Lonely Planet Nepal

Amazon.com

From Antarctica to Zimbabwe, if you're going there, chances are Lonely Planet has been there first. With a pithy and matter-of-fact writing style, these guides are guaranteed to calm the nerves of first-time world travelers, while still listing off-the-beaten-path finds sure to thrill even the most jaded globetrotters. Lonely Planet has been perfecting its guidebooks for nearly 30 years and as a result, has the experience and know-how similar to an older sibling's "been there" advice. The original backpacker's bible, the LP series has recently widened its reach. While still giving insights for the low-budget traveler, the books now list a wide range of accommodations and itineraries for those with less time than money.

This completely updated guide contains excellent trekking information (including advice for those planning to trek with children), extensive background on people and cultures, and essential pretrip guidance, including tips on being an ecologically sound traveler. Sidebar highlights: short overviews of a festival calendar, the Dhyani Buddhas, one traveler's account of a Nepalese bus ride, antiques, and the gods of Nepal. --Kathryn True

Book Description

Shangri-la exists. Trek to the top of the world, or share a smile with a Buddhist monk; raft down a mountain gorge, or glimpse a living Hindu goddess - in Nepal adventure and culture go hand in hand. With this definitive guide, you'll tread lightly through the best of the Himalaya.

Customer Reviews:

Detailed info!.......2007-07-03

I really only used the info regarding Kathmandu since that is the only place I visited but the information given was accurate even the warning about the electricity going out all of a sudden for hours in the city. That was fun to experience and thankfully we read it in the book. The best recent book I could find on Nepal.

Solid book.......2007-05-14

Good overall coverage of the region. Listed all major activities from rafting, hiking, driving, or whatever. I would recommend it for people traveling there. I wish it would have gone into detail about the tour operators.

Travelin' 06.......2007-03-08

Lonely Planet has never let me down. It seems no matter where in the world I travel, LP has walked, slept, and eaten there! I am still looking for a place to travel where they have not been. Any suggestions?

Great travel advice, as usual for Lonely Planet.......2006-10-31

I bought this book to prepare for my trip to Nepal. I found the advice in the book regarding cultural mores and appropriate behavior to be invaluable. The descriptions of places, restaurants, and hotels was accurate. I would have liked to see longer lists of accommodations. One thing I learned in Nepal is there are many, many more hotels than this book describes.

Here's why I gave it a 4: if you are over 40, go out and buy reading glasses before purchasing this book. The font size is very small and difficult to read for those of us with older eyes, especially in the dim light of an airplane or a Nepal Hotel Room.

tour guide.......2005-08-27

we were in nepal in recently and found this guide to be very useful and informative; will recommend it to anybody who is travelling to a new country.

Lonely Planet Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya, Eighth Edition

Average customer rating:

A Must Have Guide
Been there, Used it

Lonely Planet Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya, Eighth Edition
Stan Armington
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Rayovac SPHLTLED 3-in-1 LED Head-Lite

ASIN: 1864502312

Book Description

Everest, Annapurna, Kanchenjunga, Machhapuchhare, Makalu - a roll call of inspiration awaits trekkers in the Nepal Himalaya. Discover its famous peaks and unique culture in this authoritative guide by one of the region's most experiences trekkers.

22 new contour maps for major trekking areas, supplemented with the author's GPS data
detailed trek notes covering the popular routes and little-visited alternatives
cultural insights, language guide, plus information on responsible trekking
expert health and safety advice for trekkers
practical advice about organising your own trek or choosing a trekking company
illustrated guide to Himalayan wildlife

Customer Reviews:

A Must Have Guide.......2007-06-07

If you are going the Nepal to trek, this is an invaluable guide. I was in Nepal for three weeks and I used this book everyday. Stan Armington knows Nepal better than anyone. He has help from people like Jamling Tenzing Norgay and many others. This is an essential guide to the trekking in Nepal.

Been there, Used it.......2004-09-14

I used this book during my six weeks in Nepal spring 2004 (trekking in Lantang, Helambu and Annapurna regions), and was glad to have it. In fact, I have my copy sitting in front of me right now! It gives detailed information on many of the better-traveled treks, along with some that are more out of the way. Plenty of information, including topo maps, to help you plan your trip or your day. Before I bought it, I sat down with several other guidebooks in an actual bookstore (yes, they do still exist!), and really felt that this one was the winner.

The most major component that I felt lacking was that there are many small guest houses or tea shops along most routes that are not mentioned at all, or that have sprung up since publication. But I soon figured that out on my own, and simply asked locals and other trekkers for advice. Overall, I definitely recommend this book. Enjoy your trip! I can't wait to go back!

*Note: Kathmandu has some great bookstores in the Thamel (tourist) district, and many (not all) books are cheaper than in the US (maybe pirated??). If you can wait, consider buying there.

Average customer rating:

Helpful, up to a certain point
Handy little phrasebook at a nice cheap price
Just buy the book in Nepal
Not a bad dictionary, but...

Lonely Planet Nepali Phrasebook
Mary Jo O'Rourke , and Bimal Man Shrestha
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1740591925

Book Description

All you need is Nepali! In the busy Durbur Square, make a connection with some well-chosen words. Get the low-down on the highlands from your porter as you trek through the mountains. Don't just stand there, say something - take control of your Nepal experience.

new pronunciation guide for every word & phrase
take a hike - detailed trekking & mountaineering chapter
Key festivals, traditional dance and music explored.
string your own sentences together with the easy-to-use grammar section
etiquette and body language pointers

Customer Reviews:

Helpful, up to a certain point.......2003-12-05

My Nepali boyfriend gave me this little book to learn his language, since when I met him, I had nothing good to say about his country because I knew nothing about it. I was grateful for alot of things in the book, like grammer, sentence structure, who you speak to, cultural tips, etc. But I found the pronunciation guide horrible. They do not explain the differences between many sounds, and only explain certain consonants. They introduce the Devanagari script rather suddenly with no explanation. It would be helpful to know HOW to read it and understand what is written instead of just recognizing it by sight and nothing else, although that is good too.

The dictionary was helpful in the back, but very limited. It only went over words mentioned in the book, and didn't broaden words from outside of what was reviewed. I liked the book as a starter...but even my boyfriend admitted that some things were not said right. (Not as they speak it today, it's too old-fashioned, etc.) I kept having to go to him and ask him things, and the whole point of me having the book was so he wouldn't have to try and teach me. (hahahaha)

So, I guess I would recommend it to people who know nothing about Nepali, but be sure to have someone to ask questions. It's bad enough when you are running blind with a language you haven't heard of before.

Handy little phrasebook at a nice cheap price.......2003-05-29

I was surprised that the two reviews prior to mine gave such a bad rating. Well, I'm half-Indian, I was born in the north-east of India near the Himalayas with very close contact with Nepalis in my early childhood and I couldn't actually see what the problem was with this book! It's small, compact, glossy, useful and very cheap, I mean what else do you want if you are only looking for the basics.

However, I can read and speak Hindi and know basic customs (which are actually explained in the phrasebook, for example food etiquette) so perhaps that made a difference. Hindi is closely related to Nepali and written in the same Devanagari script. You can actually learn the Devanagari script from this phrasebook which I find sets the Lonely Planet phrasebooks above most phrasebooks. If you don't want to learn the script, then the phonetic tranliteration system used is the correct one generally used by linguists, which ensures a word is correctly pronounced by the student, even when reading in English. This is why I prefer Lonely Planet phrasebooks as once you master the basics of script and pronunciation along with basic grammar (yes, it has a solid basic grammar section as well) you actually have a good base to further learn the language if you want.

I found the phrases in it very useful. You get a very good starting point for customs, ordering food, hotel rooms etc. As I said, it's also in a nice, very small size. Amazing actually how much information is packed in considering how small the phrasebook is.

Just buy the book in Nepal.......2002-01-05

And you find better ones. Lonley planet again fails to deliver with yet another product. The organization is poor, bad choice of phrases, etc..

Heres a tip: skip the book, goto Nepal, meet some Nepali's talk with them, learn a little, then go to the millions of bookstores in Khatmandhu and find a book that fits your needs.

It may be this one, but I doubt it.

Not a bad dictionary, but..........2000-01-26

The dictionary in the back was helpful, but the organization of the book is not very good and it is awful in explaining pronunciation. After studying it faithfully and trying it out, my Nepali friends, finally, asked in English, "What are you trying to say?" I also learned that some of the information was inaccurate. I hate to speak badly of it, since it is about the only Nepali language travel book on the market, but, hopefully Lonely Planet will consider an overhaul.

Lonely Planet Trekking in the Karakoram and Hindukush: A Lonely Planet Walking Guide (Lonely Planet Walking Guides)

Average customer rating:

inspiration, please

Lonely Planet Trekking in the Karakoram and Hindukush: A Lonely Planet Walking Guide (Lonely Planet Walking Guides)
John Mock , and Kimberley O'Neil
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0864423608

Book Description

35 Maps

Customer Reviews:

inspiration, please.......2002-08-01

Typical Lonely Planet in that it gives you all the facts, but very little inspiration. Basically for those who have already made up their mind and know exactly where they are going. That said the guide is incredibly detailed, it certainly doesn't leave out much of the nitty gritty kind. Then again, you don`t really need all this info as there are outfitters in Pakistan (forget the US/UK ones) that will take care of all the logistics for you at a price you can't beat, not even doing it all yourself.

Lonely Planet Istanbul to Kathmandu: A Classic Overland Routes (Lonely Planet Istanbul to Kathmandu)

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Lonely Planet Istanbul to Kathmandu: A Classic Overland Routes (Lonely Planet Istanbul to Kathmandu)
Paul Harding , and Simon Richmond
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1864502142

Book Description

From the edge of Europe to the rooftop of the world, retrace the trail made famous by ancient conquerors, and then infamous by backpackers of the 1960s. Whether you're looking for a meandering journey, an adrenaline-pumping adventure, or simply the chance to marvel at the myriad architectural wonders, this route guide is the one for you.

over 95 maps of the route, plus cities, towns and sights
essential information about visas, permits and border crossings
thousands of budget options for food and accommodation
ancient ruins, crowded bazaars, extravagant palaces and atmospheric teahouses
tips for the adventurous, from action sports to venturing out to wild frontiers

Lonely Planet Citiescape Kathmandu (Lonely Planet Citiescape. Kathmandu)

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Lonely Planet Citiescape Kathmandu (Lonely Planet Citiescape. Kathmandu)
Joe Bindloss
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
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Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1741049393

Lonely Planet Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya, Seventh Edition

Average customer rating:

very good guidebook, but don't make it your trekking bible..
Nice only for the armchair traveller.
The greatest trekking guide to Nepal
What the Nepal trekker needs to know: it's all here.

Lonely Planet Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya, Seventh Edition
Stan Armington
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Walking | Hiking & Camping | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0864425112

Amazon.com

This tried-and-true book written by a longtime Kathmandu resident and trekker offers everything you need to know to take a walk that will forever change your life--a trek through the Nepal Himalaya. It includes excellent planning details, comprehensive health and safety information, 38 maps, advice on culturally and environmentally sensitive trekking, how to get to the trailheads, a detailed equipment checklist, and a useful Nepali language section. The guide focuses on both the best treks as well as lesser-known alternatives. --Kathryn True

Book Description

33 Maps

Customer Reviews:

very good guidebook, but don't make it your trekking bible.........2000-02-26

this book was a great help in introducing me to the world of trekking, in terms of all the equipment i would need and the things i could expect while on a trek in nepal... it made the idea of trekking in nepal very feasible to me, and gave me confidence... but once i started trekking in nepal, i only used it as a light reference, mainly to look at the maps and see how far along i was on the trek, and perhaps to gain some information about the areas i was going through... as the author states, the suggested itineraries are not absolute, and, according to how much time and money you have, should only be used as a reference; some suggested days were too long for my group, and on other days we trekked longer distances than suggested... it's not every year you get to go to a place like nepal, so i suggest you give yourself plenty of time to enjoy your trek, take some extra rest days, and not make your trek a race...i needed more money than what this book suggested i would need; prices change... and also, especially on the annapurna trekking route, many lodges are being built every year and it's impossible for guidebooks such as this to keep up; i often thought it unfair for books like this to name specific lodges, while other lodges, some of them new, with better food and people, go unmentioned; talking with guides, porters, or other trekkers would be a good way of finding quality lodges... i think this book does a very good job of preparing you for a trek in nepal, but once you're there, keep your mind open for other sources of information, and use this book as a reference guide and not your one and only trekking "bible"... you'll get more out of your experience in nepal that way...

Nice only for the armchair traveller........1999-12-02

I've used this book for 2 treks in Nepal and it was a disappoinment (the book, not the treks). As mentioned above, the book provides a plethora of trekking essentials (preparation, etc.) and background info. To use it as a guide on the actual trail is altogether another matter.

The maps are too general and is NOT suitable for actual guidance. The suggested itinerary varies too greatly for the average trekker. Some suggested trekking days that are way too difficult to complete or way too short. Things are changing quickly in Nepal...and the book does not keep up with this adequately.

I've meet many people on the trail that were also dissapointed in the misinformation regarding festival dates. The Nepalese use a lunar calendar so it is easy to see why the dates can be off from year to year. It is unfortunate if someone plans their vacation by this. There are too many misleading information here...and for a foreigner/tourist/traveller/trekker, this can prove disappointing and costly.

Take it from someone who's been there, use this book to entertain yourself, not to trek with.

The greatest trekking guide to Nepal.......1999-05-15

I bought it when I was planning to travel to Nepal. Unfortunately, I couldn't go, but the informations on the book helped me a lot to get in contact with nepali culture and details about trekking in this interesting country.

What the Nepal trekker needs to know: it's all here........1999-03-05

This latest edition of Stan Armington's guide to trekking in the Nepal Himalaya (note the lack of an "s", as in "Sierra") provides a panoply of information for both the trekker and the armchair traveler. First traveling to Nepal in the mid-sixties, Mr. Armington has lived there since 1971. He has been in the business of organizing treks longer than almost anyone. He knows the country and the people and writes from a wealth of first-hand knowledge.

Whether one treks solo (not recommended, really, but certainly possible) or with a trekking company, this informative book provides ALL the information one needs to have a successful, delightful, and authentic trekking experience in this ancient and remote kingdom. (Nepal is a Hindu kingdom, with a Hindu king.)

As Mr. Armington acknowledges, trekking is neither a walk in the country nor a climbing experience. Hence, he goes into great detail to prepare the adventurer for what will for most people be one of the major vacationing events of their lives.

Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world. A visitor must know how to take care of oneself and also how to have a minimal impact on the environment and social structure. Mr. Armington covers all these matters excellently.

The trekking routes are there, too, almost all of them walked--and measured (with a GPS)--by the author to ensure complete accuracy.

Armchair travelers will enjoy the color pictures and the descriptions of the land and its people. Travelers and trekkers will want to devour the information, basically cover-to-cover.

For someone planning a trek to the Nepal Himalaya, this book is an absolute essential. It should be used through all stages of planning and carried in the rucksack on the trek. It's that good, and that necessary, and that complete--a distillation of a adult lifetime of experience in the region by a world-reknown travel professional--in a word, a real bargain.

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