Altitude sickness in Spiti: how it feels and how we handle it
What AMS is, the early signs, why we sleep in Tabo before Kaza, and when we turn around.
What it is
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) happens when you climb faster than your body adjusts to thinner air. Kaza sits at 3,800 m and Komic at 4,587 m, so mild symptoms are common and very treatable when caught early.
Early signs
Headache, nausea, dizziness, breathlessness on small climbs, or unusual tiredness. Tell your trip captain straight away. Hiding symptoms is the only truly dangerous thing you can do.
How the route helps
We gain height slowly: Narkanda at about 2,700 m, Chitkul at 3,450 m, then Tabo at 3,280 m before Kaza at 3,800 m. The day you arrive in Kaza is short, with a free evening to rest.
What your trip captain does
Checks in with everyone every morning and evening, keeps the pace slow on arrival days, and has a clear plan to take anyone who feels unwell down to lower ground. Tell us about any medical condition before the trip.
What you can do
Drink 3–4 litres of water a day, walk slowly, skip alcohol and smoking for the first three days at altitude, and eat even when you are not hungry. Ask your doctor about Diamox before the trip.