Chadar Trek – Do’s and Don’ts

Posted on 02. Dec, 2011 by Thrillchimp in Best Reads, Ladakh, Must do Adventure, Offbeat, Travel Tips, Trekking

Chadar trek- Do’s and Don’ts

A hardcore mountaineer’s hunger for adventure is not satisfied with just mere treks and mountain climbing expedition. He looks for new exciting adventurous trails each time. The great Himalayas range offers abundance of such trekking opportunities to enthusiastic mountaineers. Amongst which, the Chadar Trek makes it to the list of the wildest and toughest treks in the world. This trek gets its name from the fact that it is a trek over the frozen river of Zanskar during extreme winter as the word ‘Chadar’ means ‘frozen layer’. Walking on a frozen sheet of ice is by far the most exhilarating experience for a mountaineer. There are some simple Do’s and Don’ts that a trekker needs to keep in mind while attempting to trek at Chadar.

Do’s

• Carry along some extremely warm protective clothing, durable waterproof trekking shoes and gloves to keep away from frost bites. The weather at high altitude can change without warning and the temperatures may dip way below freezing point.
• Pack up ample stock of energy food and water. The trek route takes you through uninhabited regions, where encountering shops is not a surety.

• Do carry along important medicines with you to be able to nurse yourself in case of any injuries. As part of this trek, some very challenging stretches of waterways and rocky mountains are to be crossed. In the process, getting bruises and cuts are quite common.
• The Himalayan range is decorated with numerous temples and monasteries. Do dress modestly, avoid skimpy clothing and show respect when entering these religious places and villages.
• Keep your near and dear well informed of your route and periodic intimation of your exact whereabouts is crucial. In case of emergencies, they would be able to trace you in the vastness of the Himalayas and make sure help reaches you.

Don’ts:

• Do not pollute the region by littering the place. The Chadar Trek is said to be one of the most spectacular trails in the world. The essence of this prettiness is lost if the place is not kept clean. Be a responsible trekker and help keep it clean.
• Do not bathe using chemical soaps and shampoos in the streams and beautiful waterfalls that you would come across, while on this trek. It will contaminate them. Many of the local hill tribes drink the water from streams.  The fishes from the rivers provide many different kinds of food for the local people.
• Around religious places, and inside the large number of monasteries that you would come across in the Himalayas, are several images of Lord Buddha. Do not touch, point your feet at, or turn your back against these images. The local take offence of this.
• The religious heads at monasteries are Monks dressed in maroon robes. Do not click pictures of or try to talk and thereby disturb monks during their prayer times. They are extremely sensitive about this.

Just by following these simple Do’s and Don’ts, you are sure better prepared to take on this awe inspiring trekking adventure in the snow capped peaks of the Himalayas. For some awesome Chadar trekking packages, reach us today and feel the thrill of walking on a sheet of ice.