Ice Trek (Chadar) on Zanskar frozen river

This is an adventurous winter trek on the frozen Zanskar river following the traditional trading route.

The trek on the frozen River Zanskar, traditionally called the Chadar, is an unforgettable journey. You will be exploring a remote area that is cut off from the outside world for over half the year and can only be visited in winter by following the old trade route along the frozen Zanskar river. One of the most interesting parts of the trek will be the insight into the cultures of Zanskar and Ladakh.

We walk through the kingdom of Zanskar visiting the small towns of Pishu, Pidmo, Stongde and Zangla and their impressive gompas and forts. This is a truly adventurous trek due to the unpredictability of the conditions encountered and the remoteness of the area visited. The amount and condition of the ice on the Zanskar river can vary year on year and also day to day so a flexible attitude to the trek is essential. The maximum overnight low could be around -30 Celsius although it will warm up when the sun during the day comes out probably to around freezing level.