Guidance
Altitude Sickness & Safety
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can affect any trekker regardless of fitness level - it's about how your body responds to reduced oxygen, not how strong you are. Understanding it is the single most important safety topic for any high-altitude trek.
What Is Altitude Sickness?
Above roughly 2,500m, the air contains less available oxygen than your body is used to. Acute Mountain Sickness occurs when you ascend faster than your body can adapt to this change. It ranges from mild discomfort to a life-threatening emergency in its most severe forms - HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) and HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema), both involving fluid buildup in the lungs or brain.
Recognizing the Symptoms
Mild AMS - Common, Manageable
- Headache
- Nausea or loss of appetite
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fatigue beyond normal exertion
- Difficulty sleeping
Severe - Requires Immediate Descent
- Confusion or loss of coordination (ataxia)
- Shortness of breath even at rest
- Persistent cough, possibly with pink or frothy fluid
- Severe headache unrelieved by medication
- Inability to walk a straight line
Prevention
Ascend Gradually
Never gain more than 300–500m of sleeping altitude per day above 3,000m. All our itineraries are built around this rule.
Build in Acclimatization Days
Rest days at key altitudes (like Namche Bazaar and Dingboche on the EBC route) let your body adjust before continuing higher.
Climb High, Sleep Low
On acclimatization days, hiking to a higher point during the day and returning to sleep lower helps your body adapt faster.
Stay Hydrated
Aim for 3–4 liters of water daily. Dehydration worsens altitude symptoms and is easily confused with early AMS.
Avoid Alcohol and Sleeping Pills
Both suppress breathing during sleep, which is already reduced at altitude - this can mask or worsen symptoms.
Consider Diamox (Acetazolamide)
A common preventative medication that helps the body acclimatize faster. Consult your doctor before your trip to discuss whether it's right for you.
The Golden Rule
If symptoms worsen or don’t improve with rest, the only reliable treatment is immediate descent. No medication is a substitute for descending when severe symptoms appear. Our guides are trained to make this call decisively, even mid-trek - your safety takes priority over completing an itinerary as planned.
How We Manage This on Every Trek
Every itinerary we run includes properly spaced acclimatization days at key altitudes. Our guides carry pulse oximeters, wilderness first-aid training, and satellite communication devices on high-altitude routes, and follow clear descent-first protocols the moment severe symptoms appear.
Have a health question before booking? Contact us →