Chadar Trek

• In an Indian union territory of Ladakh lies a winter trail: Chadar Trek/ Zanskar Gorge. Ladakh is a land of wonders and a home to many treks-routes; but among them, the Chadar trek holds a special place. Regarded as one of the most difficult treks in the world, “Survival of the fittest” is definitely something to keep in mind when considering this trek.  The trek takes you over the frozen Zanskar river confined within sharp 600 meters high gorge. The time for this trek is January – February as during the winter, the Zanskar river freezes and is enveloped in a sheet of ice resembling a “Chadar,” hence the name. It’s during the first two months of the year that this Chadar of ice is at its thickest and most stable, making this time the safest for the trek. One might think the trek to be quite challenging, and they would be right, but it’s the challenging nature of this route that calls to the hearts of many adventurers, and the constant adrenaline rush is perhaps the most memorable in this trek alongside the thrill of sleeping in caves, stargazing, traveling in knee-deep snow, and bonfires in sub-zero temperatures. From monasteries to a magnetic hill to gravity-defying frozen waterfalls, this trek is no stranger to mesmerizing destinations and is sure to keep you busy on the lookout for them.

• The 9-day adventure begins at an altitude of 11400 ft at Leh; reaching Leh is possible by flight, during which you are to catch a glimpse of the adventure to come as you fly over the grand white-clad mountains and get a sense of scale as you descend down to the starting point of the journey, but it is not until you reach the village of Chilling where the Zanskar river begins to freeze. It is then that the trekkers embark on the frost white road, and the 62km trek officially commences. The path is less of a road and more of a natural mirror reflecting the grand blue sky over the gorge. The daytime temperature ranges from -5^oC to -15^oC, and the nights range from -20^oC to -30^oC, so clearly, one needs to be both mentally and physically prepared with appropriate gear.

• Zanskar river (tributary of Indus river) freezes during winters, creating a blanket of ice (‘Burf ki Chadar’ in Hindi) over the rumbling river.

• Traditionally during the winters when the road from the villages of Zanskar to the rest of Ladakh is closed by snow on the high passes, the only feasible route to Leh is by walking along the frozen river Zanskar.

• Trekking on ice, walking through knee-deep snow, sleeping in caves all while in the bitter cold where the temperature never seems to reach positive numbers; is sure to make you feel like a survivalist. This trek is for the brave and bold with just but one drawback. After this trek, you will have a taste for real adventure, and other ordinary treks will never feel the same again.

Snow-covered landscape: It is indeed from January to the end of February when Chadar treks are best. At this time, the river glazes into a fascinating ice sheet, ideal for the adventurous walk. The Chadar Tour usually takes 9-10 days, covering approximately 16-18 kilometers a day, now; why is it known as Chadar Trek? Chadarmeans a “white sheet,” and that’s where the name came from as The Chadar Trek is almost like an expedition to the Northern Pole at 11,150 feet with everything covered in snow resembles the very name the White sheet.

Frozen River: The Chadar Trek that is also known as The Frozen River or Zanskar Gorge, is perhaps the most thrilling trek in the Himalayas. Nobody ever gets bored in this as there is a constant rush of adrenaline as something or the other new pops up and fills your wanderlust. You can get a unique experience to walk on the Frozen Zanskar with a good taste of picturesque beauty. One of the nicest moments in your life will be the walk along a frozen river, with mountains covered by snow on either side.

Frozen waterfall:  You will be witnessing the magnificent beauty of Frozen waterfall here in this trek in order to calm your soul, and You will see several other scenic beauties, but the frozen waterfall is at the top of that list.

Stargazing: This Trek is to Leh-Ladakh’s most beautiful places. You can spend a night here right under the stars and relax in a tent or enjoy a meal next to a fire and walk all day in the snow admiring the beauty this place offers and creating memories that you will cherish your whole life.

Monasteries:There are some great places that you can visit during the trek, like Thikse Gompa or Thikse Monastery, the Hall of Fame Museum, and Shey Monastery. And once you do, you will fall in love with Leh all over again.

Shanti Stupa: The Shanti Stupa, on the hilltop of Chanspa, Leh district, Ladakh, is another great location this trek covers. Watching a sunset out of the holy Shanti Stupa is a truly unforgotten experience.  Buddhist White-domed stupa is also known as Shanti Stupa, was constructed by Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura in 1991.

Tibb Cave: Because of its natural beauty and novelty, Chadar Trek is the experience of a lifetime. From Leh City, the explorers travel and cover places like Chilling, Tsomo Paladar, Tibb Cave, Nerak, and Gyalpo. You must go to Dib Tibb for exciting caves to explore

• You must have trekked over a lush green slopes, rocky mountains, deep snow,across a flowing river but how many times have you walked over a ‘frozen river’….!!!???

• Get a hang of the survival instinct the locals of this region has been experiencing since ages during winters with bone chilling temperature as low as -30ᵒC at nights, essential items being transported on sledges & taking refuge in caves during the journey.

• Experience the warm hospitality of the Zanskari culture as you meet the locals during the trek.

• The magnificent Nerak waterfall, frozen completely from top to bottom.

• If these are not the reasons enough to pull you to Zanskar valley, then the fact that this trek might not be accesible officially (to restore natural ecosystem & the route becoming obsolete after completion of Zanskar Highway) should make you pack your backpacks.

Confirmation policy

• Email on booking@meandmountain.com or WhatsApp on +91-9051055011 the following details: Name of the participant(s), Name of the event, Date of the event, Email address (Note: This is not the Enrolment form) and proceed with the online payment either via the payment link shared via WhatsApp or the payment section on the website.
• Mode of payment: only online
• The participants will receive the Confirmation email and Ticket via email within 48 hours.
• Ater the confirmation, you will need to send the dully filled, signed and scanned forms (Enrolment, Medical & Self-declaration) to booking@meandmountain.com, before commencement of the expedition.
• The forms can be downloaded from the links below or ‘FORMS’ section in the home page.
• It is mandatory for all the participants to submit all 3 forms before the expedition, in absence of which Me and Mountain shall have a full right to deny the entry of that participant to the particular expedition.

Cancellation policy

• Cancellation done any time after the booking of the event shall be adjusted in any event later with ‘Me And Mountain Global Adventures Pvt Ltd’ only via Adjustment voucher. The Adjustment voucher will be valid for 1 year from the date of the event cancelled.
• Refer the section on Cancellation/Refund Policy for the detail cancellation policy.

Discontinuation policy

• In an event of a participant deciding on discontinuing the event mid-way due to any circumstance other than medical condition requiring emergency evacuation, he/she will require to do so by signing the ‘Discontinuation form’ after which he/she is set to go on own. In such situation the participant will neither be eligible for the Refund or the Adjustment voucher.