This extreme winter trek is only possible in January-February, when the Zanskar Gorge freezes solid and temperatures drop to -20 to -30°C. Trekkers walk directly on the frozen river through sheer-walled canyons, camping in riverside caves or tents. Foreigners must obtain an Inner Line Permit for the Zanskar region in advance, and ice conditions are becoming increasingly unstable each year due to road construction and climate change.
