Altitude Acclimatization Planner
Enter your starting and target sleeping altitudes to see a sensible number of climbing and rest days for a high-mountain ascent.
Recommended acclimatization schedule
General trekking guidance only, not medical advice: above roughly 3,000 m, raise your sleeping altitude gradually and build in rest days. Descend and seek help if symptoms of altitude sickness appear. Individual tolerance varies — when in doubt, go slower.
Go high slowly
Reaching a high mountain village or a ridgetop viewpoint is one of the great rewards of hill travel — but the body needs time to adjust to thinner air. Ascend too fast and a wonderful trip can be spoiled by headaches, sleeplessness, and worse. The oldest advice is still the best: gain height gradually and rest often.
This planner turns that advice into a rough day count so you can shape an itinerary that respects the altitude — the essence of slow travel, where the journey up matters as much as the summit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the planner work?
It applies the common trekking guideline that above roughly 3,000 m you should raise your sleeping altitude by a limited amount each day (500 m by default) and take a rest day at regular gains (every 1,000 m by default). From your start and target sleeping altitudes it works out the climbing days and rest days, and adds them up.
Why does altitude below 3,000 m not count?
Acclimatization matters most once you sleep high enough for the thinner air to have a real effect, which is usually taken as around 2,500–3,000 m. Below that threshold, most people can travel at a normal pace, so the planner only schedules careful ascent for the portion of the climb above it.
Is this medical advice?
No. This is general planning guidance based on widely published trekking rules of thumb, not medical advice. Altitude sickness can be serious and affects people unpredictably regardless of fitness. Learn the symptoms, never ascend with symptoms, descend if they worsen, and consult a doctor or a qualified guide for your specific trip.
What is "climb high, sleep low"?
A well-known acclimatization tactic: during the day you can climb higher than where you'll sleep, then come back down to a lower altitude to rest. It's the sleeping altitude that this planner tracks, because that's what most guidelines limit — daytime excursions above your sleeping height are a normal part of acclimatizing.
General planning guidance only, not medical advice. Altitude sickness can be life-threatening. Learn the symptoms, never ascend with symptoms, descend if they worsen, and seek qualified medical or guiding advice for your trip.