The Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trek program is designed in such a way as to allow full acclimatization to prevent anyone from getting AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). When trekking in the high altitude, the general rule is to keep a slow pace allowing the body enough time to adjust to the height gained every day. The higher the altitude, the less is the oxygen in the air and our body needs to adjust to this accordingly.  It is therefore essential that we allow you sufficient time for acclimatization.  Since this trek gains a maximum altitude of 5,360m/17,580ft (French Pass) it is likely that some of us who are not used to high altitude hikes may be affected by it. And in order to avoid this we have planned our itinerary by having enough time for proper acclimatization.  During the trip we have good 4 days for acclimatization – day 10 at Italian Base Camp (3,660m), day 12 at Glacier Camp (4200m), day 14: rest & acclimatization day at Dhaulagiri Base Camp (4,750m) and day 16: Exploration walk around Hidden Valley. This should be aptly sufficient for us to get properly acclimatized.

In the meantime, please refer to “Altitude illness” by Dr. Jim Duff who has provided detailed information about altitude sickness and the ways to prevent them.


Preventing altitude sickness when trekking in Nepal:

• Ascend slowly to altitudes above 2500m.
• Take 48 hours to acclimatize when ascending above 2500m.
• Avoid alcohol or sleeping pills
• Drink plenty of water or herbal tea (no alcohol or coffee)
• The altitude at which you sleep should be normally no higher than 300m than your sleeping altitude of the previous night