The Chadar Trek is a winter-trail in Zanskar region of Ladakh starting from Nimoo, in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Walls of this river valley are near vertical cliffs up to 600 m high and the Zanskar River (a tributary of the Indus) is only 5 m wide in places contributing to a natural phenomena which form a thick walkable sheet of ice upon the Zanskar river.
As the motorable road to Zanskar close in winters of Ladakh, Chadar becomes the only way to commute to Zanskar from Leh for locals.In the local language “chadar” is the word used for sheet indicating the layer of ice that covers the river .
During the summer this river becomes a perfect location for river rafting and during the winters it transforms into an ice sheet where the famous Chadar trek is performed.
Its being used by the locals for centuries. The documentary of National Geographic Channel first brought this journey of the locals to the outside world and since then Chadar – The Frozen River Trek has hit the popularity burst.
It is rated as one of the best treks existing in the planet by many.
For many years Chadar trek has attracted tourist from all over the world.