Chadar Trek – One Of The Most Wild And Beautiful Hikes On The Planet
On this page you will find a comprehensive and impartial guide to the Chadar Trek.
Please Note: We are not a tour operator, but we can put you in touch with our recommended partner, see the tour recommendation sections below.
As this is a very long and detailed article on the Chadar Trek, we recommend using the quicklinks below to navigate to the sections that interest you most. Alternatively, you can bookmark this page for future reference.
Chadar Treks
The Chadar Trek is one of the most wild and beautiful hikes on the planet. Frequently covered by the worlds top adventure channels and media outlets, the Chadar Trek takes hikers through a frozen river valley into the very heartland of India’s Zanskar region.
The region’s harsh desert environment and towering mountains make the Chadar trek one of the most popular treks in the Ladakh area. Very few treks are as remote as the Chadar and even fewer are conducted in high winter. The trek is not for light hearted as temperatures are often lower than -10 degrees celsius in the day and -20 at night.
Cut off entirely from the outside world, the Zanskar river is the only outlet for locals wishing to venture further into the Ladakh region. The trail has been used for nearly a 1000 years by the Buddhist monks living in the region. You’ll trek the same route, walking over the frozen river as you cut a path towards Naerak. You will need to have a good level of stamina and fitness to have a really good time. Accommodation is riverside camping.
Please Note: The Chadar trek is ideally suited to seasoned trekkers looking to experience one of the most remote places on earth.
Regional Map
The Chadar Trek is located in the Zanskar region of Ladakh which is part of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Please see map for details
Chadar Hike Itinerary
Below is a detailed Chadar Trek itinerary. Please note that this is a typical itinerary that we would expect many operators to adhere to. Some tour operators however, offer variations on this route.
Click each day to read more...
Day 1-2: Arrival in Leh (3500 m)
Day 3: Drive to Chilling – Hike to Tilad Do (3100 m)
Day 4: Tilad Do to Shingra Koma (3170 m)
Day 5: Shingra Koma to Tib Cave/Tibb (3225 m)
Day 6: Dib Cave/Tibb to Camp at Naerak (3390 m)
Day 7: Naerak to Tibb
Day 8: Tibb to Shingra Koma
Day 9: Shingra Koma to Chilling – Chilling to Leh
Day 10: Departure
Video Overview
A beautiful video overview of the Chadar Trek by Chiwalker.
The video gives great insights into the landscape and people you are most likely to encounter along the way. The video is 25:37 long.
Recommended Guidebook
There are a number of excellent guides we recommend for the Chadar Trek. These are:
- Trekking in Ladakh by Radek Kucharski.
- Trekking in the Indian Himalaya by Lonely Planet
- Trekking Guide to the Western Himalayas by Depi Chaudhry
- Ladakh: the Essential Guide: Including Kashmir & Manali by Partha S. Banerjee
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are permits required for the Chadar Trek?
When is the best time to complete the Chadar Trek?
Is altitude sickness a risk?
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What gear do I need?
What travel insurance do I require?
Other Indian Hikes
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