What to carry for Chadar Trek?
- 9D/8N
- Leh
- 9D/8N
- Leh
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Chadar Trek Cost: Starting from ₹19,500. (Prices are Dynamic and are subject to availability of slots)
- Ladakh has always captivated visitors with its magical charm and beauty. Be it the picturesque mountain peaks, azure lakes or the challenging trekking trails, this scenic valley is known for all.
- While during the summers, the region adorns the most vibrant colors of nature, during the winters it is embraced with heavy snowfalls that cut off the entire region from the rest of the world.
- Explore this serene place with our Ladakh tour packages and gift your loved ones a memorable journey that you can cherish for a lifetime.
- Nestled deep within the whirly passages of the snow-clad mountains, this frozen river also entices thousand of trekkers from different corners of the world.
- Popularly known as the 'Chadar Trek' due to the formation of the thick blanket of the snow, it is considered as one of the challenging as well as tricky treks in the world.
- In some places, there may be cracks in the ice and when this happens, the only way to continue with the trek is to hike through the snowy rocks and boulders beside the river.
Thrillophilia Exclusive: (Available only to trekkers who have booked with Thrillophilia)
Option to change the tour plan:
Till day 3, if you feel that you can’t do this trek or the govt. bodies declare you unfit for the trek, don’t get disheartened as the first 5 trekkers from the group can opt for an alternate package “Flavour of Ladakh” at no additional cost.
(To know more, hit the Send Enquiry button and get in touch with the trek expert)
Who Can Go:
Tips for Chadar Trek:
1) Prepare your mind first: This is a difficult trek that comes with a lot of extremities. From the weather to physical requirement. Train your mind to expect and accept the sub-zero level. Do bear in mind that there is a life that exists there as well; for centuries Chadar is used as the only way to commute to Leh during winters. Your mental strength will signal your body to withstand the cold climb.
2) Be Warm: Next is to keep oneself warm as the temperature falls severely on this trek. To keep going and not be deterred by the weather conditions, use 4 layers for the Torso that includes a jacket and a wind sheeter which is waterproof and has a fleece lining. For the bottom, a base layer, thermal underpants and waterproof pants with a fleece lining should suffice. Make sure your fleece and jackets have zips down the front so that you can unzip them as the day grows progressively warmer.
3) Keep a woolen cap and gloves (a must): Essentially you need to sleep well during the night to keep you fresh for the next day of the trek. Keep an insulating water bottle to keep your sleeping bag warm during the night. Use Silk liner inside your bags to keep it warm enough.
4) Footwear: Hiking shoes + Gumboots At occasions, trekking on the Chadar involves wading through knee-deep cold water. Though hiking shoes are highly recommended, gumboots help keep your shoes and feet secure from the icy cold water. It is practically impossible to dry anything at Zanskar trek in Ladakh, so gumboots are a compulsory and crucial addition to the footwear.
5) Expect sweet pain: The Chadar is a glossy, slippery sheet of ice and will never let you walk carelessly. But no matter how careful one is, everyone falls and slips more than once on the Chadar. If you fall, just get back up by rolling on your knees and keep walking with confidence. Gumboots might give you shoe bites, but you’ll get used to it as you walk.
6) Observe and keep moving: The locals can give you firsthand training on how to cross the lake on your foot. On closer observation, you would notice that they walk fast and take Penguin like strides on the ice. As you watch them, you will learn their ways of maneuvering around on the ice blanket and learn when it is wiser to wait than to carry on or the reverse.
7) Keep your electronics warm: Extreme cold climate can ruin electronics. Hence keep them warm by keeping them safe by tucking them into your pockets closer to your body it will keep them warm and long-lasting.
8) Protect your fingers and toes: In sub-zero temperatures, fingers and toes are the most exposed and can be frozen resulting in bad pain when camping. Carry waterproof woolen socks and gloves. An extra pair of socks would help as they gather moisture while wearing gumboots.
9) Warming pads: Warming pads are very helpful for those who feel cold sooner than others. These are exothermic pads to be slipped in your gloves and socks. They release heat and keep you warm for up to 10 hours.
Do's and Don'ts On Chadar Trek 2021
Do’s of Chadar Trek
- It’s always good to plan for an additional day to accommodate any unforeseen conditions like bad weather, broken bridges, flight delays, casualties that may arise.
- One should inform one’s family before coming for this trek, so in case of an emergency, they can come for help.
- The temperature extensively drops down in the region. Therefore, it is advisable to keep warm clothes and shoes at hand. The shoes must also be waterproof.
- As there won’t be any pharmacies on our trek, please do carry required medications and a first aid kit, in case of any bruises or cuts
- The area of this trek has hardly any shop to stop for food or drinks, hence it is advisable to carry water and energy giving food like energy bars and other eateries to be had at regular intervals. We also travel with plenty of water
- Always take note of the weather reports and avoid getting caught in any sort of natural ravages.
- Trekking in Frozen river is certainly a difficult task and thus, one should not try to be over-smart. Following the tips and guidelines is a must to carry out this trek safely.
- It is advisable to consult an expert trekker before backpacking a heavy backpack might slow down your trekking speed.
- While visiting the monasteries and other religious sites, abide by the instructions and guidelines laid by the authorities.
- Abide by the instructions given by the trek leader or instructor in order to enjoy a safe and sound trekking
Don'ts of Chadar Trek
- Since you will be trekking in an eco-friendly zone, make sure you do not litter the vicinity and carry your leftovers back.
- Flowy and frilly clothing might hinder your movement. It is better to avoid such type of clothing.
- Do not rely on sports or casual shoes as they might compromise grip on the snowy surface.
- The wonderful waterfalls should not be contaminated by the use of shampoos and soaps. Thus one should avoid using them. The local habitat tribes use this water for drinking purposes so one should keep it as clean as one expects its drinking water to be.
- When meeting monks or other locals on the way, pinpointing is not advisable as they make take offense.
- Respect the serenity of the shrines and thus one should never disturb the monks or prayers in the monasteries on the route.
- Avoid heavy meals during the trek as it leads to tiredness.
- Avoid: Denim or jeans clothing, soda and alcoholic beverages, plastics of all kind, and tobacco
Chadar Trek Clothing Essentials
To embrace the negative temperature of the piercing Himalayan winters, you must ensure that none of your skin is exposed to the chilling winds to feast. Do not let stress beads gather over your brows as we have commemorated the most basic clothing essentials for the plain-dwelling, budding adventure junkies.
Are you acquainted with the concept of layering? Layering is a strategy of wearing clothes one above the other so as to curate a heat-retaining system. Keeping in mind the insulating properties of air, the idea behind layering is to trap and keep the body heat intact within the layers.
For surviving the ultracold Chadar Trek, you must assure that you have four-five layers of clothing all through the journey. Taking up right from the head to the toes of clothing, let’s get started!
Upper Body
Headcover: As per studies, 60% heat of the body is lost from the head, so, it is necessary to cover the head properly to let no heat escape.
Balaclava: Exposing only the eyes and mouth, a balaclava ensures that your face is protected completely.
Muffler: Make sure you wrap a muffler around your neck and feel the warmth against your neck.
Lower Body
Tights: The closest layer to the skin, just as the upper body innerwear you must ensure that they are breathable and do not soak sweat. You would not like to invite any fungal infection or irritation during the trek.
Wool fleece: The second layer will provide you with enough warmth so that you can survive the negative temperatures.
Waterproof/ winter cheater pants: During the Chadar trek, there will be moments when you walk through water. In such scenarios, your winter cheater pants will be a boon for you as they will not let water seep in and dry quickly even if they get wet.
Quick-dry socks: Make sure you keep 6 pairs of quick-dry socks so as to change whenever they get wet.
Footwear Essentials
Trekking shoes: Trekking shoes give you the right grip and help you climb the rocky and muddy areas. You must ensure that your shoes fit you right because they are the ones who can make you trip or break it!
Gum boots: You cannot think of going for the Chadar Trek without gum boots. Covering up to the knees, these save your shoes and socks from getting wet. You can also add microspikes to make your penguin walk easy.
Toiletries Essentials
Though maintaining hygiene during the Chadar Trek is a daunting task but with the right things in hand you can accomplish it easily.
Brush/ Toothpaste: The most necessary yet the most missed out essential out of the list! Make sure you carry only the required quantity of toothpaste along.
Tissue papers: Away from the luxury of running taps and toilet seats, there are only dry washrooms placed in the campsites in Chadar. Make sure you carry tissues to maintain your hygiene.
Sunscreen: The chilling winds and the direct rays of the Sun make it essential to apply sunscreen at least twice a day for the protection of your skin.
Moisturiser & Lip Balm: Chapped lips and dry skin are common in winters. Keep moisturiser and lip balm handy to keep your skin hydrated against the harsh negative temperatures.
Sanitizer: The thought of dipping fingers in the freezing water brings chills down the spine. Packing along a sanitizer would definitely bring you in a win-win situation - clean hands without water.
Pantyliners or Tampons: Even if you’re just over with your periods, it is advisable to carry pantyliners, tampons, or pads as the high altitudes trigger your hormones sometimes. It is better to keep them handy to be prepared for the situation. Assure that they are disposed off responsibly.
Trek Equipments
Trekking poles: Though carrying trekking poles is not mandatory, it eases the pressure on the joints making the descend a little easier.
Sleeping bags: If you rent a sleeping bag, then do make sure you buy a fresh sleep liner for the inner layer. The inner helps keeping you warm and also including the hygiene issues.
Rucksack: A well fitted 6L - 9L rucksack bag will be enough for the Chadar Trek. Check the straps and grip over your shoulder while buying.
Day pack: You will need a small day pack to keep a set of clothes and snacks while you wander around.
Medicines: This trek is not easy at all. It is necessary to keep few medicines handy because bruises, cuts, and mountain sickness is very common. Make sure you carry general medicines for headaches, the common cold, and upset stomach and Diamox for AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) after proper medical advice.
Remember to carry pain-relieving gels and antiseptic ointments for cuts and bruises. It is also advisable to keep ORS handy, in order to regain energy if you ever fall short.
Others
Electronics: Carry at least two power banks and a lot of batteries for your camera so that you can capture the moments without any problem.
Headlight: Counting as one of the obvious things to carry, make sure you do not forget it in haste.
Pee funnel: An essential for women, it helps to maintain hygiene as well.
Best of
What not to carry for Chadar Trek?
Contact Lenses
You can use spectacles underneath the UV protected sunglasses used to protect you from snow blindness.
Plastic Bottles
The Zanskar river freezes due to the extreme temperature drop ranging from -10 to -30 degree Celsius. You definitely cannot expect the water in your plastic water bottle to stay in its regular state in such weather conditions.
Heavy Sweater
These bulky sweaters take up a lot of space in your runsack and work against the concept of layering. Why not keep them for the post Chadar Trek celebration party!
Alcohol
Alcohol should not even be the last thing in your backpack. It brings down the temperature of your body, giving you the wrong impression of the warmth due to the increased rate of adrenaline.
Make sure you do not fall into the myth pit as the consequences include dehydration and hypothermia. It could cost you the enthralling trek experience and maybe your life!
Denim
Exclude the uncomfortable denims from you clothing to enrich the enthralling experience in your comfortable quick-dry trousers.
Denims are heavy, require longer duration to get dry, and make you feel uneasy anyway. Feeling uneasy because of the clothes is the last thing you should experience!
Wet Wipes
With everything freezing around, your frozen wet wipes will definitely not be something that you will use during the Chadar Trek.
