A closer look
Calling the Chadar Trek a leisurely walk is an absolute insult to basic human survival instincts. Deep in the Indian Himalayas, the Zanskar River freezes over in winter, creating a terrifyingly gorgeous sheet of ice that serves as the region's only highway. Locals and overly ambitious tourists drag supply sleds for days over a frozen gorge that frequently cracks open to reveal freezing rapids below. It is a punishing, frostbite-inducing expedition that proves people will do absolutely anything if the scenery is dramatic enough.
