Pheriche lies at about 4,371 m in the windswept Khumbu valley, separated from Dingboche by a low ridge. Its aid post was set up in 1975 by the Himalayan Rescue Association, a Nepali non-profit, in response to deaths from altitude sickness among trekkers. During the main seasons it is staffed by volunteer doctors, often from abroad, who treat trekkers, porters and local people, and run a small hyperbaric chamber for serious cases.
Most afternoons in season, the doctors give a talk of 30–45 minutes on acute mountain sickness, high-altitude cerebral oedema (HACE) and high-altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE): how they develop, the warning signs, and why descent is the main treatment. It is practical, clear and aimed at trekkers, with time for questions. Talk times can change, so check at your lodge. Outside the main seasons, the clinic may be closed.
The walk from Dingboche climbs gently over the ridge and drops into Pheriche in about 45 minutes, and the return takes a little longer. Combined with a morning on the Nangkartshang ridge it makes a full rest day, so many groups do one or the other. In Pheriche, a stainless steel Everest memorial stands near the clinic. Consultations at the aid post are charged to foreign trekkers and help fund free care for porters.
Good for
- First-timers
- Families
- Seniors
- Groups
Questions travellers ask
What time is the altitude talk in Pheriche?
In the trekking seasons the Himalayan Rescue Association usually gives its talk in the afternoon, often around 3 pm. Times vary by year and staff, and the clinic may close outside the peak months. Ask at your lodge in Dingboche or Pheriche.
How far is Pheriche from Dingboche?
About 45 minutes to an hour on foot over a low ridge. Pheriche is slightly lower at about 4,371 m. Walking over and back makes an easy rest-day outing, or you can pass through it on the way down from Kala Patthar.
Can I get treated for altitude sickness at Pheriche?
Yes. The HRA aid post treats altitude illness and other problems during the main seasons, with oxygen, medicine and a portable hyperbaric chamber. Foreign trekkers pay for consultations. Descent and evacuation are arranged when needed.
