Chadar Trek: What You Need to Know About India’s Frozen River Adventure

When you think of trekking in India, you might picture green hills or Himalayan peaks—but the Chadar Trek, a winter trek on the frozen Zanskar River in Ladakh, where temperatures drop below -30°C and the only path is a sheet of ice. Also known as the Ice Trek, it’s not just a hike—it’s a survival journey through one of the most isolated places on Earth. This isn’t a trail you book with a guide and a warm hostel at night. It’s a raw, physical test that only a small number of adventurers attempt each year, and those who do rarely forget it.

The Zanskar River, a remote, glacial river in northern India that freezes solid between December and February, turning into a natural ice highway becomes the only way to reach villages cut off by snow. For centuries, locals used this frozen route to trade and visit family. Today, trekkers follow the same path, walking over ice so thick it holds the weight of a person, but thin enough to hear the water rushing beneath. You’ll need proper gear—thermal layers, crampons, and a sleeping bag rated for -30°C—because there are no lodges. You sleep in tents on ice, and every step requires focus. The Ladakh region, a high-altitude desert in the Indian Himalayas known for its barren beauty, Buddhist monasteries, and extreme weather doesn’t just challenge your body—it changes how you see endurance.

People often ask if the Chadar Trek is for beginners. The answer is no. You need solid fitness, prior high-altitude experience, and mental toughness. It’s not about speed or views—it’s about resilience. You’ll walk for 6 to 8 hours a day, in silence, with only the crunch of ice underfoot and the wind howling through the canyon. The views? Jaw-dropping. Frozen waterfalls, ice caves, and cliffs painted orange by the morning sun. But the real reward isn’t the photos. It’s the quiet pride of knowing you made it through one of the toughest treks on the planet.

What you’ll find in the posts below are real stories from people who’ve done it—what they packed, what went wrong, how they stayed warm, and why they’d go back. You’ll also see how it compares to other extreme treks in India, like Kailash Mansarovar or Roopkund. No fluff. No marketing. Just what you need to know before you lace up your boots and step onto the ice.