Nomad Saikat
Adventurers and adventure enthusiasts are always on the lookout for some adventure activities and the search is never ending. Similarly the trekkers or trek lovers are also always searching for places adventurous enough for trekking. After all, it can give you a separate kind of adrenaline rush and you will be able to enjoy some serious adventures in your journeys. In case you are a trekker or someone who loves trekking you can opt for the Chadar Trek Ladakh. This is a dream trekking destination for many trekkers obviously because of the pristine beauty that one would get to witness there. The high altitude location, the difficulty of the trek and the excitement that comes with it is something that adventurers would remember for a very long time. It is one of the treks that require a lot of experience, preparation as well as fitness.
Chadar Trek Ladakh
The Chadar Trek would offer you a breathtaking view of the Himalayas along with the views of the green valley. Furthermore you would also get to enjoy the lifestyle of the local Ladakhi people living in the mountains. It will be one of a kind of an experience which is exciting, thrilling and captivating. For serious adventure enthusiasts a trek on this location would feel like a dream come true. A lot of trekkers dream of completing this difficult trek in Ladakh. If you are also someone like that then this is the article that you need to read. In this article I will mention everything that you need to know about the Chadar Trek. This will be a helpful article for you to know everything about this trek and also to plan a trek at this location as well.
How to reach
The Chadar trek base camp Ladakh is in Leh and the journey for this trek starts from there. There are however multiple ways to reach Leh that you can opt for.
By air
If you wish to travel by air then you can reach Leh from Delhi by flight. The airport is the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport and you will get direct flights from Delhi to reach there. There are some flights here to reach the airport from Delhi and it takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach the location of the airport from Delhi.
By road
You can also travel by road as well as there are proper motorable roads to reach Leh. You can take HRTC Buses from Delhi which is around 930 km away from Leh. There are buses from Delhi that go via Manali to reach Leh and in total it takes around 30 hours approximately depending on the road conditions. Furthermore you can even opt for a road trip as well and that would be even more adventurous and thrilling to reach Leh from Delhi via NH 3. It might take around 25 hours to reach the location from Delhi depending on road conditions as well as other factors like halts and breaks during the journey.
Overview of Chadar Trek
The Chadar Trek Ladakh is basically an interesting and thrilling trek in Ladakh that a lot of trekkers dream about. It is actually a Chadar frozen river trek on the Zanskar River and it is one of the most adventurous activities to enjoy there. The thrilling trek lets the adventurers go through the breathtaking landscapes with a view of icy cold snow capped mountains. It starts at the village of Chilling and from there the trek goes up and unfolds the many mysteries of the Himalayas. With challenges of harsh climate the Zanskar River Chadar Trek offers a totally unforgettable experience to the trekkers. The untouched and unique natural beauty of this location is one of the many things to leave you mesmerized.
The duration of this trek is for about 8 to 9 days and the Chadar trek price starts from around Rs. 20,000 that usually includes food and stay arrangements. Somehow the Chadar trek cost also depends on the tour operators and tour planners and they give some discounts and offers at times as well. Maximum altitude of the trek is 11,123 feet and it is also a difficult trek according to the difficulty level. One needs proper training, experience as well as preparation along with fitness to carry on with this trek here. The Chadar trek distance is about 62 km and starts from Leh.
What’s more?
This is a winter trek on the frozen Zanskar River and it requires a high level of physical fitness along with mental strength. It gets tough to walk over the icy cold surface for 8 to 9 days after all. The temperature further gets to -30 degrees at times and that makes it even more challenging. This is a winter trek and the Zanskar River actually starts freezing by the month of December. And it remains so till February. So the Chadar Trek best time is from early January to early February.
Read More : Adi Kailash and Om Parvat Yatra, Trek Route, Distance, Itinerary
Chadar Trek Ladakh Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival at Leh
On Day 1 you will have to reach Leh and stay at a hotel there. This is basically a free day or a leisure day so you can take your time either resting or exploring the surroundings. Try to visit the famous sightseeing spots here like Pangong Lake, Tso Moriri Lake etc. And then you need to stay here overnight and rest.
Day 2 : Acclimatization Day
This is the day of acclimatization and according to the rules of Ladakh government you need to stay at Leh for at least 2 days before starting for this trek. This day you will reach the campsite and later you can explore the surrounding area. Visit the locations like Hall of Fame, Kargil etc. And then you will have to stay at the campsite for the night.
Day 3 : Medical check up and other official checks
Now this is one of the most important steps before you start for the trek. You will have to go through all the medical check ups and the officials will also check the other important documents here like insurance and permits. And only after the officer’s clearance, you will be able to carry on with this trek here. After the procedure of the check up you can explore the surroundings of Leh. Visit the Leh Palace, Dikshit Gompa and other sightseeing locations nearby. Later you will have to stay at the camp overnight before starting the journey the next day.
Day 4 : Arrival at Tilat Do
On day 4 you will finally have to check out from the campsite and start your journey to reach Tilat Do. On your way however you will get to explore a variety of beautiful sceneries. The scenic beauty here includes the beautiful Indus River as well which is one of the major attractions here. You will also go through the small villages here that will enhance your experience throughout your journey. At night you will have to stay at the tent at Tilat Do.
Day 5 : Trekking from Tilat Do to Shingrak Yokma
On this day you will start your journey from Tilat Do and trek to reach Shingrak Yokma. You will have to enjoy the journey through the grassy fields here while watching the pristine view of the mountain. Also there are some rocky paths here as well and you will further cross some clear streams of water as well. Upon climbing uphill the sight of mountains will grow clearer. The distance of the trek on this day is about 12 km and it will take around 4-6 hours to reach the destination for the day. The elevation is about 13,000 feet. Finally, after reaching Shingrak Yokma you will have to stay at the tent overnight.
Day 6 : Trekking from Shingrak Yokma to Tsomo
On this day you will have to start trekking to reach Tsomo and the total distance is about 13 km. It would approximately take around 6-7 hours time and the elevation is 14,000 feet. As you will travel towards Tsomo you will get to witness the pristine glacial streams. Also the panoramic view of mountains, valleys and the snow clad peaks looks majestic. Along the way you can further spot some Tibetan monasteries here as well. They look absolutely gorgeous with colourful flags and the ambiance is also really serene. Finally you will reach the campsite at Tsomo and then stay there overnight.
Day 7 : Downhill Trek from Tsomo to Singrak Yokma
This is the day for the trek down and while descending you will get to witness a beautiful view of the location. You can take breaks in between and admire the beauty of the spots. Distance of the trekking this day is about 7 km and it will take around 3 to 4 hours to reach the campsite. Then after reaching the campsite finally you will have to stay there overnight.
Day 8 : Downhill Trek to Tilat Do
On this day you will have to trek down to reach Tilat Do and the distance is about 9 km. It would take around 4 to 5 hours to trek down to Tilat Do. After reaching here you can however rest at the campsite. Also you can explore the surroundings of Leh here as well. And then you need to stay overnight at the campsite at Tilat Do.
Day 9 : Return to Leh
This is finally the last day when you will travel to reach Leh. After reaching Leh you will have to check in to the hotel and you can stay there. Or else you can reach the airport or start your road journey to reach your desired location. With this the Chadar Trek Ladakh comes to an end.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about the Chadar Trek Ladakh and it can be one of the most thrilling and exciting treks ever. If you are an avid traveler, adventure enthusiast and nature lover then you will find it extremely interesting to complete this trek. Even though it is one of the difficult treks, the thrill of completing the journey would surely keep you going. Moreover the pristine view, the breathtaking natural beauty and the challenges make the trek even more eventful. For an experienced trekker the challenges would be exciting to take up and complete. So if you are thinking of going on a Chadar Trek Ladakh then surely go for it. And let me know if this article on the Chadar Trek Ladakh is helpful for you in planning a trek to this location in Ladakh.
