13/08/2026
Altitude Sickness: What Every Trekker Should Know
Every year, trekkers head into the Himalayas without knowing what altitude does to the body. Above 2,000m, oxygen starts dropping fast. By 6,000m, you're breathing in less than a third of what you get at sea level. Your body needs time to adjust, and skipping that step is where altitude sickness starts.
It usually begins quietly. A headache. A little nausea. Feeling more tired than the trail should make you. Trouble sleeping, even though you're exhausted. These are your body's early warnings, not something to push through.
Common symptoms to watch for:
Headache
Nausea
Dizziness
Loss of appetite
Unusual tiredness
Difficulty sleeping
The safest approach is simple: ascend gradually, rest and acclimatize, and monitor how you feel at each stage. If symptoms start getting worse, especially while resting, that's the signal to stop climbing and descend. Don't wait for it to pass on its own.
Two conditions to take seriously:
HACE: confusion, extreme fatigue, drowsiness, or loss of coordination
HAPE: shortness of breath, weakness, or a persistent cough
Both can turn life-threatening fast. If you see these signs, immediate descent and medical help are not optional.
Safety on a trek starts long before you reach the trailhead. Plan your ascent with proper acclimatization days built in, know the symptoms before you go, and above all, listen to your body when it tells you something's off.
Swipe through the full guide, and save this post before your next trek.
Planning a Himalayan trek? Talk to us about building an itinerary with the right pace and acclimatization stops.
