The word “Chadar” means “white sheet or blanket”. And that’s what it appears like when you walk over the white frozen Zanskar river. This trek though a demanding one gives you all the thrills of a great adventure. Temperatures can plummet to as low as -30° and even though you walk through amazing landscape you have to be prepared for a really cold experience of course kept warm by glowing fires which we light up each evening at camp. Our daily trek begins at around 9:00am and by then the sun’s up and blue skies bring cheer despite the cold temperatures. The trek goes along the Zanskar River in the region of Lingshed and constitutes a walk of around 15 days with 3850m / 12,628ft.
Being the highest altitude reached. Many of these spots cannot be accessed during the summer months as they go through spectacular deep canyons and gorges. A once in a lifetime trek.
The ultimate adventure! For just a few weeks each winter, the people of the remote Zanskar valley are able to make their way to Ladakh’s capitol of Leh by following the frozen Zanskar river from their mountain stronghold to its confluence with the Indus river. This is not a journey for everyone, but for those with a Himalayan-sized of adventure, it is truly one of the world’s greatest journeys.
Day 01 : DRIVE FROM LEH TO SUMDAH DO
To begin with, the road follows the Indus River for an hour to the confluence with the Zanskar River, the road then follows this to the village of Sumdah-Do, and we then trek for roughly an hour on and off the frozen river to the village of Chilling. Overnight at Camp.
Day 02 : TREK UP THE FROZEN RIVER
For the next 5 days we trek up the Frozen River through gorges and deep valleys. There are a number of choices for campsites, and therefore we can make our itinerary during this time as flexible as we like. We have to camp on many occasions in caves beside the river. The names of the stopping places are listed below. Trek Chilling to Dakmar Bawo (Cave). Overnight at Camp.
Day 03 : TREK DAKMAR BAWO TO TIBBAWO
Overnight at Camp.
Day 04 : TREK TIBBAWO TO NAYREKSTE BAWO
Overnight at Camp.
Day 05 : TREK FROM NAYREKSTE BAWO TO WAMAY BAWO
Camp.
Day 06 : TREK FROM WAMAY BAWO TO THE VILLAGE OF ANGLA
Stay in a village house. It may be that the previous evening we could find accommodation in one of the other village close by to the Zanskar River, namely the villages of Hanamur or perhaps Pidmu. We are now well and truly in the Kingdom of Zanskar, where in times past there used to be two kings. One king lived at Zangla and the other at Padum.
Day 07 : TREK ZANGLA TO TONGDEY
Passing through the village of Zozar. Overnight in a village house. Shortly after leaving Zangla we will see the largest of the strange bridges made from interwoven twigs that are unusual but common sight in Zanskar. The gorge also is now left behind and we enter the large plain leading to Padum. There is a very large and active monastery above the village, which we will visit.
Day 08 : TREK TONGDEY TO PADUM
Five or six hours. Again we could be offered accommodation in the township itself, though there is a tourist bungalow complex; however it is likely to be closed for the winter.
Day 9 : AT LEISURE IN PADUM
Day 10 to 15 : RETURN TREK
The return trek is apparently quicker and easier. Drive to Leh. Overnight in hotel.
