Chadar Frozen River Trek (8 days)

Continue the acclimatization process and spend another day at Leh. You'll attend a briefing session with your trek leader where you'll be taken through the detailed itinerary of the Chadar trek and the equipment or gear to be used during the trek. You'll also visit a hospital in Leh to undergo a health check-up and obtain medical clearnance to attempt the Chadar trek. Overnight at Leh in guesthouse.

Overnight in a guesthouse at Leh. | Acclimatize to the altitude and visit a local hospital for a basic medical check-up. This check-up will include basic tests to measure your heart rate, oxygen level and blood pressure. You'll be accommodated in the same guesthouse at Leh. Since no meals are included in today's package, you can visit any of the restaurants in Leh to have meals at your own expense.

Today, you'll be driven from Leh to Shingra Yokma, stopping briefly to admire the gorgeous confluence of the Zanskar and Indus rivers at Chilling. You'll disembark at Shingra Yokma and put your first steps on the frozen Chadar. You'll begin with a 5-6 hr trek to Tsomo Paldar, your campsite for the night. The landscape is dramatic and stark, with weather-blackened trees and arid land. You'll spend most of the trek trying to keep your balance while you walk, and will eventually learn how to read the frozen river. Overnight at Tsomo Paldar in tents.

Overnight in tents at Tsomo Paldar. | Travel from Leh to the road-head in a private, shared SUV and trek to Tsomo Paldar. You'll be accommodated in tents at Tsomo Paldar on a triple-sharing basis. You'll be provided with a sleeping bag and mattress for a restful night's sleep. Today's meal package includes dinner only. You can visit any of the restaurants in Leh to have additional meals at your own expense.

One of the longer days of the trek, today you'll trek from Tsomo Paldar to Yokma Do. En route, you'll cross a narrow stretch of the river that features a perpetually non-frozen waterfall called Tsomo ka Tutu. After making your way across moss-covered rocks and frozen water streams, you'll arrive at the famous Tibb Cave where trekkers often seek refuge from the cold weather. Continue trekking and proceed to your destination. Overnight at Yokma Do in tents.

You'll camp outside today. You'll be provided with a triple-sharing tent, sleeping mattresses and sleeping bags. There is also a kitchen tent in which you can eat your meals in shelter.

Things can get a little difficult, especially if the Chadar is not very firm, so you may have to trek on the land beside the river. The Naerak waterfall is the highlight of the day, and you'll have some time to stop to admire it and take pictures. This section of the Chadar trek is very remote, so if you're lucky, you might get a glimpse of the elusive mountain fox. As you approach today's destination, you'll leave the Chadar behind and trek onwards to Naerak village, located high above, beyond a bridge that links Naerak village with Lingshed. Overnight at Nareak in tents.

You'll camp outside today. You'll be provided with a triple-sharing tent, sleeping mattresses and sleeping bags. There is also a kitchen tent in which you can eat your meals in shelter.

Marking the half-way point of the Chadar trek, you'll turn back and begin the return journey back to Leh. The frozen river keeps melting and breaking the ice before freezing all over again. This ensures that although you've trekked over the route before, you'll be facing an entirely new terrain as you trek to Hotong, a little-known camping destination along the river. Overnight at Hotong in tents.

You'll camp outside today. You'll be provided with a triple-sharing tent, sleeping mattresses and sleeping bags. There is also a kitchen tent in which you can eat your meals in shelter.

Today is the last day of your Chadar trek. You'll trek from Hotong, all the way back to the start point of Shingra Yokma. Here, there are vehicles waiting to take you back to Leh. You'll be happy to rest your legs on the drive back to Leh, and even happier to check in to the guesthouse there. Overnight in Leh at guesthouse.

Overnight in a guesthouse at Leh. | Bid goodbye to the Zanskar River and travel to the comforts of a guesthouse in Leh via a shared, private SUV. You'll be accommodated at a guesthouse in Leh on triple-sharing basis. The guesthouse room will have comfortable beds and blankets to ensure a restful night's sleep. Today's meal package includes breakfast only. You can visit any of the restaurants in Leh to have additional meals at your own expense.

Check out of the guesthouse and proceed to the airport. Your trip ends here.

Your trip ends before nightfall. | Check-out of the guesthouse at Leh and proceed to your next destination. Your trip ends here.