Chadar trek in Zanskar 8 Nights / 9 Days

Guests would be catching an early morning flight to Leh from Delhi airport. This is due to the limitation of travelling to Leh during winters as roads and passes get all blocked up due to heavy snowfall, leaving air travel as the fastest and only mean to make it to this Himalayan city. As you will arrive at Leh airport, our IHPL tour representative will be escorting you to the pre-booked hotel.

Leh in the upper Himalayan regions of India require a great level of acclimatization. Thus, you would be saving up your energy and spending the rest of the day at leisure. Feel free to move out to the local market in the evening. Shop for souvenirs or last minute necessary items for the upcoming trekking expedition. Ladakh is all covered with a thick sheet of ice everywhere, so it's always good to start well prepared. Post that, return to the comforts of your hotel for an overnight stay.

This day starts your Ladakh tour. From Leh, guests would be driven to the region of Chilling (64 km away). Enroute make a halt to catch the breathtaking sight of the confluence of Zanskar and Indus rivers. This confluence lies in Nimu's village and as you will continue on your journey to Chilling, you would be coming across a dozen more villages like this. Besides, being a gateway to Chadar trek, the town of Chilling is also widely known for its craftsmanship in metal work.

From here, start trekking to Tilat Sumdo along the frozen Zanskar River on one side. Trek to Tilat Sumdo would take anything between an hour or two. You would be camping at the spot where the frozen Zanskar meets a local tributary. To get acquainted with the icy surroundings, feel free to walk over the sheet of snow. Post that relax in your tent as the real trekking would be starting from tomorrow.

Wake up early and be done with your breakfast by 7:30 am. Post that, start your 6 hour trek to Tsomo Paldar. As you would be still in the territory of Chadar you would be hearing different sounds of the formation and breaking of ice. Eventually you will develop an understanding about the behavior of the ice and where it is thick and thin.

For you to enjoy your lunch in a more comfortable environment, you would be making a halt at a much open area, where there is plenty of sunlight. Post lunch, continue your trek. Enroute, do not forget to click pictures of the completely frozen waterfalls. The trekking route has so many of them.

On your arrival at the campsite in Tsomo Paldar, relax and enjoy the blissful Himalayan sights. Overnight stay at the camp.

Your ultimate endurance would be tested today. Have an early breakfast and get ready for an 8 hour trek that would be highly challenging yet full of wonderful natural sceneries. The atmosphere would be highly freezing so numerous frozen waterfalls and lofty peaks would be coming across your way. The trek route to Tibb includes passing through steep bends, river banks and narrow gorges. Ladakh's fauna speaks highly of its Blue Sheeps, which are locally known as Bharals. There lies a very high chance of spotting this beautiful creature grazing on the rough highlands as you walk on your trek.

Lunch would be served on one of these highlands, situated along the Rocky River bank. Post this, continue with your journey and reach the camp site at Tibb by evening.

Overnight stay in the camp.

Today you would be walking over another long trek route (7 hours) to Nyerka Pullu. The route would be encompassing numerous frozen waterfalls, icy peaks and water streams for which you have to be most careful; for the ice is hard and soft in parts. If the weather would be clear, chances of catching the glimpse of the fox mountain would be certainly high.

On your trek, you would be coming across an interesting tree; the locals call it the 'Incense tree', the branches of which they use in their morning rituals. The tree has prayer flags tied all around it, so it will not be difficult to spot it. The tree also marks the entry into the Zanskar region. Trekking to the high altitudes of Nyerka Pullu would finally be over by late afternoon. There would be small huts, grazing fields and a 1000 year old bridge that connects Nyerak to Lingshed.

Overnight at the campsite.

On this day of our wonderful trekking tour, guests would be returning back to Tibb. You may think of it to be futile as trekking along the same route would waste a day of your tour. However, you will find some changes in your return route although the path would be the same. This changed dynamics is one of the key features of the topography of Ladakh. In between, you would be halting at the villages of Padum, Lingshed and Nyerak. The locals are very friendly; might tell you tales of Zanskar on a cup of tea.

After a daylong t rekking, you would find yourself at the campsite in Tibb.

Overnight stay at the camp.

Trekking today will take you through some of the most beautiful treks in Ladakh. This would include walking past high mountain walls that stand as guards of the river flowing in the center. You might catch foot prints of snow leopards, foxes or Ibex, while walking on the snowy trails. Make a halt midway for lunch. On arrival at the camp site in Shingra Koma, relax under the shade of the region's beautiful surroundings.

Spend the night at the camp.

This would be the last day of trekking in our tour. Thus, savor every piece of this paradise as you walk on the route. Click pictures of the panoramic landscapes and don't forget to walk over the frozen Zanskar River.

Say goodbye to the remote but magical lands of Zanskar as you will reach Tilad. Relax in your rooms at the guest house and spend the rest of your day at leisure.

Overnight at Tilad.

Have a sumptuous breakfast and get ready to travel to the Leh airport. From here, board the next flight to Delhi or Mumbai for your onward journey back home. This brings the end of our wonderful Ladakh tour.