The 288 page guide to Himalaya by Michael Palin is a close look into the Himalaya lifestyle and mountain range told by this adventurous explorer who offers his first hand experiences to readers while presenting great photographs and scenes to compliment the visual experience of the reader. Palin has become known for his careful journeys throughout the world as one of the most entertaining travellers to follow, and as the result of six months spent in the Himalayans there is quite a bit of material contained within the non-fiction guide that will have you hoping for a trek through the mountains as well.
Palin created the book by putting together records, diaries, and the emotions of his journey that started at the Pakistan and Afghan border and went the full length down to Bangladesh which presents a very rare guide to the complete mountain range by the same traveller. While most trekkers will not be quite as ambitious as Palin, the full collection of material and comparisons between mountain segments and treks will allow future trekkers to best pick the location and destination that will fit their level of comfort and level of adventure.
While it is clear throughout the guide that the path through the Himalayans was a voyage in self-discovery for Palin, it is also clear that the guide is voyage in discovery for the reader as well. With separate segments for each region of the Himalayans, the guide is useful both regionally and for its entire overview of the range. Sections of the range that are looked at in-depth include Pakistan, Nepal, India, Yunnan, Tibet, Bangladesh, Nagaland, Bhutan, and Assam. Also included are several maps with etched out routes to help trekkers plan their own trips across the different regions of the Himalayan range.