Several of our routes cross 3,000-3,800m, high enough that altitude sickness is a real consideration, not just fine print.
Symptoms — headache, nausea, unusual fatigue, poor sleep — typically show up above 2,500-3,000m and usually resolve with rest and hydration at the same altitude. They're a signal to slow down, not necessarily to turn back immediately, but worsening symptoms (confusion, severe headache, difficulty breathing at rest) mean descending is the right call, no exceptions.
Practical steps that help: arrive in Karakol (already at ~1,750m) a day or two before a high-altitude trek rather than flying straight into one, drink more water than feels necessary, and avoid alcohol the night before a high push. Multi-day routes that gain altitude gradually — like our 3-day Ala-Kul trek — are inherently easier on your body than a rushed single-day push to the same elevation.
Zoomy