In a recent travel update, the Ladakh tourism department has suspended all winter activities amid the rise of the omicron variant of coronavirus. This includes the famous Chadar Trek. The new covid variant is less deadly; however, it is highly contagious, and hence the government does not want to take the risk.
Chadar Trek is a popular adventure activity undertaken by adventurers, which is a 105km trek where the trekkers walk across the frozen Zanskar River. The activity was started to promote tourism in the Rupshu Valley in Leh. Another famous snow leopard sighting expedition has also been canceled.
The notification of cancellation of Chadar Trek, snow leopard sighting, and other winter activities was announced on Twitter by the deputy commissioner of Leh, Shrikant Suse.
The Omicron variant has also canceled the famous apricot blossom festival, organized in Kargil District during the months of January-February.