Trailblazer Guide Books

Worth watching out for.
 — John Cleare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

PART 1: PLANNING YOUR TREK

What is trekking? 9

Trekking styles and agencies
History 10 – Expedition-style trekking 11 – Teahouse trekking 12
Trekking agencies in Nepal 18 – Overseas trekking agencies 20
(UK 20, Continental Europe 22, USA 22, Canada 23, Australia 23,
New Zealand 23, South Africa 23) 

How long to go for 24 

Route options
Planning 25 – Flying in 26 – Route options above Namche 30
Walking in 33 – Other options 34 – Peaks and passes 36
Other activities 38 

Budgeting
Costs in Kathmandu 41 – The trekking budget 41 – Currency 42 

When to go
Seasonal conditions 43 – The Kathmandu climate 47 

What to take
For standard conditions 47ñ Equipment list 50 – Equipment available in
Nepal 56 – Adventure trekking equipment 57 – Recommended
reading 59 – Map recommendations 60 

Pre-trip health precautions and inoculations
Introduction 61 – Specific age groups 62 – Medical conditions 63
Inoculations 64 – Medical insurance 65 

PART 2: NEPAL 

Facts about the country
Geographical background 66 – Climate 67 – Historical outline 68
Economy 75 – Development 76 – Religion 79 

Practical information for the visitor
Visa and trekking regulations 83 – Getting to Nepal 84
Local transport 85 – Language 86 – Electricity 87 – Time 87
Money 87 – Post and telecommunications 88 – Media 88 – Holidays
and festivals 88 – Food 91 – Drink 91 – Things to buy 92
Security 93 – Luggage storage 94 

PART 3: KATHMANDU 

The city
History 95 – Arrival and departure 97 – Orientation 100 – Where to
stay 100 – Where to eat and drink 107 – Nightlife 114 – Entertainment 116
Services 117 – Transport 119 – What to see and do 120 – Getting to the
Khumbu 122 

PART 4: THE EVEREST REGION 

Mountaineering history
Everest 123 – Cho Oyu 135 – Makalu 136 – Lhotse 136 

The people
The Sherpas (Origins 137, Agriculture 138, Diet 139, The Sherpa house 139,
The Sherpa view of life 140, Mountaineers, sirdars and porters 141, Coping with development 141)
The Rai (Origins 142, Religion 142, Agriculture and work 143, Values 143) 

National parks
Sagarmatha National Park 144 – Makalu-Barun National Park
and Conservation Area (MBNPCA) 145 

Facilities for the trekker
Accommodation and food 146 – Services and facilities 149 

Minimum impact trekking
Environmental concerns 151 – Cultural considerations 153
Economic impact 155 

PART 5: ROUTE GUIDE AND MAPS 

Using this guide 156 

Trekking from Lukla
Introduction 159 – Lukla 160 – Lukla to Namche 162 

Namche and around
Namche 171 – Around Namche 176 – Namche to Thame 181 

To Lobuche and Kala Pattar
Namche to Tengboche 185 – Tengboche 186 – Tengboche to Pheriche/ Dingboche 188 – Dingboche to Chukhung 195 – Pheriche/Dingboche to Lobuche 198 – Lobuche to Gorak Shep and Kala Pattar 201 - Heading down 204 

To Gokyo and around
Introduction 205 – Namche to Gokyo 205 – Gokyo 211 – Around
Gokyo 212 – To and from Phortse 214 

The Tsho La/Cho La/Chugyima La
Introduction 217 – Lobuche to Gokyo 217 – Gokyo to Lobuche 219 

The Lhenjo La/Renjo La 221 

Khumbu side trips and pass-hopping
The Kongma La 222 – 5886m (19,311ft) Peak 222 – Amphu Labtsa 223
Khumbu to Makalu 224 – The Mingbo Valley 224 – The Upper Bhote
Valley 224 – Lungsamba La 226 – The Kyajo Valley 227 

Jiri to Lukla/Namche
Introduction 228 – Kathmandu to Jiri 228 – Jiri to Shivalaya 231
Shivalaya to Bhandar 231 – Bhandar to Junbesi 232 – Junbesi 235
Junbesi to Bupsa 236 – Bupsa to Surke 240 

Starting from Phaplu
Introduction 243 – Phaplu 243 – Salleri 243 – Phaplu to Chiwang
Gompa 244 – Phaplu to Ringmo or Junbesi 244 – Phaplu to Chialsa 244
Heading south 245 

Salpa-Arun to the Khumbu 
Introduction 246 – Getting to eastern Nepal 247 – Tumlingtar 248
Tumlingtar to Balawa Besi 248 – Balawa Besi to Jau Bari 248 – Jau Bari
to Sanam 253 – Sanam to Najing Dingma 255 – Gai Kharka to Puiyan 259 

The Rolwaling Valley
Introduction 261 – Thame to Simigoan 262 – Simigoan to Singhati 266
Gongar to Barabise 269 

Trekking peaks
Introduction 269 – Imjatse/Island Peak 272 – Mera Peak 274
Lobuche 279 – Parcharmo 280 – Pokalde/Dolma Ri 280 – Other
trekking peaks in the region 280 

APPENDICES 

A Itineraries and acclimatization planner 282
B Health 285
C Flora and fauna 303
D Nepali words and phrases 305
E Glossary 307
F Bibliography 308 

MAP KEY 309 

INDEX 310

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