Ladakh, India
Chadar Trek
The frozen Zanskar river
4.8(54 sample reviews)TrekChallengingWinter
- Duration
- 9D / 8N
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Group size
- 10–14 trekkers
- Best season
- Jan – Feb
- Pickup / drop
- Leh → Leh
- Max altitude
- 3,400 m
Overview
A winter expedition on the Zanskar river's ice sheet. Cold, remote and unforgettable — recommended only for fit trekkers with prior experience.
- Walk on the frozen Zanskar river
- Sleep in caves and tents at -20°C
- Nerak frozen waterfall
- Expert guides and medical support
Route: Leh → Chilling → Tilat Sumdo → Nerak → Leh
Day-by-day itinerary
Day1Arrive in LehAcclimatise
Rest and medical check.
- Acclimatise
- Meals
- Dinner
- Stay
- Hotel in Leh
- Altitude
- 3,500 m
Day2Leh acclimatisationLocal walks
Another day to acclimatise and test gear.
- Local walks
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Stay
- Hotel in Leh
- Altitude
- 3,500 m
Day3Leh to Chilling to Tilat SumdoOn the ice
Drive to Chilling and begin walking on the frozen river.
- On the ice
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Stay
- Camp
- Altitude
- 3,150 m
Day4Tilat Sumdo to GyalpoFrozen river day
Six to seven hours of walking on the Chadar.
- Frozen river day
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Stay
- Camp
- Altitude
- 3,200 m
Day5Gyalpo to Dibb CaveDeep in the gorge
A longer day through narrow canyon sections.
- Deep in the gorge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Stay
- Cave camp
- Altitude
- 3,250 m
Day6Dibb Cave to NerakThe frozen waterfall
Reach Nerak village and the iconic frozen waterfall.
- The frozen waterfall
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Stay
- Camp
- Altitude
- 3,390 m
Day7Nerak to TibbReturn begins
Retrace your steps down the river.
- Return begins
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Stay
- Cave camp
- Altitude
- 3,250 m
Day8Tibb to Chilling to LehFinal push
Complete the trek and drive to Leh.
- Final push
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Stay
- Hotel in Leh
- Altitude
- 3,500 m
Day9DepartureLeh
Transfer to the airport.
- Leh
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Stay
- —
What’s included
- Stays8 nights in guesthouses and trek camps
- MealsAll meals on the trek, breakfast at base
- Base-camp transfersPick-up and drop at the base point
- Certified trek leaderTrek leader, guides and support staff
- PermitsForest, camping and trek permits
- Safety kitOxygen cylinder, first aid and emergency evacuation plan
Not included
- Travel to and from the base point
- Porter / mule charges for personal luggage
- Personal expenses and tips
- Travel insurance
- 5% GST
- Anything not mentioned under inclusions
What to pack
- Trekking shoes (broken in) and gaiters
- Three warm layers and a rain shell
- Trekking poles
- Headlamp with spare batteries
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm
- 2 L hydration setup
- Personal medication
- ID proof
Good to know
- Stay
- 8 nights in handpicked stays on twin or triple sharing.
- Transport
- Private vehicle for all transfers and sightseeing, with an experienced local driver.
- Meeting point
- Leh — your trip captain holds a BYKO board. Exact timings are shared a week before departure.
- Age group
- 18–45 years
- Itinerary order can change due to weather, road or permit conditions.
- Prices, availability and seat counts shown are demonstration values.
Cancellation: Free reschedule up to 30 days before departure; staged cancellation charges after that. (Placeholder terms — see the cancellation policy page.) Full policy
Upcoming departures
Next dates: 31 Jan 2027 · 07 Feb 2027 · 14 Feb 2027 · 21 Feb 2027. Pick one in the booking card.
Frequently asked questions
Is this trip suitable for first-time travellers?
Difficulty is rated "Challenging". Our trip captain briefs the group every morning and adjusts the pace so everyone is comfortable.
What is the group size?
We keep groups small — 10–14 trekkers. That means faster check-ins, better conversations and more flexibility on the road.
Can I customise this itinerary?
Yes. For private groups, couples or families we can tailor dates, stays and activities. Send an enquiry from the Custom Trips page or call us.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellation terms depend on how close to departure you cancel. See the cancellation policy page for the (placeholder) schedule used in this demo.
Traveller reviews
Sample reviews with fictional names — replaced by real reviews once the reviews API is connected.
Ananya S.
Sep 2025
“The kind of trip where the group starts as strangers and ends as a group chat you can't leave.”
Kabir M.
Jul 2025
“I came for the destination. I stayed for the people, the food and one very chaotic ride. The captain was a legend.”
Meera K.
Aug 2025
“Every detail felt considered, but nothing felt over-planned. Exactly how travel should be.”
From ₹34,999 / person
Choose a departure
Travellers
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Estimated total₹69,998
Sample pricing — final price is confirmed by our team.
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