Trekking in the Everest Region : Nepal Trekking Guides Book

	Introduction
Part 1	Planning Your Trek
	What is trekking?
	Trekking in the Khumbu	10
	With a group or on your own?
	Independent teahouse trekking	11
	Commercial guided treks	12
	Nepali trekking agencies	15
	Trekking agencies outside Nepal	16
	UK and Ireland	17
	Continental Europe	18
	USA	19
	Canada	19
	Australia	20
	New Zealand	21
	How long to go for	21
	Route options
	Walking in or out	22
	Flying in	24
	Route options above Namche	26
	Leaving the region	29
	Other options	30
	Other activities	31
	Budgeting
	Costs in Kathmandu	36
	The trekking budget	37
	Currency	37
	When to go
	Seasonal conditions	39
	The Kathmandu climate	42
	What to take
	Factors affecting equipment selection	42
	Equipment list	44
	Renting or buying equipment in Nepal	51
	Adventure trekking equipment	52
	Recommended reading	54
	Map recommendations	55
	Health precautions and inoculations
	Specific age groups	57
	Medical conditions	58
	Inoculations	59
	Medical insurance	60
Part 2	NEPAL
	Facts about the country
	Geographical background	61
	Climate	62
	Historical outline	62
	Economy	67
	Development	68
	Practical information for the visitor
	Visa and trekking regulations	69
	Getting to Nepal	71
	Local transport	72
	Language	73
	Electricity	73
	Time	74
	Money	74
	Post and telecommunications	75
	TV, radio, newspapers and magazines	75
	Holidays and festivals	76
	Food	77
	Drink	77
	Things to buy	78
	Security	78
Part 3	Kathmandu
	The city
	History	81
	Arrival and departure	83
	Orientation	84
	Where to stay	84
	Where to eat	91
	Nightlife	96
	Services	96
	Transport	98
	What to see	98
	Sightseeing tours	100
	Trek preparation in Kathmandu
	Trekking equipment	101
	Organizing a guided trek in Kathmandu	102
	Hiring guides and porters	104
	Money for the trek	106
	Luggage storage	106
	Getting to the Khumbu	106
Part 4	The Everest Region
	Mountaineering history
	Everest	109
	Cho Oyu	120
	Makalu	121
	Lhotse	121
	The people
	The Sherpas
	Origins	122
	Agriculture	123
	Diet	124
	The Sherpa house	124
	The Sherpa view of life	125
	Mountaineers, sirdars and porters	126
	Coping with development	126
	The Rai
	Origins	127
	Religion	127
	Agriculture and work	128
	Values	128
	National parks
	Sagarmatha National Park	129
	Makalu-Barun National Park and Conservation Area (MBNPCA)	130
	Facilities for the trekker
	Accommodation and food	131
	Shops, banks and post offices	134
	Minimum impact trekking
	Environmental concerns	136
	Cultural considerations	139
	Economic impact	140
Part 5	Route Guide and Maps
	Using this guide
	Route descriptions	142
	Village and feature names	142
	Trail maps	142
	Following trails	143
	Walking times	143
	Altitudes	144
	Facilities	144
	Map key	145
	Jiri to Namche
	Introduction	145
	Kathmandu to Jiri	146
	Jiri	147
	Jiri to Shivalaya	148
	Shivalaya to Bhandar	149
	Bhandar to Junbesi	151
	Junbesi	155
	Junbesi to Bupsa	156
	Bupsa to Surke/Lukla/Namche	162
	Trekking from Lukla
	Introduction	165
	Lukla	165
	Lukla to Namche	168
	Namche	174
	Around Namche	178
	Namche to Thame	182
	To Lobuche and Kala Pattar
	Namche to Tengboche	185
	Tengboche	186
	Tengboche to Pheriche/Dingboche	189
	To and around Chukhung	195
	Pheriche/Dingboche to Lobuche	196
	Lobuche to Gorak Shep and Kala Pattar	200
	Heading down	203
	To Gokyo
	Introduction	204
	Namche to Gokyo	204
	Gokyo and around	210
	To and from Phortse	213
	Chugyima La	215
	Chugyima La to Gokyo	216
	Khumbu side trips and pass-hopping
	Khumbu to Makalu	218
	Kongma La	219
	Peak	220
	Amphu Labtsa	220
	Mingbo Valley	221
	The Bhote Valley	221
	Kyajo	223
	Phaplu start	223
	To Chialsa	224
	Salpa-Arun to the Khumbu
	Introduction	226
	Getting to eastern Nepal	228
	Basantpur to Tumlingtar	230
	Hille Leguwa to Tumlingtar	231
	Tumlingtar	232
	Tumlingtar to Balawa Besi	232
	Balawa Besi to Jau Bari	234
	Jau Bari to Sanam	239
	Sanam to Najing Dingma	241
	Gai Kharka to Puiyan	246
	From Bhojpur
	Bhojpur	248
	Bhojpur to Dingla	248
	Dingla	249
	Rolwaling
	Introduction	250
	The Rolwaling Valley	252
	Simigoan to Dolakha/Charikot	256
	Gongar to Barabise	259
	Trekking peaks
	Preparation	261
	Imjatse/Island Peak	264
	Mera	266
	Lobuche	271
	Parcharmo	271
	Pokalde/Dolma Ri	271
	Other trekking peaks in the region	272
	Appendices
A.	Itineraries and acclimatization planner	273
B.	Health	276
C.	Flora and fauna	294
D.	Nepali words and phrases	296
E.	Glossary	298
F.	Bibliography	299
	Index