New Trailblazer guidebooks

Trailblazer Publications have recently published two new or updated guidebooks to the Himalaya region: the 5th edition of the Trekking in the Everest region by Jamie McGuinness and also the 1st edition of Himalaya by Bike by Laura Stone. I have just read Jamie’s Trekking in the Everest region and can recommend it as the best trekking guidebook to the Khumbu. I like the Trailblazer approach of covering a region rather than an entire country resulting in a more comprehensive and informative read. 

Trailblazer also publish trekking guidebooks to the Annapurna and Ladakh regions. I have used all three of these guidebooks while trekking in the Himalayas. One reason I find them so useful is due to their superb maps, not only are they very easy to follow but also include accurate walking times. Therefore, you can decide where to stop for the night whereas other guidebooks tend to include “day by day” itineraries which results in everyone staying in the same campsite or lodge each night. 

Laura’s book Himalaya by Bike covers the classic rides of the Himalayas: Karakoram Highway, Manali to Leh, Leh to Srinagar, Spiti and Kinnaur, Bhutan, Sikkim and Friendship Highway between Tibet and Nepal. This guidebook is clearly a labour of love; over the last three years Laura has cycled all of these areas while researching the book. As in all Trailblazer books, the author’s passion for travel comes through in her guidebook and no doubt will provide inspiration for many to start cycling in the Himalayas. For more information take a look at www.himalayabybike.com (currently being updated). To find out more about Trailblazer Publications take a look at their website at http://www.trailblazer-guides.com/

Roland Hunter