A comprehensive guide to chadar trek

By
Sam K. Pandepa

01 02 03 04 05

Introduction Chadar Trek Chadar Trek Chadar Trek Weather and
Trail Guide Map Difficulty Level Temperature

06 07 TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Acute Mountain Acclimitization
Sickness

08 09 10 - 16 17 - 24

How to Chadar Trek Hiking Detailed
Acclimatise Itinerary Essentials Itinerary

Faster

25 26 27 28

Best Time For How To Reach Prepare Your How To Prepare
The Chadar Trek At The Chadar Body For The Yourself For The
Trek Starting Chadar Trek Extremely Cold

Point Weather

29 30 31

Tips On Keeping Chadar Trek For Importance of a
Yourself Warm Begginers Trekking Guide

During The
Chadar Trek

One of the most popular trekking
destinations in India is Ladakh. It is
prevalent among trekkers worldwide
because of its terrific location and majestic
beauty. The panoramic views of Ladakh
are genuinely incredible and have been
inspiring tourists to visit Ladakh for a long
time. The beautiful mountains, serene
environment, verdant valleys, golden
desert, cascading waterfalls, flora & fauna,
etc., are some of the factors which make
Ladakh a popular destination for the travel

enthusiast.

Adventure seekers from all over the world
visit Ladakh for trekking and other

expeditions. Among all the trekking trails in
Ladakh, the Chadar trek trail is different

and unique. And that's why the Chadar trek
1 is the most famous trek of Ladakh.

Chadar Trek Trail - The
Hiking Route

Chadar trek trail connects
Zanskar valley to other parts of
Ladakh during the winter. As the
valley remains isolated due to the
road blockade by heavy snowfall,
the frozen river of Zanskar is the

only route to Zanskar Valley.

The icy trail of the Chadar trek
attracts a lot of adventure
enthusiasts for trekking.

It is one of the most popular and
challenging trails in India.

During the trek, the river can be
seen flowing under the sheet of
ice, giving it a wonderful look.

2

Arrival At
Leh Airport

First 3 Nights In
Leh

Fitness Check-up Chilling
On Third Day Shingra Yokma

Camping Site
Gyalpo

Camping Site
Tibb Cave

Camping Site
Nerak

Chadar
Trek

Guide Map

3

EASY hard

Chadar trek is not easy,
nor is it very complicated.

But before going on the
Chadar trek, one must
consider all the risks
involved with this trekking

including...

Acute Mountain Sickness

Acclimatization

Weather and Temperature

4

Higher Altitude E
Lower Pressure L
E
V
A
T
I
O Lower Altitude
N Higher Pressure

Chadar trek takes place at an elevation of around 11k feet
high. The air pressure decreases with the increasing altitude.

Lower air pressure results in lesser oxygen to breathe to
which the human body reacts. This high-altitude body
reaction is known as AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness).

A few of the common symptoms of AMS are headache,
dizziness, tiredness, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, etc.

5

Acclimatization: It is the process
of adjusting the body to the high
altitude atmosphere (above 8k

feet).

As the lungs need to work harder
to deliver the required amount of

oxygen to the body, it usually
takes 1 to 3 days for the body to

adjust to the high altitude of
Ladakh.

However, in the case of the
Chadar trek, it is mandatory to
acclimatize for three days in Leh
before starting the frozen river

trek.

Tips for acclimatization

Rest Reduce activity
Medication Stay hydrated
Eat healthy Avoid alcohol/sugar

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-15 to -30°C

Chadar trek takes place during the winter. The climate
of Zanskar valley is very challenging due to its freezing
temperature. The temperature can vary from minus 15

degrees to minus 30 degrees Celcius.
So, the trekkers have to experience extremely cold
weather, especially during camping at night when the

temperature may drop below minus 30 degrees
Celcius.

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As per Marius Brazaitis, a senior researcher at
LSU, the human body has the ability to achieve
acclimatization to some extent. But it depends
on their behavior whether they encourage or
suppress this ability of acclimatization.

Rest on the first day of arrival in Leh. Get enough sleep for the first
few hours and then visit Leh market or Shanti Stupa in the evening.
On the second day, you can visit a few nearby places in Leh. But
remember not to travel to higher altitude places like Khardung La,
Nubra, Pangong, etc.
Reduce your activity on the first two days of arrival.
Drink plenty of hot water not to let your body lose salt and water.
During your stay in Leh, don't warm up the room too much to
avoid exposure. Use heaters only on the first day of arrival. After
that, try not to use room heaters to help the body adjust to the
cold weather faster.
Don't drink alcohol as it lowers your body's core temperature and
slows down the process of acclimatization.
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CHADAR TREK ITINERARY

DAY Arrival at Leh Airport
Night Stay in Leh
01
Acclimatization
DAY Leh Sight seeing
Night Stay in Leh
02
Fitness test at designated health camp in
DAY Leh.
Night Stay in Leh
03 Leh to Chilling and sightseeing places like
Magnetic Hill, Hall of fame, Sangam, etc.
DAY Frozen river trek up to Gyalpo Camping site

04 Frozen River Trek up to Tibb Cave
Night Stay at Tibb cave camping site
DAY
Frozen River Trek up to Nerak
05 Night Stay at Nerak camping site

DAY Return to Tibb Cave
Night Stay at Tibb cave camping site
06
Trekking up to Shingra Yokma.
DAY Pickup from Chilling and drive to Leh
Night Stay in Leh
07
Departure
DAY

08

DAY

09

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Packing Tips

Packing is a crucial aspect of any
trekking. And trekking for the Chadar
trek is more critical due to the extreme
environment.

Don't carry unnecessary items, and
try to pack as light as possible so that
you can walk easily carrying the
backpack.

Pack the most frequently used items
at the top which are easily accessible.
Eatable and drinkable items are an
example of frequently used items.

Pack the less frequently used items at
the bottom of the bag. Items such as
sleeping bags or other kinds of stuff
that you will need at camp and not
during the hiking are the least used
items.

Keep the related items together while
packing.

After packing the bag pack, keep it
straight on the ground; it should stand
directly without any support.

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Choosing the right backpack
for the Chadar trek is
essential to ensure comfort
and making it your
companion instead of a
burden.

Buy the appropriate size of the bag that fits your torso perfectly.
Longer duration trek like the Chadar trek requires a backpack of 55
to 65 liters capacity.

All your trekking gear, clothes, and other items should fit in the
backpack.

Don't overload the bag. Try to keep it under 10kg.

The bag should be durable enough to carry a 10 kg weight for four
days of frozen river trek. Don't forget to test the backpack with some
weight before completing the purchase. Stuff the bag with around 10
kg weight and walk some distance to make sure the supporting frame
and the shoulder straps are comfortable.

The internal frame of the bag should be strong and durable. Stainless
steel and aluminum frames are durable enough for the trek.

Heavy snowfalls are expected during the Chadar trek, and also,
trekkers sometimes drop the bag accidentally in water. So, the bag
should be made of waterproof material to keep the items inside the
backpack dry.

Avoid bags with fancy handles and wheels, as they won't help you
during the trek but will burden you.
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During the Chadar trek, you have to walk for hours, and your
body would keep generating heat which results in sweating. If
you don't manage the perspiration properly, your clothes will get
damp, and your body will lose heat rapidly when you stop to take
a break. For that reason, mid-layer and base layer clothing
should be done correctly.

Woolen Monkey A breathable
Cap waterproof

A down jacket - to Jacket
keep you warm in
Woolen Muffler /
the freezing Neck warmer
weather.
A pair of
Gum Boots - to insulated
keep your feet and waterproof pants

socks dry while Trekking / Hiking
walking through Shoes (No Crampons)

water.

12

Thermals should be
sweat absorbent to
avoid dampening the
clothes.
Wool absorbs sweat
better than cotton.

13

Touchscreen gloves (with
sensitive fingers) would be
a better choice to avoid
taking off your gloves
frequently to use your
phone.
Pack a few pairs of socks
so that you can change
them if they get wet (wet
clothes won't dry during
the extremely cold
weather.)

14

Shampoo You must consider keeping
Face wash all the basic medication
Soap that should keep you safe
Toothbrush and toothpaste from potential common
Wet wipes medical issues.
Toilet paper. For instance, you must
Deodorant have remedial medicine
Razor and shaving cream for headaches, stomach
Chapstick or lip balm issues, cold & fever, band-
Cold cream aids for skin cuts, and any
Sunscreen lotion (SPF 40+). other medication you think
Towel you might need for
yourself.

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Emergency lamp for camping nights

Insulated water bottle

Hot water bottle to carry in the sleeping bag while sleeping.

If you feel cold much more than others, you can carry exothermic
warming pads.

Towel 2-3 small sizes microfiber towels with quick-drying features.

Small repair kit consisting of safety pins, needle, thread, and
string (very important).

Plastic bags: For wet clothes and to carry waste items to dump
them later in a trash bin.

A waterproof case for your mobile

Watch with alarm (if the mobile battery goes out of power).

SIM: As of now, postpaid SIMs of BSNL, Airtel, and Jio are
functional in Ladakh for roaming service. The signal for BSNL is
better than Airtel and Jio. Internet speed is good in the main Leh
area, but in remote areas like Zanskar, the signals would be very
weak or no signal at all. We highly recommend subscribing to a
BSNL post-paid SIM to use it on the Chadar trek.

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Camping Site Leh
Altitude - 11,500 ft
Temperature - 5°C to -15 °C
Activity Arrival

You should travel by air as the roads to Leh from Manali and
Srinagar get blocked by the end of November.
As the temperature in Leh would be extremely cold, so, before
deboarding the plane at Leh airport, make sure you've put on
enough warm clothes. Keep your winter jacket, woolen cap, and
woolen gloves handy so that you can easily wear them before
leaving the plane.
Your hotel will be booked in Leh. You need to complete your
check-in procedures at the hotel. After breakfast, you should
rest for a few hours so that your body can acclimatize to the
extreme temperature and high altitude. Since you have traveled
from a lower altitude to a very high elevation of 3,500 m, hence
acclimatization is very important.
You can visit Leh market or nearby places in the evening.
You should carry enough warm clothes with you because the
months of January and February are freezing in Leh and at
some point, the temperature falls below -15°C.
During this time, you may also experience heavy snowfall. So,
make sure you put on enough warm clothes and have enough
rest to acclimatize to the high altitude and harsh weather. Keep
yourself hydrated and eat healthy which helps to regulate your
body temperature and acclimatize faster.

17

Camping Site Leh

Altitude - 11,500 ft

Temperature - 5°C to -15 °C

Activity Acclimatization

Sightseeing

While trekking, your body needs to endure extremely cold weather
while maintaining high altitude differences. Since the process of
acclimatization in your body takes place gradually, therefore,
trekking is a challenging task in such circumstances. Your body
needs to acclimatize properly and get ready for the Frozen Chadar
Trek ahead.
Due to lack of acclimatization, many tourists face health issues
caused by Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). As a result, the
administration of Leh, Ladakh issued SOPs that are mandatory to
follow if you want to go for the Chadar trek.
According to the SOP, you need to acclimatize for the first three
nights and then go for the Chadar trek on the 4th day
Meanwhile, you can visit the surrounding attractions in Leh. You can
book a cab to visit a few nearby places.
Since your body acclimatization is still in progress, you should not
visit higher altitude places or distant locations.

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Camping Site Leh

Altitude - 11,500ft

Temperature - 5°C to -15 °C

Activity Fitness Test

As per the SOP, you are supposed to undergo a medical
examination to make sure you are fit enough to go for the Chadar
trek.
If you have followed the instructions for acclimatization, it is likely
that you would be qualified to continue the Chadar trek.
The permit will be issued at the tourist information center and after
obtaining the permit, you need to complete the insurance
formalities.
However, you can’t continue the Chadar trek if you are denied the
permit because of health issues(very rare chances).
In case you are denied the permit, you can ask for a refund, or you
can visit many other tourist places in Ladakh where you can travel
in winter. You can enjoy the fantastic scenery of majestic mountains
covered with snow blankets, frozen lakes, and much more.

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Camping Site Gyalpo
Altitude - 11,500 ft
Temperature - 5°C to -20 °C
Activity Sightseeing and
Frozen river trek

Finally, today you are going to walk on the frozen river of Zanskar.
To start the Chadar trek, you need to travel from Leh to Shingra
Yokma, which is around 70km away. It will take around two hours to
reach, but you can stop at a few places for sightseeing.
Some of the famous attractions you will visit on the way are the Hall
of fame, Magnetic Hill, Gurudwara Pather Sahib, Sangam- the
confluence of the Indus & Zanskar river, and more.
After the sightseeing, you will be head towards the starting point of
the frozen river trek, Shingra Yokma.
Before starting the frozen river trek, you need to put on your
gumboots/trekking shoes.
On the first day of the Chadar trek, you will need your trekking
poles. But later on, you will find it comfortable enough to walk on
the frozen river even without a stick.
You will cover a distance of around 3 km, and it will take 2-3 hours
to arrive at the first campsite, Tsomo Paldar.
Follow your expert/guide and, you’ll learn how to judge the fragile
surfaces from the stronger ones.
On completing the first day of the Chadar trek, you will reach your
first campsite in Tsomo Paldar.
Enjoy overnight camping at Tsomo Paldar.

20

Camping Site Tibb Cave

Altitude - 11,000 ft

Temperature - 15°C to -30 °C

Activity 15km Frozen River

Trek

You will spend the first-night camping at Tibb Cave. The next
morning, you will enjoy a hot breakfast with your family or friends.
Now that you are well trained and acclimatized properly yesterday,
you are ready for the long trekking of about 15 km.
On the way to the Tibb Cave, you will witness fascinating sceneries.
The mind-blowing view of the waterfalls, the gushing river with
sparkling rocks around, and the towering mountains covered in
snow blankets offer an amazing view.
After a pretty long trekking expedition of about 4-5 hours, you will
feel starving and a hot lunch around the frozen river will be served.
After having lunch, you will continue the walk until you finally arrive
at the Tibb Cave.
Overnight camping will be around the Tibb cave. You will find
yourself surrounded by lofty mountain peaks and the Zanskar river
rushing by your side.

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Camping Site Nerak

Altitude - 11,000 ft

Temperature - 15°C to -30 °C

Activity Frozen river trek,

Village sightseeing

From Tibb Cave, you will continue your trek towards Nerak.
Nerak is the last camping site of the Chadar trek and at Nerak, you
will witness the most beautiful waterfall which remains frozen during
winters.
You will reach Nerak campsite where you'll witness the coldest night
with temperatures going as low as -30°C around Nerak village.
Every year, heavy snowfall blocks the roads connecting these areas,
isolating the Zanskar Valley from the rest of Ladakh.
During your stay at Nerak, you can also visit the Nerak village.
Visiting the village will give you a chance to catch a glimpse of the
challenging life endured by the people of Zanskar during such a
harsh climate.
Overnight camping at Nerak.

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Camping Site Tibb Cave

Altitude - 11,000 ft

Temperature - 15°C to -30 °C

Activity Frozen River Trek

Now that you are a pro and a trained walker on frozen surfaces,
you are ready to return from Nerak to Tibb Cave.
After having a hot breakfast, you will start your return journey to
Tibb Cave.
In the afternoon, you will be served hot delicious lunch around the
frozen river on the way to Tibb Cave.
Keeping in mind that you have covered all the trails of the Chadar
trek and endured the harsh weather at its extreme point, you
cannot underestimate the trails and weather conditions. You have to
be careful and cautious, as you can never predict the weather in
mountainous regions.
Overnight camping at Tibb Cave

23

Camping Site Leh
Altitude - 11,500 ft
Temperature - 5°C to -20 °C
Activity Frozen River Trek,
Return Leh

On the last day of trekking, after breakfast, you will start from Tibb
cave and cover the longest distance of around 18 km trekking to
reach Shingra Yokma.
You have done a remarkable job completing the challenging Chadar
trek. Make sure you have recorded a few parts of trekking and
clicked pictures to show your friends and family.
From Shingra Yokma, you will drive back to Leh. You can buy some
souvenirs for your friends and family if your flight is on the next
day.
If your flight is a day later and you have some more days to spend
in Leh, then you should rest today and visit the market the following
day.
In Leh, your hotel will be cozy enough to keep you warm after a few
nights of enduring freezing weather.
Have your dinner, celebrate your achievement, and rest for the
night.

24

January and February are the best
months for the Chadar trek.

The ice sheets (chadar in Hindi) creates a trail for the Chadar trek
on the frozen Zanskar river. These ice sheets start forming in the
month of December and get thick enough in the month of
January for the trekkers to walk on.
In March, the ice sheets of the trail start melting, due to which the
trekkers won't be able to walk on it.
So, the months of January and February are the only two months
for the Chadar trek when the trekkers can walk on the frozen
river of Zanskar.

25

Arrive Leh first, as, Leh is the base
camp of the Chadar trek for
acclimatization, obtaining permits, and
processing insurance documents.

The road to Ladakh remains closed at the time of the Chadar trek.
So, you need to take a flight to Ladakh.
The closest airport is Kushok Bakula Airport in Leh.
After completing the acclimatization period in Leh and getting the
permit, you can start the frozen river trek.
Frozen river trek starts from Shingra Yokma.
Hire a taxi from Leh to Chilling and then walk up to Shingra Yokma.

26

Fitness is essential for the challenging
Chadar trek, as your body should be
strong enough to handle the decreased
air pressure and you should have enough
stamina to hike for 15 km with a 10 kg
backpack. So, we have enlisted few tips to
prepare yourself for the upcoming
Chadar trek.

Start training your body at least a month before the trek.
Pressure breathe and belly breath training for acclimatization
during the Chadar trek.
Increase your hiking stamina: You need to walk for around 15
kilometers daily for four days during the Chadar trek. Start walking
and jogging with short distances and keep increasing the duration
of the walking and jogging.
You have to carry a backpack of around 10kg on the trek. So, start
training with a 5kg bag and then keep increasing the weight until it
reaches 10kg. You should be able to walk for 6 hours comfortably.
Increase your leg strength: Exercises like calf raises, Lunges, and
Squats are great to increase the strength of your leg. Also,
consider increasing the incline of your treadmill.
2277

The temperature would vary from -15°C
to -30°C. And, you need to prepare for
the extremely cold weather. So, we
have enlisted few tips which would help
you prepare for the Chadar trek.

Cold shower exposure for 10 to 15 seconds daily on the last few
days before flying to Leh.
Don't use warm water to bathe, from a month before the trek.
Don't warm up your room, instead, try to make it colder by using
AC.
Avoid warm clothes at home before going on the trek.
Stop using heavy blankets while sleeping for few weeks before the
trek.
28

It would be difficult to endure the extremely cold
weather of the Chadar trek. The temperature can
drop below -30°C, so try keeping yourself as warm
as possible. We have enlisted few tips which would
help you keep warm during the Chadar trek.

The more the layers, the better the heat produced by your body
would be captured. Also, layers would help regulate the body
heat better and avoid sweating too much.
Keep moving during the Chadar trek, so, that your body
continuously produces heat.
Walk at a slow and steady pace or your body would sweat and
damp your clothes.
Carry exothermic pads to keep in your socks and gloves during
extremely cold weather.
Wear your waterproof jacket during snowfall or wind to avoid
cooling off your body rapidly.
Use a rubber hot water bottle at night and keep it at the leg side
of the sleeping bag.
Eat snacks with high fat, protein, and calories such as chocolates,
nuts. It will keep generating heat in your body to keep you warm.
It would be very tempting to lie on the ice sheet or sit on it. But
don’t do it, as it will conduct the heat from your body. Instead, sit
on your backpack.

29

Beginners with no trekking experience
can definitely go for the Chadar trek.
But you should consider few things
before planning for the trek.

Consult your doctor if you have any health complications.
Good walking stamina is required where you can cover 5 km of
distance in 45 minutes without stress.
You have to carry a backpack of around 10 kg on the trekking. So,
you should be strong enough to carry a 10 kg backpack hiking for
6-7 hours.
We recommend not to go for the Chadar trek if you have health
issues like heart problems, asthma, high blood pressure, epilepsy,
etc.
30

Going alone on the Chadar trek is strongly not recommended.
Visit www.ladakh-tourism.net/chadar-trek/ for expert opinion or
a guide for the Chadar trek.
You need an expert guide and a team for the reasons mentioned
below.

It requires experience and skill to identify the appropriate
parts of the ice sheets to walk on.
Experts know the trail and help you navigate to the
destination.
If you suffer from Acute Mountain Sickness, you need oxygen.
Trekking operators carry oxygen for such instances.
In case of emergency, the rescue team would work on your
quick & safe transfer to Leh for medical attention.
Trekking operators also carry all the tenting items and kitchen
items which are very difficult to carry alone.

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