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 temperature in January and February is -5°C to 0°C by day and -15°C to -30°C at night, according to the trek page. Nerak at 3,400 m is the coldest camp, with nights down to -30°C. You spend 4 nights in tents beside the frozen Zanskar and 4 in a heated hotel in Leh.
How cold is the Chadar trek by day and by night?
The Chadar trek page gives one range for the whole season: day temperatures of -5°C to 0°C and night temperatures of -15°C to -30°C. So even the warmest part of a walking day stays at or below freezing, and the nights fall far below it.
The cold has little to do with height. The highest point is Nerak at 3,400 m (11,155 ft), lower than Leh at 3,500 m (11,483 ft), and the trail gains little height on the ice. The trek page grades the Chadar Difficult because of the conditions rather than the climbing, and says the difficulty "comes from the cold, with night temperatures as low as -30°C, and from the ice itself."
The gorge adds to it. On the Tibb Cave stretch the page says the gorge is so deep that direct sunlight reaches the river only between about 9 and 10 AM, and the walk into Tibb Cave on Day 5 takes 6 to 7 hours.
Which camp on the Chadar is the coldest?
The table below follows the itinerary on the trek page. The page gives a specific night figure only for Nerak; for the other camps it gives the trek-wide night range, so that is what the table shows.
| Night | Where you sleep | Altitude | What the trek page says about the cold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 3 | Hotel in Leh | 3,500 m | Centrally heated hotel; acclimatisation and medical check before the ice |
| Day 4 | Tents at Tsomo Paldar | 3,200 m | Nights on the Chadar range from -15°C to -30°C; change into warm, dry layers as soon as you stop |
| Day 5 | Tents at Tibb Cave | 3,350 m | Sunlight reaches the river only between about 9 and 10 AM on this stretch |
| Day 6 | Tents at Nerak | 3,400 m | The coldest campsite of the trek; nights can drop to -30°C |
| Day 7 | Tents at Tibb Cave | 3,350 m | Final night in tents |
| Day 8 | Hotel in Leh | 3,500 m | Centrally heated, with running hot water |
The walk on the ice starts at Shingra Koma, 3,150 m, a 75 km drive (3 to 4 hours) from Leh. For the full route with km and hours for each stage, see Chadar trek distance and height.
Is the Chadar colder in January or in February?
The trek page gives the same figures for both months: -5°C to 0°C by day and -15°C to -30°C at night. Its Season line reads "January to February, with the best window from mid-January to mid-February."
What the page describes differently is the feel of each month. January "opens in the deepest cold of the year", and temperatures as low as -30°C freeze the Zanskar into the thick sheet of ice that gives the trek its name; from mid-January the river is completely frozen. In February, the page says the frozen river holds through to the middle of the month and "nights in camp remain deeply cold." Its advice is to start between mid-January and mid-February: January for the trek in its deepest winter form, or the first half of February if your leave suits it better. See the trek page for live batch dates; every batch runs 9 days.
What does the temperature do to the ice?
The trek page says the ice "changes from day to day with the temperature": firm in places, fragile, slushy or wet in others. It warns that the ice may not be stable at all times, and that on the way back the ice you crossed the day before may have cracked or vanished while new layers form overnight. The Day 8 description says sections that were firm may now be fragile.
That is why gumboots are mandatory. Day 4 is a short walk of 3 km in 2 hours, and the page says its real purpose is to teach you to tell fragile ice from firm. On every day after that you keep reading the surface and stay on the line your guide picks. Trekkaro gives free microspikes and gaiters on the Chadar, with no deposit and no charge; the gumboots are yours to bring.
What should you wear for nights down to -30°C?
The temperature FAQ on the trek page lists the clothing it expects for this cold:
- 5 warm layers: thermals, 2 fleece or woollen layers and a heavy padded or down jacket
- a balaclava, a woollen cap, and fleece plus waterproof gloves
- a windproof, waterproof outer layer for wind and snow
You bring your own gumboots, trekking shoes, jacket and poles on this trek. The full Free Trekking Gear set offered on some other Trekkaro treks does not apply to the Chadar.
The itinerary adds habits that matter as much as the kit. On the long 6 to 7 hour days, take short pauses rather than long stops in the cold. At camp, change out of damp socks straight away and keep your gloves dry for the evening. At Nerak the page calls proper layering, insulated gloves, a woollen cap and thermals "essential tonight".
How do you stay warm at night in a tent beside the frozen river?
You spend 4 nights in tents beside the river, Days 4 to 7: Tsomo Paldar, Tibb Cave twice, and Nerak. Tents are shared by 3, with men and women in separate tents. Trekkaro provides tents and sub-zero sleeping bags for the camping nights.
For the Nerak night, the trek page's advice is simple: eat a full meal, change into dry layers and get into your sub-zero sleeping bag early. Going to bed in dry clothes rather than the damp layers you walked in is the point the itinerary repeats from Day 4 onwards.
What happens to water and washing in this cold?
Water freezes quickly on the Chadar, so the trek page asks you to carry two 1 L bottles, at least one of them insulated. The air is very dry, so keep drinking through the day and add ORS sachets to stay hydrated in the cold.
Hot water depends on where you are. In Leh the hotel rooms have attached washrooms, with hot water in buckets on Days 1 to 3 and running hot water on Day 8. From Day 4 to Day 7 you camp on the river, so pack biodegradable toiletries, hand sanitiser and bags to carry your waste back. The page asks you not to bring wet wipes, as they are not biodegradable.
Why do the first three days in Leh matter for the cold?
Days 1 to 3 are spent in Leh at 3,500 m. The trek page says each trekker must spend at least two days in Leh before starting, to reduce the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness before heading onto the ice "where nights fall far below freezing." The Ladakh Tourism advisory asks visitors to allow at least 48 hours for acclimatisation on arrival in Leh, with complete rest on arrival. Day 3 is the medical check in Leh, and its result decides whether you are fit to walk on the Chadar. Each trekker also brings a medical certificate signed by a doctor; the form is in My Bookings.
The trek page also lists frostbite and hypothermia as real risks on this trek: watch for numbness, skin discolouration and shivering, in yourself and in the people around you. Our guide to hypothermia on winter treks covers the warning signs and first steps in more detail.
Where can you check the weather before you fly to Leh?
This page gives the trek page's season figures, not a live forecast. Before you fly, check the latest weather on the India Meteorological Department website. The Ladakh Tourism advisory also says not to ignore weather advisories when planning passes or treks. On the trail, the trek page notes that unpredictable weather adds to the challenge, and it lists a windproof, waterproof outer layer to protect you in wind and snow.
See Chadar Trek dates and book | Chadar trek cost | Winter trek packing list
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Chadar so cold when it is lower than Leh?
The trail stays between 3,150 m and 3,400 m, below Leh's 3,500 m, but you walk on a frozen river and camp beside it in the deep Zanskar gorge in midwinter. On the Tibb Cave stretch direct sunlight reaches the river only for about an hour each morning. Nights on the ice fall to between -15°C and -30°C.
Does it snow on the Chadar trek?
Snowfall is possible: the trek page's snow and ice advice asks each trekker to carry a windproof, waterproof outer layer for wind and snow. It also says unpredictable weather adds to the challenge of the trek. Pack so that your warm layers stay dry under that outer shell.
Can a first-time trekker handle the cold on the Chadar?
The trek page says the Chadar is not a first trek. You should have trekking experience on challenging terrain and be able to handle severe cold for several days and nights. It recommends at least 8 weeks of preparation before departure.
Is the hotel in Leh heated?
Yes, you stay in a centrally heated hotel in Leh on Days 1, 2, 3 and 8. Rooms are twin sharing, triple in rare cases, with attached washrooms. It is the warm base on either side of the 4 nights in tents.
Can I do the Chadar trek in December or March?
No, the trek page gives the Chadar season as January to February only. The river is completely frozen from mid-January, and in February the frozen river holds through to the middle of the month, which is why the best window is mid-January to mid-February.
