Above 3,500 meters, barometric air pressure drops and atmospheric oxygen levels fall below 60% of sea level. Our medical protocols are formulated under Wilderness Medical Society (WMS) and UIAA Mountain Medicine guidelines.
SpO2 and resting pulse logged morning and evening.
Every morning and evening, your lead Sherpa records your blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and resting pulse on our medical telemetry log to preempt AMS.
Climb high, sleep low — 400 m max gain above 3,000 m.
We strictly enforce the "Climb High, Sleep Low" protocol. Maximum daily sleeping elevation gains are limited to 400m above 3,000 meters with built-in rest days.
Dual satellite transceivers with every crew.
Dual Iridium satellite transceivers accompany every crew. Real-time GPS coordinate tracking connects directly to our Kathmandu emergency dispatch center.
H125 standby teams, able to land at 6,000 m.
High-altitude Airbus H125 (Eurocopter AS350 B3e) helicopter standby teams equipped with oxygen baskets capable of landing at 6,000m for immediate airlift.
Pick a trekking route to see where you sleep each night — the number that matters for acclimatisation — with any night that climbs more than ~500 m above 3,000 m flagged and the rest days marked. Pick an expedition to see its rotation profile: the deliberate climb-high, drop-back-to-Base-Camp saw-tooth that carries a team to the summit.
Trek elevations come from our published route notes; expedition profiles come from the mountaineering record and each peak's camp altitudes — the phases every trip runs through, not a fixed day-by-day. Your guide or expedition leader adjusts the real pace to the team and the conditions.
A quick susceptibility estimate, modelled on the Wilderness Medical Society risk categories. Use it to work out — with your doctor — how conservative your itinerary and preparation need to be. It is a planning aid, not a medical assessment.
The international clinical standard for diagnosing Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) during high-altitude ascent.
Clear for continuous ascent pacing. Maintain 4-5 liters of daily hydration.
A category-by-category list for a tea-house trek to around 5,000 m. Tick items as you pack — your progress is saved on this device. Essential items are the ones you should not leave Kathmandu without. Pick your route to fold in its specific kit.
Thamel has everything — down jackets, sleeping bags, boots, poles — to buy or rent by the day. A −15 °C sleeping bag and a down jacket are the two items most worth hiring if you do not own good ones. Test any rented boots on a walk before the trek.
