Winter Treks

Chadar Trek

• Days - 10
• Grade - Challanger
• Distance - 70Km

Winter Trek known as (Chadar Trek) on the frozen River is a very unique winter trek and it is perfect for adventure seekers. The river of Zanskar transforms into a thick white blanket of ice which enables people to walk on the frozen water, following a path which is inaccessible in summer. Walking on the frozen river is the only way for the people of Zankar to access rest of Ladakh during winter when the roads are closed because of heavy snow on the passes.

 The trek can usually be done from January until the end of February, when the temperature drops down to -25 to -35 degrees. The trek follows the river gorge through dramatic landscape and you might catch sight of wildlife on the trail. Be prepared to stay in caves, villages and camps.

Itinerary Detail

• Day 1:  Arrive in leh by flight - The temperature in Leh is always in the negative. Keep a jacket, woolen cap and gloves handy in the flight to face the blast of cold air the moment you land from the plane. Leh is totally covered by a blanket of snow. It’s white all around. Sometimes the roads have a coating of a think sheet of ice. Watch out when you walk on them and be wary of slips and falls. The city of Leh only partly open during the winter months only the shops catering to the local needs are open. Buy all your gears from your city and don’t keep any major shopping to do at Leh. Leh at 11,800ft is higher than your entire trek. It is colder too. Daytime the temperature hovers at around -10 degrees and after sundown drops to -16 or more. Get used to the cold at Leh during the day in the sun but get into your rooms once the sun goes down.
• Day 2: Acclimatization and afternoon visit to Shanti Stupa, Namgyal Tsemo and main market
• Day 3: Medical checkup in SNM Hospital by the Administration and ALTO Organization.
• Day 4:- Leh to Shingra Kongma 4/5hrs
  Early in the morning after the breakfast drive to shingra kongma .Your can visit the Hall of Fame,Spituk Gonpa,Gurduwara,Megnetic hill,and Sangam(zanskar and Indus river)on the way.Today not need to walk only by car.camp in tent . 
• Day 5: Trek -Shingra Koma to Tibb, 20 kms, 7 – 8 hrs.
  The trek from Shingra Koma to Tibb is a long one. It is also one of the most beautiful days of the trek. Watch the small waterfalls on the left standing still in the form of icefalls. A couple of hours into the days walk brings you to a massive waterfall on the left. Prayer flags flutter on the trees in front of the waterfall. You know that the place is revered by the Ladakhis. Surprisingly the waterfall is not frozen. Notice the greenish moss growing on the rocks under the water.
• Day 6: Trek from Tibb to Nerak, 12 kms, 7 hrs.
  The trek from Tibb to Nerak is 12 kms long. This is the day when you encounter the much awaited frozen waterfall. The day is beautiful too going through the cliffs and gorges and valleys of Chadar. 5 hours into the trek and after your lunch break is when you see the first sights of Nerak. Prayer flags around Juniper shrubs by the Chadar signal that you are now close to Nerak and before that the waterfall.
  Nerak is a village located about 2,000ft higher than the river bed. The Chadar trekkers camp not at the village but at the camping ground 200 ft higher than the river. There is a lone shelter at Nerak campsite which serves as a Rafting point in the summer months. During winters, it serves as a shelter for the Chadar trekkers.
• Day 7: Return from Nerak to Tibb, 7 hrs.
  The return path is theoretically a retrace of the route you took the last 3 days but in reality can feel like a totally new one. The dynamics of the Chadar can make the whole place look and feel different. Old Chadar breaks, new ones form where there was none earlier, texture of the Chadar changes and so on. Sometimes the Chadar breaks right under your feet and floats away like a raft. You have no option but to run on to the safer sheet ahead. You see the same broken raft getting stuck somewhere downstream and other icicles clinging on to it to form a whole new Chadar elsewhere. The Chadar trek is an experience. Your experience and what you see will be totally different from anyone else’s.
• Day 08 Trek from Tibb to Shingra Kogma. 
• Day 09 Trek from Shingra Koma and drive back to Leh via Chilling. 
• Day 10 Departure to onward Destination.  

We also offer the trek till Zanskar if the clients are interest to go further

Snow Leopard Trek

• Days - 10-13
• Grade - Challanger
• Distance - 45 Km

Hemis National Park (or Hemis High Altitude National Park) is a high altitude national park in the eastern Ladakh region of the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. Globally famous for its snow leopards, it is believed to have the highest density of them in any protected area in the world.[1] It is the only national park in India that is north of the Himalayas, the largest notified protected area in India (largest National park) and is the second largest contiguous protected area, after the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserveand surrounding protected areas. The park is home to a number of species of endangered mammals, including the snow leopard. Hemis National Park is India's protected area inside the Palearctic ecozone, outside the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary northeast of Hemis, and the proposed Tso Lhamo Cold Desert Conservation Area in North Sikkim.

The park is bounded on the north by the banks of the Indus River, and includes the catchments of Markha, Sumdah and Rumbak, and parts of the Zanskar Range.

Snow leopard Trek is one of the few treks in Ladakh which can be done during winter, the best months are February and March. Snow leopards are very elusive felines and there is a higher chance of spotting them during winter when they descend to the valleys in search of food.Ulay.

Itinerary Detail

• Day 1:  Delhi to Leh - Our representative pickup at Leh Kushok Bakula Rinpochay and drop to Hotel. Full day rest for acclimtisattion ..After the lunch will the discussion about the trek with the company of Absolute Ladakh Trekking .
• Day 2: Acclimate in leh - The second day of your trip is set aside to lookup plus explore tiny street of the market thrusted with precious antiques and traditional materials. The main aim remains to adapt our bodies to the climate
• Day 3: Half day Sightseeing around Leh: An early in the morning after the breakfast leaving to visit around some famous and oldest places like Namgail Tsemo,Leh Palace,Sangkar gonpa ,Shanti stupa A guide accompanies us on a walk through the town of Leh. After our walk through the gift shop, we visit the LEDeG which is a preservation-house working on conservation of the environment and cultural heritage of Ladakh.
• Day 4:-
  Leh - Zingchen to Rumbak (Trek to the Camp) An early in the morning after the breakfast drive to Zingchan (2hrs)and trek to Rumbak(2hrs) As we resume our trail through the pass, the striking gateway of the Hemis National Park awaits us. Our route is freckled with the vistas of the mountains. We keep an eye out for the territorial markings of the Snow Leopard on the cliffs and rocks.
• Day 5 to Day 09: Wildlife Watch
  Our days are spent in the fervent sighting of the Snow Leopard and their prey. Hemis National Park is appraised for being home to fauna and flora of various kinds including argali (a great-horned sheep), Tibetan Wolf and blue sheep. Snow Leopard come down to the lower altitudes as the winter begins. This strengthens our chances of spotting them and if our deal with destiny is sealed stiff, we could get to glimpse at the snow leopard resting on the rocks or on the ridgelines. We come back to the camp for warm helpings and cups of hot tea. The discussions of the embellishing of the mountains surround our snacks. We spend the nights at camp.
• Day 10: Full day snowleopard watch
  The camp will be fixed but the client will be walking here or there with guide. Based on recent reports, we visit regions in the vicinity where Snow Leopards have been spotted.. The day is spent in tracking of the Snow Leopard and other animals. We stay the night at camp.
• Day 11: Trek to Zingchen and Return to Leh: Following an endearing farewell to the Hemis National Park marked by our last glimpses at the tracking routes and hosts, Zingchen is reached which awaits us with taxi. Riding to Leh, we rejuvenate our memories and reach the hotel with a healthy quota of sleep on our back.
• Day 12 Leh to Delhi.