Nepal Books

We used two books when travelling in Nepal.  For general information, the Lonely Planet Book on Nepal, 7th edition, published September 2006 and for trekking the Annapurna Region, a very good book, Trekking in the Annapurna Region by Bryn Thomas, fourth edition, 2005 published by Trailblazer Publications.    We left the Lonely Planet book with extra stuff in Kathmandu and only carried the trekking book.  Here is a valuable hint:  Before you go, photocopy all of the maps in the trekking book.  When on your trek, refer to the single map for that day.  In the evening plan out the next day, read the book and jot down good hotels etc on the back of the next map.  It worked great for us.   Here is one of the sample maps from the trekking book (Chomrong to Bamboo).  If you use the trekking book, study the maps as they take some time getting used to.  There are circular breakouts for details of towns and certain symbols that are valuable to know (like a double arrow means steep uphill or downhill depending on the orientation of the arrow, a single arrow, not so steep).

We also carried a small phrase book by Stephen Bezruchka, "Nepali for Trekkers" (not shown).  It comes with an audio cassette as well which we listened to a few times before we left (home).  Audio cassettes are difficult to play in this day and age, a CD would have been more convenient.  Make an attempt to learn some Nepali when you are there.