Medical Certificate for High Altitude Trekking
Fitness clearance for Everest Base Camp, Kilimanjaro, the Alps and beyond, issued by a UK GP.
Many trek operators and charity challenge organisers ask for a signed medical certificate before departure. No appointment needed.
✔ Widely accepted by trek operators and charity challenge organisers. Acceptance is always the operator's decision.
✔ Covers Everest Base Camp, Kilimanjaro, Alps and all high altitude routes.
✔ Same day or by 9AM next morning. From £67.
✔ Full refund if the GP cannot issue.
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Accepted by most UK employers, universities and insurers, subject to their own policies. All consultations are subject to clinical assessment and certificates are issued only where clinically appropriate.
Consistently voted 5 stars
How It Works
Complete short online consult
No appointment required.
Complete a short medical questionnaire and upload any supporting evidence.
Doctor reviews your evidence
A GMC-registered doctor reviews your submission individually.
✔ Full refund if a certificate cannot be issued.
Receive your certificate
Most certificates are issued same day, almost all by 9AM the next morning. Delivered as a signed PDF. A doctor will email you if more evidence is needed.
Certificate security
Every MedicalCert certificate can be checked as genuine
Each certificate is issued with anti-tampering protection and its own verification reference. If your employer, university, airline or insurer wants to confirm the document came from a GMC-registered doctor, they can check it against MedicalCert records. Altered or copied documents do not pass that check.
Very happy, I ordered my Medical Certificate in the early morning hours and before noon time of same day I had it on my inbox. Speedy service and they present the health condition precisely, get to the point.
They meet the incredibly fast turnaround stated (certificate/letter sent before 9am the following morning if the doctor feels that a letter/certificate is appropriate) which is incredibly quick and I am really grateful for the help provided!
Very easy and quick to get my certificate. And the certificate was approved from the specific company to travel with my dog. I will use them again. Well done.
Second time using this company and they are fabulous! Always great, fast, friendly service. Highly recommend!
This was my second time using Medical Cert, and once again the service was exceptionally quick and professional. Everything was handled efficiently, with clear communication throughout.
I found the service very straight forward and quick. Exactly what I needed to get my Padi medical form signed before our holiday. Thank you very much.
Process was easy and responses were quick. I would recommend their service.
Fast efficient service for medical certificates. I used the not fit to fly service and was provided with a certificate the next day, the price is very reasonable and enabled a flight credit refund with my airline. Would recommend and would use again if needed.
A fast and efficient service. It wasn't complicated and the Fit-to-fly note was accepted by the Airport without any further questions. Thank you.
Ideal for me, I am looking to get a certificate for some medical issues I have. So this is the perfect solution for me, uploading docs was easy and the forms very straightforward to fill in. Will definitely use them again. Many thanks.
Excellent service. Easy to use and certificate issued in less than 24 hours. £39 as opposed to the £150 my GP charges. Highly recommended.
Quick and reasonably pain-free. Received their standard certificate as well as my requested bespoke certificate, by email, by 9am the following morning. Both completed properly, signed and stamped as required. More expensive than my GP, but infinitely quicker and easier.
One of the best experiences. It's easy to get a GP note.
Excellent. My GP refuses to issue DWP MED 3 Fit Notes to students. MedicalCert were excellent and extremely helpful in providing a necessary certificate. Highly recommended.
You were amazing, you kept me updated and replied promptly to any queries I had. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
They helped me, they were very professional and nice.
Very pleased. Quick service with very professional letter provided.
Great service, pretty straight forward and easy to use the website.
I was recommended Medical Cert by a friend and was so impressed with the service received. I would recommend using a laptop rather than a phone. Overall a fantastic and fast service.
A medical certificate for high altitude trekking is a doctor-signed document confirming that, on the health information you provide, no contraindication to trekking at altitude was identified. Requirements are set by individual tour operators, charity challenge organisers and insurers rather than by UK law, so always check what your own operator asks for. This guide explains who is usually asked for one, which conditions need extra scrutiny, and how to obtain a remote clinical review by a GMC-registered doctor, along with what that review cannot tell you.
High altitude trekking presents distinct physiological challenges: reduced oxygen availability, extreme temperature variation and limited access to emergency medical care. Those make a pre-trip health review sensible, and many operators make it a condition of booking. Whether you are preparing for Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp, the Inca Trail or a Himalayan circuit, finding out what your operator asks for in advance can prevent last-minute complications.
Why Operators Ask for a Medical Certificate for High Altitude Trekking
At altitude, the body faces lower atmospheric pressure and reduced oxygen levels. Altitude illness usually occurs above 2,500 metres, and people who are susceptible can be affected below that. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is the common form, and it can progress to High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPE) or High Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACE), both of which are life-threatening. Risk rises with the height reached and, above all, with how fast you ascend. Certain pre-existing conditions add to that risk.
Tour operators and trekking organisations ask for a medical certificate for several reasons:
Participant Protection
Remote mountain environments offer limited access to medical care. A pre-departure health assessment helps identify conditions, such as cardiac or respiratory problems, that could become life-threatening at altitude.
Insurance and Liability
Many operators require a signed medical certificate as part of their insurance and liability frameworks, and without one you may be refused a place on the trek. A certificate does not replace your duty to your insurer: you must disclose all pre-existing conditions to them, and it is failure to disclose, not the absence of a certificate, that invalidates cover.
Operator Group Paperwork
Guided group operators, particularly on organised Himalayan expeditions, often collect medical documentation as part of their own group registration paperwork. Requirements are set by the operator, so confirm what yours needs before you book.
Popular High Altitude Treks and Their Medical Requirements
Requirements vary by operator, destination, and trek difficulty. Below is an overview of the most common high altitude treks undertaken by UK trekkers.
Always check requirements directly with your operator or charity organiser. Requirements can differ between providers even for the same trek, and some operators may specify wording or use their own medical form for a doctor to complete.
Medical Conditions That Require Extra Assessment at Altitude
A high altitude trekking medical certificate involves a clinical review of your health history and current status. The following conditions warrant particular consideration, and trekkers with these conditions should disclose them fully during the consultation. The doctor will assess whether online clearance is appropriate, subject to clinical review.
Heart & Circulation
- Coronary artery disease or history of heart attack
- Arrhythmias or palpitations
- Uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Heart failure or cardiomyopathy
- History of blood clots (DVT or PE)
Lungs & Breathing
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Asthma, particularly if poorly controlled
- Previous pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
- Sleep apnoea
- Any condition affecting blood oxygen saturation
Brain & Nervous System
- Epilepsy or seizure disorders
- Previous stroke or TIA
- Migraine, altitude can be a known trigger
- Conditions affecting balance or coordination
General Health Factors
- Diabetes (Type 1 or 2), insulin requirements change at altitude
- Severe anaemia
- Sickle cell disease or trait
- Pregnancy
- Recent surgery or hospitalisation
Some trekkers take Diamox to speed acclimatisation. It is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, not an antibiotic, and in the UK it is not licensed for preventing or treating altitude illness, so any use for that purpose is off-label. NaTHNaC advises that it is contraindicated in pregnancy, particularly the first trimester, and in anyone with a severe allergy to sulfa-based drugs, such as a history of anaphylaxis or Stevens-Johnson syndrome. It is not a substitute for a gradual ascent. Discuss it with your NHS GP or a travel medicine clinic, who can check it against your current prescriptions.
Altitude Illness: What to Watch For
Altitude illness usually occurs above 2,500 metres. Above 3,000 metres, NaTHNaC advises against increasing your sleeping altitude by more than 500 metres a day, and advises a rest day at the same altitude every three or four days. Acute mountain sickness is a headache in someone who has recently arrived at altitude, together with loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, dizziness or fatigue. Never ascend to sleep higher while you have symptoms of altitude illness.
Descend and get urgent medical help if you develop unsteadiness on your feet, confusion or altered consciousness, which are signs of High Altitude Cerebral Oedema, or breathlessness on exertion with a dry cough that progresses to breathlessness at rest, which are signs of High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema. Both are medical emergencies and both can kill.
Acetazolamide is sometimes used to reduce the risk of acute mountain sickness. It is unlicensed for that purpose in the UK, it does not remove the need for a gradual ascent, and it should not be taken in pregnancy or by anyone with a severe sulfonamide allergy.
What a High Altitude Trekking Medical Certificate Includes
A doctor-signed medical certificate for high altitude trekking confirms that, based on the clinical information provided, you have no known contraindications to undertaking the planned trek. It is not a guarantee of fitness or safety, but a professional medical assessment based on your health history. The certificate will typically confirm:
- Your name and date of birth
- Confirmation of fitness for high altitude trekking (or the specific trek named)
- That no significant medical contraindications were identified at the time of review
- The date of assessment and the doctor’s GMC registration details
- The doctor’s signature
If your operator provides a specific form, this can be uploaded at the consultation stage for the doctor to complete. Where additional information is needed, for example, results of a recent blood pressure check or asthma review, the doctor may request this before issuing the certificate.
What a remote review cannot do. This is a documentation service based on the health information you give us. There is no physical examination, no examination of your heart or chest, no blood pressure reading taken by us and no exercise or hypoxic challenge test. A remote review cannot measure how your body will respond to reduced oxygen and it cannot predict whether you will develop altitude illness. Nobody is immune to altitude illness, and being fit does not protect you from it. Where your history points to a cardiac, respiratory or neurological problem, the doctor will ask you to be examined in person, or seen by a travel medicine or altitude specialist, rather than issue a certificate.
How to Get a High Altitude Trekking Medical Certificate Online
Check your operator’s requirements
Confirm what documentation your trek operator or charity organiser requires, and in what wording. Download any form they need a doctor to complete.
Complete the online health questionnaire
Fill in MedicalCert’s secure consultation form, covering your medical history, current medications, relevant conditions, and details of the planned trek and its maximum altitude.
Upload your operator’s form (if applicable)
If your operator has provided a specific medical form for a doctor to sign, upload it at the end of the consultation form. The reviewing doctor will complete it to the required standard where clinically appropriate.
GMC-registered doctor review
A GMC-registered doctor reviews your submission. Where clinically appropriate, a signed certificate is issued. If further information is required, the doctor will contact you directly before a decision is made.
Receive your certificate by email
Your certificate is delivered as a PDF to your inbox, same day or by 9AM the following morning with the express service. A unique reference number is included for verification purposes.
Get Your High Altitude Trekking Medical Certificate Online
GMC-registered doctors. No appointment needed. Certificates for Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp, Inca Trail, and all major high altitude treks.
Apply for Your Certificate →Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a medical certificate for Kilimanjaro?
Many Kilimanjaro operators and charity challenge organisers ask trekkers to provide a medical certificate or a signed health declaration before departure. This is set by each operator rather than by a single national rule, so check what yours asks for and in what wording. Even where none is asked for, a pre-trek medical review is worth having, given the physiological demands of reaching 5,895 metres.
Can I get a high altitude trekking medical certificate online?
Yes, subject to clinical review, and within limits worth understanding. MedicalCert’s GMC-registered doctors assess your suitability from an online health questionnaire and your medical history. There is no physical examination and no exercise test, so a remote review cannot do what an in-person altitude assessment does. Where the history is straightforward and clearance is clinically appropriate, a signed certificate is issued and delivered to your inbox. Where it is not, the doctor will ask you to be examined in person instead.
What altitude triggers the need for a medical certificate?
Operators that ask for medical documentation commonly set their threshold somewhere between 3,000 and 3,500 metres of maximum altitude, but that is the operator’s own rule and some apply it to every international adventure trek regardless of height. The medical picture is different: altitude illness usually occurs above 2,500 metres, and how fast you ascend matters more than the maximum height you reach.
Can I trek at altitude if I have high blood pressure?
Trekkers with controlled hypertension can often obtain medical clearance for high altitude trekking, subject to clinical review of their current medication, recent blood pressure readings and overall cardiovascular health. Uncontrolled or severe hypertension is a reason to be assessed in person before going to altitude, and it may mean a certificate cannot be issued remotely. A doctor reviewing your case will assess whether clearance is appropriate on your specific circumstances.
Can I trek at altitude if I have asthma?
Many trekkers with well-controlled asthma complete high altitude treks safely. However, cold, dry mountain air can exacerbate respiratory symptoms, and the reduced oxygen at altitude places additional demands on lung function. A doctor will assess the severity and control of your asthma as part of the certificate review. Trekkers with poorly controlled or severe asthma may be advised to seek a face-to-face respiratory assessment before departure.
Do I need to take Diamox, and can a MedicalCert doctor prescribe it?
MedicalCert does not prescribe Diamox (acetazolamide) as part of the trekking certificate service. If you wish to consider it for altitude acclimatisation, discuss it with your NHS GP or a travel medicine specialist, who can assess whether it is appropriate for you and check for interactions with your current medications. In the UK acetazolamide is not licensed for altitude illness, so any prescription for that purpose is off-label. The trekking medical certificate and a Diamox prescription are separate processes.
How far in advance should I get my trekking medical certificate?
Operators set their own validity window, commonly somewhere between three and six months before departure. Apply no earlier than three months ahead, and ideally within six to eight weeks of travel, so the certificate reflects your current health. Always check your own operator’s validity rule before applying.
