How to Download and Use Medex's Free Booklet on Travelling at High Altitude

Updated

Medex (medex.org.uk) offers a free booklet on travelling at high altitude, available as a download from the site's home page. It's aimed at travellers who want practical, medically grounded guidance before heading to altitude, and it's best read during trip planning rather than in transit. The site is run by Medical Expeditions, and the booklet sits alongside a blog and background on the organisation.

Getting the booklet

The download is signposted directly on the home page under the heading "Download our free booklet on travelling at high altitude." No pricing signals appear anywhere on the site, and the page presents the booklet as free — so the practical path is:

  1. Go to medex.org.uk.
  2. Find the booklet section on the home page.
  3. Download the file and save it locally so you can read it offline, which matters if you'll be somewhere without reliable data.

The site doesn't publish a login wall or payment step in the material available, but treat that as "no barrier mentioned" rather than a guarantee of how every download behaves.

What the booklet covers

Based on the site's framing, the booklet addresses health and safety while travelling at altitude — the same territory as the site's broader question of what health risks apply at high altitude. Expect it to function as a reference you consult for specific concerns rather than a single read-through.

Because the excerpt and headings available don't itemise chapters, don't assume it covers every altitude topic. Use it as one input, and check anything trip-specific (your route, your medical history, your insurance) against a clinician or a trip organiser.

When to read it

Stage What to do with the booklet
Early planning Read it through once to understand the risk landscape and shape your itinerary
Before booking Check whether your planned altitudes and ascent rates raise concerns worth discussing with a doctor
Final weeks Re-read the sections relevant to your specific destination and re-check your kit and medication plans
During travel Keep the downloaded copy on your phone or printed, for reference if symptoms appear

The key point: read it early enough that it can still change your plans. A booklet that only gets opened at the trailhead can inform you but can't help you avoid a bad itinerary.

Using it with your own trip

  • Match the booklet's general guidance to your actual numbers — maximum altitude, sleeping altitude, and how fast you plan to gain height.
  • Flag anything that applies to you personally (prior altitude illness, existing conditions, medication) and raise it with a doctor rather than self-managing from a booklet.
  • Cross-check with your trip organiser or guide, who may have route-specific protocols.
  • Note that the site also carries a blog; posts there may add context or updates beyond the booklet itself.

Limits to keep in mind

The site's own description is thin — a heading, a blog entry, and an about section. There's no published table of contents, edition date, or format detail in the material available, so verify what you've downloaded once you have it. And a general booklet can't replace individual medical advice for a high-altitude trip.