altitude sickness in sikkim?

tacita

someone has kindly brought to my attention the possibility of altitude sickness in sikkim. i would like to hear more about others' experience with this.

i will be flying from delhi to bagdogra and then taking a helicopter (or jeep) directly to gangtok for a few days, one of which will include a drive to tsomgo lake. then its on to pelling and youksom, and then a few days in darjeeling. i am healthy and relatively fit, but am growing concerned about the change in altitude. (no real trekking, however, more of a sight-seeing trip, short hikes up hills, etc.; one day low-altitude trek near pelling.)

i welcome comments on this issue so that i can modify my itinerary accordingly, if necessary. thanks!

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dzibead

Tsomgo Lake is at about 12,400 feet so you could feel the effects of altitude there, but if you're just doing a driving tour you might not notice much. If you'll be walking around, however, you'll definitely feel the effects, unless you stay at that altitude for a day or more and acclimatize. The other places you list are not that high - only around 7,000 feet, which is the altitude of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Some people say they feel the effects of altitude at that height, but I think most don't.

dhans

If you reasonably fit, you should be fine, allthough anything above 3500 metres may be dangerous. Acquint yourself with the symptoms of altitude sickness and make sure you get down once you get the symptoms. Take it easy the first few days; go out on some easy walks. Don't drink alcohol, drink plenty of fluids and take a leasurely pace. Don't fly into Sikkim, but take a jeep or a bus (the small luxury ones are even comfortable).

Happy travels,

Hans

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arunchs

There is no chance of altitude sickness in Gangtok, Yoksum and Pelling. Its very unlikely in Darjeeling too.

Tsongmo lake is the only place where there is some chance of altitude sickness. But generally speaking, you should be fine at 12000 feet though there is chances of some discomfort. But do not worry and just go there. If you feal bad headaches, start throwing up or don't feel hungry, do not head further and just turn back. Most likely you will not have much trouble.

Flying is not a problem really, Gangtok is only 5000+ feet high and you should never have any trouble.

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AvidTrekker

If you are just visiting Nathu La as a day trip [and not camping at that altitude for the night] there is no danger of altitude sickness on your Sikkim tour.

Just in case, drink plenty of water [NOT fizzy drinks coz they actually dehydrate you] and keep some aspirin handy in case of a headache. If you are not properly hungry, DONT eat.

You can come back to a lower altitude by evening and eat as much as you want.

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Darmabum

one by flying from Chengdu to Lhasa (probably @ a 10,000 foot gain) and one driving from Lima, Peru (sea level) to the top of a 16,000 foot pass in the one day. Once in Lhasa I found myself while walking being passed (consistently) by old Tibetan women; I experienced no headaches but was rather just shortness of breath for some time . . . and those steps up into the Potala were killers! Once we crested the pass in Peru all of us in the car were giddy, laughing hysterically. We camped on the other side of the pass that night, @ 15,000 feet and woke up the next day with big headaches. Whether due to altitude or the pisco we drank that night, I can't say, though probably both. The advice above seems very good. It sounds like an amazing trip you have planned! Enjoy. Namaste.

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tacita

thanks to all who took the time to reply to my post. i am at greater ease about the trip and will take all your precautionary advice.

k9healer

I have just returned from Gangtok and I live in Canada at sea level. I spent 2 weeks in Gangtok and then went higher when trekking and had absolutely no problem.
You'll be fine - just enjoy yourself!

vistet

Since I was the one who from the brought this up from the beginning , and from the beginning suffered the misconception that your itinerary involved a sleeping altitude around 4000 and got somewhat locked in to that perspective , I just want to say that I agree with just about all of the above (well , maybe not about the role of fitness).

Yes , you will feel altitude effects above three thousand , feeling anything worse would have to involve spending several hours at the Nathu La. Which is not what a day tour would mean , and was what you asked about. You can lessen these altitude effects by spending more time around 2000 but again : in this case it´s more a case of comfort .

The links provided covered the effects of ascending and sleeping at these altitudes, a point mentioned but perhaps that should have been emphasised more. Anyway , they were not pertinent to the issue , it would have sufficed to say that staying and spending the night makes a world of difference for AMS.

Hope you are back on track with your plans and good anticipations , and sorry for slowing you down on that path.
Happy trails ,
v.

tintin8801

to avoid altitude sikness, never keep ur stomach empty, always swalow ur saliva continiously as u go up and there is presuure changes!!
regarding medicines, usually no medicine works once the sickeness starts! yes one can take precautionary medicines!

to avoid vomiting i would recoment to carry Zofer MD 4mg, it is mouth disolving!

enjoy ur travel

regards

tacita

not to worry, vistet, i am indeed on track with my plans and happily anticipating my trip; the itinerary is coming together nicely. and it was good to have this discussion about altitude sickness - always better to be safe. thanks for your valuable input.

sunam

Janice

one precaution you can take for altitude is to get a prescription for "Diamox". Take day before you go higher. Drains fluids from around brain. I used it in Tibet. I was macho and did not take it and ended up getting sick . After taking it I was fine in a day. Recommended by altitude specialist doctors in Katmandu. Manus