Synopses & Reviews
The three main trekking regions, Everest, Annapurna and Langtang attract tens of thousands of trekkers every year. Facilities have never been better and easily rival those found in Europe. Trails are well maintained and safe, and the locals will welcome you with genuine friendliness that will make your heart melt.
The other two-thirds of Nepals mountain terrain is normally considered off-the-beaten-track. From the lush rhododendron forests of the east to the dense woodlands of the west there is wilderness and remote communities that have remained relatively untouched. In 2002, the Nepali government reconciled all border disputes with its northern neighbor China. This de-militarized seven border areas and for the first time in over fifty years tourists were allowed to explore them. All of these areas offer unique trekking opportunities, as many resemble the now popular regions as they were thirty or more years ago. They also tend to be next to the major trekking routes so its possible to design itineraries combining old and new routes thus making your holiday a more complete Nepali experience.
One of the great trekking holy grails has been a potential route, through the remotest peaks of the entire Himalaya, which joins all the major trekking regions. The author is the first to person to survey, plot and describe such a route, which is called the Great Himalaya Trail (GHT). The Nepal section of the GHT would take about 160 days of continuous walking so it is broken into sections for convenience.
- Route and planning guide to the best trekking in Nepal This guide includes the most popular routes as well as the newest trekking areas for true trailblazers. Extensive planning sections to help visitors choose a trek.
- Organizing a trek
- Employing a guide or porter in Nepal
- The environment how to minimize your impact on a fragile region and still take hot green showers
- Health and safety
- 8pp color maps for planning
- 16pp color photos
Synopsis
Route and planning guide to the best trekking in Nepal This guide includes the most popular routes as well as the newest trekking areas for true trailblazers. Extensive planning sections to help visitors choose a trek. Also includes the new Great Himalaya Trail.
About the Author
Robin Boustead is a writer and photographer based in Australia. Hes been trekking in the Himalaya since 1992 and in 2008-9 walked the six-month long Great Himalaya Trail for this book.
Table of Contents
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