Chadar Ice Trek
Popularly known as the 'Frozen River Trek' because of frozen river of Zanskar in Ladakh is an ultimate experience for adventure lovers.The traditional name of the trek is "Chadar Ice Trek" the frozen sheet, which was only way in and out for Zanskaris of Ladakh in winter when all other ways are closed due to heavy snow fall at high passes.
Therefore, it had been trade route for centuries for Zanskari people. Now the route in Ladakh is also famous as winter trekking among adventure lovers.
Itinerary (Chadar Ice Trek / Frozen River Trek):
Grade: Tough
Time: Mid-January to End-February
Duration: 19 days
Average Walking time: 5-6 hours per day
Day 1 (New Delhi, India):
Arrive Delhi. Meet Himalayan Trekker representative. Transfer to Hotel. Visit Agra, The Taj Mahal. Evening back to Delhi.
Day 2 (Leh, Ladakh):
On second day of Chadar Ice Trek, we take a morning flight to Leh.
Day 3 (Leh, Ladakh):
Tour of Leh city, including the seventeenth-century palace and Gompa.
Day 4 (Stok Palace, Ladakh):
On fourth day, we tour Shey and Tikse gompas, and Stok Palace.
Day 5 (Bagso Fort, Ladakh):
Next destination is Bagso Fort. We visit Basgo fort and Alchi gompa, a remarkably well preserved 11th century gompa and one of the artistic treasures of the Himalayas.
Day 6 (Chiling):
Drive to village of Chiling, from where we begin the trek. A short ways from Chiling we step onto the frozen Zanskar river for the first time. Trek to Tilat. Overnight in cave.
Day 7 (Bakhula):
Walking upstream is a unique experience on Chadar Ice Trek. We walk upstream on the ice to Bakhula. Overnight in cave.
Day 8 (Nyaraki):
On the 8th day, we walk through tremendous canyons, inaccessible in any other season, to Nyarak. Overnight in cave.
Day 9 (Sarakdo):
Trek continues on the frozen river to Sarakdo. Overnight in cave.
Day 10 (Hanuma):
Walk to Hanuma, the first village and most likely the first people we have seen since leaving Chiling. Overnight in village house.
Day 11 (Pishu):
Hanuma to Pishu, another small village. Overnight in village house.
Day 12 (Karsha):
Pishu to Karsha, site of the largest monastery in Zanskar. Overnight in village house.
Day 13 (Padum):
Karsha to Padum, the regional capital of Zanskar. Losar (Tibetan New Year's) celebration.
Day 14 (Padum):
Fourteenth day of trek is a rest day. We rest and explore Padum and the surrounding valley.
Day 15 (Zangla):
Visit to local villages and gompas, including the kingdom of Zangla.
Day 16 (Manali):
The 16th day of Frozen River / Chadar Ice Trek is a helicopter flight over the main Himalaya range to Manali. A spectacular one-hour ride flying over the main Himalaya range.
Day 17 (Manali):
Tour of Manali. Stay overnight at Hotel.
Day 18 (Kullu):
Flight from Kullu to Delhi.
Day 19 (New Delhi, India):
Depart New Delhi. Transfer to airport for flight to onwards journey. Frozen River / Chadar Ice Trek concludes.
