Most of our Nepal treks climb more than 500 m in a day, and the data says so

Trek Guide 61 of 75 published Nepal treks include a trekking day above 500 m. Our count, the CDC guide, and why a step is not the same as a limit. By Dawa Sherpa · Oct 3, 2026 Read the full story

In our own published itineraries, 61 of 75 treks include at least one trekking day that climbs more than 500 metres, so most of our treks do not meet the 500-metres-a-day guide that medical sources use. The guide says sleeping altitude should rise by no more… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

What is the 500 m rule, and where does it apply?

Above about 3,000 metres, the CDC advises moving your sleeping altitude up by no more than about 500 m a day, with an extra acclimatisation day for every further 1,000 m. The rule is about where you sleep, not the highest point you walk to on a pass. A day… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

How many of our treks break it?

61 of 75 treks have at least one trekking day that climbs more than 500 m, and 44 have a step of that size that ends above 3,000 m. The biggest single trekking-day climbs in our published itineraries are on the Langtang Gosaikunda trek (about 2,380 m on one… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

Which treks stay within 500 m a day?

14 treks have no trekking-day step above 500 m, mostly short walks at lower altitude. Examples include the three-day Dhampus walk, the three-day Ghandruk walk, the four-day Royal Trek from Pokhara and the Rara Lake trek, where every night is listed at the… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

Does this mean our treks are unsafe?

No, but a published step is not the same as the step your body takes, and the guidance is a planning target rather than a guarantee. Descent is the treatment for serious altitude illness; see AMS, HACE and HAPE explained for what to watch for. Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

How do I check a trek's altitude before I book?

Read the daily altitudes and look for the steps, not just the maximum. Two treks that both top out at 4,500 m can differ widely in how fast they get there. The Everest Base Camp trek (14 days) and the Langtang Gosaikunda trek (13 days) are both listed with… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

Frequently asked questions

Above about 3,000 m, do not increase sleeping altitude by more than about 500 m a day, with an extra acclimatisation day for every further 1,000 m, according to the CDC Yellow Book guidance. 61 of 75 treks in our published itineraries have at least one… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

Keep reading

The three altitude illnesses, and what to do. Prevention, symptoms and treatment. How many rest days, and where. Fitness, age and the sleeping-altitude guide. Sources: Travel Himalaya Nepal published itineraries, read 3 October 2026 (daily altitudes for 75… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

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