Chadar Frozen River Trek Package 8 Nights 9 Days
Duration
8 Nights 9 Days
Max People
15
Min Age
12+
Pickup
As per Itinerary or Client
You walk on a frozen river. The Zanskar freezes over each January and February and the sheet of ice, the chadar, becomes the only route between the Zanskar valley and Leh.
This Chadar trek is the most demanding trip we sell. Temperatures drop to minus 25 at night and the ice changes daily. It is not for a first-time trekker under any circumstances.
What makes this Chadar trek different
- Two full acclimatisation days at Leh — mandatory, and non-negotiable.
- Medical check and permits handled — the Ladakh administration requires both.
- Gumboots and crampons provided — where conditions require them.
- Experienced Zanskari guides — who read the ice daily – this cannot be done from a map.
- Complete honesty about risk — the route can be shortened or abandoned entirely, and we say so upfront.
Who this trip suits
Experienced winter trekkers with prior high-altitude experience only. A medical fitness certificate is required and a compulsory local medical check at Leh can refuse clearance on site with no refund.
A note on seasons
Mid-January to mid-February only. That is the entire season – outside it the river is not frozen hard enough to walk on.
Included/Excluded
- Leh airport transfers
- 3 nights hotel at Leh, 5 nights in tents
- All meals from Day 1 dinner
- Wildlife department permits and mandatory registration
- Gumboots and crampons where required
- Certified trek leader, local guides and support staff
- Camping equipment - tents, season-rated sleeping bags and mats
- Forest permits and camping charges
- Basic first aid kit and oxygen cylinder carried by the team
- Travel to and from the base city
- Personal trekking gear and clothing
- Backpack offloading charge
- Meals during road transfers
- Personal expenses and travel insurance
- Costs arising from evacuation or early exit
- 5% GST
Tour Plan
Flying In: Land at Leh. Do nothing at all today - acclimatisation is mandatory and not a suggestion.
Why It Matters: Leh sits at 11,500 ft and you have arrived from sea level in an hour. Rest, hydrate, and avoid alcohol entirely.
- Top Places to Cover: Leh town, the hotel.
- Things to Know: No walking, no sightseeing, no exceptions on day one. Altitude sickness at Leh ends trips before they start.
Meals: Dinner | Overnight: Leh hotel
The Medical: A compulsory medical check required by the Ladakh administration, along with permit registration.
Afternoon: A short easy walk around town - Leh market or Shanti Stupa - to help acclimatisation.
- Top Places to Cover: Leh market, Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace.
- Things to Know: Medical clearance can be refused on site. Where it is, the trek cannot proceed and no refund is due - this is administration policy, not ours.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: Leh hotel
To Chilling: Drive to the road head at Chilling and descend to the river.
On the Chadar: The first walking on ice. The sheet is not uniform - it varies from clear glass to slush, and your guides read it constantly.
- Top Places to Cover: Chilling, the Zanskar gorge, Shingra Koma.
- Importance of Each Place: The chadar was for centuries the only winter link between Zanskar and Leh, used by traders carrying butter and yak wool.
- Things to Know: Walk where your guide walks, in single file. The ice thickness changes hour by hour.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Camp
The Walk: About 15 km on the chadar, walking the ice sheet where it holds and the bank where it does not.
Tibb Cave: A rock overhang used as shelter by generations of Zanskari traders, and the campsite for tonight.
- Top Places to Cover: Tibb Cave, the Zanskar gorge walls, frozen side streams.
- Things to Know: Distances mean little here - progress depends entirely on ice condition. Some days are faster than planned, some far slower.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Tibb Cave camp
The Walk: On to Nerak, the turning point of the trek.
The Waterfall: A frozen waterfall hangs beside the river here, and it is the image most associated with the Chadar.
- Top Places to Cover: Nerak village, the frozen waterfall, Nerak bridge.
- Importance of Each Place: Nerak village sits high above the gorge and is inhabited year-round, reached in winter only by this route.
- Things to Know: This is the coldest camp of the trek, regularly below minus 25 at night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Nerak camp
The Return: Back down the river. The ice has changed since you came up - the way back is never the way you came.
- Top Places to Cover: The Zanskar gorge, Tibb Cave.
- Things to Know: Route decisions are made daily by the guides based on ice condition, not by the itinerary.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Tibb camp
The Walk: Continue back down the frozen river toward the road head.
- Top Places to Cover: Shingra Koma, the gorge.
- Things to Know: Keep camera batteries inside your jacket; they fail fast at these temperatures.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Camp
Walk Out: To Chilling and drive back to Leh. Hot water and a bed.
- Top Places to Cover: Chilling, Leh.
- Things to Know: A rest day at Leh before flying is strongly advised rather than optional.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: Leh hotel
Last Morning: Transfer to Leh airport for your flight.
- Top Places to Cover: Leh airport.
- Things to Know: Leh flights are frequently cancelled for weather in winter. Do not book a same-day onward international connection.
Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Journey ends
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days is the Chadar Frozen River Trek Package 8 Nights 9 Days trip?
It is a 8N | 9D trip with a 9-day itinerary. The full day-by-day plan is in the Itinerary above, and we can shorten or extend it to fit your dates.
What is included in this package?
This package includes Leh airport transfers, 3 nights hotel at Leh, 5 nights in tents, All meals from Day 1 dinner, Wildlife department permits and mandatory registration, and more — see the full Inclusions list above. Flights and visas are quoted separately unless stated.
How much does the Chadar Frozen River Trek Package 8 Nights 9 Days package cost?
Prices start from ₹32,900 per person on twin-sharing. Tap Get Quote for a customised price based on your travel dates, group size and hotel category.
Can I customise Chadar Frozen River Trek Package 8 Nights 9 Days or travel on my own dates?
Yes — share your preferred dates, group size and hotel preference and our team will tailor this itinerary and send you a revised quote.
How do I book, and is it safe?
Send an enquiry or tap Get Quote and our specialist will call you back with availability, the detailed itinerary on WhatsApp and a secure payment link. A small booking amount confirms your seat.
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