Chadar Trek

This crucial acclimatization day helps your body adjust to the high altitude before undertaking the challenging trek. While resting is primary, light activities are encouraged - take gentle walks around Leh bazaar, visit the historic Leh Palace, or explore nearby Shanti Stupa. These mild activities aid acclimatization while avoiding overexertion. Continue drinking 4-5 liters of water, eat light meals, and avoid alcohol or smoking. Use this day to rent or purchase any missing gear from Leh's well-equipped trekking shops.

Report early morning at the designated medical center for mandatory health checkup - a critical requirement for Chadar Trek permits. Doctors assess your fitness through various tests including blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and lung capacity. Only medically cleared trekkers receive permits to proceed. Post-clearance, complete final preparations: pack your backpack, organize layers of clothing, check equipment functionality, and attend the final briefing. Early dinner and rest as tomorrow begins your frozen river journey.

Early morning departure from Leh, driving along the scenic Leh-Srinagar highway following the Indus River. The route passes through Nimu village where Indus and Zanskar rivers confluence. Continue to Chilling village, the last motorable point, then proceed to Tilado (3,300m), the trek starting point. After a packed lunch, begin your inaugural walk on the frozen Zanskar River. The initial 3-4km trek to Shingra Yokma camp introduces you to walking on ice - a surreal experience as you test the frozen surface, learning to identify stable ice sheets. Set up camp near caves or sheltered areas along the riverbank.

Wake to sub-zero temperatures and a hot breakfast before embarking on your first full day on Chadar. The frozen river presents varying ice conditions - sometimes smooth like marble, occasionally rough and broken, requiring careful navigation. Trek past towering canyon walls that rise dramatically on both sides, their layers telling geological stories millions of years old. Encounter your first major frozen waterfall, a magnificent ice sculpture hanging from cliff faces. The day involves multiple river crossings where ice formation varies. Reach Shingra Goma camp by afternoon, situated at a wider section of the gorge offering spectacular sunset views.

Today's trek showcases the Chadar's most dramatic landscapes. Navigate through narrow gorge sections where canyon walls nearly close overhead, creating natural ice galleries. The ice formations become more intricate - encounter turquoise blue ice pools, frozen rapids creating natural ice bridges, and sections where you might need to wade through knee-deep icy water if ice hasn't formed completely. Pass by small frozen waterfalls cascading down rust-colored cliff faces. Tsomo Paldar camp, named after a nearby frozen waterfall, provides a spectacular camping spot with natural wind protection from surrounding rocks.

Begin the return journey with an early 5 AM start to maximize stable ice conditions during cooler morning hours. This is your longest trekking day, combining the previous two days' distance into one challenging stretch. The frozen river constantly transforms - ice that was solid days ago might have shifted or thinned, requiring alternate routes along the riverbank or careful testing of new ice formations. Your guides use wooden sticks to test ice thickness before each crossing. Pass through the narrow gorge sections again, but with changing light conditions, the landscape reveals different perspectives and hidden ice caves. The afternoon sun can make ice surfaces slippery with a thin water layer, demanding extra caution. Push through fatigue during the final kilometers, arriving at Shingra Yokma camp by late afternoon. The familiar campsite offers a sense of accomplishment as you near the trek's completion.

Your final morning on the Chadar begins with a short 2km trek from Shingra Yokma back to the road head at Tilado. This brief walk allows final moments to absorb the frozen river's magnificence and capture last photographs of the dramatic landscape. The ice beneath your feet, which initially felt alien and unstable, now feels familiar after days of adaptation. Reach Tilado by mid-morning where vehicles wait for the return journey. The drive back to Leh offers time to reflect on your extraordinary achievement - walking on a frozen river at extreme altitudes and temperatures. The warm vehicle feels luxurious after nights in sub-zero temperatures. Arrive in Leh by afternoon, check into your hotel, and enjoy your first hot shower in days. Celebrate with fellow trekkers over a warm meal, sharing stories of this unique adventure.