Absolutely invaluable!, 07 May 2008
If you are planning to take a trip on the Trans-Siberian, Trans-Mongolian or Trans-Manchurian railway, I URGE you to purchase this book! I cannot express how invaluable this book was to me during my trip.

The book contains a wealth of important information. It helps you to book your trip with suggestions of companies to go through as well as informing you of any complications that may arise such as visas, vaccinations. It has a stop-by-stop guide of the entire length of the railway for all 3 journies as well as kilometre markings and places of interest along the route outside of stops, for photo opportunities and such.

Inside of stops, for the bigger towns along the way it contains a map (very valuable) marking out places of interest such as hotels, Internet cafes, restaurants and places to see. For each place listed it even contains a small review of it and a rough price guide. Such minute detail is astounding and helps you to pick the best choice given your budget.

Throughout the book tips are given from the writers and also from travellers themselves who have submitted advice related to your journey, from warning you of for dodgy areas to train etiquette. The history of the Trans-Siberian Railway is included which makes for an interesting read and it also contains accurate (at least for the ones I went on) train time tables for each individual stop along the way.

I thoroughly reccomend this book to anyone taking a journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

A useful guide for the TS Railway traveller, 11 Aug 2006
This guide was much better than the the Lonely Planet, both in its mile-by-mile descriptions and mini-maps and in its historical background content.

We found this book more useful on the train than off it though, as the city guides could have had a bit more information about what was interesting to do.

Don't miss the Trubetskoy house in Irkutsk - the old ladies there are charming and very enthusiastic!

Trans Siberian Adventure, 11 Jan 2006
A comprehensive and up to date guide to a journey on the Trans Siberian Railway. Beginning with planning your journey, timetables, how to buy tickets, prices, booking and visas, route planning and what to take. There's a useful background reading list with internet resources, practical information about food and drink, money, health, and safety tips from other travellers. There are good maps with time zones marked, lovely colour photographs, historical facts, city guides and information about crossing the borders. An excellent book which should be read thoroughly before embarking on the journey then kept in your back pocket throughout.

Great book: the definitive guide to the Trans Siberian, 25 Nov 2001
I took this book with me when I travelled on the Trans Siberian last year. It really gives a mile-by-mile accurate and detailed of the route. There are also some invaluable tips + a description of some of the major cities you pass + a history of Russia and the raildroad.

Not as good as I thought, 08 Nov 2001
Most of the information in this book is really useful, but the major problem is that It does not tell you how or where to buy the train ticket by yourself, not from a ripped-off travel agency.

In fact, everyone can buy the ticket buy themself with no more than USD$300 for the fare from Moscow to Beijing with stopover in Mongolia , rather than paying more than USD$600 to a travel agency in the U.K

I strongly feel that Lonely Planet: Russia, Ukrain and Belarus is much better than this Handbook because at least it will tell you where you can get the cheapest ticket rather than misleading you to buy more expensive ticket from a travel agency.

Absolutely invaluable!, 07 May 2008
If you are planning to take a trip on the Trans-Siberian, Trans-Mongolian or Trans-Manchurian railway, I URGE you to purchase this book! I cannot express how invaluable this book was to me during my trip.

The book contains a wealth of important information. It helps you to book your trip with suggestions of companies to go through as well as informing you of any complications that may arise such as visas, vaccinations. It has a stop-by-stop guide of the entire length of the railway for all 3 journies as well as kilometre markings and places of interest along the route outside of stops, for photo opportunities and such.

Inside of stops, for the bigger towns along the way it contains a map (very valuable) marking out places of interest such as hotels, Internet cafes, restaurants and places to see. For each place listed it even contains a small review of it and a rough price guide. Such minute detail is astounding and helps you to pick the best choice given your budget.

Throughout the book tips are given from the writers and also from travellers themselves who have submitted advice related to your journey, from warning you of for dodgy areas to train etiquette. The history of the Trans-Siberian Railway is included which makes for an interesting read and it also contains accurate (at least for the ones I went on) train time tables for each individual stop along the way.

I thoroughly reccomend this book to anyone taking a journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

A useful guide for the TS Railway traveller, 11 Aug 2006
This guide was much better than the the Lonely Planet, both in its mile-by-mile descriptions and mini-maps and in its historical background content.

We found this book more useful on the train than off it though, as the city guides could have had a bit more information about what was interesting to do.

Don't miss the Trubetskoy house in Irkutsk - the old ladies there are charming and very enthusiastic!

Trans Siberian Adventure, 11 Jan 2006
A comprehensive and up to date guide to a journey on the Trans Siberian Railway. Beginning with planning your journey, timetables, how to buy tickets, prices, booking and visas, route planning and what to take. There's a useful background reading list with internet resources, practical information about food and drink, money, health, and safety tips from other travellers. There are good maps with time zones marked, lovely colour photographs, historical facts, city guides and information about crossing the borders. An excellent book which should be read thoroughly before embarking on the journey then kept in your back pocket throughout.

Great book: the definitive guide to the Trans Siberian, 25 Nov 2001
I took this book with me when I travelled on the Trans Siberian last year. It really gives a mile-by-mile accurate and detailed of the route. There are also some invaluable tips + a description of some of the major cities you pass + a history of Russia and the raildroad.

Not as good as I thought, 08 Nov 2001
Most of the information in this book is really useful, but the major problem is that It does not tell you how or where to buy the train ticket by yourself, not from a ripped-off travel agency.

In fact, everyone can buy the ticket buy themself with no more than USD$300 for the fare from Moscow to Beijing with stopover in Mongolia , rather than paying more than USD$600 to a travel agency in the U.K

I strongly feel that Lonely Planet: Russia, Ukrain and Belarus is much better than this Handbook because at least it will tell you where you can get the cheapest ticket rather than misleading you to buy more expensive ticket from a travel agency.

Inspirational, 24 Jul 2007
The book has everything you need to know about doing some off-piste motorcycling. It makes some amazing trips sound vaguely feasible. Even for more mundane trips around the UK and Europe it has loads of good stuff about selection of gear and bike. It has loads of good biking stories too.

An excellent read, 05 Jul 2005
Well structured, easy to follow and I like the new chapter on medical advice, very thorough and easy to understand for the layman. Some great tips I'd not thought of!

A manual to true traveling, 23 Jan 2003
I have never made such a travel like the ones in this book, the writer gives plenty of usefull tips that will not be forgotten, very entertaining reading, however, there are plenty of references to other books and you will only get the big picture after reading them all. I think that it falls short on the tech stuff, i would like to get a book only about the motorcycles and tips like adjusting the carb for high altitude and repairs, this book only gives a few pages to the subject of picking a bike and i think it deserves a lot more. It absolutely lives up to the title and made me dream, what else can you ask?

Essential Reading, 01 Feb 2002
I've had this book for over 12 months and I still re-read it. Anyone planning to travel somewhere different on a motorbike will find this book really useful. Full of ideas, tips, lists, advice, it's all there. Even if you've never had a go at motorcycle touring before - this book will help. The information about touring in different continents/countries is excellent.

A practical book that sits on the bookshelf next to "Jupiter's Travels" - Buy it now!

A thousand years of biking experience in a single book, 18 Jun 2001
Chris has been there, seen it and done it. Well most things on a bike that are legal, and I guess a few that are not! This book gives detailed information for both novice and expert alike. From tyres to tools, from bikes to routes. If you really want to live the dream, then this is the first place to start, and if you are only dreaming.......dream on. Chris has not only put his wealth of knowledge, his love of travel and all other things biking into this book, but those of many others. It's full of stories and advice from people that really have been round the world on two wheels. A bible for any biking traveller....keep it close to hand, you never know when you might need its help.

Absolutely invaluable!, 07 May 2008
If you are planning to take a trip on the Trans-Siberian, Trans-Mongolian or Trans-Manchurian railway, I URGE you to purchase this book! I cannot express how invaluable this book was to me during my trip.

The book contains a wealth of important information. It helps you to book your trip with suggestions of companies to go through as well as informing you of any complications that may arise such as visas, vaccinations. It has a stop-by-stop guide of the entire length of the railway for all 3 journies as well as kilometre markings and places of interest along the route outside of stops, for photo opportunities and such.

Inside of stops, for the bigger towns along the way it contains a map (very valuable) marking out places of interest such as hotels, Internet cafes, restaurants and places to see. For each place listed it even contains a small review of it and a rough price guide. Such minute detail is astounding and helps you to pick the best choice given your budget.

Throughout the book tips are given from the writers and also from travellers themselves who have submitted advice related to your journey, from warning you of for dodgy areas to train etiquette. The history of the Trans-Siberian Railway is included which makes for an interesting read and it also contains accurate (at least for the ones I went on) train time tables for each individual stop along the way.

I thoroughly reccomend this book to anyone taking a journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

A useful guide for the TS Railway traveller, 11 Aug 2006
This guide was much better than the the Lonely Planet, both in its mile-by-mile descriptions and mini-maps and in its historical background content.

We found this book more useful on the train than off it though, as the city guides could have had a bit more information about what was interesting to do.

Don't miss the Trubetskoy house in Irkutsk - the old ladies there are charming and very enthusiastic!

Trans Siberian Adventure, 11 Jan 2006
A comprehensive and up to date guide to a journey on the Trans Siberian Railway. Beginning with planning your journey, timetables, how to buy tickets, prices, booking and visas, route planning and what to take. There's a useful background reading list with internet resources, practical information about food and drink, money, health, and safety tips from other travellers. There are good maps with time zones marked, lovely colour photographs, historical facts, city guides and information about crossing the borders. An excellent book which should be read thoroughly before embarking on the journey then kept in your back pocket throughout.

Great book: the definitive guide to the Trans Siberian, 25 Nov 2001
I took this book with me when I travelled on the Trans Siberian last year. It really gives a mile-by-mile accurate and detailed of the route. There are also some invaluable tips + a description of some of the major cities you pass + a history of Russia and the raildroad.

Not as good as I thought, 08 Nov 2001
Most of the information in this book is really useful, but the major problem is that It does not tell you how or where to buy the train ticket by yourself, not from a ripped-off travel agency.

In fact, everyone can buy the ticket buy themself with no more than USD$300 for the fare from Moscow to Beijing with stopover in Mongolia , rather than paying more than USD$600 to a travel agency in the U.K

I strongly feel that Lonely Planet: Russia, Ukrain and Belarus is much better than this Handbook because at least it will tell you where you can get the cheapest ticket rather than misleading you to buy more expensive ticket from a travel agency.

Inspirational, 24 Jul 2007
The book has everything you need to know about doing some off-piste motorcycling. It makes some amazing trips sound vaguely feasible. Even for more mundane trips around the UK and Europe it has loads of good stuff about selection of gear and bike. It has loads of good biking stories too.

An excellent read, 05 Jul 2005
Well structured, easy to follow and I like the new chapter on medical advice, very thorough and easy to understand for the layman. Some great tips I'd not thought of!

A manual to true traveling, 23 Jan 2003
I have never made such a travel like the ones in this book, the writer gives plenty of usefull tips that will not be forgotten, very entertaining reading, however, there are plenty of references to other books and you will only get the big picture after reading them all. I think that it falls short on the tech stuff, i would like to get a book only about the motorcycles and tips like adjusting the carb for high altitude and repairs, this book only gives a few pages to the subject of picking a bike and i think it deserves a lot more. It absolutely lives up to the title and made me dream, what else can you ask?

Essential Reading, 01 Feb 2002
I've had this book for over 12 months and I still re-read it. Anyone planning to travel somewhere different on a motorbike will find this book really useful. Full of ideas, tips, lists, advice, it's all there. Even if you've never had a go at motorcycle touring before - this book will help. The information about touring in different continents/countries is excellent.

A practical book that sits on the bookshelf next to "Jupiter's Travels" - Buy it now!

A thousand years of biking experience in a single book, 18 Jun 2001
Chris has been there, seen it and done it. Well most things on a bike that are legal, and I guess a few that are not! This book gives detailed information for both novice and expert alike. From tyres to tools, from bikes to routes. If you really want to live the dream, then this is the first place to start, and if you are only dreaming.......dream on. Chris has not only put his wealth of knowledge, his love of travel and all other things biking into this book, but those of many others. It's full of stories and advice from people that really have been round the world on two wheels. A bible for any biking traveller....keep it close to hand, you never know when you might need its help.

'The' pocket guide to Africa's great white mountain, 04 Dec 2007
Stedman's trekking guide to Kilimanjaro really is a gem of a guide. It provides just about all the information you might need to help you conquer Africa's great white peak. A mine of practical information that will help take you from planning your trip to the summit and which you will probably find you take with you on your way up the mountain.Certainly when I turned Kilimanjaro into Kili half the party I was with had a copy of this book with them!

Henry Stedman covers his subject very methodically taking you from the early planning of which tour companies to use or if you arrange your trek on arrival which trekking agencies to use. The equipment you will need and the health precautions you should take. He progresses through the practicalities of how to get to Tanzania even giving a brief guide to the ins and outs of travelling via Nairobi's somewhat haphazard airport and city. A brief description of Kilimanjaro airport and practicalities precedes more extensive descriptions of the major towns around the base of the Mountain and finally he moves on to the meat of the book - climbing the mountain itself.

Climbing the mountain is where this book really earns it's keep. Stedman starts with a quick summary of the major issues you might encounter, which is principally altitude sickness and what to do to avoid it and treat it before getting into an extensive description of each of the major routes. On each of these he does an excellent job describing the route, the practicalities, waymarks, features of the trek distances covered and altitude gained. Even if you weren't using a guide and porters this book could be enough to steer you up the mountain (although trying to climb Kili without a guide and porters is just silly as if you can afford to get to Tanzania you can afford to give a little bit more back to the local economy). Its second edition is worth getting, not just because the mountain changes as glaciers retreating and routes are altered, but because the second edition is much more comprehensive.

Flaws in the book. Well Stedman describes the flora, fauna and people of the region but attempts to do so in little more than ten pages. Far too short but then again this is a practical travel guide not a travelogue. The maps used for each section of the routes are just sketch maps and really these should be supplemented with proper maps, or was Stedman trying to prevent people using this guide to avoid paying for local porters and guides? If those are flaws then they are flaws that can be excused.

Compact and practical to take with you and comprehensive enough to help plan your trip from fireside to summit. Buy this book follow it's advice and it will make your ascent much easier or at least as easy as climbing 20 thousand feet is ever going to be. Buy it!


Exactly what I was looking for, 25 Nov 2007
I was looking for a book with frank, honest and impartial advice about trekking on Kilimanjaro. This is it, with far more information besides. It is not JUST a reference book - I have read it with continued interest from cover to cover. The one minor criticism I have is the prolific use of sub-text boxes which are distracting and break up the flow of reading.

A brilliant guidebook, 22 Nov 2006
What a great guidebook! We had to wait ages for this book to arrive (it finally arrived last month), as apparently there was some delay in publication. But we were determined to wait after reading all the rave reviews to the first edition. And after spending the best part of a month reading through it, we're glad we did. Though we have yet to climb the mountain, this book has already come in useful with its extensive reviews of trekking companies in the UK and Tanzania , whilst its descriptions of the routes are by some distance the most detailed we've come across. It's also a surprisingly funny and well-written book. A couple of our friends who climbed Kilimanjaro last year said that their guide said it was by far and away the best book on the mountain and carried a copy with him `just in case' and used it to identify the mountain flowers!

Well done Trailblazers on a cracking book. Now we've just got to get to the top!

Fantastic!! No need for your Lonely Planet or Rough Guide!!, 24 Apr 2006
I bought this book a few months before I actually went away to climb Kili as well as buying a Lonely Planet and Rough Guide for Tanzania. There was no need to buy either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide as you get everything and more in this book.

Quite simply, if you are new to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, or if you think your interested in doing it, BUY THIS BOOK. Its all you will need in the form of a guidebook (and probably more) and it is small enough to fit in your rucksack for when you do go to climb it. Im sure that even some of the suggestions assisted me in getting to the top!

Having checked the market for competitors, this book is the finest by a long, long way.

Good luck for when you attempt!!!

indispensible guide to the mountain, 13 Jan 2006
Went up Kili last year, found the book extremely useful before departure and during the trek (Machame route) The section on acute mountain sickness should be compulsory reading for anyone attempting to get to the top.

Absolutely invaluable!, 07 May 2008
If you are planning to take a trip on the Trans-Siberian, Trans-Mongolian or Trans-Manchurian railway, I URGE you to purchase this book! I cannot express how invaluable this book was to me during my trip.

The book contains a wealth of important information. It helps you to book your trip with suggestions of companies to go through as well as informing you of any complications that may arise such as visas, vaccinations. It has a stop-by-stop guide of the entire length of the railway for all 3 journies as well as kilometre markings and places of interest along the route outside of stops, for photo opportunities and such.

Inside of stops, for the bigger towns along the way it contains a map (very valuable) marking out places of interest such as hotels, Internet cafes, restaurants and places to see. For each place listed it even contains a small review of it and a rough price guide. Such minute detail is astounding and helps you to pick the best choice given your budget.

Throughout the book tips are given from the writers and also from travellers themselves who have submitted advice related to your journey, from warning you of for dodgy areas to train etiquette. The history of the Trans-Siberian Railway is included which makes for an interesting read and it also contains accurate (at least for the ones I went on) train time tables for each individual stop along the way.

I thoroughly reccomend this book to anyone taking a journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

A useful guide for the TS Railway traveller, 11 Aug 2006
This guide was much better than the the Lonely Planet, both in its mile-by-mile descriptions and mini-maps and in its historical background content.

We found this book more useful on the train than off it though, as the city guides could have had a bit more information about what was interesting to do.

Don't miss the Trubetskoy house in Irkutsk - the old ladies there are charming and very enthusiastic!

Trans Siberian Adventure, 11 Jan 2006
A comprehensive and up to date guide to a journey on the Trans Siberian Railway. Beginning with planning your journey, timetables, how to buy tickets, prices, booking and visas, route planning and what to take. There's a useful background reading list with internet resources, practical information about food and drink, money, health, and safety tips from other travellers. There are good maps with time zones marked, lovely colour photographs, historical facts, city guides and information about crossing the borders. An excellent book which should be read thoroughly before embarking on the journey then kept in your back pocket throughout.

Great book: the definitive guide to the Trans Siberian, 25 Nov 2001
I took this book with me when I travelled on the Trans Siberian last year. It really gives a mile-by-mile accurate and detailed of the route. There are also some invaluable tips + a description of some of the major cities you pass + a history of Russia and the raildroad.

Not as good as I thought, 08 Nov 2001
Most of the information in this book is really useful, but the major problem is that It does not tell you how or where to buy the train ticket by yourself, not from a ripped-off travel agency.

In fact, everyone can buy the ticket buy themself with no more than USD$300 for the fare from Moscow to Beijing with stopover in Mongolia , rather than paying more than USD$600 to a travel agency in the U.K

I strongly feel that Lonely Planet: Russia, Ukrain and Belarus is much better than this Handbook because at least it will tell you where you can get the cheapest ticket rather than misleading you to buy more expensive ticket from a travel agency.

Inspirational, 24 Jul 2007
The book has everything you need to know about doing some off-piste motorcycling. It makes some amazing trips sound vaguely feasible. Even for more mundane trips around the UK and Europe it has loads of good stuff about selection of gear and bike. It has loads of good biking stories too.

An excellent read, 05 Jul 2005
Well structured, easy to follow and I like the new chapter on medical advice, very thorough and easy to understand for the layman. Some great tips I'd not thought of!

A manual to true traveling, 23 Jan 2003
I have never made such a travel like the ones in this book, the writer gives plenty of usefull tips that will not be forgotten, very entertaining reading, however, there are plenty of references to other books and you will only get the big picture after reading them all. I think that it falls short on the tech stuff, i would like to get a book only about the motorcycles and tips like adjusting the carb for high altitude and repairs, this book only gives a few pages to the subject of picking a bike and i think it deserves a lot more. It absolutely lives up to the title and made me dream, what else can you ask?

Essential Reading, 01 Feb 2002
I've had this book for over 12 months and I still re-read it. Anyone planning to travel somewhere different on a motorbike will find this book really useful. Full of ideas, tips, lists, advice, it's all there. Even if you've never had a go at motorcycle touring before - this book will help. The information about touring in different continents/countries is excellent.

A practical book that sits on the bookshelf next to "Jupiter's Travels" - Buy it now!

A thousand years of biking experience in a single book, 18 Jun 2001
Chris has been there, seen it and done it. Well most things on a bike that are legal, and I guess a few that are not! This book gives detailed information for both novice and expert alike. From tyres to tools, from bikes to routes. If you really want to live the dream, then this is the first place to start, and if you are only dreaming.......dream on. Chris has not only put his wealth of knowledge, his love of travel and all other things biking into this book, but those of many others. It's full of stories and advice from people that really have been round the world on two wheels. A bible for any biking traveller....keep it close to hand, you never know when you might need its help.

'The' pocket guide to Africa's great white mountain, 04 Dec 2007
Stedman's trekking guide to Kilimanjaro really is a gem of a guide. It provides just about all the information you might need to help you conquer Africa's great white peak. A mine of practical information that will help take you from planning your trip to the summit and which you will probably find you take with you on your way up the mountain.Certainly when I turned Kilimanjaro into Kili half the party I was with had a copy of this book with them!

Henry Stedman covers his subject very methodically taking you from the early planning of which tour companies to use or if you arrange your trek on arrival which trekking agencies to use. The equipment you will need and the health precautions you should take. He progresses through the practicalities of how to get to Tanzania even giving a brief guide to the ins and outs of travelling via Nairobi's somewhat haphazard airport and city. A brief description of Kilimanjaro airport and practicalities precedes more extensive descriptions of the major towns around the base of the Mountain and finally he moves on to the meat of the book - climbing the mountain itself.

Climbing the mountain is where this book really earns it's keep. Stedman starts with a quick summary of the major issues you might encounter, which is principally altitude sickness and what to do to avoid it and treat it before getting into an extensive description of each of the major routes. On each of these he does an excellent job describing the route, the practicalities, waymarks, features of the trek distances covered and altitude gained. Even if you weren't using a guide and porters this book could be enough to steer you up the mountain (although trying to climb Kili without a guide and porters is just silly as if you can afford to get to Tanzania you can afford to give a little bit more back to the local economy). Its second edition is worth getting, not just because the mountain changes as glaciers retreating and routes are altered, but because the second edition is much more comprehensive.

Flaws in the book. Well Stedman describes the flora, fauna and people of the region but attempts to do so in little more than ten pages. Far too short but then again this is a practical travel guide not a travelogue. The maps used for each section of the routes are just sketch maps and really these should be supplemented with proper maps, or was Stedman trying to prevent people using this guide to avoid paying for local porters and guides? If those are flaws then they are flaws that can be excused.

Compact and practical to take with you and comprehensive enough to help plan your trip from fireside to summit. Buy this book follow it's advice and it will make your ascent much easier or at least as easy as climbing 20 thousand feet is ever going to be. Buy it!


Exactly what I was looking for, 25 Nov 2007
I was looking for a book with frank, honest and impartial advice about trekking on Kilimanjaro. This is it, with far more information besides. It is not JUST a reference book - I have read it with continued interest from cover to cover. The one minor criticism I have is the prolific use of sub-text boxes which are distracting and break up the flow of reading.

A brilliant guidebook, 22 Nov 2006
What a great guidebook! We had to wait ages for this book to arrive (it finally arrived last month), as apparently there was some delay in publication. But we were determined to wait after reading all the rave reviews to the first edition. And after spending the best part of a month reading through it, we're glad we did. Though we have yet to climb the mountain, this book has already come in useful with its extensive reviews of trekking companies in the UK and Tanzania , whilst its descriptions of the routes are by some distance the most detailed we've come across. It's also a surprisingly funny and well-written book. A couple of our friends who climbed Kilimanjaro last year said that their guide said it was by far and away the best book on the mountain and carried a copy with him `just in case' and used it to identify the mountain flowers!

Well done Trailblazers on a cracking book. Now we've just got to get to the top!

Fantastic!! No need for your Lonely Planet or Rough Guide!!, 24 Apr 2006
I bought this book a few months before I actually went away to climb Kili as well as buying a Lonely Planet and Rough Guide for Tanzania. There was no need to buy either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide as you get everything and more in this book.

Quite simply, if you are new to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, or if you think your interested in doing it, BUY THIS BOOK. Its all you will need in the form of a guidebook (and probably more) and it is small enough to fit in your rucksack for when you do go to climb it. Im sure that even some of the suggestions assisted me in getting to the top!

Having checked the market for competitors, this book is the finest by a long, long way.

Good luck for when you attempt!!!

indispensible guide to the mountain, 13 Jan 2006
Went up Kili last year, found the book extremely useful before departure and during the trek (Machame route) The section on acute mountain sickness should be compulsory reading for anyone attempting to get to the top.

A bit patchy and not really comprehensive enough. Good if you are planning to go to Asia, 28 Aug 2008
This is a very good book if you've done little or no touring: there is a lot of good, sensible advice on equipment etc.

The book's coverage seems to be very good on Asia, but for other parts of the world it seems cursory and under-researched. The UK, Ireland, and Italy are not mentioned at all.

-France gets a couple of paragraphs - mostly about carrying bikes on TGVs.
-The paragraphs on Spain are a bit better but while they mention the Camino Francés (to Santiago de Compostella) and the Vía de la Plata there's no mention of either the Transandalus or Transpiríneica.
-The section on the US has several pages on the Great Divide but other worthwhile long distance routes are ignored.
- Central America gets one short paragraph.

Obviously a book that tries to cover the whole world can't do so in great detail but it's disappointing that it doesn't provide either any suggestions for further reading or other resources - especially the huge amount of resources available on the internet - or indeed any advice on route planning and research.

Cycle Book, 26 Aug 2008
Since buying this book my partner hasn't put it down so it must be a good book, i have seen the pictures they are very interesting. This explains in great detail what to do when you want to go cycle touring.

Pretty good but missing some things, 22 Aug 2008
I really enjoyed reading this book. It's very easy to read and has many interesting contributions from various well know cycle tourists.

The other reviews for this book are very fair and comprehesive, so this is short!

The maintenance section at the back of the book covers the basics, but some things are missing like how to fix a split tyre, broken rack or braze ons. Broken racks and broken braze ons do get mentioned (as well as advise to carry small hose clips) but i could not find how to actually fix these things!

There are many tours in all sorts of exotic places, but as the 3* reviewer states, most people start with Western Europe or North America. These routes a not covered particularly in depth. I want to start with "lands end to john o groats" rather than cycle London to Cairo.

These are fairly minor points, so all in all I recommend this book as an entertaining and informative read. It is UK focussed too (e.g prices and brands) which is a bonus.

A good overview, 23 Feb 2008
The topic is somewhat lacking in books, and this is a welcome addition to any cycle tourist's library, but in many ways it tries to be all things to all people, and isn't quite enough in any of its three parts.

Because the book is geared at "adventure" cycle touring, it doesn't cover in great detail less adventurous places like western Europe and the USA, which is where most cycle tourists will start and will train. This means you would probably have a bike and gear and likely have several trips under your belt already before you head off to these far-off destinations.

If you have already began touring, you won't really need to cover Part I in great detail because you will have already purchased most of the equipment and have enough experience to know what you need to take. Much of the equipment information is also available from chats with cycle shops and various places on the internet. However there are a few gems recommending particular, rare tools. Sadly even though it attempts to be broad and helpful, it still doesn't feel encompassing enough to allow one to leave for the jungle without a lot of doubts and second thoughts.

Part II gives overviews of touring in particular countries and regions. Because it is built on more than one person's experience it is much more useful than travelogues commonly found on the internet. However some countries aren't well covered and others aren't covered at all. It also doesn't give particular routes, instead it focuses general information about the country. This section, however, makes the book well worth the cost for any globe-trotting cyclist.

Part III is a collection of travelogues, all of which are well-written and many are very unique (including one from a pre-WWI tour!) These are inspiring and exciting, much along the lines of any other travel short story collection. However one has to wonder whether these should stand on their own as they aren't really useful in something that calls itself a "handbook".

Ultimately the book would be well-served by a second revision which added content in parts I and II, particularly when it comes to the nuts and bolts of planning a long-distance trip. However Lord clearly realises that one size does not fit all in DIY cycle touring, and takes the right track in letting the reader ultimately choose their own path.

Fantastic book, 25 Jan 2007
I bought this book for a friend and I'm now buying one for me! Great sections on equipment (bikes especially) and planning routes. There is so much packed into this book it's amazing. The annecdotes from other cyclists are very useful. The photos are wonderful and inspire you to get on your bike and travel to far flung places. Buy it, you won't regret it.

Absolutely invaluable!, 07 May 2008
If you are planning to take a trip on the Trans-Siberian, Trans-Mongolian or Trans-Manchurian railway, I URGE you to purchase this book! I cannot express how invaluable this book was to me during my trip.

The book contains a wealth of important information. It helps you to book your trip with suggestions of companies to go through as well as informing you of any complications that may arise such as visas, vaccinations. It has a stop-by-stop guide of the entire length of the railway for all 3 journies as well as kilometre markings and places of interest along the route outside of stops, for photo opportunities and such.

Inside of stops, for the bigger towns along the way it contains a map (very valuable) marking out places of interest such as hotels, Internet cafes, restaurants and places to see. For each place listed it even contains a small review of it and a rough price guide. Such minute detail is astounding and helps you to pick the best choice given your budget.

Throughout the book tips are given from the writers and also from travellers themselves who have submitted advice related to your journey, from warning you of for dodgy areas to train etiquette. The history of the Trans-Siberian Railway is included which makes for an interesting read and it also contains accurate (at least for the ones I went on) train time tables for each individual stop along the way.

I thoroughly reccomend this book to anyone taking a journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

A useful guide for the TS Railway traveller, 11 Aug 2006
This guide was much better than the the Lonely Planet, both in its mile-by-mile descriptions and mini-maps and in its historical background content.

We found this book more useful on the train than off it though, as the city guides could have had a bit more information about what was interesting to do.

Don't miss the Trubetskoy house in Irkutsk - the old ladies there are charming and very enthusiastic!

Trans Siberian Adventure, 11 Jan 2006
A comprehensive and up to date guide to a journey on the Trans Siberian Railway. Beginning with planning your journey, timetables, how to buy tickets, prices, booking and visas, route planning and what to take. There's a useful background reading list with internet resources, practical information about food and drink, money, health, and safety tips from other travellers. There are good maps with time zones marked, lovely colour photographs, historical facts, city guides and information about crossing the borders. An excellent book which should be read thoroughly before embarking on the journey then kept in your back pocket throughout.

Great book: the definitive guide to the Trans Siberian, 25 Nov 2001
I took this book with me when I travelled on the Trans Siberian last year. It really gives a mile-by-mile accurate and detailed of the route. There are also some invaluable tips + a description of some of the major cities you pass + a history of Russia and the raildroad.

Not as good as I thought, 08 Nov 2001
Most of the information in this book is really useful, but the major problem is that It does not tell you how or where to buy the train ticket by yourself, not from a ripped-off travel agency.

In fact, everyone can buy the ticket buy themself with no more than USD$300 for the fare from Moscow to Beijing with stopover in Mongolia , rather than paying more than USD$600 to a travel agency in the U.K

I strongly feel that Lonely Planet: Russia, Ukrain and Belarus is much better than this Handbook because at least it will tell you where you can get the cheapest ticket rather than misleading you to buy more expensive ticket from a travel agency.

Inspirational, 24 Jul 2007
The book has everything you need to know about doing some off-piste motorcycling. It makes some amazing trips sound vaguely feasible. Even for more mundane trips around the UK and Europe it has loads of good stuff about selection of gear and bike. It has loads of good biking stories too.

An excellent read, 05 Jul 2005
Well structured, easy to follow and I like the new chapter on medical advice, very thorough and easy to understand for the layman. Some great tips I'd not thought of!

A manual to true traveling, 23 Jan 2003
I have never made such a travel like the ones in this book, the writer gives plenty of usefull tips that will not be forgotten, very entertaining reading, however, there are plenty of references to other books and you will only get the big picture after reading them all. I think that it falls short on the tech stuff, i would like to get a book only about the motorcycles and tips like adjusting the carb for high altitude and repairs, this book only gives a few pages to the subject of picking a bike and i think it deserves a lot more. It absolutely lives up to the title and made me dream, what else can you ask?

Essential Reading, 01 Feb 2002
I've had this book for over 12 months and I still re-read it. Anyone planning to travel somewhere different on a motorbike will find this book really useful. Full of ideas, tips, lists, advice, it's all there. Even if you've never had a go at motorcycle touring before - this book will help. The information about touring in different continents/countries is excellent.

A practical book that sits on the bookshelf next to "Jupiter's Travels" - Buy it now!

A thousand years of biking experience in a single book, 18 Jun 2001
Chris has been there, seen it and done it. Well most things on a bike that are legal, and I guess a few that are not! This book gives detailed information for both novice and expert alike. From tyres to tools, from bikes to routes. If you really want to live the dream, then this is the first place to start, and if you are only dreaming.......dream on. Chris has not only put his wealth of knowledge, his love of travel and all other things biking into this book, but those of many others. It's full of stories and advice from people that really have been round the world on two wheels. A bible for any biking traveller....keep it close to hand, you never know when you might need its help.

'The' pocket guide to Africa's great white mountain, 04 Dec 2007
Stedman's trekking guide to Kilimanjaro really is a gem of a guide. It provides just about all the information you might need to help you conquer Africa's great white peak. A mine of practical information that will help take you from planning your trip to the summit and which you will probably find you take with you on your way up the mountain.Certainly when I turned Kilimanjaro into Kili half the party I was with had a copy of this book with them!

Henry Stedman covers his subject very methodically taking you from the early planning of which tour companies to use or if you arrange your trek on arrival which trekking agencies to use. The equipment you will need and the health precautions you should take. He progresses through the practicalities of how to get to Tanzania even giving a brief guide to the ins and outs of travelling via Nairobi's somewhat haphazard airport and city. A brief description of Kilimanjaro airport and practicalities precedes more extensive descriptions of the major towns around the base of the Mountain and finally he moves on to the meat of the book - climbing the mountain itself.

Climbing the mountain is where this book really earns it's keep. Stedman starts with a quick summary of the major issues you might encounter, which is principally altitude sickness and what to do to avoid it and treat it before getting into an extensive description of each of the major routes. On each of these he does an excellent job describing the route, the practicalities, waymarks, features of the trek distances covered and altitude gained. Even if you weren't using a guide and porters this book could be enough to steer you up the mountain (although trying to climb Kili without a guide and porters is just silly as if you can afford to get to Tanzania you can afford to give a little bit more back to the local economy). Its second edition is worth getting, not just because the mountain changes as glaciers retreating and routes are altered, but because the second edition is much more comprehensive.

Flaws in the book. Well Stedman describes the flora, fauna and people of the region but attempts to do so in little more than ten pages. Far too short but then again this is a practical travel guide not a travelogue. The maps used for each section of the routes are just sketch maps and really these should be supplemented with proper maps, or was Stedman trying to prevent people using this guide to avoid paying for local porters and guides? If those are flaws then they are flaws that can be excused.

Compact and practical to take with you and comprehensive enough to help plan your trip from fireside to summit. Buy this book follow it's advice and it will make your ascent much easier or at least as easy as climbing 20 thousand feet is ever going to be. Buy it!


Exactly what I was looking for, 25 Nov 2007
I was looking for a book with frank, honest and impartial advice about trekking on Kilimanjaro. This is it, with far more information besides. It is not JUST a reference book - I have read it with continued interest from cover to cover. The one minor criticism I have is the prolific use of sub-text boxes which are distracting and break up the flow of reading.

A brilliant guidebook, 22 Nov 2006
What a great guidebook! We had to wait ages for this book to arrive (it finally arrived last month), as apparently there was some delay in publication. But we were determined to wait after reading all the rave reviews to the first edition. And after spending the best part of a month reading through it, we're glad we did. Though we have yet to climb the mountain, this book has already come in useful with its extensive reviews of trekking companies in the UK and Tanzania , whilst its descriptions of the routes are by some distance the most detailed we've come across. It's also a surprisingly funny and well-written book. A couple of our friends who climbed Kilimanjaro last year said that their guide said it was by far and away the best book on the mountain and carried a copy with him `just in case' and used it to identify the mountain flowers!

Well done Trailblazers on a cracking book. Now we've just got to get to the top!

Fantastic!! No need for your Lonely Planet or Rough Guide!!, 24 Apr 2006
I bought this book a few months before I actually went away to climb Kili as well as buying a Lonely Planet and Rough Guide for Tanzania. There was no need to buy either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide as you get everything and more in this book.

Quite simply, if you are new to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, or if you think your interested in doing it, BUY THIS BOOK. Its all you will need in the form of a guidebook (and probably more) and it is small enough to fit in your rucksack for when you do go to climb it. Im sure that even some of the suggestions assisted me in getting to the top!

Having checked the market for competitors, this book is the finest by a long, long way.

Good luck for when you attempt!!!

indispensible guide to the mountain, 13 Jan 2006
Went up Kili last year, found the book extremely useful before departure and during the trek (Machame route) The section on acute mountain sickness should be compulsory reading for anyone attempting to get to the top.

A bit patchy and not really comprehensive enough. Good if you are planning to go to Asia, 28 Aug 2008
This is a very good book if you've done little or no touring: there is a lot of good, sensible advice on equipment etc.

The book's coverage seems to be very good on Asia, but for other parts of the world it seems cursory and under-researched. The UK, Ireland, and Italy are not mentioned at all.

-France gets a couple of paragraphs - mostly about carrying bikes on TGVs.
-The paragraphs on Spain are a bit better but while they mention the Camino Francés (to Santiago de Compostella) and the Vía de la Plata there's no mention of either the Transandalus or Transpiríneica.
-The section on the US has several pages on the Great Divide but other worthwhile long distance routes are ignored.
- Central America gets one short paragraph.

Obviously a book that tries to cover the whole world can't do so in great detail but it's disappointing that it doesn't provide either any suggestions for further reading or other resources - especially the huge amount of resources available on the internet - or indeed any advice on route planning and research.

Cycle Book, 26 Aug 2008
Since buying this book my partner hasn't put it down so it must be a good book, i have seen the pictures they are very interesting. This explains in great detail what to do when you want to go cycle touring.

Pretty good but missing some things, 22 Aug 2008
I really enjoyed reading this book. It's very easy to read and has many interesting contributions from various well know cycle tourists.

The other reviews for this book are very fair and comprehesive, so this is short!

The maintenance section at the back of the book covers the basics, but some things are missing like how to fix a split tyre, broken rack or braze ons. Broken racks and broken braze ons do get mentioned (as well as advise to carry small hose clips) but i could not find how to actually fix these things!

There are many tours in all sorts of exotic places, but as the 3* reviewer states, most people start with Western Europe or North America. These routes a not covered particularly in depth. I want to start with "lands end to john o groats" rather than cycle London to Cairo.

These are fairly minor points, so all in all I recommend this book as an entertaining and informative read. It is UK focussed too (e.g prices and brands) which is a bonus.

A good overview, 23 Feb 2008
The topic is somewhat lacking in books, and this is a welcome addition to any cycle tourist's library, but in many ways it tries to be all things to all people, and isn't quite enough in any of its three parts.

Because the book is geared at "adventure" cycle touring, it doesn't cover in great detail less adventurous places like western Europe and the USA, which is where most cycle tourists will start and will train. This means you would probably have a bike and gear and likely have several trips under your belt already before you head off to these far-off destinations.

If you have already began touring, you won't really need to cover Part I in great detail because you will have already purchased most of the equipment and have enough experience to know what you need to take. Much of the equipment information is also available from chats with cycle shops and various places on the internet. However there are a few gems recommending particular, rare tools. Sadly even though it attempts to be broad and helpful, it still doesn't feel encompassing enough to allow one to leave for the jungle without a lot of doubts and second thoughts.

Part II gives overviews of touring in particular countries and regions. Because it is built on more than one person's experience it is much more useful than travelogues commonly found on the internet. However some countries aren't well covered and others aren't covered at all. It also doesn't give particular routes, instead it focuses general information about the country. This section, however, makes the book well worth the cost for any globe-trotting cyclist.

Part III is a collection of travelogues, all of which are well-written and many are very unique (including one from a pre-WWI tour!) These are inspiring and exciting, much along the lines of any other travel short story collection. However one has to wonder whether these should stand on their own as they aren't really useful in something that calls itself a "handbook".

Ultimately the book would be well-served by a second revision which added content in parts I and II, particularly when it comes to the nuts and bolts of planning a long-distance trip. However Lord clearly realises that one size does not fit all in DIY cycle touring, and takes the right track in letting the reader ultimately choose their own path.

Fantastic book, 25 Jan 2007
I bought this book for a friend and I'm now buying one for me! Great sections on equipment (bikes especially) and planning routes. There is so much packed into this book it's amazing. The annecdotes from other cyclists are very useful. The photos are wonderful and inspire you to get on your bike and travel to far flung places. Buy it, you won't regret it.

Marvellous - you only need this book if you can use the JR Pass, 15 Jul 2008
In fact you only this book period because it tells you how to get around as well as defining what there is to detain a rail traveller in any particular place. We found it absolutely brilliant. I left my other guide books at home and slowly discarded brochures from JNTO as largely redundant.

The phrases in the back of the book were more helpful than a 3 month night school of Japanese 1 and the timetables are still fairly accurate. You can check these locally, on the internet before you leave, when you are there or have your nice Nagoya Hotel do that for you (Hotel Astria). All JR stations will help as well!

Back to the book however, what it doesn't tell you is really not worth knowing. We visited 2 listed steam attractions; the Locomotive Museum in Kyoto, impressive and the Senzu-Oigawa line even more so, including the singing conductor! Of the places it mentions, the Gold Leaf Museum is exactly as described down to the tea you will be served with tiny squares of gold leaf floating in it. There is usually some little thing you do not recall from the book, such as a little demonstration of what gold leaf really is like, which make this almost the perfect guide book.

Truly leave the rest at home and seek out only the very special extras if you must, such as "Walks in Nara" though we thought the 2 main things the book recommended for Nara were quite enough really, after all the Giant Buddha & the Lantern Temple are both poles apart and it was a hot day!

Will definitely look for another edition when we are next able to return to Japan.

Invaluable when travelling by train, 06 May 2008
I've just been around Japan and this book is an absolute must for anyone wanting to do the same via the ultra-efficient train network. I managed to get round virtually all of it with this and a basic phrasebook with very little knowledge of the language.

The main section of this book is split by area, (eg Hokkaido, North, central and west Honshu etc.) then into two sub-sections; Route guide and City Guide. The Route section deals with how to get from one major city to another via the train network and the latter deals with what you can do when you get there. Most stations, large and small are covered on each line, with suggestions about when to stop off on your journey to take in the sights. The City guide covers most major cities and provides maps showing places to eat, stay, and see, as well as other useful things such as Internet Cafes, subway stations etc. (This section was not quite as useful as it sounded as the hotels listed are often more expensive than what you can get if you just pop into the local JTB branch found in every city.) For all the local attractions, it also lists the opening times and price, and these (at the time of writing) are pretty accurate.

There are other sections as well either side of the main one: There is a detailed section on the history and culture, along with itineraries and recommendations, along with frameworks of what you might want to do depending on how long you'll be staying. There is also a guide to how to get hold of your invaluable Japan Rail Pass, which you'd have to be barmy not to use if you intend to be there for a week or more. (Tip: Don't bother with the green passes - the standard carriages are more than enough luxury compared to the trains in the UK). Finally, there is a section at the back with numbers/dates/days of week etc. translations, useful phrases, and some basic timetables that can be used as a rule of thumb when getting from place to place.

The book in general has an emphasis on the JR lines (because that's what the pass is valid for), but does have some information about connecting lines in order to get to recommended destinations along the way. It would be nicer if there was a little more information about the non-JR sections and what there is to do along them, but there is only so many pages and the text can only be made so small, and its already packed to the gills with interesting and useful info already.

Overall, thoroughly recommended. Especially now as its been updated (2007) I took many books with me and found this to be enough for almost all my needs, hence why my copy of this one is so dog-eared and the others are pretty much mint. :)

If you are the kind of traveller who embraces the adventurous, this astonishingly detailed and authoritative route and planning guide to one of the most staggering possible destinations will be right up your street. When so much of the world is at our fingertips, with the undiscovered shrinking day by day, the Sahara Desert is still one of the most mysterious wildernesses on the planet. The popular image provided by movies like Lawrence Of Arabia or The English Patient is of shimmering oases and photogenic dunes. But Chris Scott, while taking on board the fond perceptions of the Sahara most of us have, ensures thatSahara Overlandis a clear-eyed guide to what could be the adventure of a lifetime. (Although it has to be said that this is a trip for travellers with backbone: those who like a laid-back holiday need not apply).

Tackling both a week's excursion to Morocco or a two-month trans-Saharan expedition, Scott dispenses such essential advice as the documentation required (what is needed, and how to obtain it--not always a straightforward matter), details of the trans-Mediterranean ferries and 35 off-road routes covering 16,000km in nine countries. A key aspect of this comprehensively illustrated guide is the attention paid to the choice of transport. Whether you are planning to get around by motorcycle, bicycle or even camel, Scott tells you how to obtain and prepare your vehicle in the most economic fashion.

Of course it wouldn't be an adventure holiday without the possibility of something going wrong, and on this subject Scott is in his element. He tells the traveller how to improvise repairs, how to deal with navigational and even survival problems in the kind of lucid and easily grasped prose that many will find highly comforting. Along with 45 maps, there is much fascinating detail on Saharan peoples, pre-historic art and the amazing land forms. Read Scott's challenging guide to find out what you may really be capable of. --Barry Forshaw

Absolutely invaluable!, 07 May 2008
If you are planning to take a trip on the Trans-Siberian, Trans-Mongolian or Trans-Manchurian railway, I URGE you to purchase this book! I cannot express how invaluable this book was to me during my trip.

The book contains a wealth of important information. It helps you to book your trip with suggestions of companies to go through as well as informing you of any complications that may arise such as visas, vaccinations. It has a stop-by-stop guide of the entire length of the railway for all 3 journies as well as kilometre markings and places of interest along the route outside of stops, for photo opportunities and such.

Inside of stops, for the bigger towns along the way it contains a map (very valuable) marking out places of interest such as hotels, Internet cafes, restaurants and places to see. For each place listed it even contains a small review of it and a rough price guide. Such minute detail is astounding and helps you to pick the best choice given your budget.

Throughout the book tips are given from the writers and also from travellers themselves who have submitted advice related to your journey, from warning you of for dodgy areas to train etiquette. The history of the Trans-Siberian Railway is included which makes for an interesting read and it also contains accurate (at least for the ones I went on) train time tables for each individual stop along the way.

I thoroughly reccomend this book to anyone taking a journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

A useful guide for the TS Railway traveller, 11 Aug 2006
This guide was much better than the the Lonely Planet, both in its mile-by-mile descriptions and mini-maps and in its historical background content.

We found this book more useful on the train than off it though, as the city guides could have had a bit more information about what was interesting to do.

Don't miss the Trubetskoy house in Irkutsk - the old ladies there are charming and very enthusiastic!

Trans Siberian Adventure, 11 Jan 2006
A comprehensive and up to date guide to a journey on the Trans Siberian Railway. Beginning with planning your journey, timetables, how to buy tickets, prices, booking and visas, route planning and what to take. There's a useful background reading list with internet resources, practical information about food and drink, money, health, and safety tips from other travellers. There are good maps with time zones marked, lovely colour photographs, historical facts, city guides and information about crossing the borders. An excellent book which should be read thoroughly before embarking on the journey then kept in your back pocket throughout.

Great book: the definitive guide to the Trans Siberian, 25 Nov 2001
I took this book with me when I travelled on the Trans Siberian last year. It really gives a mile-by-mile accurate and detailed of the route. There are also some invaluable tips + a description of some of the major cities you pass + a history of Russia and the raildroad.

Not as good as I thought, 08 Nov 2001
Most of the information in this book is really useful, but the major problem is that It does not tell you how or where to buy the train ticket by yourself, not from a ripped-off travel agency.

In fact, everyone can buy the ticket buy themself with no more than USD$300 for the fare from Moscow to Beijing with stopover in Mongolia , rather than paying more than USD$600 to a travel agency in the U.K

I strongly feel that Lonely Planet: Russia, Ukrain and Belarus is much better than this Handbook because at least it will tell you where you can get the cheapest ticket rather than misleading you to buy more expensive ticket from a travel agency.

Inspirational, 24 Jul 2007
The book has everything you need to know about doing some off-piste motorcycling. It makes some amazing trips sound vaguely feasible. Even for more mundane trips around the UK and Europe it has loads of good stuff about selection of gear and bike. It has loads of good biking stories too.

An excellent read, 05 Jul 2005
Well structured, easy to follow and I like the new chapter on medical advice, very thorough and easy to understand for the layman. Some great tips I'd not thought of!

A manual to true traveling, 23 Jan 2003
I have never made such a travel like the ones in this book, the writer gives plenty of usefull tips that will not be forgotten, very entertaining reading, however, there are plenty of references to other books and you will only get the big picture after reading them all. I think that it falls short on the tech stuff, i would like to get a book only about the motorcycles and tips like adjusting the carb for high altitude and repairs, this book only gives a few pages to the subject of picking a bike and i think it deserves a lot more. It absolutely lives up to the title and made me dream, what else can you ask?

Essential Reading, 01 Feb 2002
I've had this book for over 12 months and I still re-read it. Anyone planning to travel somewhere different on a motorbike will find this book really useful. Full of ideas, tips, lists, advice, it's all there. Even if you've never had a go at motorcycle touring before - this book will help. The information about touring in different continents/countries is excellent.

A practical book that sits on the bookshelf next to "Jupiter's Travels" - Buy it now!

A thousand years of biking experience in a single book, 18 Jun 2001
Chris has been there, seen it and done it. Well most things on a bike that are legal, and I guess a few that are not! This book gives detailed information for both novice and expert alike. From tyres to tools, from bikes to routes. If you really want to live the dream, then this is the first place to start, and if you are only dreaming.......dream on. Chris has not only put his wealth of knowledge, his love of travel and all other things biking into this book, but those of many others. It's full of stories and advice from people that really have been round the world on two wheels. A bible for any biking traveller....keep it close to hand, you never know when you might need its help.

'The' pocket guide to Africa's great white mountain, 04 Dec 2007
Stedman's trekking guide to Kilimanjaro really is a gem of a guide. It provides just about all the information you might need to help you conquer Africa's great white peak. A mine of practical information that will help take you from planning your trip to the summit and which you will probably find you take with you on your way up the mountain.Certainly when I turned Kilimanjaro into Kili half the party I was with had a copy of this book with them!

Henry Stedman covers his subject very methodically taking you from the early planning of which tour companies to use or if you arrange your trek on arrival which trekking agencies to use. The equipment you will need and the health precautions you should take. He progresses through the practicalities of how to get to Tanzania even giving a brief guide to the ins and outs of travelling via Nairobi's somewhat haphazard airport and city. A brief description of Kilimanjaro airport and practicalities precedes more extensive descriptions of the major towns around the base of the Mountain and finally he moves on to the meat of the book - climbing the mountain itself.

Climbing the mountain is where this book really earns it's keep. Stedman starts with a quick summary of the major issues you might encounter, which is principally altitude sickness and what to do to avoid it and treat it before getting into an extensive description of each of the major routes. On each of these he does an excellent job describing the route, the practicalities, waymarks, features of the trek distances covered and altitude gained. Even if you weren't using a guide and porters this book could be enough to steer you up the mountain (although trying to climb Kili without a guide and porters is just silly as if you can afford to get to Tanzania you can afford to give a little bit more back to the local economy). Its second edition is worth getting, not just because the mountain changes as glaciers retreating and routes are altered, but because the second edition is much more comprehensive.

Flaws in the book. Well Stedman describes the flora, fauna and people of the region but attempts to do so in little more than ten pages. Far too short but then again this is a practical travel guide not a travelogue. The maps used for each section of the routes are just sketch maps and really these should be supplemented with proper maps, or was Stedman trying to prevent people using this guide to avoid paying for local porters and guides? If those are flaws then they are flaws that can be excused.

Compact and practical to take with you and comprehensive enough to help plan your trip from fireside to summit. Buy this book follow it's advice and it will make your ascent much easier or at least as easy as climbing 20 thousand feet is ever going to be. Buy it!


Exactly what I was looking for, 25 Nov 2007
I was looking for a book with frank, honest and impartial advice about trekking on Kilimanjaro. This is it, with far more information besides. It is not JUST a reference book - I have read it with continued interest from cover to cover. The one minor criticism I have is the prolific use of sub-text boxes which are distracting and break up the flow of reading.

A brilliant guidebook, 22 Nov 2006
What a great guidebook! We had to wait ages for this book to arrive (it finally arrived last month), as apparently there was some delay in publication. But we were determined to wait after reading all the rave reviews to the first edition. And after spending the best part of a month reading through it, we're glad we did. Though we have yet to climb the mountain, this book has already come in useful with its extensive reviews of trekking companies in the UK and Tanzania , whilst its descriptions of the routes are by some distance the most detailed we've come across. It's also a surprisingly funny and well-written book. A couple of our friends who climbed Kilimanjaro last year said that their guide said it was by far and away the best book on the mountain and carried a copy with him `just in case' and used it to identify the mountain flowers!

Well done Trailblazers on a cracking book. Now we've just got to get to the top!

Fantastic!! No need for your Lonely Planet or Rough Guide!!, 24 Apr 2006
I bought this book a few months before I actually went away to climb Kili as well as buying a Lonely Planet and Rough Guide for Tanzania. There was no need to buy either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide as you get everything and more in this book.

Quite simply, if you are new to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, or if you think your interested in doing it, BUY THIS BOOK. Its all you will need in the form of a guidebook (and probably more) and it is small enough to fit in your rucksack for when you do go to climb it. Im sure that even some of the suggestions assisted me in getting to the top!

Having checked the market for competitors, this book is the finest by a long, long way.

Good luck for when you attempt!!!

indispensible guide to the mountain, 13 Jan 2006
Went up Kili last year, found the book extremely useful before departure and during the trek (Machame route) The section on acute mountain sickness should be compulsory reading for anyone attempting to get to the top.

A bit patchy and not really comprehensive enough. Good if you are planning to go to Asia, 28 Aug 2008
This is a very good book if you've done little or no touring: there is a lot of good, sensible advice on equipment etc.

The book's coverage seems to be very good on Asia, but for other parts of the world it seems cursory and under-researched. The UK, Ireland, and Italy are not mentioned at all.

-France gets a couple of paragraphs - mostly about carrying bikes on TGVs.
-The paragraphs on Spain are a bit better but while they mention the Camino Francés (to Santiago de Compostella) and the Vía de la Plata there's no mention of either the Transandalus or Transpiríneica.
-The section on the US has several pages on the Great Divide but other worthwhile long distance routes are ignored.
- Central America gets one short paragraph.

Obviously a book that tries to cover the whole world can't do so in great detail but it's disappointing that it doesn't provide either any suggestions for further reading or other resources - especially the huge amount of resources available on the internet - or indeed any advice on route planning and research.

Cycle Book, 26 Aug 2008
Since buying this book my partner hasn't put it down so it must be a good book, i have seen the pictures they are very interesting. This explains in great detail what to do when you want to go cycle touring.

Pretty good but missing some things, 22 Aug 2008
I really enjoyed reading this book. It's very easy to read and has many interesting contributions from various well know cycle tourists.

The other reviews for this book are very fair and comprehesive, so this is short!

The maintenance section at the back of the book covers the basics, but some things are missing like how to fix a split tyre, broken rack or braze ons. Broken racks and broken braze ons do get mentioned (as well as advise to carry small hose clips) but i could not find how to actually fix these things!

There are many tours in all sorts of exotic places, but as the 3* reviewer states, most people start with Western Europe or North America. These routes a not covered particularly in depth. I want to start with "lands end to john o groats" rather than cycle London to Cairo.

These are fairly minor points, so all in all I recommend this book as an entertaining and informative read. It is UK focussed too (e.g prices and brands) which is a bonus.

A good overview, 23 Feb 2008
The topic is somewhat lacking in books, and this is a welcome addition to any cycle tourist's library, but in many ways it tries to be all things to all people, and isn't quite enough in any of its three parts.

Because the book is geared at "adventure" cycle touring, it doesn't cover in great detail less adventurous places like western Europe and the USA, which is where most cycle tourists will start and will train. This means you would probably have a bike and gear and likely have several trips under your belt already before you head off to these far-off destinations.

If you have already began touring, you won't really need to cover Part I in great detail because you will have already purchased most of the equipment and have enough experience to know what you need to take. Much of the equipment information is also available from chats with cycle shops and various places on the internet. However there are a few gems recommending particular, rare tools. Sadly even though it attempts to be broad and helpful, it still doesn't feel encompassing enough to allow one to leave for the jungle without a lot of doubts and second thoughts.

Part II gives overviews of touring in particular countries and regions. Because it is built on more than one person's experience it is much more useful than travelogues commonly found on the internet. However some countries aren't well covered and others aren't covered at all. It also doesn't give particular routes, instead it focuses general information about the country. This section, however, makes the book well worth the cost for any globe-trotting cyclist.

Part III is a collection of travelogues, all of which are well-written and many are very unique (including one from a pre-WWI tour!) These are inspiring and exciting, much along the lines of any other travel short story collection. However one has to wonder whether these should stand on their own as they aren't really useful in something that calls itself a "handbook".

Ultimately the book would be well-served by a second revision which added content in parts I and II, particularly when it comes to the nuts and bolts of planning a long-distance trip. However Lord clearly realises that one size does not fit all in DIY cycle touring, and takes the right track in letting the reader ultimately choose their own path.

Fantastic book, 25 Jan 2007
I bought this book for a friend and I'm now buying one for me! Great sections on equipment (bikes especially) and planning routes. There is so much packed into this book it's amazing. The annecdotes from other cyclists are very useful. The photos are wonderful and inspire you to get on your bike and travel to far flung places. Buy it, you won't regret it.

Marvellous - you only need this book if you can use the JR Pass, 15 Jul 2008
In fact you only this book period because it tells you how to get around as well as defining what there is to detain a rail traveller in any particular place. We found it absolutely brilliant. I left my other guide books at home and slowly discarded brochures from JNTO as largely redundant.

The phrases in the back of the book were more helpful than a 3 month night school of Japanese 1 and the timetables are still fairly accurate. You can check these locally, on the internet before you leave, when you are there or have your nice Nagoya Hotel do that for you (Hotel Astria). All JR stations will help as well!

Back to the book however, what it doesn't tell you is really not worth knowing. We visited 2 listed steam attractions; the Locomotive Museum in Kyoto, impressive and the Senzu-Oigawa line even more so, including the singing conductor! Of the places it mentions, the Gold Leaf Museum is exactly as described down to the tea you will be served with tiny squares of gold leaf floating in it. There is usually some little thing you do not recall from the book, such as a little demonstration of what gold leaf really is like, which make this almost the perfect guide book.

Truly leave the rest at home and seek out only the very special extras if you must, such as "Walks in Nara" though we thought the 2 main things the book recommended for Nara were quite enough really, after all the Giant Buddha & the Lantern Temple are both poles apart and it was a hot day!

Will definitely look for another edition when we are next able to return to Japan.

Invaluable when travelling by train, 06 May 2008
I've just been around Japan and this book is an absolute must for anyone wanting to do the same via the ultra-efficient train network. I managed to get round virtually all of it with this and a basic phrasebook with very little knowledge of the language.

The main section of this book is split by area, (eg Hokkaido, North, central and west Honshu etc.) then into two sub-sections; Route guide and City Guide. The Route section deals with how to get from one major city to another via the train network and the latter deals with what you can do when you get there. Most stations, large and small are covered on each line, with suggestions about when to stop off on your journey to take in the sights. The City guide covers most major cities and provides maps showing places to eat, stay, and see, as well as other useful things such as Internet Cafes, subway stations etc. (This section was not quite as useful as it sounded as the hotels listed are often more expensive than what you can get if you just pop into the local JTB branch found in every city.) For all the local attractions, it also lists the opening times and price, and these (at the time of writing) are pretty accurate.

There are other sections as well either side of the main one: There is a detailed section on the history and culture, along with itineraries and recommendations, along with frameworks of what you might want to do depending on how long you'll be staying. There is also a guide to how to get hold of your invaluable Japan Rail Pass, which you'd have to be barmy not to use if you intend to be there for a week or more. (Tip: Don't bother with the green passes - the standard carriages are more than enough luxury compared to the trains in the UK). Finally, there is a section at the back with numbers/dates/days of week etc. translations, useful phrases, and some basic timetables that can be used as a rule of thumb when getting from place to place.

The book in general has an emphasis on the JR lines (because that's what the pass is valid for), but does have some information about connecting lines in order to get to recommended destinations along the way. It would be nicer if there was a little more information about the non-JR sections and what there is to do along them, but there is only so many pages and the text can only be made so small, and its already packed to the gills with interesting and useful info already.

Overall, thoroughly recommended. Especially now as its been updated (2007) I took many books with me and found this to be enough for almost all my needs, hence why my copy of this one is so dog-eared and the others are pretty much mint. :)

Sahara Overland, 03 May 2005
I have to commend this book to anyone contemplating a trip to the desert; there's a lot in here even if "your desert" is not in North Africa. This is a first class work, and invaluable information is contained within. As an old desert-hand myself, it made an interesting read, and proved that you can teach an old dog new tricks!

Excellent handbook fo all vehicle dependant overlanders, 24 Aug 2004
A great review of all you need for a vehicle dependant expedition.Well written and easy to read usefull for anyone wanting information on off-road vehicles for use off-road.
As a 90 defender owner the comments on Landrovers are perfectly valid, the do break down alot and are very badly built, look at the consumer surveys,Ford are even looking to close Solihull down as the build quality is so bad.Despite this I love my Landie even if bits do seem to drop off now and again and it does spend alot of time in the garage.
Great book even for the armchair traveller,all the info you need,a classic, ranks up there with Tom Sheppards Vehicle -Dependant Expedition Guide.

Excellent handbook fo all vehicle dependant overlanders, 23 Aug 2004
A great review of all you need for a vehicle dependant expedition.Well written and easy to read usefull for anyone wanting information on off-road vehicles for use off-road.
As a 90 defender owner the comments on Landrovers are perfectly valid, the do break down alot and are very badly built, look at the consumer surveys,Ford are even looking to close Solihull down as the build quality is so bad.Despite this I love my Landie even if bits do seem to drop off now and again and it does spend alot of time in the garage.
Great book even for the armchair traveller,all the info you need,a classic, ranks up there with Tom Sheppards Vehicle -Dependant Expedition Guide.

Big, thick, detailed & excellent!, 10 Jan 2004
If you are thinking about a Sahara jaunt( not a weekend city break in Marrakesh), then this is the starting point. Though extremely detailed, it is readable & more to the point, useful. Not a holiday poolside book, but then again, if you are happy with 7 days all inclusive in Malaga, then maybe this isnt your typr of thing anyway. Now I have to sort out my life & get my expedition started for real...........10 months & counting!

A must, 04 Jan 2004
I read this book many many times and I can say it well worth the money spent! Usefull as a first impression about organizing a trip throughout the desert is divided in two main section: vehicles description, modifications, and pistes along 9 countries. As a Land Rover Defender owner I didn't appriciate the notice about the Landies vs Toyotas.

Absolutely invaluable!, 07 May 2008
If you are planning to take a trip on the Trans-Siberian, Trans-Mongolian or Trans-Manchurian railway, I URGE you to purchase this book! I cannot express how invaluable this book was to me during my trip.

The book contains a wealth of important information. It helps you to book your trip with suggestions of companies to go through as well as informing you of any complications that may arise such as visas, vaccinations. It has a stop-by-stop guide of the entire length of the railway for all 3 journies as well as kilometre markings and places of interest along the route outside of stops, for photo opportunities and such.

Inside of stops, for the bigger towns along the way it contains a map (very valuable) marking out places of interest such as hotels, Internet cafes, restaurants and places to see. For each place listed it even contains a small review of it and a rough price guide. Such minute detail is astounding and helps you to pick the best choice given your budget.

Throughout the book tips are given from the writers and also from travellers themselves who have submitted advice related to your journey, from warning you of for dodgy areas to train etiquette. The history of the Trans-Siberian Railway is included which makes for an interesting read and it also contains accurate (at least for the ones I went on) train time tables for each individual stop along the way.

I thoroughly reccomend this book to anyone taking a journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

A useful guide for the TS Railway traveller, 11 Aug 2006
This guide was much better than the the Lonely Planet, both in its mile-by-mile descriptions and mini-maps and in its historical background content.

We found this book more useful on the train than off it though, as the city guides could have had a bit more information about what was interesting to do.

Don't miss the Trubetskoy house in Irkutsk - the old ladies there are charming and very enthusiastic!

Trans Siberian Adventure, 11 Jan 2006
A comprehensive and up to date guide to a journey on the Trans Siberian Railway. Beginning with planning your journey, timetables, how to buy tickets, prices, booking and visas, route planning and what to take. There's a useful background reading list with internet resources, practical information about food and drink, money, health, and safety tips from other travellers. There are good maps with time zones marked, lovely colour photographs, historical facts, city guides and information about crossing the borders. An excellent book which should be read thoroughly before embarking on the journey then kept in your back pocket throughout.

Great book: the definitive guide to the Trans Siberian, 25 Nov 2001
I took this book with me when I travelled on the Trans Siberian last year. It really gives a mile-by-mile accurate and detailed of the route. There are also some invaluable tips + a description of some of the major cities you pass + a history of Russia and the raildroad.

Not as good as I thought, 08 Nov 2001
Most of the information in this book is really useful, but the major problem is that It does not tell you how or where to buy the train ticket by yourself, not from a ripped-off travel agency.

In fact, everyone can buy the ticket buy themself with no more than USD$300 for the fare from Moscow to Beijing with stopover in Mongolia , rather than paying more than USD$600 to a travel agency in the U.K

I strongly feel that Lonely Planet: Russia, Ukrain and Belarus is much better than this Handbook because at least it will tell you where you can get the cheapest ticket rather than misleading you to buy more expensive ticket from a travel agency.

Inspirational, 24 Jul 2007
The book has everything you need to know about doing some off-piste motorcycling. It makes some amazing trips sound vaguely feasible. Even for more mundane trips around the UK and Europe it has loads of good stuff about selection of gear and bike. It has loads of good biking stories too.

An excellent read, 05 Jul 2005
Well structured, easy to follow and I like the new chapter on medical advice, very thorough and easy to understand for the layman. Some great tips I'd not thought of!

A manual to true traveling, 23 Jan 2003
I have never made such a travel like the ones in this book, the writer gives plenty of usefull tips that will not be forgotten, very entertaining reading, however, there are plenty of references to other books and you will only get the big picture after reading them all. I think that it falls short on the tech stuff, i would like to get a book only about the motorcycles and tips like adjusting the carb for high altitude and repairs, this book only gives a few pages to the subject of picking a bike and i think it deserves a lot more. It absolutely lives up to the title and made me dream, what else can you ask?

Essential Reading, 01 Feb 2002
I've had this book for over 12 months and I still re-read it. Anyone planning to travel somewhere different on a motorbike will find this book really useful. Full of ideas, tips, lists, advice, it's all there. Even if you've never had a go at motorcycle touring before - this book will help. The information about touring in different continents/countries is excellent.

A practical book that sits on the bookshelf next to "Jupiter's Travels" - Buy it now!

A thousand years of biking experience in a single book, 18 Jun 2001
Chris has been there, seen it and done it. Well most things on a bike that are legal, and I guess a few that are not! This book gives detailed information for both novice and expert alike. From tyres to tools, from bikes to routes. If you really want to live the dream, then this is the first place to start, and if you are only dreaming.......dream on. Chris has not only put his wealth of knowledge, his love of travel and all other things biking into this book, but those of many others. It's full of stories and advice from people that really have been round the world on two wheels. A bible for any biking traveller....keep it close to hand, you never know when you might need its help.

'The' pocket guide to Africa's great white mountain, 04 Dec 2007
Stedman's trekking guide to Kilimanjaro really is a gem of a guide. It provides just about all the information you might need to help you conquer Africa's great white peak. A mine of practical information that will help take you from planning your trip to the summit and which you will probably find you take with you on your way up the mountain.Certainly when I turned Kilimanjaro into Kili half the party I was with had a copy of this book with them!

Henry Stedman covers his subject very methodically taking you from the early planning of which tour companies to use or if you arrange your trek on arrival which trekking agencies to use. The equipment you will need and the health precautions you should take. He progresses through the practicalities of how to get to Tanzania even giving a brief guide to the ins and outs of travelling via Nairobi's somewhat haphazard airport and city. A brief description of Kilimanjaro airport and practicalities precedes more extensive descriptions of the major towns around the base of the Mountain and finally he moves on to the meat of the book - climbing the mountain itself.

Climbing the mountain is where this book really earns it's keep. Stedman starts with a quick summary of the major issues you might encounter, which is principally altitude sickness and what to do to avoid it and treat it before getting into an extensive description of each of the major routes. On each of these he does an excellent job describing the route, the practicalities, waymarks, features of the trek distances covered and altitude gained. Even if you weren't using a guide and porters this book could be enough to steer you up the mountain (although trying to climb Kili without a guide and porters is just silly as if you can afford to get to Tanzania you can afford to give a little bit more back to the local economy). Its second edition is worth getting, not just because the mountain changes as glaciers retreating and routes are altered, but because the second edition is much more comprehensive.

Flaws in the book. Well Stedman describes the flora, fauna and people of the region but attempts to do so in little more than ten pages. Far too short but then again this is a practical travel guide not a travelogue. The maps used for each section of the routes are just sketch maps and really these should be supplemented with proper maps, or was Stedman trying to prevent people using this guide to avoid paying for local porters and guides? If those are flaws then they are flaws that can be excused.

Compact and practical to take with you and comprehensive enough to help plan your trip from fireside to summit. Buy this book follow it's advice and it will make your ascent much easier or at least as easy as climbing 20 thousand feet is ever going to be. Buy it!


Exactly what I was looking for, 25 Nov 2007
I was looking for a book with frank, honest and impartial advice about trekking on Kilimanjaro. This is it, with far more information besides. It is not JUST a reference book - I have read it with continued interest from cover to cover. The one minor criticism I have is the prolific use of sub-text boxes which are distracting and break up the flow of reading.

A brilliant guidebook, 22 Nov 2006
What a great guidebook! We had to wait ages for this book to a