CHADAR TREK - A complete guide

If you ever wished to walk on frozen river then Chadar trek is the best option for you. Chadar trek is one of the most stunning and beautiful treks in winter across the globe. Chadar revels the real meaning of this trek because in local language people use Chadar for Blanket, a blanket formed on Zanskar river during winter. Everything is frozen during winters - Frozen Caves, Frozen water fall, frozen River!

People plan this trek and prepare for this but they assume everything and take every words of the organizer lightly. When they reach and find it extremely cold then they say organizer was saying right. So, plan you trip and read our top tips for conquering Chadar Trek.

How to reach?

In winters, all routes are blocked because of heavy snow so we have only one option to reach Leh, only by Air. There are so many options of flights are available:

Make my trip: Check Flights

Yatra: Check Flights

Are you ready for this trek?

If we rate this trek then this falls in difficult category of treks. Walking on Chadar is not so difficult if you got well formed Chadar during the season. Sometimes, Chadar doesn't get proper shape and then people have two options, either they can use Steep slopes and sideways to cross that patch but it is so exhaustive process because you also have your rucksack when you trek on Chadar or you have to return from the middle of Chadar Trek.

How to prepare?

Physical Fitness: The basic requirement for Chadar trek is physical fitness without this don,t even think to conquer this. During the trek you have to walk rigorously for 5 to 7 hours each day. That's why all the organization tell you to do some work out before going on this trek. We advice you to consult with a doctor and ask him to examine your body so that you can get the best idea of your strength, stamina and lung capacity. If you find anything less then work on it an make yourself perfect.

Mental Preparation: Mental strength is more than any strength. While visiting Leh during winter you need to eradicate the fear of winter from your mind. Sometime, thinking about walking on frozen river can degrade your enthusiasm but believe me this trek is going to be the best trek of your life. Prepare your mind to face any challenge and these challenges can be unexpected.

Acclimatization: Acclimatization is very important when you instantly go to high altitude from the low altitude. When you go to Leh for Chadar trek, try to reach there a day before of your trek so you can take proper rest and allow your body to acclimatize properly. We suggest you to take two days acclimatization at Leh is necessary but you can take 1 day rest if you are short with time.

What to Pack?

Your backpack makes the difference when you go on difficult trek because the more light is your backpack the far you can walk. So we have some amazing facts and full list as below:

Backpack (55 - 65 L) with sturdy straps and supporting frame.

Daypack (20 L) is required only if you wish to offload your backpack to the support team but this service is chargeable and the cost is Rs400/- per bag per porter..

Trekking shoes – Sports shoes are not allowed. You need traction on snow and sport shoes with their PVC soles are hardly the choice. Ensure the shoes are well broken in before the trek.

Good standard trekking shoes are sufficient for the trek. On Chadar, which is solid ice or a slight cover of snow on slippery ice, trekkers have found to their amazement that a simple gumboot finally is the best for Chadar. Most of the outside agencies in order to impress tell about crampons. In my years of experience in Ladakh and on Chadar too, I can absolutely say that crampons are quite dicey - quite a few trekkers have injured themselves or worse broken their ankle while a crampon get stuck on the fine cracks in the ice. Gumboot is available in Leh hardware shop and can be purchased here itself. If your shoe size is 9-10, getting a pair might be tough..so start searching as soon as you land in Leh.

Trekkers will soon learn and modify their trek to the "penguin walk" style on seeing from the porters and guide! It is a kind of dragging your foot and not lifting much.

Gumboot, if not purchased from Leh.

Carry 2 pair of synthetic track pants. Track pants are light and when things get cold you can wear one over the other.

Carry 2 Full sleeve tees with collar.

Fleece jacket - sweaters are highly discouraged.

A full sleeve thick jacket.

Carry 4 pairs of undergarments.

Get 2 pairs of thermal inners.

Carry 2 pairs of sports socks. 2 pairs of woolen socks.

Woolen monkey cap/balaclava that cover the ear.

Woolen hand gloves + synthetic glove (water proof). If you dont have synthetic gloves, get two pairs of woolen gloves and a surgical glove.

Hot water bottle/Bag - available at any medical store.

Sun glasses, branded company with 100% UV protection. Curved ones will cover your eyes well. Sunglasses prevent snow blindness. Sunglasses are mandatory for this trek.

People who wear spectacles, choose one of these: Use contact lenses. Photochromatic glasses. If either of the above is not possible, wear your spectacles and carry a big sunglass that can be worn over your spectacles.

A woolen head-scarf or muffler.

Trekking pole is mandatory.

Light towel (should be thin, quick drying kind).

Chapstick or lip balm.

Cold cream and sun screen lotion (SPF 40+). While sun screen help prevent sun burns, a better option is to stay covered.

2 Water bottles (1 L each). The insulated water bottles are good but even normal water bottles will sufficent.

Personal medicine kit containing:

Crocin - 6 tablets Avomine - 4 tablets Avil 25mg - 4 tablets Combiflam -5 tablets Disprin - 10 tablets Norflox - 10 tablets Crepe bandage - 3 to 5 meters Band aid - 10 strips Digene - 10 tablets Gauze cloth - 1 small role Leukoplast - 1 small roll Cotton - 1 small roll ORS - 5 packets Betadine or any antiseptic cream Volini or Moov or Relispray. Diamox - 10 tablets (to be taken only if required and but not as preventive medicine) 26. Personal toilet kit (minimal) and toilet paper.