Chadar Trek via Lingshed Village 2019

Chadar Trek. The one of a kind trek and rightly named so. Chadar means sheet (in Hindi) and during the trek, you will literally be walking on a sheet of ice, the frozen Zanskar river.

Highlights

• Trek on the frozen Zanskar river.
• Be a part the exclusive trek that is only available for about 45 days in a year.
• Camp under the open skies of the Ladakh region.
• For centuries this route was used as the trade route between India and Tibet.

Detailed Overview

Chadar refers to the frozen lake with sheets of ice that forms over the Zanskar River. And it transforms itself from the fast and rapidly flowing river into a white coat of ice during winter. The river becomes frozen glass ice ranging from a bluish tinge to golden yellow when the sun touches the frozen river bed during the sunset. It will be a milky whitish frozen lake after dusk under the moonlight. This trek journey is unique and magical to describe the experience.

The villages are connected to the Zanskar Valley which is deep in the mountains along with the chilling and frozen lake. This is the only route for transportation and trades for centuries to the villages in the valley. Ice is more stable in February for the proper roads.

Available Batch Dates

• January: 13th and 22nd 

Need to talk about the trek? Call us at 080 39658860

Detail Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Leh (11,400 ft.) | Stay in the guesthouse

Woollen cap and gloves are must and should be handy. All the high altitude passes to Leh closes in winter hence thinking reaching by road is out of the question. The region is heavily covered snow and can be spotted while flying to Ladakh.  

One of the highest airports in the world is Leh airport, once you arrive at the airport, you will step into the fresh air and the drastic drop in the temperature. The town will be covered with snow and so people will be busy shedding it off their properties. The thick snow covered the town will slowly come to life. A walk to the Leh market, you will find only a few shops and restaurants open for business, last minute shopping can be done here. The chill will give you an idea of how the winter trek will serve you.

Day 2: Acclimatisation walk in Leh

Today is reserved for acclimatisation, we'll start our day early with a light walk around the Leh. We start our walk towards Shanti Stupa, a sacred Buddhist stupa, from where you will get an opportunity to witness a beautiful view of the sunrise and a panoramic sight of the town of Leh.

Stay hydrated as you spend your first day of the trek in Leh.

Day 3: Medical check-up at Sonam Narbu Hospital

As per the Government mandate, it is now mandatory for participants to acquire medical certification before they undertake the Chadar trek. A clearance certificate is issued upon a medical check-up at the Sonam Narbu Hospital. One will get a certificate only when adequately fit and acclimatized for the trek. 

Day 4: Drive to Shingra Koma - Trek From Shingra Koma to Somo Paldar

Enjoy tea and breakfast in the morning, we will start the journey by driving to  Shingra Koma, 65 km from Leh. This ride is not for the faint-hearted as bumpy roads and sharp bends are common on this route. You will have the majestic mountains and breathtaking views during the drive for the company as well. From Shingra Koma, our trek to Somo Paldar will start and it's a short trek to our campsite in Somo Paldar.

Your Chadar trek expedition has technically started from here.

Day 5: Trek from Somo Paldar to Tibb Cave – (10,550 ft - 10,760 ft) | Trek 10 km - Overnight Camp stay

After the breakfast, we start our trek to Tibb cave today.

A walk the deep of the Zanskar valley, soaking in the breathtaking beauty of the region. We will be crossing ravines and gorges on the way with the sun mostly hidden behind the high mountains. Once we're at Tibb, the large cave entrance will be unavoidable. In the journey, you will get to see the waterfalls from a higher view than the others. The rocks below these waterfalls are covered with moss, and this is the only greenery you’ll see on this trek.

There is a big cave at Tibb, a warm welcome from the village people. Here is where the butter tea is famously known after the chill trek. Group will camp here for the night.

Day 6: Tibb cave to Naerak camp – (10,760 ft - 11,150 ft) | Trek 12.5 km - Camp Stay

Today you will be walking near the river you crossed. The porters give you a twig of Juniper tree tied with a piece of prayer flag as a badge of good-luck and good health. A few steps away you will see the frozen waterfalls – a huge instance of suspended animation several feet tall and equally wide. You can find different colours in frozen falls as there will be sunlight touching it down. Right next to the waterfall is a bridge across the river which is a part of the summer-time road from Zanskar to Leh.

The Naerak village lies several feet above the river, a vigorous hour-long trek can take you to the village if you want to see the life of a Zanskari. The camp is set up close to the river.

Day 7: Naerak camp to Lingshed | 12.5 km Trek/ 7-8 hours - Camp Stay

From Naerak things get little tougher as it not only involves hike on snow and ice, but also some steep climbing. After two hours of level hike, we arrive at river confluence. From here we leave the Zanskar River and follow the tributary towards the Lingshed village. The trail is quite narrow here so you need to be careful.

On arriving at Lingshed, we visit a local village monastery, administered by the Gelug sect of Himalayan Buddhism.  The lingshed monastery houses idols of Mahakala and Lord Buddha. Monastery also has six other temples and monks’ apartments.

Day 8: Lingshed to Tibb via Nareak Pullu

This day, the return phase of this Snow Trek to Lingshed Village begins. It will be a long day as you will not be spending a night in Naerak Pullu but walk past it on the way to Tibb. This gives you yet another chance to take photos of that massive frozen waterfall, you saw earlier. Stop here for a while, and try different poses in front of it. On reaching Tibb, get some much-needed rest inside the cave.

Day 9: Tibb Cave to Gyalpo - (10,760 ft - 10,550 ft.) | 12 km Trek - 5 to 6 hours

Starting from Tibb, go up to Gyalpo today. The high walls of mountains rising from the sides of the river almost look like castle walls. You will be noticing a lot of fresh trails and footprints all along the trek, belonging to Foxes, Ibex or Snow Leopards. Although you would be lucky to spot a Snow Leopard; but you can almost be sure that you are being watched by one all the time. Overnight at tents in Gyalpo.

Day 10: Gyalpo to Shingra Koma & Back To Leh

In the morning, get ready to leave Gyalpo and proceed towards Shingra Koma. The trail today will give you a chance to witness high mountains and pugmarks of wild animals like snow leopards, ibex and foxes. If lucky, you just might spot a leopard; even if you do not, then at least be sure, you would be watched by them.

In the evening, drive back to Leh and stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 11: Return from Leh (Return Flight)

As the memorable journey gets over, you will depart from Leh today. The Chadar trek will be a cherished memory for life.