Vertical limit: The frozen Chadar river. Sankar Sridhar

With the onset of winter, it’s time to plan the Chadar trek, one of the most spectacular walks in the Zanskar valley. If you need someone to hold your hand, adventure travel outfitter X-treme X-on has drawn up a 15-day schedule (give or take a day or two for weather-related exigencies) that takes you via Bakula Bawo, Yokmado, Nyerak, and the Lingshed monastery to the frozen Chadar river. You walk on the river till Tsarak Do and then return to Lingshed, stopping at a few more monasteries on the way back. The actual walk starts from (and ends at) Chilling, a 5-hour drive from Leh. On behalf of X-treme X-on, co-owner Gaurav Schimar says the trek, scheduled to begin 28 January and end 13 February, costs Rs59,000 per person (ex-Leh), inclusive of boarding, lodging, transfers and equipment. Only 12 places are available, so if you’re keen to brave the snow and want more details (the website’s still under construction), email xtremexon@gmail.com or call 09871511133.