Ladakh · India
Chadar — Frozen River
Walking the ice of the Zanskar
The trek
A surreal winter trek along the frozen surface of the Zanskar river, deep in a Ladakhi gorge at −20°C.
The Chadar — the 'sheet' — is the frozen Zanskar, and for a handful of weeks each deep winter the river hardens into a road. For generations it was the only link between the cut-off Zanskar valley and the outside world; traders would walk its ice carrying butter, wool and supplies. Today that same crossing has become one of the most extraordinary and demanding treks on the planet.
You walk on ice, hemmed between near-vertical canyon walls that block out the sun for much of the day, sleeping in caves and on frozen banks that Zanskari traders have used for centuries. Daytime temperatures hover well below freezing and night lows plunge toward −20°C or colder. The ice itself is a living thing — thick and glassy in one stretch, thin and groaning in the next, sometimes broken entirely, forcing detours over rock and snow.
Technically the trail is almost flat; it is, after all, a river. But the cold, the altitude and the constant judgement required to read the ice make this a trek strictly for the well-prepared, properly acclimatised and genuinely cold-hardy. Done right, it is unforgettable — a frozen waterfall at Nerak, a sky of impossible winter stars, and a silence you can feel.
Highlights
- Walking on the frozen surface of a Himalayan river
- Sheer canyon walls and the towering frozen Nerak waterfall
- Cave camps used by Zanskari traders for generations
- One of the most unusual winter experiences anywhere on Earth
From
₹24,999
per person
- Free reschedule up to 21 days out
- Small groups, certified mountain leaders
- Oximeter, oxygen & evacuation plan on every route
Day by day
The itinerary
9 days from Leh. Tap any day to read the detail — distances and altitudes are planning figures and may shift with conditions.
Fly into Leh, already above 11,000 ft, and surrender the day entirely to rest. In the depth of winter the town is locked in hard frost, the air thin and bitterly dry, so slow movement and steady hydration are essential to let the body begin adapting. There is nothing to do but acclimatise, with the trek's success resting on these first quiet days at altitude. Sleeping low and avoiding exertion now pays off on the ice later.
What's included
- Hotel in Leh and cave/tent camps on the trek
- All meals throughout
- Certified winter leader and Zanskari crew
- Permits, medicals and wildlife fees
- Specialised cold-weather safety equipment
Not included
- Flights to and from Leh
- Personal winter gear and insurance
- Anything not listed under inclusions
In the field
The country you'll walk
Ready when you are
Walk Chadar — Frozen River with us
Small groups, honest briefings and a crew that has done this route many times over. From ₹24,999 per person.
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