This guide is about the Chadar Trek — dates, price, day-by-day itinerary and booking are on the trek page.
Quick answer: The Chadar trek covers about 60 km on foot over five days on the frozen Zanskar river: about 30 km from Shingra Koma (3,150 m) to Nerak and about 30 km back. The highest camp, Nerak, is at 3,400 m (about 11,155 ft), which is lower than Leh at 3,500 m. Shingra Koma is a 75 km drive from Leh.
This guide is for trekkers who want to know how far they walk on the Chadar, how high the route goes and how many hours they spend on the ice each day. The numbers come from the short itinerary on our Chadar trek page. Totals and one-way splits are our own sums of those day figures, and we mark them as such.
How many km is the Chadar trek?
About 60 km on foot, all of it on Days 4 to 8 of the 9-day itinerary. Days 1 to 3 are spent in Leh with no trekking, and Day 9 is departure. The route is out and back: you walk from Shingra Koma to Nerak and return the same way.
| Leg | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Leh to Shingra Koma by road (Day 4) | 75 km | 3–4 hrs |
| Shingra Koma to Nerak on the ice (Days 4–6) | About 30 km (3 + 14 + 13, our sum) | 14–16 hrs over three days |
| Nerak to Shingra Koma on the ice (Days 7–8) | About 30 km (13 + 17, our sum) | 10–12 hrs over two days |
| Shingra Koma to Leh by road (Day 8) | 75 km | 3–4 hrs |
| Total on foot | About 60 km | 24–28 hrs walking (our sum) |
Chadar trek day by day: 9 days, 5 on the ice
| Day | Plan | Altitude | On foot | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Leh; mandatory briefing at 12:00 noon | 3,500 m / 11,483 ft | None | Leh |
| 2 | Acclimatisation day in Leh: Hall of Fame, Shey and Thiksey monasteries | 3,500 m | None | Leh |
| 3 | Medical check at the Government Medical Camp, insurance formalities | 3,500 m | None | Leh |
| 4 | Drive to Shingra Koma (3,150 m / 10,300 ft), walk to Tsomo Paldar | 3,200 m / 10,500 ft | 3 km, 2 hrs | Tents |
| 5 | Tsomo Paldar to Tibb Cave | 3,350 m / 10,991 ft | 14 km, 6–7 hrs | Tents |
| 6 | Tibb Cave to Nerak, the frozen Nerak waterfall | 3,400 m / 11,155 ft | 13 km, 6–7 hrs | Tents, coldest camp |
| 7 | Nerak back to Tibb Cave | 3,350 m | 13 km, 5–6 hrs | Tents |
| 8 | Tibb Cave to Shingra Koma, drive to Leh | 3,150 m, then Leh | 17 km, 5–6 hrs | Leh |
| 9 | Departure; check-out 10:00 AM | Leh | None | – |
Day 8 is the longest walk at 17 km, and the return days are shorter in hours than the outward days over the same ice.
Chadar trek height: why the river camps sit lower than Leh
The Chadar is not a climb. The highest point of the trek is Nerak at 3,400 m, about 11,155 ft. Over the 30 km from Shingra Koma to Nerak, the route rises only about 250 m (3,150 to 3,400 m, our calculation). Leh, where you spend the first three nights, is higher than any camp on the river.
| Place | Altitude | Feet |
|---|---|---|
| Leh | 3,500 m | 11,483 ft |
| Nerak | 3,400 m | 11,155 ft |
| Tibb Cave | 3,350 m | 10,991 ft |
| Tsomo Paldar | 3,200 m | 10,500 ft |
| Shingra Koma | 3,150 m | 10,300 ft |
The biggest daily rise on the river is 150 m, from Tsomo Paldar to Tibb Cave (our calculation). That is why the two days in Leh matter more than the height of the trail. You fly into 3,500 m, and the trek page requires each trekker to spend at least two days in Leh before starting. The Ladakh Tourism travel advisory says the same: allow at least 48 hours for acclimatisation on arrival in Leh, with complete rest and no sightseeing on the first day. The Day 3 medical check, which tests height, weight, blood pressure and oxygen level and can take 3–4 hours, decides whether you are medically fit to go on.
The trek page puts the difficulty plainly: it comes from the cold, with nights as low as -30°C, and from the ice itself, which may not be stable at all times. It gives the best window as mid-January to mid-February: from mid-January the river is completely frozen, and in February the frozen river holds through to the middle of the month.
The route: Shingra Koma, Tibb Cave and Nerak
Shingra Koma to Tsomo Paldar (3 km)
Shingra Koma sits at a U-bend of the Zanskar, 75 km from Leh. The first walk on the ice is short, and the trek page tells you to expect slips and slow progress at first. Gumboots are mandatory, and walking on ice in them takes practice.
Tsomo Paldar to Tibb Cave (14 km)
The challenge on this day is time on the ice: 6–7 hours of walking.
Tibb Cave to Nerak (13 km)
The day of the frozen Nerak waterfall, which the trek page describes as a towering cascade frozen into a single sculpture of ice. You stop midway for a hot lunch on the trail. The ice changes with the temperature, so keep reading the surface. Nerak is the coldest camp, at -30°C on the trek page's figures.
Nerak to Shingra Koma (13 km + 17 km)
You return over the same river, but not the same ice. The trek page warns that ice you crossed the day before may have cracked or vanished, and that new layers form overnight. On the way you may spot blue sheep, ibex and even the snow leopard.
Cold, cash and signal on the 60 km
Day temperatures on the trek page are -5°C to 0°C, and nights are -30°C to -15°C. The trek page calls proper layering, insulated gloves, a woollen cap and thermals essential.
- Leh is the last ATM. There are none on the trail and cards are not accepted, so carry small notes.
- Leh has the last stable network. Only postpaid SIMs work in Ladakh, and signal is scarce or unavailable after Leh.
- In winter, flying is the only way to reach Leh; the Manali–Leh and Srinagar–Leh highways close by October or November and stay shut until late April or early May. January–February is peak Chadar season, so book flights early.
- Bring ID proof, 2 photographs and your boarding pass for the Day 1 briefing.
- Fees in Leh (pre-medical check-up, rescue, wildlife and environment charges, ALTOA NOC and entry fees) come to about ₹6,000–₹8,000, paid on the spot.
- Insurance is mandatory under ALTOA guidelines and is not included in the fee.
What the Chadar trek costs
The fee is ₹25,500 + 5% GST, which is ₹26,775 per person, Leh hotel to Leh hotel. The trek page shows EMI from ₹1,311 a month. The drive from Leh to the trek start on Day 4 and back on Day 8 is included; airport pick-up and drop and your flights are not, and we help you book cabs in Leh, paid directly to the driver.
- The Chadar comes with free microspikes and gaiters, with no deposit and no charge. Bring your own trekking shoes, jacket and trekking poles.
- Backpack offloading is optional and costs ₹5,000 + 5% GST.
- The trek is graded Difficult. The minimum age is 14, trekkers under 18 come with a parent or guardian, every trekker brings a medical certificate signed by a doctor, and an ECG or TMT report is recommended for trekkers over 60.
- The trek page lists departures in January and February (see it for live batch dates), with at most 20 trekkers and one trek leader or guide for every 8. Booking closes at 5 PM (India time) the day before the batch starts.
- If you cancel 30 or more days before departure you get a 70% refund, at 15–29 days 50%, at 8–14 days no cash refund, and at 7 days or less or for a no-show nothing. At any point up to 8 days before departure you can take a 100% TrekCash voucher (valid 1 year), a free reschedule (once per booking) or a transfer to another trekker instead of the cash refund.
See Chadar trek dates and book | Chadar trek cost breakdown | Winter trek packing list
Frequently asked questions
How many km is the Chadar trek on the frozen river?
About 60 km on foot over five days: 3, 14, 13, 13 and 17 km. Half of it is the walk from Shingra Koma to Nerak, and half is the return.
What is the maximum altitude of the Chadar trek?
The highest camp is Nerak at 3,400 m, about 11,155 ft. Leh, where the trek starts and ends, is higher at 3,500 m (11,483 ft).
How far is Shingra Koma from Leh?
Shingra Koma is 75 km from Leh, a drive of 3–4 hours. The drive on Day 4 and the return drive on Day 8 are included in the trek fee.
How many days do you walk on the Chadar?
Five days, Day 4 to Day 8 of the 9-day itinerary. The first three days are for rest, acclimatisation and the medical check in Leh.
How many hours a day do you walk on the Chadar trek?
Between 2 hours on Day 4 and 6–7 hours on Days 5 and 6. Days 7 and 8 take 5–6 hours each, about 24–28 hours of walking in all.
