The Chadar Trek is one of the most unusual and demanding walks in the Himalaya: a winter traverse of the frozen Zanskar River, walking on ice through a gorge too steep and narrow to otherwise pass. The trek takes 8 to 12 days from Chilling (near Leh) through to Zanskar in January and February, when temperatures drop to -15°C or colder and the ice is thick enough to walk on — though it never feels entirely safe, and cracks and pressure ridges require constant attention.
The gorge through which the river flows is extraordinary in winter: sheer ice-covered walls, frozen waterfalls, and the relentless cold. You camp on ledges and in shallow caves, with bonfires for warmth. The experience requires a licensed guide, good cold-weather gear, and genuine physical fitness — it is not a casual walk. But it has become one of the signature adventure treks in India, and companies based in Leh organise trips throughout the season. In recent years the ice has been forming later and becoming less predictable due to climate change, so conditions vary significantly.