Chadar Trek (with Zangla and Padum)

Spend the day at Leh acclimatizing to the city's high altitude. You'll spend much of the day visiting some of the local attractions around town like the Shey Palace and the Thikse Monastery, both of which are epicentres of Buddhist influence and worship. In the evening, you'll visit a hospital in Leh to undergo a routine medical checkup. This is intended only to ensure proper health before beginning the Chadar trek. Overnight in a hotel in Leh.

Overnight in a hotel at Leh.

Acclimatize to the high altitude of the city. Eat frequent meals, keep yourself hydrated and take short walks without exerting yourself. You'll be accommodated in the same hotel at Leh. Today's meal package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Non-veg options will be available during most meals.

Board a vehicle and travel to the start point of the Chadar trek at Shingrak Yongma. The scenic drive will take you outside the city and into the Ladakhi mountains. At Shingrak Yongma, you'll get your first views of the frozen Zanskar River. A quick briefing from the trek leader later, you'll begin walking over the frozen river. You'll slip and fall a few times before finding your footing over the unique terrain. Head towards your destination for the night, located just a short distance away. Overnight in tents at Shringrak Gongma.

Overnight in tents at Shingrak Gongma.

Board a vehicle and travel to Shingrak Yongma, and begin trekking to Shingrak Gongma. You'll be accommodated in tents at Shingrak Gongma on twin-sharing basis. Make sure to carry your own sleeping bag for maximum comfort. Today's meal package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Non-veg options using canned meat may be available. However, eggs will be served during breakfast.

Begin a long trek alongside the turquoise blue river towards the campsites of Dib Gongma. En route, you'll pass through the Tsomo Paldar campsite and trek across a flowing waterfall, the only one that doesn't freeze even in sub-zero temperatures. By the end of the day, you'll perfect your walking technique by spending hours over the rugged rock formations and sprawling ice blankets. Overnight in tents at Dib Gongma.

Overnight in tents at Dib Gongma.

Trek from Shingrak Gongma to Dib Gongma. You'll be accommodated in tents at Dib Gongma on twin-sharing basis. The campsite is equipped with common kitchen/dining tent and washroom tent. Today's meal package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Non-veg options using canned meat may be available. However, eggs will be served during breakfast.

Resume trekking early in the morning on your way to Nyerak Pulu. En route, you'll stop to see the famous Nyerak frozen waterfall and pass the bridge over the river that connects the villages of Nyerak and Lingshed. The Nyerak village is the first hint of civilization since Leh. Overnight in tents at Nyerak Pulu.

Overnight in tents at Nyerak Pulu.

Trek from Dib Gongma to Nyerak Pulu. You'll be accommodated in tents at Nyerak Pulu on twin-sharing basis. Throughout the trip, one porter per two travellers will be assigned. Today's meal package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Non-veg options will be unavailable. However, eggs will be served during breakfast.

While most travellers to the frozen Zanskar turn back from Nyerak, you'll continue trekking deeper into the Zanskar valley. With spectacular views of the rocky mountain terrain, you'll trek to Tsarak Do, the coldest campsite alongside the Zanskar River. However, instead of camping here, you'll board vehicles that'll drive you to the village of Zangla. Overnight in a home-stay at Zangla.

Overnight in a home-stay at Zangla.

Trek from Nyerak Pulu to Tsarak Do and board a vehicle to Zangla. You'll be accommodated in a home-stay at Zangla on multi-sharing basis. The home-stay has three to four rooms shared by all travellers. Today's meal package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Non-veg options will be unavailable. However, eggs will be served during breakfast.

Spend the day on day trips around Zangla. You'll begin with a drive to the nearby town of Padum to visit the local marketplace and shop for souvenirs and gits. You'll also visit the Karsha Monastery, a massive house of worship offering spectacular views of the alpine topography. Travel back to Zangla by nightfall. Overnight in a home-stay at Zangla.

Overnight in a home-stay at Zangla.

Visit the Padum marketplace and the Karsha Monastery. You'll be accommodated in a home-stay at Zangla on multi-sharing basis. The home-stay will have a traditional wooden fireplace to heat the room. Today's meal package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Non-veg options will be unavailable. However, eggs will be served during breakfast.

Drive back from Zangla to the frozen river. You'll disembark from the vehicle at Tsarak Do and begin the return trek to the familiar campsite of Nyerak Pulu. Views of towering mountains painted brown and grey will dominate the horizon. Overnight in tents at Nyerak Pulu.

Overnight in tents at Nyerak Pulu.

Board a vehicle to travel from Zangla to Tsarak Do and trek to Nyerak Pulu. You'll be accommodated in tents at Nyerak Pulu on twin-sharing basis. Today's meal package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. The multi-course meals will generally have a different menu each day. Non-veg options will be unavailable. However, eggs will be served during breakfast.

Trek back over the frozen river from Nyerak to Tsomo Paldar. Since you'll be quite adept at pacing your walk over the frozen sheet of ice, you'll trek faster and cover more ground on the return trek. The ice underneath your shoes often breaks and reforms again, presenting a whole another terrain on your way back. Overnight in tents at Tsomo Paldar.

Overnight in tents at Tsomo Paldar.

Trek from Nyerak Pulu to Tsomo Paldar. You'll be accommodated in tents at Tsomo Paldar on twin-sharing basis. Today's meal package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Non-veg options will be unavailable. However, eggs will be served during breakfast.

Conclude the iconic Chadar trek by returning to Shingrak Gongma. You'll bid goodbye to the frozen river and the Zanskar valley, and board vehicles to travel to Leh. You'll sleep in a comfortable bed after almost a week of sleeping bags and mattresses. Overnight in a hotel at Leh.

Overnight in a hotel at Leh.

Trek from Tsomo Paldar to Shingrak Yongma and drive back to Leh. You'll be accommodated in a hotel at Leh on twin-sharing basis. Today's meal package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Non-veg options will be available during most meals.

This day serves as a buffer day, to be used just in case the you're forced to extend the trip due to bad weather conditions or any other unforeseen situations. Otherwise, you can spend the day in Leh at leisure. Visit the local Tibetan marketplace or explore the narrow and enchanting lanes of the city. Overnight in a hotel at Leh.

Overnight in a hotel at Leh.

This is a buffer day kept to accommodated any unforeseen circumstances. You'll be accommodated in a hotel at Leh on twin-sharing basis. Today's meal package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Non-veg options will be available during most meals.

Check-out of the hotel and take an airport transfer to Leh Airport. Your trip ends here.

Your trip ends by late morning.

Check-out and travel to the Leh Airport. Today's meal package includes breakfast only. Your trip ends here.