A Trek Where the Challenge Is Cold, Not Altitude
Chadar is unlike almost every other trek on this platform: instead of climbing toward a summit, you walk directly on the ice sheet ("chadar," meaning blanket) that forms over the frozen Zanskar river near Leh. There's no major altitude gain, but temperatures regularly fall to -20°C to -30°C, and the entire trek's viability depends on ice thickness that varies year to year with the region's warming climate.
The route typically starts at Chilling, following the river toward Zanskar villages over 8-9 days, camping in caves or tents beside the ice. Local guides who read ice conditions daily are non-negotiable here - sections of "chadar" can be too thin to cross safely and the route often has to be re-planned mid-trek.
Difficulty & Season Breakdown
Graded challenging - not for the altitude, but for the sustained extreme cold and the genuine risk management the terrain demands. The season is a narrow January-February window only, and even then it now varies more than it used to, given documented reductions in stable ice cover over the past decade.