The only way to reach Leh in the winters is via. air, as both the passes, the Zozilla pass connecting Srinagar and the Rohtang pass connecting Manali, are closed due to the heavy snow accumulation.On landing at Leh (J & K), being at 3500 meters and at a pretty low temperature, your utmost priority becomes your health. We recommend people to land at Leh at least two or three days before the trek starts, this helps you to acclimatize with the altitude and adapt to the temp at Leh. On your stay at Leh in these initial days, it is advisable to take complete rest with small walks to the nearby areas. Do not opt for any adventure activity at Leh, you can put these on your bucket list when you return back from the trek.

Fly to Leh from your nearest city.

<ul>
<li>Only way to reach Leh in the winters is via air.</li>
<li>Leh resides at an altitude of 11500 ft. approx.</li>
<li> 1 hours 30 minutes flight from Delhi.</li>
<li> Dinner at local hotel.</li>
<li>Night stay/accommodation in local hotel or guest houses.</li>
</ul>

Fly into Leh (11483 ft.)

Today will be a 64 km drive initially, takes around 4 hours from Leh to a place called’ Chilling’ and then a 5 km trek, counting to 1-2 hours to Tilad Sumdo. The ride takes you through the mountain roads giving you a glimpse of the adventure you will be facing for the next few days. The ride crosses a point named Nimmu, this is the place where Zanskar river dissolves ultimately into the Indus River. This Nimmu is the lowest point (~2800m) in the whole Zanskar Valley, our trek itinerary takes us to reach the highest point up to Nerak (~3400m). Few turns in the route will surely freak you out, as these hair bends in these snow covered mountain roads makes your ride no less than the one on a roller coaster.Today our campsite will be near the frozen Zanskar river and to reach there we will have to cross the Chadar, our first point of the trek where we actually step on the frozen river. The campsite is a beautiful one with the gentle flowing river, surrounded by the steep mountains. At the campsite we will be having a short briefing for the further trek.

64 kms drive from Leh to Tilad Sumdo.

<ul>
<li>Altitude drop from 11483 ft. to 10400 ft.</li>
<li>64 kms drive.</li>
<li>2-3 hours.</li>
<li>Breakfast, lunch and snacks at mid point.</li>
<li>Night stay/accommodation and dinner in tents.</li>
</ul>

Drive to Tilad Sumdo from Leh(64 kms)

Today will be a nice long walk, exhausting though exciting. We will start in the morning after the breakfast, we will providing warm water for filling bottles as in these low temp zones it’s kind of difficult to handle the cold water but it’s very important to maintain your fluid intake.
You will be walking on the frozen river, the Chadar, you have been here for. It's a 12 km long walk. Do take precautions while walking here and follow the already carved out trail. The snow on the trail is hard and slippery, so take firm steps while walking. One thing to be noted is that though the route is there and is on hard snow, but the trail is covered with powdered snow and so carefully follow the already carved out trail by your guide because there might be some potholes on the frozen river and won't come to notice until you step on it and get a chilling dip. Actually, the firmness of the ice Chadar also depends on the weather, the more the chill, the more strong the ice path is. And if it’s a sunny day outside the Gorge, you might encounter a few potholes. At some places, where the River has not transformed into Chadar, we will opt for walking on the rocky paths on the river side cliffs.
Eventually, we get used to walking on the Chadar, a difficult path to walk on earlier, now a simple gliding and skating activity. Somewhere in the middle of the trek, after finding a easy place to settle, we will arrange lunch of some easy to digest recipes and some warm soups. Again I must mention, it is important to keep up a decent level of fluid intake, so do fill up your water bottles whenever it is available.
Our reaching camp-site for the day at Gyalpo, surrounded by high peaks and walls of rock, take rest and enjoy the place.

Tilad Sumdo to Gyalpo.

<ul>
<li>Altitude gain from 10400 ft. to 10540 ft.</li>
<li>12 kms trek.</li>
<li>7 hours.</li>
<li>Breakfast, lunch and snacks at mid point.</li>
<li>Night stay/accommodation and dinner in tents.</li>
</ul>

Tilad Sumdo - Gyalpo (12 kms)

Today is again a long walk of almost 14 km into the Gorge. The walk here is a beauty, the high cliffs keeping sunlight away so that they don’t interfere with the frozen conditions inside the valley. Today we not only encounter the frozen river but frozen waterfalls, and that’s the beauty of this trek, it has everyday a new exciting surprise for you. The views in the valley today are awesome and panoramic, and if you are a shutterbug, do keep your wide lenses ready, for you are going to click some of your carrier best pics. The frozen waterfalls on these rocky mountains looks unbelievable, with all the rock formation continuing all the way and then you suddenly find a huge massive icefall. OMG!! And that’s not all, after a while you encounter another fall, but this time it’s not frozen, what?? Believe it when you see it. Still in this sub-zero temperature, there’s a waterfall that still flows. This sure is an OMG trek. There is a mythologic story related to this waterfall, that once there was scarcity of water, so the villagers went to Tibet to pray. And there monk handed them a box, only to be opened after reaching their village. But out of curiosity, they opened it in the midway and found it contains two fishes in it which eventually jumped out and created two waterfalls, among which one never freezes.Our campsite for the day at Tibb, you find a big cave. This cave is the dwelling of all the porters on the trek.

Gyalpo to Tibb Cave

<ul>
<li>Altitude gain from 10540 ft. to 10750 ft.</li>
<li>14 kms trek.</li>
<li>8 hours.</li>
<li>Breakfast, lunch and snacks at mid point.</li>
<li>Night stay/accommodation and dinner in tents.</li>
</ul>

Gyalpo - Tibb Cave(14 kms)

The trek for the day begins after the breakfast. And let’s just be prepared that the trek for today is just going to be WOW! For today, we will come face to face with another waterfall but it’s the biggest and the tallest you have yet seen, and that too frozen. When I saw this first time, I was like,” OMG! Is this Antarctica??First the frozen river, on which I have been walking since the last few days and now a mammoth waterfall.” The shutterbugs are going to be pretty busy for the day. You will also find a bridge, next to the waterfall. It is a part of the connecting route between Leh and Zanskar in the summers.
Already mentioned, that everyday the trek has something new and exciting to offer, and all the pain you take to come all this far, withstanding the freezing temperature, pays off with the exquisite views.
On our way to Naerak, we come across a Juniper tree with wish flags tied to it, which actually marks of the beginning of the Zanskar region.
Naerak, our campsite is close to the river. The actual Naerak village is a little far away, takes about an hour to reach there. Today’s trek was a short one, not very exhausting but the chilling wind takes away a lot of energy. Still if you feel good and have enough energy, the Naerak village has a welcoming culture and they like well mannered guests. For today, we will be staying at out Naerak campsite, in tents.

Tibb Cave to Naerak

<ul>
<li>Altitude gain from 10750 ft. to 11140 ft.</li>
<li>12 kms trek.</li>
<li>7 hours.</li>
<li>Breakfast, lunch and snacks at mid point.</li>
<li>Night stay/accommodation and dinner in tents.</li>
</ul>

Tibb Cave -  Naerak(12 kms)

From today onwards we will trace our trail back from where we came. But the trail won’t look the same, as the temperature deviations carves the route everyday. Snowfall is another factor that affects your changed route.

Back to Tibb cave from Naerak

<ul>
<li>Altitude drop from 11140 ft. to 10750 ft.</li>
<li>12 kms trek.</li>
<li>7 hours.</li>
<li>Breakfast, lunch and snacks at mid point.</li>
<li>Night stay/accommodation and dinner in tents.</li>
</ul>

Naerak - Tibb cave(12 kms)

Now starting from Tibb to reach Gyalpo. Make sure you be walking safe as already mentioned that the temp and snowfall are continuously repacking the Chadar.

Back to Gyalpo from Tibb cave

<ul>
<li>Altitude drop from 10750 ft. to 10540 ft.</li>
<li>14 kms trek.</li>
<li>8 hours.</li>
<li>Breakfast, lunch and snacks at mid point.</li>
<li>Night stay/accommodation and dinner in tents.</li>
</ul>

Tibb cave - Gyalpo(14 kms)

Last day of treading on the Chadar. At Tilad Sumdo, we will have our transportation ready and we will drive to Leh. Tonight our stay will be at a guesthouse, the charges for today, will be on us.

Gyalpo to Tilad Do and drive to Leh

<ul>
<li>Altitude gain from 10540 ft. to 11483 ft.</li>
<li>10 kms trek and 64 kms drive.</li>
<li>8 hours.</li>
<li>Breakfast, lunch and snacks at local hotel.</li>
<li>Night stay/accommodation in local hotel or guest houses/homestay.</li>
</ul>

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