Ladakh’s winter tourism hit as iconic Chadar Trek put on hold after Zanskar River unfreezes

In a setback to Ladakh’s winter tourism, the annual Chadar Trek on the Zanskar River has been suspended till 20 January, as the ice formation on the nearly 105 kms trail is not yet stable due to warmer weather conditions, raising potential safety issues for trekkers.

The trek at a height of 11,000 ft was earlier supposed to begin on 10 January but was postponed by five days and has now been suspended till 20 January following the unfreezing of the Zanskar River, which has rendered the trekking route unsafe, said an official announcement by the Ladakh authorities on Monday.

Advertisement

According to an official public notice by Ghulam Mohammad, Chief Executive Officer, District Disaster Management Authority, Leh, the decision has been taken after a recce team reported hazardous conditions posing a serious risk to human life. “All trekking and allied adventure activities on the Chadar route have been prohibited during the suspension period,” he ordered.

The Chadar Trek or the Zanskar Gorge trek is a winter trail over the frozen Zanskar River, and its suspension has created uncertainty over the iconic trekking activity in which people from across the country and abroad participate.

The authorities have directed tour operators and local stakeholders not to organise, promote, or facilitate any trekking activity during the period of suspension. Tourists and trekkers have been advised to strictly comply with the order.

Chadar is the country’s most challenging trek on the Zanskar River, which freezes in temperatures dropping down to -25 degrees Celsius and brings a larger-than-life experience.

As many as 41 trekkers were trapped in 2020 between the Tibb and Neyraks camps due to the unfreezing of the river and overflowing of water over the ice, and they were rescued in helicopters.