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 is on the frozen Zanskar river in Leh district, Ladakh. It starts and ends in Leh (3,500 m). On Day 4 you drive 75 km, 3 to 4 hours, to Shingra Koma (3,150 m), then walk on the river past Tsomo Paldar and Tibb Cave to Nerak (3,400 m), and return the same way.
Which river and which region is the Chadar trek in?
The Chadar Trek follows the Zanskar river in the Zanskar region of Leh district, Ladakh. Chadar means blanket: it is the name for the sheet of ice that covers the Zanskar river in winter, and the trek is a walk on that ice. In winter the frozen river is the only way in and out of the remote Zanskar villages, and Trekkaro runs the trek only in January and February.
The trek takes 9 days, is graded Difficult and covers about 60 km on foot. Three days are spent in Leh before you reach the river, five days are on the ice, and the last day is the departure from Leh.
How far is the starting point from Leh?
The walk starts at Shingra Koma, 75 km from Leh, a drive of 3 to 4 hours. On Day 4 the road takes you past Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Magnetic Hill and the confluence of the Indus and the Zanskar, and ends at Shingra Koma, which sits at a U-bend in the Zanskar river among dramatic cliffs. From there a 3 km walk of about 2 hours on the river brings you to the first camp, Tsomo Paldar, on the river below the cliffs.
On Day 8 you walk back to Shingra Koma and drive the same road to Leh. Transport between Leh and the trek start is included in the trek fee both ways.
Where are the camps along the river?
Every camp is in a tent by the frozen river, and you walk out and back on the same stretch of ice. Along the way are small caves where local porters traditionally rest.
| Place | Height | Where it is | When you are there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leh | 3,500 m (11,483 ft) | Start and end of the trek; hotel stay | Days 1 to 3 and Day 8 |
| Shingra Koma | 3,150 m | The road head, at a U-bend of the Zanskar, 75 km from Leh | Days 4 and 8, start and end of the walk |
| Tsomo Paldar | 3,200 m | On the river below the cliffs, 3 km from Shingra Koma | Night of Day 4 |
| Tibb Cave | 3,350 m | 14 km beyond Tsomo Paldar, with frozen waterfalls on the cliffs | Nights of Days 5 and 7 |
| Nerak | 3,400 m (11,155 ft) | 13 km beyond Tibb Cave, through deep gorges and between tall cliffs; the frozen Nerak waterfall | Night of Day 6 |
Nerak is the highest point of the trek and the first village of Zanskar on the route; a short visit to the village is possible if time permits. Even so, every camp on the river is lower than Leh. Our Chadar distance and height guide has the walking hours for each day, and the Nerak waterfall guide covers Day 6.
How do you get to Leh in winter?
In winter you can only reach Leh by air. The roads into Ladakh are closed by snow and there is no railway to Leh. Flights land at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (IXL), about 4 km from town. Flights and airport transfers are not part of the trek fee; Trekkaro helps you book a cab from the airport, paid directly to the driver.
Because you fly straight to 3,500 m, the trek keeps you in Leh for three days before the river. Day 1 is arrival, rest and a mandatory orientation briefing. Day 2 is an acclimatisation day with a guided visit to the Hall of Fame, Shey Monastery and Thiksey Monastery. Day 3 is the mandatory health check at the Government Medical Camp, followed by insurance formalities. The Ladakh Tourism travel advisory advises allowing at least 48 hours to acclimatise on arrival in Leh.
What should you sort out in Leh before you leave for the river?
Leh is the last place with ATMs and the last stable mobile network, and only postpaid SIMs work in Ladakh. Once you leave Leh the signal is scarce or unavailable, and cards are not accepted on the trail, so carry small notes.
Two things are done in Leh, and one is checked before you leave. The Ladakh fees, including the wildlife and environmental charges, the ALTOA NOC and entry fees, are paid in Leh directly to the authorities, at the rates they set. High-altitude risk insurance is mandatory under ALTOA guidelines and is completed on Day 3. And gumboots are mandatory on the ice, so make sure your own pair is in your bag; microspikes and gaiters come free from Trekkaro with no deposit.
When is the Zanskar frozen enough to walk?
Trekkaro runs the Chadar only in January and February, when the river is frozen. Days on the river are -5°C to 0°C, and nights -15°C to -30°C, with Nerak the coldest camp. The ice changes with the temperature and has slippery, slushy and fragile sections, so the trek leader decides where and when the group walks. Our Chadar safety guide explains what is in place on the ice.
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 on Days 1 to 3 and Day 8, tents with sub-zero sleeping bags on Days 4 to 7, pure vegetarian meals from Day 4 breakfast to Day 8 lunch, the Leh to Shingra Koma transport both ways and the guided Leh visit. A porter to carry your personal luggage is optional at ₹5,000 plus GST.
See Chadar Trek dates and book | Chadar trek packing list | Chadar trek cost
Frequently asked questions
Which river is the Chadar trek on?
The Chadar trek is on the Zanskar river in Ladakh. In January and February the river freezes, and the trek is a walk on that sheet of ice, which is what the word chadar, meaning blanket, refers to.
Which district is the Chadar trek in?
The Chadar trek is in Leh district, Ladakh, in the Zanskar region. It starts and ends in Leh town.
What is the starting point of the Chadar trek?
The trek starts in Leh, and the walk on the ice starts at Shingra Koma, at a U-bend of the Zanskar river. The first camp, Tsomo Paldar, is 3 km from there.
Is Nerak in Zanskar?
Yes. Nerak, the highest point of the trek at 3,400 m, is the first village of the Zanskar region on the route. A short visit to the village is possible if time permits.
How far is Leh airport from town?
Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (IXL) is about 4 km from Leh town. Airport transfers are not part of the trek fee, and Trekkaro helps you book a cab paid directly to the driver.
