Leh Ladakh in 2, 3 or 5 days: which trip should you pick?

9 days: Chadar Trek in 9 Days — Walking on the Frozen Zanskar River

1. Day 1Arrive in Leh — Fly in to Leh (3,500 m)
2. Day 2Acclimatisation in Leh — Easy walk, Gear check
3. Day 3Medical check and permits — Official medical check-up, Briefing
4. Day 4Leh to Shingra Koma, onto the ice — Drive to the start, First steps on the chadar
5. Day 5Somo Paldar to Tibb cave — Deep in the canyon, Tibb cave camp
6. Day 6Tibb to Naerak — To the frozen waterfall, Naerak camp
7. Day 7Naerak back to Tibb — Back down the river
8. Day 8Tibb to Shingra Koma, drive to Leh — Last day on the ice, Leh
9. Day 9Fly out (buffer) — Departure

Highlights: Walk on the frozen Zanskar river through a deep canyon, at −15 to −25 °C at night · The frozen Naerak waterfall · Nights in caves and riverside camps, the way Zanskari villagers used to travel.

When to go

May to September, when the passes and roads are open. Winter is extreme, roads close and only flights operate, so it suits experienced travellers.

Getting there

Leh has daily flights from Delhi. The Manali and Srinagar road routes are open only in summer and take two days each, with a night's halt for altitude. Our trips start and end at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh.