Here's Everything You Need to Know Before You Take on the Mighty Chadar Trek!

I don't have any prior trekking experience, can I still go for Chadar Trek?

Of-course you can, all what matters here is your preparedness in terms of gears and battling with your mental conflicts. The unique thing about this trek is the flat gradient that it offers with minimal involvement of climbing, so there's hardly any gain in altitude (the altitude is infact less than that of Leh). So once you are properly acclimatized , you shouldn't be facing any health challenges. What makes this trek difficult is the extreme weather conditions and glassy terrain which is very slippery at times causing you to fall again and again.

What will be the temperature range?

Temperature shall generally revolve between -5 ° to +5 ° C during daytime while in Leh whereas it will be around -15 ° to -5 ° C during daytime while trekking on Chadar. The temperature can plunge up to -25 ° to -30 ° C at night.

What kind of clothes/gears do I need to carry for this trek and where to get them from?

You must carry enough warm clothing suitable for this freezing weather. Here's a list of things that you should be carrying for this trek:

Most of the items mentioned in the list can be purchased from your nearest decathlon store or if you want to go for cheaper options then check out Kabutar Market or Majnu ka Tila.

What about accommodation in Leh?

During the period of Chadar trek i.e. in peak winters, most of the hotels in Leh are shut because of operational issues like water scarcity and staff availability. So accommodation is generally provided in standard guesthouses/home-stays in comfortable rooms on sharing basis. Personal room can't be guaranteed during this time due to heavy influx of trekkers visiting Leh unless you've booked something well in advance.

What is the fee structure for wildlife department/ ALTOA? Will I be getting any receipt for it?

Wildlife Department permit charges are INR 2,200/- for foreigners & INR 2,000 for Indians. Apart from this, ALTOA will provide Adventure Insurance and Medical Check-up at Leh for INR 3,000/- per person. Yes, you'll get a govt. authorized receipt for the same.

How fit should I be to complete the trek successfully?

Basic level fitness is needed for this trek so it's good to start prepping up with regular brisk walk and then scaling up to jogging/running for at-least 5 Kms on a daily basis at least 30-40 days before the trek. Smokers are advised to cut down their cigarette consumption and follow a healthy lifestyle as a prep starter pack.

What about accommodation in tents while on Chadar?

Tents are generally provided on twin/triple sharing basis with 2 sleeping bags per person to protect you from extreme cold at night. You just have to ensure that you change your damp day clothes (dry tee/socks/lowers) before getting inside the sleeping bag.

I do not want to carry my rucksack while trekking on Chadar. What option do I get?

You can hire a porter who will carry your bag which should not weigh more than 12 kgs. This will help you to trek on the frozen Zanskar river without any burden. The usual charges of porter vary from INR 750-850 per day per bag. If you need a porter then booking one beforehand is always advisable and you can do so by getting in touch with your vendor.

What kind of meals are provided while on Trek?

Wholesome vegetarian meals (Daal, Sabji, Roti, Chawal, Aachar, Salad & Sweet Dish) are provided during the trek with variety in menu on each day. Breakfast/ Dinner is always cooked and served fresh at the respective campsites whereas lunch is a quick on the go preparation.

Do I get hot drinking water during the trek and in Hotel?

Yes, hot drinking water will be provided 2-3 times in a day so you can fill up your flask bottles for the day ahead. During the trek, Zanskar river water will be used as drinking water after boiling.

Why is water available in limited quantity in hotels?

In winters the fuel charges are high & availability of running water is almost nil so it's the set practice of the region to heat the snow/ice and provide it in liquid form for limited use only. Considering this the trekkers are advised to use water judiciously.

What about washroom facilities during trek?

Dry toilet tents are pitched near the campsite so you can use them when you are around the campsite. Other than that, there's no provision of toilet tents during the day while you are walking from one campsite to another so you'll have to go into the wild to find the right spot for yourself.

How can we ensure safety in case any serious medical situation arises?

Generally the support staff carries one oxygen cylinder & basic first aid kit containing medicines for curing body ache/stomach problems/AMS/ bruises etc. As this is a hard graded trek, chances of physical strains are always there so the trekkers are advised to keep their personal medicine kit with them to ensure better safety for themselves.

What should be the ideal group size for Chadar trek?

It is always better to book with a vendor that takes small batch size of 12-15 people for a better experience as you don't want the beauty of Chadar to be lost between crowd. Also, a bigger batch will always bring in a lot of coordination & personal attention issues as everyone has a different pace of walking.

If you find this blog informative then please share it and spread the word! For people who are planning to take this trek in 2021, please drop your queries in the comments section or you can also reach out to me on Instagram !