With extensive sections to help choose a trekking region, this is a route and planning guide for anyone organising a trekking holiday in Nepal. It includes the most popular routes as well as the newest trekking areas plus the most extreme route of all, the 160-day Great Himalaya Trail. There are route guides to the following regions: Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Rolwaling, Solu-Khumbu (Everest Region), Helambu & Langtang, Ganesh & Manaslu, Annapurna, Naar & Phu, Mustang, Dolpo, The Far West

Robin Boustead is a writer and photographer based in Australia. He’s been trekking in the Himalaya since 1992 and pioneered the six-month long Great Himalaya Trail for this book.

INTRODUCTION Background to the Great Himalaya Trail – How to Use this Guide – Great Himalaya Trail Code – Acknowledgements - PART 1: PLANNING YOUR TRIP  1.1 Planning When to trek? – Nepal: Festivals and Faith  (Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, Bon) – Choosing a Trekking Style (Independent Trekking, Teahouse Trekking, Trekking with a Camping Crew) – Trekking the Great Himalaya Trail – Treks with a cause – Trek Duration – Trekking Grades – Trail Conditions– Trail Difficulty 1.2 Before Departure – Visas and Permits – Maps and Walking Guides – Getting Around – Equipment – Power & Re-charging on the Trail – PART 2: NEPAL AND YOU 2.1 Choosing a Guide and Crew – 2.2 Brahmin & Chhetri People, Newar People – 2.3 Trekking as a Single Female – 2.4 Shopping, Tips and Money – 2.5 Haggling, Bargaining and Tipping – 2.6 Your Security – 2.7 Insurance – 2.8 Communication (How to: Not Cause Offense, Greetings and Blessings) – 2.9 Community – 2.10 Temple Etiquette PART 3: HEALTH & WELLBEING – 3.1 General health issues – 3.2 Food and Diarrhoea – 3.3 Altitude Sickness – 3.4 Looking after feet and joints – 3.5 Hypothermia and heat stroke – 3.6 First Aid – 3.7 Rescue and emergency  PART 4: TREKKING REGIONS & ROUTES 4.1 Kanchenjunga Region – The People (Limbu, Olangchun, Lhomi, Thudam & Topke Gola People), Kanchenjunga Base Camp, Routes from Kanchenjunga Base Camp, Other major routes in the region, The Great Himalaya Trail – 4.2 Makalu region – Makalu Base Camp, Rai People, Routes from Makalu Base Camp, Sherpani Col, West Col and Amphu Labsta, The Great Himalaya Trail – 4.3 Solu-Khumbu (the Everest Region), Everest Base Camp, the Cho La and the Renjo La, Sherpa People, The Life of a Teahouse Owner, Other trips in the region, The Great Himalaya Trail – 4.4 The Rolwaling, The Rolwaling & the Tashi Labsta, Other routes in the region, The Great Himalaya Trail – 4.5 Helambu and Langtang, Helambu to Gosainkund, The Legend of Gosainkund, Langtang Valley, Bhotia People, Other routes in the region, The Great Himalaya Trail – 4.6 Ganesh and Manaslu Himals, Tamang Heritage Trail, A Briddim Folktale, A local legend, Tamang People, Other routes in the Ganesh Himal, Manaslu Circuit, Larke & Siar People, The Ru-Pa people of Samdo, Other routes in the Manaslu region, Gorkha to Arughat Bazar, Tsum, To reach the Landan Kharka (north face of Ganesh I), Exit via Begnas Tal, The Great Himalaya Trail – 4.7 Annapurna and Naar Phu, Naar, Phu & the Thorong La, Gurung People, Manangba People, The Price of Progress, Thakali People, Annapurna Sanctuary & Poon Hill, Magar People, Side Trip from ABC, The Great Himalaya Trail – 4.8 Mustang, Mustang Circuit, Baragaunle People, Lopa People, The Teeji Festival, The Legend of Lo Gekar, Side trips from Lo Monthang, North of Lo Monthang, Chhosar Valley, including Gharphu, Nyphu and Jhong Cave Gompas, Thinggar Valley, including Namgyal Gompa, Kimaling and Nyamdo, Southeast of Lo Monthang, Dhi, Tashi Kabum Cave Gompa and Luri Cave Gompa, Other routes in the region – 4.9 Dolpo, Upper Dolpo Circuit, The Legend of Reng, The Legend of Shey, Dolpo People, Other routes in the region, Lower Dolpo Circuit, From Shey to Shyamling & Dho Tarap, The Great Himalaya Trail, Kagbeni to Chharka Bhot, Chharka Bhot to Pho via Dho Tarap, Phoksumdo and Shey, Bhijer Folktale, Other routes to Pho – 4.10 The Far-West, Rara Lake Circuit, Khas People, Khaptad National Park, Khaptad Baba, The Great Himalaya Trail, Pho to Mugu – the High Route, Dolphu to Pho – the Low Route, Tiyar to Gamgadhi, Gamgadhi to Chainpur, Chainpur, Darchula  – APPENDICES 5.1 Trek Summary Table – 5.2 Wind Chill Chart – 5.3 Heat Index Chart – 5.4 The 8000ers – 5.5 Glossary – 5.6 Bibliography – INDEX