How to stay safe during Sikkim Darjeeling Kanchendzonga Trek

Sikkim Darjeeling Kanchendzonga Trek is not very comfortable far as the trekking trail is concerned. The trail is well laid out and wide however there are loose gravel, rocks, streams, and small cliff section on many parts of the trail.     

Proper exercises for physical fitness will allow you to stay safe and healthy during the trek. Your physical fitness and preparation are what make you safe in the mountains. Having prior trekking experiences is an added advantage on your side. Knowledge about Himalayan terrain and high-altitude sickness will greatly help you in case such an issue arises during the trek.

Mild symptoms of high-altitude sickness such as slight headache, breathlessness, nausea are common in the high-altitude trek like Green Lake Trek. Our staff will give you garlic soup and popcorn which helps to acclimatize however If you start experiencing acute and strong symptoms then we will advise you not to go further or else exit becomes difficult. There is two exit point during the Sikkim Darjeeling Trek which is Maneybhanjyang / Darjeeling on the Darjeeling side Trek and Yuksam on the Sikkim side of the Trek so the further you are in the trek, the tougher it gets to get back.

In a mountain “altitude sickness” is a common term for different kinds of illnesses – as simple as a headache, dizziness to swelling of fingers to an acute state like fluids accumulations in your lungs and brains.

AMS - Acute Mountain Sickness

HAPE - High Altitude Pulmonary Edema

HACE - High Altitude Cerebral Edema

Some of the scientific Medicine used to treat Altitude Sickness is –

Diamox is a diuretic. To put it simply, it helps speed up acclimatization.

Dexamethasone (Dex) is a steroid. It prevents your body from releasing substances that cause inflammation. That’s how it helps temporarily treat edema.

Nifedipine is a drug that reduces your blood pressure. You use it only if you have HAPE.

The closest primary health center and the hospital are Majeybhanjyang, Darjeeling, Yuksam, and Geyzing. The primary health center at Maneybhanjyang and Yuksam has only basic facilities with oxygen availability. The main district hospital on the Darjeeling side is at Darjeeling town and Geyzing on the Sikkim side.