Background Information

A trek is not a guided tour. The sherpas who accompany you are there to show you the trail, take care of problems, cook, set up tents, and do other camp chores. Most sherpas can speak and understand simple English, but it's rate to find a trekking sherpas that is fluent in English. They will not be able to give you detailed information on religious practices, culture and natural history, although the trek itself will provide a good opportunity to observe these things and to learn about them.

If you wish to learn more about a particular subject, you should research it yourself. There are many good books covering every aspect of life in Nepal. Many of these are suggested in the reading list below. If you are seriously interested in a particular subject or just want to prepare yourself further for the trek, it will be useful to visit your local library armed with our reading list and spend a few hours gaining some background about Nepal and its people. If you want to get the most out of your travel experiences and make the journey more than just an exercise in following an itinerary, then your research has just begun. A trek operator can provide just so much information about a trip. Researching an adventure beyond that level can mean the difference between just a vacation and an unforgettable experience. The unexpected will still happen; but the better prepared you are, the more you'll be able to understand and appreciate during the trek.

Recommended Reading

Many of these books are out of print or available only in Nepal. You may be able to find them at Pilgrims Book House in Kathmandu.

General Background

Mountaineering Expeditions

Natural History

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Revised: 1 August 2001