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Altitude sickness is the most predictable serious risk on a Himalayan trek, and the most preventable. It does not care how fit you are, and it is not a sign of weakness. It is what happens when the body climbs faster than it can adapt to thinner air. Every year Indian trekkers on popular routes, and tourists who fly straight into Leh, get into trouble that a little knowledge would have avoided. This guide explains what to watch for and what to do.

If you have only a few days and want a real Himalayan summit with views to match, Chopta is the answer. From a meadow camp in the forest, a paved path climbs to Tungnath, the highest Shiva temple in the world and one of the Panch Kedar, and a short, steep scramble beyond it reaches the summit of Chandrashila at about 4,000 m. The panorama, from Nanda Devi and Trishul to Chaukhamba and Kedarnath, is one of the finest in Uttarakhand.

Everest Base Camp is the trek many Indian trekkers save up for: two weeks walking up the Khumbu valley through Sherpa villages and monasteries, to the foot of the world's highest mountain. For Indians it is also one of the easiest major Himalayan treks to organise abroad, with no visa and familiar food and currency close at hand. This guide covers the practical side, from documents to permits to cost. For the full story of the route and the mountain, see our Everest sub-site.