Before setting off to Peru I was nervous about hiking at such high altitude. I had read about other people's experience of struggling to breathe and feeling nauseous. So how was I going to cope as an asthmatic? I tried googling for answers and searching the internet but found very little information that was of any help.

Everyone's asthma is different, and everyone's body reacts differently to altitude. I would describe my asthma as manageable, with the occasional asthma attack when I come into contact with something I'm allergic to.

I'm here to tell you hiking at altitude with asthma is possible! I managed a three day hike through the mountains, reaching the highest point of 4,750 metres above sea level! It definitely wasn't easy, but it also wasn't as difficult as I'd imagined.

Here are my tips for hiking as an asthmatic:

Thousands of people travel to Peru each year to visit Machu Picchu. The most famous and most popular hiking route is the Inca Trail. However, this trek is restricted to only 500 people per day and so permits run out 6-9 months in advance for the peak season (June - September). There are several other hikes though that are just as incredible, including the Lares Trek!

The Lares Trek is a day shorter than the Inca Trail, 3 days / 2 nights, and an additional night is then typically spent in a hotel in Aguas Calientes the night before visiting Machu Picchu. The route is 33km long, but reaches a higher altitude of 4,750 metres above sea level at the highest point. This means that during the Peruvian winter months (the peak season to visit) the days can be warm and the nights can be freezing.

This brings travellers to a very important question - how do you pack for the Lares Trek? 

The answer is: lots of layers! The key is to not pack bulky clothes, but to pack lots of items that can be layered and taken on / off easily when needed.