Everest Base Camp Trek

Altitude sickness on the Everest Base Camp trek is a real risk above 2,500 meters, but it is also one of the most preventable parts of the entire journey. Most cases are mild, showing up as a headache, low appetite, or poor sleep above Namche Bazaar, and they resolve with rest, hydration, and a slower pace. The standard 12 to 14 day itinerary is built around two scheduled acclimatization days at Namche and Dingboche for exactly this reason, and that pacing matters more than fitness level or trekking experience ever will. The real danger is not altitude sickness itself but ignoring it. Pushing through symptoms to stay on schedule is how mild AMS turns into something far more serious, including HAPE and HACE, both of which require immediate descent. With a sensible pace, an attentive guide, and a willingness to rest when your body asks for it, the overwhelming majority of trekkers reach Base Camp and Kala Patthar safely.