In the event of cancellation of trek/adventure activity services due to any avoidable / unavoidable reasons we must be notified of the same in writing. Cancellation charges will be effective from the date we receive advice in writing, and cancellation charges would be as follows: -
Up to 24 Days:- 95% of Trek / adventure program cost will be refund. Between 14-24 Day:- 70% of Trek / adventure program cost will be refund. Between 14-10 Days:- 50% of Trek / adventure program cost will be refunded. Less than 10 Days:- No refund
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