Chadar Trek Zanskar River

The second day is set aside for relaxation and altitude acclimation. This is crucial to do to let your body adjust to its new surroundings and lower your risk of developing unfavourable health issues. You may wander the city market, discover the hues and cultures of this high-mountain city, and travel to some surrounding locations. A little exploration of the city might help with acclimation. Use this time to look through your list and make any last-minute purchases for items you might need for the hike. The greatest market for hiking necessities is in Leh.
While the body adjusts, we use this time to gather with the group for a debriefing session. Here, we get to know one another better and discuss the events of the coming days, including the schedule, what to expect, general dos and don’ts in the mountains, how to preserve the environment’s sanctity, and other important topics.

Day 3 is also set up for getting used to Leh’s chilly winters. Obtaining a NOC from ALTOA and a permission from the Wildlife Department to trek on Chadar need a medical examination, which is required and must be done at the Tourist Information Center. This is the only other item on the schedule.

Distance: 70 Kms drive to Bakula Duration: 2-3 hrs trek to Shingra Koma
Our first genuine day on Chadar, the first day we journey through this snow paradise will be today. But not until we go by car to Bakula, where the hike begins. Early in the morning, we leave to travel down the lovely Indus River and through the Nimmu point where the Indus and Zanskar rivers converge. As the car travels around several tight hairpin corners on this short 70 km trip, which should take close to 3 hours to complete, it provides some of the most breathtaking sights. Zanskar, the frozen wonder, is waiting in all its splendour as we draw nearer to Bakula.

The trip leaders will offer you some brief pointers on how to handle yourself on this sheet of crystalline ice once you are out of our truck and on the Chadar. No one gets it right straight away, so don’t worry if it takes you a while to get the feel of it. You will soon find yourself advising others, so go out and about as much as you can with the Penguin Walk. The fact that the whole Chadar trip is on a level surface is its finest feature. Since you don’t gain any height during the journey, there are no hard ascents or descents and very little possibility of getting AMS.

If you feel at ease right now, you are already acclimatised, and you should be able to complete the full climb without experiencing any serious problems.

The Chadar adapts to the weather by changing its shapes. You may have to walk through slush or avoid that entire stretch and cross the river on rocks. It may be firm and glasslike in some places, have a covering of powder snow providing you with a greater grip, or be thin ice in certain places. The porters’ sledge path is the safest route on Chadar, therefore always walk as a team and adhere to it. Depending on our speed, it should take us 4 hours to get to the next campground, where we will spend our first-night camping on Chadar.

Distance: 14 Km, Duration: 6-7 hours
The most difficult thing is stepping outside of your warm tent and sleeping bag into the very cold. But because Zanskar residents are famed for their friendliness, you will always find a hot cup of tea and a meal waiting for you when you wake up. This makes getting up in subzero temperatures just a little bit easier. The 14 lengthy kilometres to our next campground make it a tough day. This should take anything from 6-7 hours to complete because it’s not the easiest terrain to walk on. Remember to fill up your thermos with warm water because normal water bottles tend to freeze up in the Chadar cold. In this cleft in the earth, sunlight is also in short supply.

The walking track is bordered on all sides by enormous mountains, so you will only sometimes glimpse the sun for an hour or two. As you go through this vast valley with nothing but the freshest air and enormous cliffs on either side, take in the vistas. On a bright, sunny day, the Zanskar River’s vivid deep blue tint mirrors the colour of the sky. Along the journey, there are several ice waterfalls on the trail. To avoid travelling hungry, we pause beside the river to prepare our lunch. The final 200M to Tibb are breathtaking. Arrive at the campground by late afternoon, if possible.

Distance: 12 km, Duration: 5-6 hours
The mother of all waterfalls, Nerak Waterfall, is one of the Chadar Trek’s most notable attractions, and it is introduced to us towards the conclusion of today. We start early since we know it will be a long day and we want to get to the waterfall by late afternoon so we can admire it all evening. The only way to stay warm is to keep moving as the sun sets early in the Zanskar Valley. In the centre of the frozen river, there are several places where the ice has shattered, creating geometrical sculptures of all different sizes that are interesting to observe. Having lunch in a comfortable cave in the middle of the day is also unusual today.

The enormous cave may easily accommodate 12–15 people. As soon as we get to the campsite, we fill our tummies with some goodies and proceed to the enormous Nerak waterfall. We should get there in approximately 30 minutes. We might even spot a few domestic Yaks grazing on the higher terrain along the route. A bridge that crosses the river right near the waterfalls leads up to the Nerak settlement. Observing the old wooden bridge underneath the new concrete and steel bridge is intriguing. Before returning to the campground for dinner, we spend some time at the Nerak waterfall.

Distance: 12 km, Duration: 6-7 hours
After that thrilling conclusion, which is the Nerak waterfall, we begin our return trip. We return to the Tibb campground today, but nothing stays the same on Chadar. If you believe you know the way home and can foresee the difficulties of the day, you are in for a shock. Even though the track is the same, it is different because the frozen Zanskar river continuously changes shape in response to temperature changes. As you walk across various surfaces, pay special attention to how the noises change; it’s intriguing.

Local porters may be seen along the route donning the customary woollen robes known as “Gonchas,” as well as their customary caps and colourful neckpieces. It’s interesting to watch the natives navigate the frozen river since they appear to be walking like the wind and are completely at ease with the ice, and uneven surface. The Ladakhi word for hello or welcome, “Julley,” is used to express their greeting. A few locals may also be singing traditional Ladakhi songs as they drag their sledges and take in the scenery. While the locals zip by us with such ease, we penguin walk the short distance to Tibb.

Distance: 12-13 km trek, Duration: 7-8 hours
We return to the beginning of the walk on the last day, having completed a full circuit. We should travel to Bakula in 7-8 hours. From there, the trip back to Leh should take around three hours. We book a hotel room for the night.

The journey stops here. The article below may provide you with some ideas for locations to visit if you intend to stay in Ladakh for a few more days to discover its beauty. Must-see locations in Leh, and Ladakh. The weather and many other factors are unpredictable at high altitudes, as we already said. We advise you to provide extra time between the completion of the walk and your return travel plans.