Quick answer: Tibb Cave is a campsite at 3,350 m (10,991 ft) beside the frozen Zanskar river in Ladakh, on the Chadar trek. You reach it on Day 5, after 14 km and 6 to 7 hours on the ice from Tsomo Paldar, go on to Nerak on Day 6, and sleep at Tibb Cave again on Day 7.
Where is Tibb Cave, and how high is it?
Tibb Cave is the middle camp of the Chadar Trek, on the frozen Zanskar river in Leh district, between Tsomo Paldar and Nerak. Along the bank on this part of the river are small caves where local porters traditionally rest. On a Trekkaro batch you sleep in tents at the camp, not in a cave.
| Point on the river | Height | Distance and time | When you are there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shingra Koma, the road head | 3,150 m | 75 km from Leh, 3 to 4 hours by road | Days 4 and 8 |
| Tsomo Paldar | 3,200 m | 3 km from Shingra Koma, 2 hours | Night of Day 4 |
| Tibb Cave | 3,350 m (10,991 ft) | 14 km from Tsomo Paldar, 6 to 7 hours | Nights of Days 5 and 7 |
| Nerak | 3,400 m (11,155 ft) | 13 km from Tibb Cave, 6 to 7 hours | Night of Day 6 |
Nerak, at 3,400 m, is the highest point on the ice. Leh, at 3,500 m, where you spend the first three days, is higher than any point on the river, Tibb Cave included. Our guide to where the Chadar trek is covers the drive from Leh and the river as a whole.
What is the Day 5 walk to Tibb Cave like?
Day 5 is long but gentle. You cover 14 km on the frozen Zanskar in 6 to 7 hours, and the trail rises only gradually, from about 10,500 ft at Tsomo Paldar to 10,991 ft at Tibb Cave, about 150 m in all, with no steep climbs. What tires you is not the gradient but six to seven hours in gumboots on slippery surfaces.
The river on this stretch is green water against white ice. The cliffs carry frozen waterfalls, and one waterfall here does not freeze even in sub-zero cold; our Nerak waterfall guide covers it and the frozen fall at Nerak, which you reach on Day 6. On this stretch sunlight reaches the river for only about an hour in the mid-morning, so dress for shade.
What is the camp at Tibb Cave like?
You sleep in tents beside the frozen river, shared by three, with men and women in separate tents. The sleeping bags are sub-zero bags, and the mess tent gives hot water at every camp, so fill your bottles there. As soon as you reach camp, change out of damp socks.
Nights on the Chadar run from -15°C to -30°C. Tibb Cave is not the coldest camp; that is Nerak, with nights down to -30°C. Your SpO2 and pulse are checked twice a day at every campsite, and a falling reading is acted on early. An oxygen cylinder, a first-aid and medical kit and a stretcher travel with the group, and the team uses radios, because there is no reliable mobile signal on the river.
Why do you sleep at Tibb Cave twice?
Because the Chadar is walked out and back on the same river. On Day 6 you go on from Tibb Cave to Nerak, 13 km in 6 to 7 hours with about 50 m of climbing, and on Day 7 you turn back down the river, 13 km in 5 to 6 hours, to Tibb Cave for the last night in tents.
Do not expect the walk back to be a repeat of the walk up. The ice you crossed the day before may have cracked or vanished, and new layers form overnight. Treat any section that looks different with care, and follow your guide's line.
Day 8 starts early from Tibb Cave. At 17 km it is the longest day on the ice, and the ice shifts with every change in temperature, so sections that were firm may now be fragile. By evening you are back at the hotel in Leh. Our Chadar distance and height guide has the full day-by-day route.
What do you need on the ice to Tibb Cave?
Gumboots are mandatory on the ice, and you bring your own pair. Trekkaro gives free microspikes and gaiters, with no deposit and no charge, and the team carries ice axes and ropes for the ice. The trek is graded Difficult, the minimum age is 14, and trekkers under 18 come with a parent or guardian.
Before any of this you spend three days in Leh. The Ladakh Tourism travel advisory asks visitors to allow at least 48 hours to acclimatise on arrival in Leh, with complete rest on the first day. Trekkaro runs the Chadar only in January and February, when the river is frozen.
What does the Chadar trek cost?
The fee for the Chadar Trek is ₹25,500 per person plus 5% GST (₹26,775 with GST). EMI starts at ₹1,311 a month. It covers the Leh hotel nights, the tents and sub-zero sleeping bags on the river, pure vegetarian meals on the trek, the free microspikes and gaiters, and transport between Leh and the trek start both ways.
Flights to Leh, airport transfers, meals in Leh, the mandatory high-altitude insurance and the Ladakh fees are not included; the fees are paid in Leh at the rates the authorities set. Our Chadar cost guide sets out each charge. See the trek page for live batch dates.
See Chadar Trek dates and book | Is Chadar trek safe | Chadar trek temperature
Frequently asked questions
How high is Tibb Cave?
Tibb Cave is at 3,350 m (10,991 ft). It is 50 m lower than Nerak, the highest point on the ice, and 150 m lower than Leh.
How far is Tibb Cave from Tsomo Paldar?
Tibb Cave is 14 km from Tsomo Paldar, a walk of 6 to 7 hours on the frozen Zanskar. The trail rises only about 150 m, with no steep climbs.
How many nights do you spend at Tibb Cave?
Two: on Day 5 on the way in, and on Day 7 on the way back from Nerak. Both nights are in tents beside the river.
Do you sleep inside a cave at Tibb Cave?
No. You sleep in tents at the camp. The small caves along the bank are where local porters traditionally rest.
How far is Nerak from Tibb Cave?
Nerak is 13 km from Tibb Cave. The walk takes 6 to 7 hours on Day 6, and 5 to 6 hours on the way back on Day 7.
